World’s largest cruise ship embarks on maiden voyage from Miami | Travel

The biggest in the world cruise ship — the size of nearly four city blocks — will begin its maiden voyage Saturday when it departs from the Port of Miami.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas runs nearly 1,200 feet (365 meters) from bow to stern.

The ship, which is leaving South Florida for its first seven-day journey across the island through the tropics, was officially christened on Tuesday with the help of soccer legend Lionel Messi and his teammates of Inter Miami.

“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and living out our mission – to provide the best vacation experiences in the world in a responsible way,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group. said earlier this week. “She is the ultimate. multigenerational family vacation, forever changing the status quo in family travel and fulfilling vacation dreams for all ages on board.

The ship sets sail as Royal Caribbean cruises have a moment online. Since December, the company’s 9-month “Ultimate World Cruise” has captivated — and confused — a following of avid observers on social media.

Millions follow the journey through the eyes of the passengers, as they live and post their lives on board a vessel that stays for almost a year. If it sounds like a reality show, that’s exactly what some observers have turned it into.

When the Icon of the Seas was unveiled for the first time in October 2022, the ship spurred the biggest booking day and the highest booking week in Royal Caribbean’s 53-year history, according to the cruise line.

The Icon of the Seas is divided into eight quarters in 20 bridges. The ship includes six water slides, seven swimming pools, an ice skating rink, a theater and more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges. The ship can carry up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, with 2,350 crew members.

It is powered by six dual-fuel engines, which can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel alternative that the International Cruise Lines Association says reduces sulfur and greenhouse gas emissions. However, some environmentalists worry that LNG-powered ships will increase methane emissions. Others say vacationers generate eight times more carbon on a cruise than on land.

Royal Caribbean says every kilowatt used on the Icon of the Seas “is voted for energy efficiency and emissions reduction.”

This story was published by a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the title has been changed.