It is 20 floors high, has seven pools and a waterfall on board – the world’s largest cruise ship sets sail for the first time. The “Icon of the Seas,” which runs on liquid natural gas, cost two billion euros.
It impresses with its size and features: The “Icon of the Seas” began its maiden voyage in Miami. The world’s largest cruise ship departed from the USA as scheduled. It will be traveling in the Caribbean for seven days.
The ship is 365 meters long, has 20 decks and can accommodate around 8,000 passengers. The “Icon of the Seas,” built in a Finnish shipyard, cost $2 billion, Royal Caribbean said.
Guests can use seven swimming pools, 40 different bars and restaurants, an ice skating rink and an escape room in eight different areas. The company also advertises travel by ship with a 17 meter high waterfall. As reservations for the Icon of the Seas opened, Royal Caribbean reported its strongest booking day in its history.
In addition to a climbing wall, a mini golf course and a casino, the ship has a total of six water slides and a surfing simulator.
Giant ship runs on LNG – environmental activists horrified
The cruise ship is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The shipping company claims that this is particularly environmentally friendly as it reduces sulfur and greenhouse gas emissions. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told multiple media outlets that the “Icon of the Seas” is 24 percent more energy efficient than the International Maritime Organization requires for modern ships. The shipping company plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2035.
Environmental activists are horrified. It’s “a step in the wrong direction,” said Bryan Comer, director of the marine program at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an environmental policy think tank. He estimates that the use of LNG as a marine fuel produces over 120 percent more lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gasoil.