World’s Largest Cruise Ship, Icon Of The Seas, Begins Its First Voyage From Miami

The largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas, sailed for its inaugural voyage on January 27 from the Port of Miami, Florida. The enormous ship, which the Royal Caribbean Group owns, is around 1,200 feet tall, weighs 250,800 gross tons, and has 20 decks with 2,350 crew members and 7,600 passengers. Attracting attention from record-breaking amenities, the ship, worth $2 billion, has seven swimming pools, six water slides, and more than forty restaurants, bars, and lounges.

The cruise ship is registered in the Bahamas and runs on LNG, considered more environmentally friendly than conventional marine fuels. Environmentalists, however, are concerned that the LNG-powered engines may release methane emissions that could worsen climate change. Over 20 years, methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is known to trap more heat than carbon dioxide.

Critics claim that the use of LNG may still result in more than 120% greater life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil, even if Royal Caribbean claims that the Icon of the Seas is 24% more energy-efficient than the requirements set forth by the International Maritime Organization for new ships. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) published a paper questioning accepted wisdom regarding methane emissions from vessels powered by LNG to reduce global warming.

The Cruise Lines International Association estimates that in 2021 the fast-expanding cruise industry will have added $75 billion to the world economy. During its inaugural trip, the Icon of the Seas will visit seven Caribbean islands, including stops in Saint Kitts & Nevis and Charlotte Amalie in the US Virgin Islands.

Royal Caribbean intends to launch a ship with net-zero emissions by 2035, and the Icon of the Seas is one of their ambitious plans. The cruise liner has attracted much interest from cruise enthusiasts despite environmental concerns. Travelers are excited about the ship’s unique amenities, including the most significant sea ice arena, a cantilevered infinity pool, and a 17,000-square-foot water park. According to Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, Icon of the Seas is the subject that has been studied the most for 2024 on the website.

The next ship of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, dubbed Star of the Seas, is being built in Finland and is expected to debut in August 2025. In response to consumer needs, the cruise company has developed eight unique onboard “neighbourhoods” that appeal to various interests and demographics, improving the cruise experience.

Environmentalists continue to be concerned about the possible ecological effects of enormous cruise ships despite the ship’s magnificence and inventive design. They are pleading with the industry to prioritise sustainable practices to address climate issues.

In a recent event, the Icon of the Seas was officially named by football Icon Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the Aquadome, part of the upper deck of the ship crowned by the 82-foot-tall steel and glass, which houses a bar, Royal Caribbean’s first food hall, a 55-foot-tall water curtain feature, and a theatre where high divers perform. Lionel Messi blessed the ship with a football that Captain Henrik Loy had given him during the celebration. Before using the ball to set off a champagne bottle to break on the ship’s bow, Messi introduced the ship as the “Icon Of The Seas” and spoke Spanish. Messi and his teammates attended the traditional ship-naming ceremony. They later participated in an event honouring the partnership between Inter Miami and Royal Caribbean, where Messi was acknowledged as the ship’s godfather or “icon.”

Reference: BBC, CNN

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