Featured Image Credit: Royal Caribbean
Topics: Travel, World News
Jess Hardiman
The world’s largest cruise ship that’s five times bigger than the Titanic has filled people with ‘intense dread’ ahead of its maiden voyage.
Aptly named the Icon of the Seas, the colossal ship been built for cruise line Royal Caribbean at a shipyard in Finland, measuring 365 meters long – around 1,200 feet – and weighing in at 250,800 tonnes.
It’s so large (five times bigger than the Titanic, remember?) that it can hold a whopping 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, putting the actual at-sea capacity of the ship at around 10,000 people.
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The ship will first set sail in January 2024, taking passengers on journeys around the world in the lap of luxury, although it’s already made a first journey into open waters, before it is likely to be delivered in October.
Royal Caribbean said everything went to plan in spite of delays to her departure.
“During her first set of sea trials, Icon of the Seas traveled hundreds of miles, during which the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested,” a statement said.
“Everything was done on time as outlined in the schedule, despite her departure being delayed due to wind conditions.”
But while things are looking good for its grand launch at the beginning of next year, not everyone is quite so enamoured by the sheer size of the ship.
While some people said the boat 'looks sick', others said the whole concept gave them 'anxiety'.
One wrote on Twitter: "Every time I see a picture of the Icon of the Seas cruise ship I am filled with an intense dread."
Someone else wrote: "That Icon of the Seas ship actually looks like hell on water. Just looking at the pictures gives me anxiety."
A third said: "This is my personal hell on Earth."
Still, many people were excited at the prospect - not least thanks to the fact it boasts the world’s largest waterpark at sea, featuring no less than six record-breaking slides, as well as seven pools and nine whirlpools.
As well as the ‘Category 6’ waterpark, there’s the AquaDome, which will have shows, a massive viewing area, and the tallest waterfall at sea, measuring 55 feet.
There’s also a full park, a ‘chill island’ pool deck, bars and restaurants, a surf simulator, a mini-golf course, sports court and rock climbing... just to name a few.