Whether you love cruising or just the thought of hitting the road, it’s impossible not to be impressed by Icon of the Seas, the new Royal Caribbean International ship that’s set to steal the title of world’s largest cruise ship from Wonder of the Seas. (also owned by Royal Caribbean) when it departs next month.
Longer than three football fields and standing 20 stories high (equivalent to an 18-story building), Icon is a massive 250,800 GT vehicle that might more aptly be called the Leviathan of the Seas and can accommodate up to 9,950 passengers and crew. By comparison, its sister ship Wonder is only 235,600GT and has 9,288.
With seven swimming pools, six water slides, a waterfall, an ice rink, a FlowRider surf park, thousands of cabins and more than 40 places to eat, drink and be merry, it’s hard to believe the Icon will even stay afloat. But it is. This was proven during the first sea trials in June.
Delivered to Royal Caribbean at the end of November, Icon was rolled out of the shipyard before freezing and is making a pitstop in Cadiz, Spain, so real bushes can be planted (it’s too cold to do this in Finland). Crossing the Atlantic to the ship’s new home in Miami.
A lot of time, energy and engineering know-how has gone into making such a giant seaworthy and safe, with its first passengers boarding in January 2024. Here are some important things you need to know to put your mind at ease.
How are they building the world’s largest ship?
Ships are built according to a formula based on length and width, providing support and stability between them. Dr. is the consultant naval architect who designed Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. “In the early days it was a bit of a moving target,” says Stephen Payne. “But now, with computers, it’s much easier. “You enter the data, press a button, and you’re done.”
Once the structure has been decided, engineers must calculate what is needed on the ship and where it needs to go; It is very important to maintain the center of gravity. Absolutely everything is weighed: hull and structure, machinery, fuel, cabins, carpets, curtain rails, tables, chairs, crockery and cutlery.
“It could take months for the calculations to be done,” says Payne. “Then you add an amount for errors, passengers and luggage, and based on that you decide what you can actually put on the plane. “This is when naval engineers and naval architects disagree.”
What is a sea trial?
According to Payne, the trials are the fun part. During this exercise, the captain performs emergency stops, handbrake turns, and zigzag movements in the ocean to see how the ship moves.
After taking her first steps in June, Icon was sent back to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland for completion of her interior. In late October and early November the ship put to sea once more; engines, steering and noise/vibration tested.
What if there is an emergency?
Following the 2012 Costa Concordia disaster, it is no surprise that safety was frequently cited as a concern alongside Icon of the Seas. But working out how to evacuate up to 10,000 people in an emergency in the middle of the ocean, possibly in the dark, is an integral part of the design process.
By running numerous simulations, computers calculate how long it would take to get everyone off the ship, taking into account that the elevators are disabled (they are already inaccessible in an emergency in the event of a power outage) and how large the staircases and lobby are. The areas must be capable of carrying a large number of people at the same time.
Under SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations, all passengers are required to take part in a muster exercise before their ship departs. On Royal Caribbean, they watch a safety video explaining emergency procedures, including how to put on a life jacket, then visit muster stations where crew trained on what to do in an emergency go through the procedures.
Of course, not every emergency requires evacuation. For example, if a fire breaks out in a cabin or galley, the captain will likely ask everyone to gather and account until the fire is extinguished.
If the worst were to happen and the captain decides to abandon ship, Royal Caribbean has 18 lifeboats and numerous other life-saving evacuation vessels on board; These provide more than enough assurance to evacuate all passengers and crew safely.
Getting lost is not like that
Icon of the Seas has a large gym, but when you walk the length of the ship several times a day, the round trip can take five minutes or more if your cabin is at one end and you’re heading the other way. the other – and you climbed 20 decks up and down because you can’t be bothered waiting for the elevator, who needs training?
The good news is that finding your way around Icon is pretty easy. Take your bearings from lush Central Park, with real trees and bushes in the center, and lively Thrill Island, with water slides and a ropes course out back. And if you’ve ever been to a waterfall, you’ve discovered AquaDome.
If you get lost, just tap your destination on one of the touch screen panels next to the elevator and voila, your route will be displayed.
How long does it take to land (and come back up)?
On embarkation day, passengers board through two passages that open into the atrium. On port days when everyone goes ashore, up to four piers will be in use.
Payne estimates they can screen 60 passengers per minute (or 120 passengers if each operates two checkpoints). Will there be queues? “During busy times this is probably unavoidable,” he admits.
Will it be crowded?
Computer simulations are used to calculate passenger flows in public areas and the size and frequency of elevators needed to move people. Payne likens this to airports having to increase boarding procedures to cater for A380 aircraft.
But don’t let the numbers scare you, says David Selby, managing director of port consultancy Travelyields. You can always find a quiet place on any ship.
How do they feed so many people?
When it comes to dining, Icon of the Seas has a main galley where most dishes are prepared, as well as several smaller galleys. With over 20 eateries to choose from, no one will go hungry, but making early reservations at your favorite restaurants and avoiding self-service during peak hours is highly recommended.
Can a ship this size really fit into ports?
Icon is a floating city on the sea and is packed with more restaurants and activities than most holiday hotels and probably more than most cities in the UK. In fact, it’s so jam-packed with things to do that some people never get off.
However, this does not apply to everyone. Icon will sail from Miami in January and island hop around the Caribbean ports of St Maarten, Mexico, St Thomas, St Kitts and Honduras. All of these allow disembarkation.
The ship will also call at Perfect Day on Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay in the Bahamas. By sticking to Caribbean waters, Icon will avoid trying to reach some of the world’s less accessible ports.
how to
The seven-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise with Icon of the Seas starts from £1,609 per person; Leaving in February 2024.