It is officially the largest ship in the world.
The first boat in the Icon class (which will include three) and the latest flagship of the Royal Caribbean fleet, it will begin its first cruise on January 27, 2024, departing from Miami from where it will join the Caribbean.
Until then, this Tuesday, January 23, the
Icon of the Seas
will be inaugurated with great fanfare in the company of all the world's elite of cruising and... Lionel Messi.
The football superstar who, not coincidentally, currently plays in the United States for Inter Miami, - is announced as the "official icon of the
Icon of the Seas".
Remember, however, that Royal Caribbean is also the main sponsor of the football club and its exclusive travel partner.
But, like the Argentine world champion, this ship breaks all records.
Able to accommodate a maximum of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, is the new king of superlatives where vacationers from all over the world (but especially Americans) go to embark with their families.
Some see it as an ocean monster, others as a technological feat.
One thing is certain: he leaves no one indifferent.
250,000 tonnes, seven swimming pools, six water slides, 40 catering outlets, a huge glass dome overlooking the footbridge and - unique in the world - a 16 meter high waterfall.
00,000 liters of paint were needed to dress its... 365 meters long!
One last statistic?
If it were planted in Parisian soil, its size would still allow it to eclipse the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters!
Its cost: 1.65 billion dollars.
Read the fileCruises: our most beautiful destinations in Europe and around the world
900 days of construction
Once on board, there is no fuss.
Everything is indicated to prevent the traveler from the unpleasant sensation of feeling lost.
An army of friendly members dressed in orange T-shirts is there to welcome us and show us how to find our cabin.
The elevators, arranged in groups of nine, are appropriate.
Simply indicate your bridge (there are 20 in total) via one of the touch screens, which immediately tells you which elevator to take.
Although we are on the 12th deck, we are in our cabin just five minutes after entering the ship.
Big doesn't necessarily mean disconcerting.
It is notable that Royal Caribbean was keen to downplay the unprecedented size of the
Icon of the Seas
, or even make it the ship's sole defining feature.
Empire Supper Club, the ship's chic restaurant inspired by old New York.
An eight-course wine pairing menu, ranging from caviar to wagyu, with musical accompaniment from a band playing classic pieces with a twist.
Yan Bernard-Guilbaud / Le Figaro
We talked a lot about the facilities: first of all the eight “districts” each with a specific atmosphere and space, the seven separate swimming pools (a record) - including an
infinite pool
-, the more than 40 catering points (which serve everything from sushi to pizza and crepes to Italian cuisine), the ship's ability to recycle "waste" heat from the engines and convert it into electricity on board or, even, the 14 different types of cabins offered, from the simplest - without view - to the loft.
But the mood is also one of optimism, born from the satisfaction (and, no doubt, a dose of post-pandemic relief) of having successfully completed a major project.
“
When we brought the
Icon of the Seas
into Miami a week ago, we made a lot of noise
,” Michael Bayley, president of Royal Caribbean, told a small group of journalists.
We installed $100,000 worth of speakers on the side of the ship and woke up the city.
We stopped the traffic.
" In all modesty.
First Royal Caribbean ship powered by liquefied natural gas
To build this giant of the seas, the American firm called on the shipbuilding company Meyer Turku, in Finland.
While this is the first collaboration between the two companies, the shipping company has already worked with Meyer Werft, its parent company.
Meyer Turku had to constantly adapt to changes at Royal Caribbean during a production process that lasted two and a half years.
Everything is spectacular on board this ship whose designers have sought to push the limits ever further.
However, the
Icon of the Seas
also wants to stand out through its intended ecological innovations.
It is in fact the first ship ordered by the shipping company powered by liquefied natural gas, thanks to its two “
LNG tanks
”, each weighing 307 tonnes, the weight of 75 elephants.
Although LNG is considered the least polluting fossil energy available to date, its use is singled out, particularly for the methane emissions linked to its extraction.
A boat greener
than
all the others, without losing anything of the “Disneylandesque” side that the American cruise line’s customers – 80% of them families – love.
The objective is no longer to go from point A to point B, since the ship becomes the destination.
Almost everything is included.
On this side, we are rather surprised to see everything that the ship contains without ever feeling cramped.
“Central Park” is an example: a green open-air oasis which, although located in the heart of Bridge 8, is open to the sky, its restaurants and bars sheltering in the shade of trees and green walls .
On deck 5, the “Royal Promenade”, a Royal Caribbean classic, has evolved significantly.
“
It’s a strategic point on board the ship
,” explains Michael Bayley.
This unique layout debuted on the Voyager-class ships in 1999, and has become larger, more elaborate, and more detailed with each new class of ship.
The Promenade is bigger, wider, longer, higher and offers many more experiences.
» Including the “Pearl”.
Pearl, a spherical superstructure composed of 3600 kinetic tiles.
Yan Bernard-Guilbaud / Le Figaro
This spherical superstructure, three decks high and located amidships, extends from deck 5 to Central Park on deck 8. More than a simple support, it is made up of 3600 kinetic tiles and a integrated lighting that creates an impression of water and light through movement and reflections.
“
Pearl is a key part of the Icon structure.
It’s beautiful, it’s artistic, it’s incredibly creative
,” adds the manager.
Certainly, but like the rest of the boat, it's especially very noisy.
The downside in our opinion of this type of ship.
Rover, a true icon of the
Icon
There remained one last novelty to meet before setting foot on earth and already another icon, only six months old: Rover.
Rover has been named Chief Dog Officer and has already toured the world at Icon of the Seas
previews
.
Because, yes, Rover is a golden retriever.
According to Michael Bayley, the arrival of this dog among the crew underlines the family values of the cruise line.
“
We continue to focus on being a family brand.
Many families have a dog, so we thought it would be a wonderful idea to have one too
.”
To meet her, however, you will have to cross the Atlantic:
Icon of the Seas
must sail only in the Caribbean zone.
Reservations: royalcaribbean.fr and by telephone on 0805 11 2000.
Find the entire report very soon in the special Cruises issue of Figaro Magazine.