Stunning images have been revealed showing the world's largest cruise ship – the Icon of the Seas – arriving in Miami for the first time ahead of its official debut on January 27th.
Marking the start of a “new era of vacation,” local residents and Royal Caribbean fans, executives and employees were first on site to see Miami’s newest resident.
royal Caribbean said, “Icon arrived in PortMiami in style, with celebratory fireboat salutes, flying banner planes and a community celebration at the Pérez Art Museum to mark many visitors' first appearance in the Magic City on the new holiday.”
“With the launch of the world’s best family vacation less than 20 days away, Icon will continue its final preparations in Miami ahead of an iconic naming ceremony and first cruise.”
Icon's first cruise will be a seven-day excursion from Miami to the Caribbean.
Stunning images have been revealed showing the world's largest cruise ship – the Icon of the Seas – arriving in Miami for the first time ahead of its official debut on January 27th
Marking the start of a “new era of vacation,” local residents and Royal Caribbean fans, executives and employees were first on site to see Miami’s newest resident
The huge ship has 20 decks, 2,350 crew members, 2,805 cabins and space for 7,600 passengers.
The costs? A cool $2 billion (£1.58 billion).
Passengers can enjoy eight neighborhoods and “adrenaline-pumping thrills” like “record-breaking waterslides,” seven pools (one for every day of the week, Royal Caribbean says), nine hot tubs and a huge selection of restaurants.
There are more than 40 restaurants on board and an entertainment program that defies the demands on deck.
Royal Caribbean said: “The icon arrived in style at PortMiami, with ceremonial gun salutes from fireboats, flying banner planes and a community celebration at the Pérez Art Museum.”
Icon's first cruise will be a seven-day excursion from Miami to the Caribbean on January 27th
Icon will cruise the Caribbean year-round from Miami, with itineraries including “idyllic destinations” and stops at the “award-winning private island” Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.
A fascinating video was recently released revealing key moments in the construction of Icon.
The footage shows the first steel cutting in Turku, Finland, in June 2021, the finished ship undergoing sea trials in June 2023, and the delivery of the huge ship in November of the same year.
Icon will cruise the Caribbean year-round from Miami, with itineraries including “idyllic destinations” and stops at the “award-winning private island” Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas
The huge ship has 20 decks, 2,350 crew members, 2,805 cabins and space for 7,600 passengers
Passengers can enjoy eight neighborhoods and “adrenaline-pumping thrills” like “record-breaking waterslides,” seven pools (one for every day of the week, Royal Caribbean says), nine hot tubs and a huge selection of restaurants
There are more than 40 restaurants on board and an entertainment program that defies the demands on deck
In between these moments, the clip shows several eye-opening feats, including the installation of a 90-foot-long liquefied natural gas tank, the laying of the keel in April 2022, and the lifting of the steel “Pearl,” which weighs more than a Boeing 747, onto the ship.
Another impressive moment in the video is shipbuilder Meyer Turku lifting the 363-ton AquaDome.
The company commented: “At 50 meters.” [164ft] wide and 25 meters [82ft] With its height, the AquaDome is the largest single-piece glass-steel structure ever lifted onto a ship.” The operation took 80 hours.
Buoy, oh buoy! Spectacular photos show the arrival of the world's largest cruise ship Icon of the Seas in Miami