Icon of the Seas: The Cruise Ship Five Times Larger Than the Titanic Completes Final Touches at Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland
Icon of the Seas measures 365m in length and weighs 250,800 tons. (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
The new cruise ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean International at the end of November, just under two months before its official launch in January 2024 in Miami, USA, as reported by Interesting Engineering on December 4. This achievement follows over 7 years of planning and 900 days of design and construction, involving thousands of experts, according to Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
Icon of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship ever produced, featuring 18 passenger decks, 7 swimming pools, and an extensive selection of over 40 restaurants and bars. With a capacity of 5,610 passengers, the ship weighs 250,800 tons and has a total length of 365 meters.
This luxurious cruise ship boasts 8 distinct neighborhoods, each offering unique experiences, entertainment, and dining options, while also holding several world records. For instance, Thrill Island features the largest water park on a cruise ship and the first outdoor free-fall slide at sea.
Icon of the Seas is the first cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The LNG fuel tank on the ship weighs 307 tons and measures 27.4 meters long. Traditional cruise ships typically run on diesel. The advantage of LNG over diesel is its reduced fuel consumption and emissions. “Our new Icon ship primarily uses LNG with energy efficiency that is over 35% higher than diesel fuel,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. Additionally, the ship is equipped with various energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies, including a waste-to-energy plant onboard.
Following test runs in June and November 2023, Icon of the Seas is preparing for its first passenger voyage on January 27, 2024. The ship will operate year-round, offering 7-day cruises from Miami to the Caribbean and back.
