Icon of the Seas cruise ship (Image: Royal Caribbean)
Icon Of The Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, made a splash as it embarked on its inaugural voyage last week.
The behemoth vessel has already generated a staggering ￡5 million in advance sales, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience when it sets sail in January.
The ￡1.5 billion Royal Caribbean ship boasts some seriously extravagant features, including an unrivalled onboard waterpark, complete with the world's first free-fall slide at sea.
Thrill-seekers can plummet down a jaw-dropping 66-degree incline drop, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of pink and green spaghetti-like slides on the upper deck known as Thrill Island.
The ship is also home to zip-line suspended 154 ft above the ocean, a rock-climbing wall, and an obstacle course.
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The ￡1.5 billion Royal Caribbean ship boasts an unrivalled onboard waterpark (Image: Royal Caribbean)
For those seeking a touch of nostalgia, an arcade and a lively karaoke bar promise 'endless hours of fun'.
The sheer size of this boat is mind-boggling. Accommodating up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, the ship offers the largest cabin at sea—a three-story "townhouse" capable of comfortably housing eight individuals.
It also has a unique feature - a 35 ft red slide that allows guests to slide from the top floor all the way down to the bottom. One passenger jokingly said: "If you leave your shoes in the kitchen and you are in the bedroom, it's a pretty fun way to retrieve them."
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The interior cabins of the Icon of the Seas (Image: Royal Caribbean)
Stretching an impressive 1,198 ft in length and towering over the waves with a height of twenty decks, Icon Of The Seas eclipses its predecessor, Wonder Of The Seas, by an additional 10 ft. With a gross tonnage of 250,800, this maritime titan surpasses the size of the legendary Titanic by a factor of five.
While some critics dismiss the ship as a "garish monstrosity," it has captured the hearts and wallets of eager travellers. A spokesperson for the cruise liner revealed that the ship has shattered sales records, with January voyages almost completely sold out. Setting sail from Miami, Icon Of The Seas promises to embark on four enchanting cruises around the vibrant Caribbean, leaving passengers with memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Powered by liquified natural gas, Icon Of The Seas has six engines, generating a staggering 67,500 kW (90,520 hp) of power.
Royal Caribbean's CEO, Michael Bayley, lauded the monumental efforts invested in the ship, declaring, "Looking at the energy and time that has gone into this ship, it's mind-blowing."
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