Royal Caribbean International, a unit of Royal Caribbean, has taken delivery of its LNG-powered Icon of the Seas from Finland’s Meyer Turku.
After 900 days of design and construction by thousands of experts, Royal Caribbean International welcomed the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas to the family on November 27, it said in a statement.
Meyer Turku started building this vessel in June 2021, and laid the keel in April 2022.
The unit of Meyer Werft launched Royal Caribbean International’s 365 meters long Icon of the Seas in December last year.
In June, the vessel completed its first sea trials and recently wrapped up its second sea trials.
Royal Caribbean International and Meyer Turku claim this is the world’s largest cruise ship.
The cruise company said the vessel’s maiden voyage is scheduled to be in January 2024, when it will set sail from Miami for a week-long cruise in the Caribbean.
Icon of the Seas is also the cruise line’s first ship that can be powered by LNG.
This new Icon Class series of ships will comprise three luxury liners with a tonnage of about 250,800 GT and enough room for up to 5,610 passengers.
Meyer Turku plans to deliver the second vessel in 2025, followed by the third ship in 2026.
Besides these vessels, Royal Caribbean International has also an LNG-powered ship under construction at French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
