Royal Caribbean officially welcomed the Icon of the Seas into its fleet on Monday November 27, 2023. After nearly three years of meticulous construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, this colossal vessel has emerged as the world's largest cruise ship, shattering records and redefining the possibilities of cruising.
Weighing an astonishing 250,600 tons, the Icon of the Seas heralds the beginning of a groundbreaking series of ships by Royal Caribbean, pushing the boundaries of nautical engineering to new heights. Surpassing its predecessor, the Wonder of the Seas, by more than 6%, this marvel can comfortably accommodate up to 7,600 passengers. When adding the 2,350 crew members, the Icon of the Seas becomes a floating city, capable of hosting nearly 10,000 people.
Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, expressed his excitement, stating, "Welcoming Icon of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family is a remarkable accomplishment years in the making for thousands of innovators, engineers, architects, and designers. Seven years ago, we had an ambitious idea to create the first vacation truly made for every type of family and adventurer; now, it's in our hands, and in this final stretch, we'll bring it all to life for the biggest debut in our history in January."
The Meyer Turku shipyard, known for its expertise and dedication to excellence, stands as one of the select few shipyards globally capable of constructing a vessel of the Icon of the Seas' monumental size.
"Icon of the Seas is the world's largest, but above all, the world's most advanced cruise ship. Together with Royal Caribbean, we set the bar exceptionally high in terms of design, technology, safety and reducing energy consumption.
Icon of the Seas is a revolutionary ship and at the same time a significant step towards the green transition, which is the shipyard's most important competitive advantage. Such a demanding project has only been possible because we cooperate closely within the maritime cluster. In particular, I would like to highlight the finishing expertise of our supply chain. I am extremely proud of the people of Meyer Turku and everyone who has participated in this project," Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku said.
Setting sail from Miami year-round, the Icon of the Seas will embark on seven-night voyages to the Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean. The ship will alternate between four distinct itineraries, inviting passengers to explore picturesque destinations such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. Each journey will include a stop at Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, ensuring an unparalleled experience for every traveler.
Cruise fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Icon of the Seas, as it marks the first time in 15 years that a cruise line has introduced a new class of ship surpassing all others in size and amenities. The last instance was in 2009 when Royal Caribbean unveiled its Oasis Class of vessels, featuring the previous size leader, the Wonder of the Seas.
