Icon of the Seas: The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Sets Sail
Icon of the Seas: Setting Sail on the Largest Cruise Ship in the World
Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, has embarked on its maiden voyage. The seven-day trip, which saw participants who had purchased tickets long ago, brought the ship into Miami on January 10 after sailing across the Atlantic from its shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The ship departed from the Port of Miami on Saturday, January 27, just before sunset. With a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and over 2,000 crew members, Icon of the Seas features twenty decks for its guests.
In addition to its large size, the ship offers an array of amenities that cater to every traveler’s preferences. From seven swimming pools, including the “largest pool in the sea”, to a climbing wall, hydromassages, a wave surfing simulator, an ice rink, nightclubs, rope park, volleyball and basketball courts, and forty restaurants, the ship is designed to provide a luxurious and entertaining experience for its guests. The ship also boasts a water park with slides, a park with trees, theaters, fountain shows, and much more.
However, the launch of Icon of the Seas comes at a time when many European countries are implementing new rules to address port pollution caused by cruise ships. In Norway, for instance, from 2026, only ships powered by alternative fuels will be permitted to enter the country’s harbors. To reduce carbon emissions, newer cruise ships are increasingly being fueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG), which produces fewer pollutants than traditional fuels.
Icon of the Seas is equipped with dual-fuel engines that can run on either marine diesel or LNG. This makes it Royal Caribbean’s first ship to use this fuel. The cruise line has stated that LNG was the most viable alternative when the ship was designed ten years ago and could potentially be adapted to other fuel sources in the future.
Icon of the Seas is an impressive feat of engineering, weighing 250,800 tons and measuring almost 365 meters in length, making it nearly five times larger than the Titanic. With a construction cost of 1.65 billion euros, or $1.79 billion, Royal Caribbean International offers tickets for the voyage at prices ranging from $1,723 to $2,639 per person, with pre-Christmas season cruises costing $5,124 per person.
As the maritime industry continues to search for alternative fuel sources, the launching of Icon of the Seas signals a new era in the cruise ship industry, setting new standards for luxury, size, and environmental sustainability.
