World’s biggest cruise ship to launch in January

The 365-meter, 250,800-ton ship will also be 20-stories tall.

Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told CNN the Icon of the Seas will embark on its maiden voyage January 2024. With a capacity to host 5,610 guests and a crew of 2,350, the ship will host the largest water park at sea, seven swimming pools and six record-breaking water slides.

With 28 different room classes, the Icon of the Seas caters to groups of guests traveling with families. Bayley has declared the Icon of the Seas as the company’s “best-performing new product launch ever,” as cited by CNN.

The cruise ship was built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku City, Finland, and completed its first test run on June 22. Around 2,600 workers were involved in its construction.

Once operational, the ship will embark on year-round voyages, offering a seven-day itinerary from Miami, the U.S., to the East and West Caribbean, and vice versa, according to CNN.

Room rates vary depending on the schedule and travel dates. The highest-priced journey is a Western Caribbean cruise on February 17, 2024, with the cheapest room starting at $1,581 per person and a suite at $3,443 per person.

A seven-night trip to the Eastern Caribbean on October 19, 2024, starts at $1,007 per person, while a more luxurious room costs $2,879.