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Wednesday, 29 November 2023 WORLD NEWS 13
Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery of World’s
Largest Cruise Ship, Icon of the Seas
ROYAL Caribbean International has officially taken owner- skateboarders, divers, and more.
ship of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas,
following its completion at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, The vessel introduces 28 different styles of cabins and
Finland. The 20-deck, 250,800-tonne ship, measuring an suites, including the three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse.
impressive 1,198 feet, was handed over on November 27 Notably, it is Royal Caribbean’s first ship capable of being
and is set to embark on its inaugural voyage from Miami, powered by liquefied natural gas and incorporates the first
Florida, on January 27, 2024. waste-to-energy plant at sea.
Originally scheduled for delivery in early 2022, delays due
The vessel, boasting a capacity for 7,600 guests and 2,350 to the Covid-19 pandemic pushed back the completion date.
crew members, took 900 days to construct. Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas is now en route to Cadiz, Spain, for final
Group president and CEO Jason Liberty expressed the signif- touches before making its way to its new home in Florida.
icance of the moment, stating, “Today, we are celebrating
more than a new ship; it’s also the celebration of the culmi- The ship, generating both anticipation and controversy,
nation of more than 50 years of innovation and dreaming at went viral in July when detailed images of its stern section
Royal Caribbean to create the ultimate vacation experience.” circulated online. Despite mixed reactions, Royal Caribbean
reported an “incredible reaction” since the ship’s reveal
Icon of the Seas offers travelers a multitude of options with in October 2022, resulting in the highest volume booking
eight different neighborhoods to explore, including the week in the company’s history when sales opened. Icon of
world’s largest waterpark at sea, Category 6, within the Thrill the Seas surpasses its predecessor, Wonder of the Seas, as
Island neighborhood. The ship also features a suspended the world’s largest cruise ship, setting sail with a plethora
infinity pool at sea in The Hideaway, a 55-foot-tall water of amenities and attractions for a seafaring experience like
curtain, and the AquaTheater showcasing a cast of robots, never before.
