Nearing completion is a vessel that will be recognized as the biggest ship ever built.
The cruise ship, which Royal Caribbean International has called Icon of the Seas, will be around 370 meters (1,200 feet) long and have a cargo capacity of about 250,800 tonnes, or 553 million pounds.
Thanks to its six record-breaking water attractions, the magnificent ship will have the largest water park at sea, dubbed Category 6. A feature of the attraction is the tallest sailable waterslide. A first is the open free-fall waterslide aboard a cruise ship.
.
.
.
.
.
The ship will accommodate up to 5,610 passengers and 2,350 crew members and will feature seven pools and nine whirlpools.
It is being constructed at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, one of the premier shipyards in Europe.
Michael Bayley, president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean International, said in a statement, “We are positioning it as the ultimate family vacation, and when you consider all the effort and time that has gone into creating this ship, it’s mind-boggling.”
.
.
.
.
June 22 marked the end of the Icon’s first sea trials, a statement from Royal Caribbean stated.
The statement claimed, “Icon of the Seas traveled hundreds of miles during her first set of sea trials, testing the ship’s main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels.” She left later than expected because of the wind, but everything went according to plan and on time.
Royal Caribbean said there will be another round of sea trials later in 2023.
There will be more than 40 dining, drinking, and entertainment options on the ship.
.
.
.
.
The ship is made to cater to all kinds of passengers, from young families to adult-only areas like Royal Caribbean International’s first dueling pianos bar. It has 20 decks and eight neighborhoods to explore.
There are 28 different types of lodging, with more family-friendly choices, views of the beach, and room for gatherings. The cruise line claims that this is the longest period of time it has ever spent “designing the ideal home base.”
It is also the first ship to be propelled by fuel cells and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as part of the company’s shift to sustainable energy in the future.
Reservations for the January 2024 cruise are still open, but the cost will be high.
.
.
.
.
The less expensive alternatives have already sold out, so the cost of a balcony suite aboard the ship for a seven-night excursion from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean is $4,673 per person.
You can score a great deal for about $2,000 per person if you can wait until February.
The excitement around the ship has resulted in record-breaking advance sales.
Bayley described Icon of the Seas as “literally the best-performing new product launch we’ve ever had” during the company’s quarterly financial results.
