Cruise ships are about to take another leap in size stakes, as the latest Royal Caribbean International vessel nears completion. The gigantic ship will set a record with its size, taking the crown from its sister ship, Wonder of the Seas.
By comparison, the new Icon of the Seas will 14,000 tonnes heavier, weighing in at 250,800 tonnes when its final construction phase, which is currently taking place in Finland, is complete. It is due to launch at the start of 2024 and will be able to take 5,610 passengers.
And they won't be short of things to do or places to eat - with 40 ways to drink and dine on board, reports the Daily Star. The ship – the size of small town – will be laden with things to do.
Not only will passengers sail from port to port with all the luxury of an all-inclusive hotel, but they’ll be able to experience a thrill on-deck. The most exciting feature of the ship is the world's largest at sea waterpark, named Category 6, which will feature six record-breaking water slides, seven pools and nine whirlpools. The ship has 20 decks formed of eight "neighbourhoods".
Each of these groupings is designed to appeal to different guest types. Some are catered to young families while others are adult-only spots with piano bars and a cool vibe.
The stay-all-day neighbourhood Surfside is created for families with children with an aquapark, grown-ups' pool, snack bars and loungers, so passengers will be able to relax knowing the whole gang is entertained. The seven pools include Royal Bay - the largest pool at sea. And infinity-edged spots will make guests feel like they’re swimming in the ocean.
After dark, there are 15 buzzing venues and live music spots to enjoy. These include a Dueling Piano bar, a sports and game bar, a retro arcade and stand-up shows - guest will even be able to go on a bar-hopping crawl.
There will be shows beneath a waterfall in the Aqua-Dome, where guests can dine as they watch. Absolute Zero will let passengers watch ice-skating performances in the middle of the Caribbean.
Foodies will be able to chow down on everything from pizza to fresh sushi, fine dining to casual bites, steak and seafood or burgers, toasties and noodles. There will be 28 different types of accommodations, with more types of family set-ups, layouts with ocean views and extra space for group travellers – some rooms even have their own slides for the kids. Those after romance will be able to snag a sunset corner suite.
The ship has been built at the Meyer Turku shipyard and will join the Royal Caribbean fleet at sea on October 26, ahead of its 2024 debut. It successfully completed its first sea trials last week, with hundreds of staff members onboard to make sure everything was working smoothly.
Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive, Michael Bayley, said: "We are positioning it as the ultimate family vacation and when you step back and look at all the energy and time that has gone into creating this ship it is mind-blowing. During her first set of sea trials, Icon of the Seas travelled hundreds of miles, during which the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested. Everything was done on time as outlined in the schedule, despite her departure being delayed due to wind conditions."
You can find out more on royalcaribbean.com
