Incredible video footage shows world’s biggest cruise ship Icon of the Seas out on the open water for the first time ahead of her 2024 debut as her ‘record-breaking experiences’ take shape

• The Royal Caribbean ship sailed hundreds of miles before returning to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland
• The vessel is 1,198ft (365m) long, weighs 250,800 gross tonnes and can carry up to 7,600 passengers
• READ MORE: Flight expert films an A380 trip to New York in Singapore Airlines’ ‘Suites’ class

Royal Caribbean’s floating city has been filmed out on the open water for the first time as she underwent sea trials ahead of her January 2024 launch.

Icon of the Seas, which is the world’s biggest cruise ship, sailed hundreds of miles on the open sea before returning to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, where she’s currently under construction.

Incredible video footage shows the colossal vessel, which is 1,198ft (365m) long and weighs 250,800 gross tonnes, gliding through the water, dwarfing the tug boats employed to help steer her.

The camera also spins around the multi-coloured slides on the upper deck of the vessel. They are among some of the standout features on board, which will also include the first suspended infinity pool at sea and a three-storey family suite. 

A third scene offers a close-up of the ship’s livery, while other clips show workers testing the ship’s key technical areas.

Royal Caribbean’s floating city – Icon of the Seas – has been filmed out on the open water for the first time as she underwent sea trials ahead of her January 2024 launch

Icon of the Seas sailed hundreds of miles before returning to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, where she’s under construction

Incredible video footage spins around the multi-coloured slides on the upper deck of the vessel, which are among some of the standout features on board

Icon of the Seas is the world’s biggest cruise ship, taking the title from another Royal Caribbean vessel – Wonder of the Seas 

Carrying out the sea trials involved more than 2,000 specialists, four 37 to 67-tonne tugboats and more than 350 hours of work, Royal Caribbean reveals. 

It notes that during the trials, preliminary tests were carried out on everything from the main engines and the hull to the ship’s brake system, steering and noise levels. 

However, it says that Icon of the Seas – which has a capacity for 7,600 guests – passed its first sea trials ‘with flying colours’, with its second sea trial due to take place later this year.

The latest construction update for the ship is that the ‘crew neighbourhood’ is being built. A space spread over four decks, it’s designed to be a ‘home away from home’ for the 2,350 crew members on board.

The video shows the colossal vessel, which is 1,198ft (365m) long and weighs 250,800 gross tonnes, gliding through the water

Carrying out the sea trials involved more than 2,000 specialists, four 37 to 67-tonne tugboats and more than 350 hours of work, Royal Caribbean reveals

Royal Caribbean says that Icon of the Seas passed its first sea trials ‘with flying colours’ 

The ‘crew neighbourhood’, spread over four decks, is currently being built. It’s designed to be a ‘home away from home’ for the 2,350 crew members on board

Icon of the Seas is taking the title of the world’s biggest cruise ship from another Royal Caribbean vessel, Wonder of the Seas, which is slightly smaller at 1,187ft (362m) long and a weight of 236,857 gross tonnes. 

The ship’s three-storey family suite comes complete with its own white picket fence and mailbox. Other room options for guests include the ‘Surfside Family Suite’, with alcoves for kids ‘tucked away from the adults’, ‘Sunset Corner Suites’ and ‘Panoramic Ocean View’ quarters.

Once they’re out of bed, guests will find so many water features they may have trouble distinguishing the boat from the ocean.

The video shows workers testing the ship’s key technical areas. Preliminary tests were carried out on everything from the main engines to the brake system 

The vessel is debuting in Miami and will sail seven-night Caribbean voyages throughout 2024

The Royal Caribbean footage shows workers carrying out noise and vibration measurements during the sea trials 

One unique feature on the vessel is a three-storey family suite that comes complete with its own white picket fence and mailbox

For starters, Icon of the Seas will feature the largest waterpark at sea – called ‘Category 6’ – containing six ‘record-breaking’ slides: ‘Pressure Drop’ and its 66-degree incline – ‘the industry’s first open free-fall slide’; the 46ft- (14m) tall ‘Frightening Bolt’, the tallest drop slide at sea; ‘Storm Surge’ and ‘Hurricane Hunter’, the first family raft slides at sea – and ‘Storm Chasers’, which Royal Caribbean claims is ‘cruising’s first mat-racing duo’. 

The waterpark will be on Thrill Island, which Royal Caribbean trumpets as a ‘lost island adventure where vacationers can test their limits and scale new heights’.

Icon of the Seas will also debut the line’s first swim-up bar at sea – called ‘Swim & Tonic’ – and ‘Royal Bay Pool’, the ‘largest pool at sea’. Both of these features will be on ‘Chill Island’.

 Icon of the Seas will feature the largest waterpark at sea – called ‘Category 6’ – containing six ‘record-breaking’ slides, as shown in this rendering

A suspended infinity pool will be located in an area called The Hideaway – shown in the rendering above – and will be surrounded by a multilevel sun terrace with whirlpools

 This rendering shows the ‘AquaDome’, where guests can enjoy a drink while soaking up wraparound ocean views and gazing at an ‘awe-inspiring waterfall’

Above is a Sky Junior Suite on the vessel. Other room options include the ‘Surfside Family Suite’, with alcoves for kids ‘tucked away from the adults’ and ‘Panoramic Ocean View’ quarters

 Tickets for Icon of the Seas’ cruises are on sale now 

The suspended infinity pool, meanwhile, will be in an area called The Hideaway and surrounded by a multilevel sun terrace with whirlpools. 

Once guests have dried off they’re sure to be lured to ‘AquaDome’, a ‘transformational place unlike any other’ that’s perched at the top of the ship. 

Royal Caribbean describes it as a ‘tranquil oasis by day’, where guests can enjoy a bite or drink while soaking up wraparound ocean views and gazing at an ‘awe-inspiring waterfall’.

By night, we’re told, the venue becomes ‘a vibrant place that’s great for a night out, complete with restaurants, bars and aqua shows’.

Icon of the Seas is bound to be popular but there have been some negative reactions to its design on Twitter – for instance, user ‘dluque’ labelled the vessel a ‘monstrosity’. 

The vessel is debuting in Miami and will sail seven-night Caribbean voyages throughout 2024. Tickets are now on sale for its cruises – go to royalcaribbean.com.

ICON OF THE SEAS BY THE NUMBERS

20 decks

1,198ft (365m) long 

2,350 crew

7 pools 

9 whirlpools

6 waterslides

7,600 guest capacity

250,000 GT 

2,805 staterooms 

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