Despite accusations of causing significant environmental damage, the world's largest new cruise ship embarked on its maiden voyage from the port of Miami in Florida yesterday, heading towards the Caribbean. The "Icon of the Seas," operated by Royal Caribbean, has been criticized as a symbol of excess and extravagance in modern industry. It is also the latest addition to the cruise sector, which is recovering after years of the COVID pandemic.
The ship is 365 meters long and consists of 20 decks with 2,805 cabins and 40 restaurants, accommodating 5,610 passengers and a crew of 2,350. It is divided into eight different areas and features seven swimming pools, nine jacuzzis, and a 17-meter tall waterfall. With a gross tonnage of 250,800 tons, it is five times the size of the "Titanic," having been built in a shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The Miami-based company launched its inaugural voyage with famous player Lionel Messi, star of the city's Inter Miami soccer club, as a special guest. The "Icon of the Seas" takes the title of the world's largest cruise ship from its sister ship, "Wonder of the Seas," also operated by Royal Caribbean.
Registered in the Bahamas, the ship is the first vessel from the giant American cruise line that runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which companies in the sector claim is a more environmentally friendly alternative compared to heavy fuel oil, although it does result in methane emissions, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
Additionally, the ship is equipped with a system that converts waste into energy and another for recycling water onboard, according to Royal Caribbean, which promises to reduce the environmental impact of such vessels, a topic that has drawn significant criticism for the cruise industry. During its first journey to the Caribbean, the ship will visit Basseterre, the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis, before heading to Charlotte Amalie in the U.S. Virgin Islands, then to the private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas, to return to Miami at the end of its trip.
