Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship with the largest water park at sea, has set sail from Miami, Florida on its maiden voyage.
Owned by Royal Caribbean Group, the nearly 1,200-foot-long vessel has 20 decks and can house up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members.
Icon of the Seas cost $2 billion (£1.6bn) to build. It boasts the largest water park at sea and the tallest drop slide at sea. The former, called Category 6, offers six record-breaking waterslides.
Highlights also include the cruise industry‘s first open free-fall slide, the first family raft slides at sea, and the industry’s first mat-racing duo.
Record-breaking waterslides
Icon of the Seas is also home to Royal Caribbean‘s first swim-up bar at sea, the largest pool at sea, and the first suspended infinity pool at sea.
Icon of the Seas was christened last week with footballer Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates.
“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and living our mission – to deliver the world’s best vacation experiences responsibly,” said Royal Caribbean Group’s president and CEO Jason Liberty.
“We did it! After seven years of pursuing the bold vision to create a one-of-a-kind vacation for every type of family and adventurer, Icon of the Seas has become a reality,” added Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
Although Icon of the Seas, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), is described by Royal Caribbean as its most sustainable ship to date, environmental groups have raised concerns.
“It’s a step in the wrong direction,” Bryan Comer, director of the marine programme at the International Council on Clean Transportation, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
“We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120 percent more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil,” he said.
Royal Caribbean says the vessel is 24 percent more energy efficient than required by the International Maritime Organization for modern ships.
The company also plans to introduce a net-zero ship by 2035.
Images courtesy of Royal Caribbean
