MIAMI –
The world’s largest cruise ship – measuring nearly four city blocks – is set to begin its maiden voyage Saturday from the Port of Miami.
Royal Caribbean’s icon of the seas, stretching nearly 1,200 feet (365 meters) from bow to stern.
The ship, which departs South Florida on its first seven-day island-hopping voyage through the tropics, was officially christened Tuesday with the help of soccer legend Lionel Messi and his teammates from the InterMiami.
“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and fulfilling our mission: to responsibly deliver the best vacation experiences to the world,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean group, earlier this week. “She represents the ultimate multi-generational family vacation, forever changing the status quo in family travel and making vacation dreams of all ages come true on board.”
The ship sets sail as Royal Caribbean cruises go online for a while. Since December, the company’s 9-month-long “Ultimate World Cruise” has captivated – and confounded – an eager audience of observers on social media.
Millions of people follow the journey through the eyes of the passengers, as they live and publish their lives aboard a ship on which they will remain for almost a year. If this sounds like a reality TV show, that’s exactly what some observers have made of it.
When Icon of the Seas was first unveiled in October 2022, the ship generated the largest booking day and largest booking week in Royal Caribbean’s 53-year history, according to the company cruise.
The Icon of the Seas is divided into eight districts spread over 20 decks. The ship features six water slides, seven swimming pools, an ice rink, a theater and more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges. The ship can carry up to 7,600 passengers at its maximum capacity, as well as 2,350 crew members.
It is powered by six dual-fuel engines, which can be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), an alternative fuel that the Cruise Lines International Association says reduces sulfur and greenhouse gas emissions. However, some environmentalists fear that LNG-powered ships will increase methane emissions. Others say vacationers generate eight times more carbon on a cruise than on land.
Royal Caribbean says every kilowatt used on Icon of the Seas “is scrutinized for energy efficiency and emissions reductions.”
Water slides are seen atop a deck overlooking the guestroom floors aboard Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, during a media day preview as it is preparing for its maiden public voyage later this month, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
