The new world's largest cruise ship just hit the ocean — take a closer look at the gargantuan 7,600-guest vessel ahead of its 2024 debut

Brittany Chang

July 12, 2023 at 5:40 PM·6 min read

A rendering of Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas cruise ship. — The nearly 1,200-foot-long vessel completed its first round of sea trials in late June.Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International saw its largest booking day ever after opening reservations for the Icon of the Seas.
The new 1,198-foot-long mega-ship will be able to accommodate 7,600 guests across its 2,805 staterooms.
Take a look around the new ship filled with eight neighborhoods, seven pools, and a waterfall.

Royal Caribbean International has turned its upcoming cruise ship into a family-friendly vacation destination complete with a waterfall, miniature Central Park, and what it says is the largest water park on a cruise ship …

Source: Royal Caribbean International

… bringing all the amenities of a luxury beachside resort to what will be the world's largest cruise ship.

The 20-deck Icon of the Seas cruise ship — which first began construction mid-2021 — will begin revenue sailings in January 2024.

Source: Royal Caribbean International

And in late June, the upcoming vessel completed its first sea trials in the ocean, testing the behemoth vessel and crucial equipment like the engines and the braking systems.

An outside deck of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas cruise ship under construction. There's scaffolding up. — Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Royal Caribbean

We're still half a year away from the new cruise ship's official debut, but anticipation is already at a record high for the company, it said.

Royal Caribbean saw its largest booking day in the company's history when reservations opened for the Icon of the Seas on Tuesday, the company announced on October 27.

Source: Royal Caribbean

And months later, Michael Bayley, the cruise line's CEO, crowned the ship as "the best-selling product in the history of our business" in a call with investors.

Source: Insider

Selling out a cruise ship of the size isn't a small feat.

At 1,198 feet long, the upcoming cruise ship's size will be slightly larger than Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, which previously held the title of the world's largest cruise ship.

Source: Insider

However, the two ships share a handful of similarities, including the concept of "neighborhoods."

There are eight neighborhoods scattered throughout the Icon of the Seas, five of which are new to the brand.

If you're looking for a boardwalk-like neighborhood, head to the colorful Surfside for food, a carousel, the arcade, and the teen's club.

It's also where children can play at the miniature water park while their parents swim at the adults-only pool.

This is just one of seven pools across the cruise ship. More on those in a bit.

If you're looking for more of a thrill, head to the aptly named Thrill Island neighborhood.

It's where you'll find Icon of the Seas' water park, peculiarly named "Category 6," complete with six water slides …

… including the tallest water slide and three firsts on a cruise ship: the first family raft, mat racing, and "open freefall" water slides.

Source: Royal Caribbean International

If your appetite for exhilarating activities isn't satisfied yet, there's also the Crown's Edge, a rope and obstacle course that could leave its participants suspended 154 feet above the ocean.

But if you’d rather stay closer to the cruise ship’s water, spend the afternoon on the surf simulator instead.

Tired of exhilarating activities? Check out the inverse neighborhood: Chill Island.

Here, there are no water slides or extreme sports.

Instead, there's a swim-up bar, an adults only area, and several pools ...

... including the largest pool at sea, according to the cruise line.

Or go to the Icon of the Sea's beach club in the Hideaway neighborhood …

... where there's yet another pool — this one's an infinity pool — and several levels of terraces, jacuzzis, and outdoor lounges.

For many cruise fans, part of the fun of going on a cruise ship is seeing the nighttime entertainment.

But instead of the typical musical or song-and-dance performance …

… the Icon of the Seas' onboard entertainment in the AquaDome neighborhood's AquaTheater will include a water show with divers and dancers.

Besides the theater, the AquaDome is also home to the ship's waterfall and some restaurants, lounges, and bars (not shown below).

If you're familiar with Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, you'll already recognize the remaining three neighborhoods.

Source: Insider

The Royal Promenade is still home to lounges, food and beverage concepts, and the ice skating show ...

… while the cruise ship's nod to New York City, the Central Park neighborhood, has additional food and entertainment concepts.

If you're staying in a suite you'll get access to the more exclusive four-deck Suite neighborhood, which is decked out with a two-floor restaurant and more outdoor lounges.

There are over 40 restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues aboard the Icon of the Seas, ensuring every passenger has a packed day from morning into late at night.

With this many venues, there's a chance you won't eat a repeat meal.

To fill all of these food, beverage, and entertainment concepts, the mega cruise ship will accommodate up to 7,600 guests across its 2,805 staterooms ...

... which doesn't include the rooms for the additional 2,350 crew members.

There are 28 stateroom categories including some that'll be just as grand as the rest of the ship.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is like a small family retreat inside of a three-level stateroom complete with a slide, movie room, and terrace with a hot tub …

… while the Family Infinity Balcony and Surfise Family Suite has a section just for children.

But no matter where you stay, the Icon of the Seas will have enough family-friendly activities to keep any passenger entertained for its week-long itinerary.

Seven days at sea may seem long, but at least you'll have a floating city to explore at your leisure.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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