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TURKU, Finland — The world’s largest cruise ship is now in the hands of a new owner, with Royal Caribbean taking delivery of the 1,198-foot-tall maritime icon this week.
The 20-deck, 250,800 gross ton ship was officially handed over to the cruise line on Monday at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Her first voyage will depart from Miami, Florida on January 27, 2024, and will cruise the Caribbean for seven days.
Construction of Icon of the Seas, which can accommodate 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members, took 900 days, according to a news release issued by Royal Caribbean. This corresponds to his small town’s population of nearly 10,000 people.
“Today we’re celebrating more than just a new ship; we’re celebrating the dream of creating the ultimate vacation experience at Royal Caribbean,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. It is also a day to celebrate the culmination of over 50 years of innovation.” A ceremony was held at the shipyard on Monday.
When it sets sail in late January, Icon of the Seas will have eight different neighborhoods for travelers to explore, as well as around 40 bars and restaurants.
Among them is Thrill Island, the world’s largest Category 6 offshore waterpark. The area also features a ropes course/thrill ride where you can swing 44 feet above the ocean, a FlowRider wave simulator, and a mini golf course.
At the other end of the vacation spectrum, Chill Island is home to four of the icon’s seven pools and an adults-only zone.
The Aquadome features a 55-foot-tall water curtain and an aquatheater featuring robots, skateboarders, divers, and more.
Yesterday, Royal Carribean Blog shared this image on FB.Quick size comparison #titanic (world’s largest steamship in 1912) and other vessels including Icon of the Seas (currently the world’s largest cruise ship, making its maiden voyage in January 2024). pic.twitter.com/4pTKaDlfbT
— Meriadeck Villers (@MeriaRmsTitanic) November 23, 2023
The Hideaway is where travelers will find the world’s first infinity pool suspended above the ocean.
That’s just scratching the surface.
When it comes to lodging options, you can choose from 28 different styles of cabins and suites, including a three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse.
Royal Caribbean says Icon of the Seas will be the cruise line’s first ship to run on liquefied natural gas and will have the first waste-to-energy plant at sea.
It was originally scheduled for delivery in early 2022, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the cruise line, Icon of the Seas is currently en route to Cadiz, Spain, for final touches before sailing to its new home in Florida.
Viral photos become a hot topic
Much has been said about the Icon of the Seas in the months leading up to the delivery, proving once again that cruises are a polarizing travel theme, especially when huge ships are involved.
A colorful and highly detailed image of the stern section of the Icon has been released. viral In July, the response was far from positive.
The piece has been touted as a “monster” and a “mountain of decadence”, with one user suggesting a better name: “symbol of disease”.
But some experts CNN spoke to said this is not unusual.
“Images of Royal Caribbean ships have often provoked strong reactions,” cruise expert Stewart Shillon told CNN Travel when asked about the reaction in August.
“The negative reactions to ‘Sea Icon’ are clearly from non-cruisers. The current image is very colorful and depicts a ship with many options. much more than that.”
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean did not comment on feedback on this particular image when contacted by CNN a few months ago, but said that since the sea icon was unveiled in October 2022, the Royal Caribbean “There was an overwhelming reaction,” which he said was the cause. When sales began, it was the most booked week in the company’s history.
The current holder of the title of “World’s Largest Cruise Ship” is another ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Wonder of the Seas, which made its maiden voyage in 2022. She is slightly smaller than Icon of the Seas at 1,188 feet long and has 18 decks. Explore.
contribution: Jacopo Prisco.