A world record in Miami: Icon of the Seas became the largest cruise ship in history
The world's largest passenger cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has entered the port of Miami. This significant event should further boost the tourism economy of South Florida.
The 5,610-guest capacity giant ship features six wavy water slides in its own theme park, more than 40 restaurants and drinking establishments. It has two piano bars, three-story townhouses for large families, and a cool park with more than 33,000 plants, writes MiamiHerald reports..
The luxury liner Icon of the Seas has become the first ship of a new class from Royal Caribbean in almost a decade. The new cruise ship has 2850 cabins, 18 guest decks, 7 swimming pools and 2350 crew members.
Icon of the Seas will focus on itineraries of a week or less to the Caribbean. This is not surprising, as the ship is really designed for these 5-day and 7-day itineraries. Icon is now preparing for its first public cruise, scheduled to depart Port Miami on January 27.
The owner company recently organized a special event for the press and others to visit the cruise ship. It will then take a couple of three-day cruises with employees, followed by travel agents and VIPs, followed by a commissioning ceremony.
It is emphasized that the arrival of Icon will give an additional impetus to the already booming cruise industry in the region. It is reported that the average minimum cost of a five-day cruise from the United States to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda last December was $736, which is 37% more than in December 2022.
After the pandemic restrictions were lifted, the cruise industry is returning to its positions. In particular, voyages are almost sold out for many of the longest voyages that start before the beginning of 2024. People pay from $25,000 to more than $100,000 to sail around the world for several months.
Cruise experts note that the cruise destination is a key factor that influences people to choose a cruise. But the Icon of the Seas is so large that for many, "the ship itself is the destination. This means that people can stay on the ship for the entire trip.
What is known about Icon of the Seas
The ship has been in the works for a long time, at least since 2017. The ship's general plan and deck layout were ready by 2018. The interior design and number of rooms were finalized by 2019.
The work was then moved to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. In June 2021, construction began with steel cutting. Two months later, the liquefied natural gas tanks were installed.
Last June, the first sea trials began. Upon completion in November, the ship was handed over to Royal Caribbean. The Icon of the Seas was then moved to Cadiz, Spain, to receive the finishing touches and more than 33,500 real plants in Central Park, after which the ship headed for Puerto Rico.
