The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Sets Sail Next Year: A Party For Every Caribbean Dreamer

Fancy the need to sail the seas that are the dominion of one Captain Jack Sparrow. Well, if you can wait till January, perhaps you can sail those seas aboard the world’s largest cruise ship.

Dubbed the Icon of the Seas, this new cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International will set sail in early 2024. The massive ship recently finished its first set of trial runs, with more scheduled for later this year.

Icon of the Seas will be delivered to Royal Caribbean in October. This floating giant will take thousands of sun-seekers and their families on weeklong cruises from Miami, with prices currently starting at $1,714 (Rs 1.4 lakh) per individual. Bookings are currently available from March 2024.

The Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage. The Icon of the Seas will weigh approximately 250,800 tonnes when it hits the Caribbean next year.

The Icon of the Seas is the lead ship of Royal Caribbean’s Icon lineup of ships. The world’s largest cruise ship measures 1,198 feet or 365 metres long and features 20 decks. The ship is powered by LNG and

All that space means that the Icon of the Seas can carry 5,610 passengers at double occupancy levels or 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity. The ship also carries 2,350 crew members.

So what is there to keep all those thousands of passengers entertained when on board this 20-deck behemoth? Well, there is Category 6, the six slide waterpark, which includes the Frightening Bolt, the tallest waterslide to sail and Pressure Drop, the first open freefall waterslide on a cruise.

Other features include multiple neighbourhoods, including Surfside, which includes a sprawling aqua park for kids and a pool just for adults. Talking about pools, the Icon of the Seas also features Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea.

The new cruising giant will also be an icon in the night with 15 hotspots, including live music venues to keep you entertained through the night. The biggest nighttime attraction may just be Dueling Pianos, a first-of-its-kind bar in the fleet where you can see baby grand pianos battling it out.

For those looking to chill, there are places to just sit and soak in the sun, and as for living spaces, there are 28 different types of accommodation on offer, including the Ultimate Family Townhouse, a three-storey setup with private patio, cinema room and indoor slide that can sleep up to 8 guests and features three full bathrooms.

The Icon of the Seas more than lives up to its name with its massive size and entertainment options. Add in the fact that the cruises include a visit to a private island, and the Icon of the Seas seems like the ultimate holiday spot for everyone, from kids to the old-timers.