A look inside the Icon of the Seas, the world's biggest cruise ship, as it prepares for voyage

Table Of Content

• The world's new biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, debuts on Saturday
• Royal Caribbean Blog is your ultimate source for Royal Caribbean coverage.
• The world's largest cruise ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean on November 27, 2023
• Cruises
• The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Will Set Sail In 2024

For months, the 250,800-ton ship, which can carry nearly 8,000 people, has been making headlines — including some that have criticized its size and potential to damage the environment. But the passengers who plunked down $1,800 to $100,000 and boarded the ship at Port Miami in Florida on Jan. 27, said nothing could have prepared them for the vessel’s sheer scale. Perched at the top of Icon, the Aqua Theater will feature wraparound ocean views and an ... Icon will feature the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking slides. Icon of the Seas is just the first of three sister ships Royal Caribbean has on order for delivery by 2026 that will represent an all-new class of vessels at the line — to be called the Icon class.

The world's new biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, debuts on Saturday

As I slink back to the ship after my brief jailbreak, the locals stand under umbrellas to gaze at and photograph the boat that towers over their small capital city. The limousines of the prime minister and his lackeys are parked beside the gangway. St. Kitts, I’ve been told, is one of the few islands that would allow a ship of this size to dock. And now I understand what the maître d’ was saying to me on the first day of my cruise.

Royal Caribbean Blog is your ultimate source for Royal Caribbean coverage.

Many of the ship’s offerings are geared toward families, but adults-only spaces are also plentiful. Icon of the Seas, once it debuts in 2024, will be the largest cruise ship in the entire world, surpassing the prior largest cruise ship, also from Royal Caribbean, Wonder of the Seas. But enough gushing — what can you expect from this year’s batch of new cruise ships? Designed to accommodate 4,000 passengers, the new cruise ship is the next stage of Princess’ evolution, involving a transition away from smaller ships, an overhaul of fare classes and the introduction of cutting-edge technology.

The world's largest cruise ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean on November 27, 2023

Next up is the colossal new ship’s first voyage, slated to depart on January 27, 2024. It will sail roundtrip from Miami to the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas. Among the cruise ships set to make their debut in 2024, these are five of the most notable.

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There is no imposed order, no cogent thought, and, for those who do not harbor a totalitarian sense of gigantomania, no visual mercy. This is the biggest cruise ship ever built, and I have been tasked with witnessing its inaugural voyage. On November 27, 2023, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was officially delivered from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland to Royal Caribbean.

The World's Largest Cruise Ship Is Coming in January—Here's What It's Like Inside

Royal Caribbean’s popular AquaTheater concept becomes a true marquee attraction on Icon of the Seas, moved to the Deck 15 AquaDome, a vast glass and steel dome offering expansive ocean views. Visitors can expect high-tech performances and 3-D flying effects. Icon of the Seas will offer a mix of new concepts and Royal Caribbean favorites among its eight onboard neighborhoods. Any way you look at it, this vessel is nothing short of colossal.

But as high as my status may be, there are those on board who have much higher status still, and I will soon learn to bow before them. Catering to 4,000 passengers, the new ship’s atrium features an Aladdin theme and an overall adventure motif throughout the vessel. New onboard attractions include Plaza de Coco, an interactive dining experience inspired by the movie Coco and Jumbeaux's Sweet Shop, drawing from Zootopia. New dining experiences include Japanese, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines. It is powered by six dual-fuel engines, which can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel alternative that the Cruise Lines International Association says reduces sulfur and greenhouse gas emissions. However, some environmentalists worry LNG-powered ships increase methane emissions.

You'll be jolted awake when the floor drops from beneath your feet, leaving you dangling 154 feet above the ocean before the zipline kicks in. It wouldn't be a roundup of Icon of the Seas' best amenities without a mention of its waterpark. If you're a frequent cruiser — especially with Royal Caribbean — amenities like the mini-golf course and water playground may not seem exciting. If you’ve yet to familiarize yourself with Explora Journeys, you wouldn’t be alone.

The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Will Set Sail In 2024

The Icon of the Seas is divided into eight neighborhoods across 20 decks. The ship includes six waterslides, seven swimming pools, an ice skating rink, a theater and more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges. The ship can carry up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, along with 2,350 crew members. The ship includes six waterslides, seven swimming pools, an ice-skating rink, a theater and more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is Royal Caribbean's most expensive cruise ship suite. It's not uncommon to find rates around $80,000 to $100,000 for a family of four. The 1,772-square-foot suite is comprised of three stories and has a private "backyard" that leads directly to Surfside. At the time of writing, the lowest advertised fare on Royal Caribbean's website for a cruise onboard Icon in 2024 starts at $3,005 per person for an interior room for the March 23 sailing. Whether you want to watch the ship pull into port or want clear views of the horizon while sipping on a cocktail, you will also find some of the best ocean views onboard here.

“The energy required to chill, ship and regasify the fossil fuel makes it far more carbon-intensive and increases the potential for leakage of dangerous methane,” according to the organization. Another hot-tub denizen suggests that he should have asked for fentanyl. After a few more drinks, Duck Necklace begins to muse about what it would be like to fall off the ship. There’s some Mayan theory squaring science stuff with religion. There is so much more to life on Earth.” We all nod into our Red Stripes.

” I say, already starting to catch on to the ship’s class system. I am wearing a DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL T-shirt, I want to say to him. The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer. British-based P&O Cruises took delivery of its largest-ever cruise ship and first to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in October 2020. This came after delays due to the global pandemic and the impact on the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papengburg, Germany, which is where the vessel was constructed.

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If it sounds like a reality show, that’s exactly what some watchers have turned it into. Royal Caribbean plans for Icon of the Seas to sail all year, so prices vary; but some start at about $1,700 per person. For more details about Icon of the Seas, visit the Royal Caribbean website. When it comes to views, among the best are from the brand’s first Sunset Corner Suites and Panoramic ... Moreover, Icon will have a long lineup of other energy efficiency initiatives onboard, all of which help to contribute to Royal Caribbean Group's goal of introducing a net-zero ship by 2035. Even though Meyer Turku's time with Icon has come to an end, they're hard at work building Star of the Seas.

Because of the importance of the inaugural voyage of the world’s largest cruise liner, more than 200 Pinnacles are on this ship, a startling number, it seems. Mrs. Palo Alto takes out a golden badge that I have seen affixed over many a breast, which reads CROWN AND ANCHOR SOCIETY along with her name. “You should hear all the whining in Guest Services,” her husband tells me.