Icon-class cruise ship
{{Short description|Class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Italic title|string=Icon}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Icon of the Seas (kahunapulej).jpg | Ship caption = {{ship | Icon of the Seas}} in PortMiami
}}{{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = Meyer Turku, Turku, Finland | Operators = Royal Caribbean International | Class before = * {{sclass|Quantum|cruise ship|4}}
| Class after = | Subclasses = |In service | Total ships building = 2 | Total ships planned = 6 | Total ships completed = 1 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 1 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cruise ship| | Ship tonnage = {{GT|248,663–250,800}} | Ship length = {{cvt|364.75|m|ftin}} | Ship beam = {{cvt|48.47|m|ftin}} | Ship height = {{cvt|75.6|m|ftin}} | Ship draught = {{cvt|9.25|m|ftin}} | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 20 | Ship power = *3{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}Wärtsilä 14V46DF, {{cvt|16030|kW|hp-metric}} each
| Ship propulsion = *Diesel-electric; 3{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}{{cvt|20|MW}} ABB Azipod, all azimuthing
| Ship speed = {{convert|22|knots}} | Ship capacity = *5,610 passengers (double occupancy) }} |
The Icon class (formally Project Icon) is a class of cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean International to be built by Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. As of 2024 this class is the largest cruise ship class ever constructed. Royal Caribbean plans to have at least four Icon-class ships, which will include Icon of the Seas (entered service in 2024), Star of the Seas (entering service in 2025), Legend of the Seas (entering service in 2026) and an unnamed fourth ship (planned to enter service in 2027). It also has an option for two additional ships.
History
On 10 October 2016, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku announced an order to build two ships under the project name "Icon".{{cite press release|title=Powered By LNG and Fuel Cells, Royal Caribbean International's New Ships Will Ride the Wave of the Future |date=10 October 2016|publisher=Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1279/powered-by-lng-and-fuel-cells-royal-caribbean-internationals-new-ships-will-ride-the-wave-of-the-future/|access-date=3 February 2017|work=Royal Caribbean Press Center}} Icon of the Seas was delivered on 27 November 2023, and the second ship, Star of the Seas, is expected to be delivered in 2025.{{cite press release|title=Meyer Turku wins two new large cruise ship orders from Royal Caribbean|date=11 October 2016|url=http://www.meyerturku.fi/en/meyerturku_com/media/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detailansicht_12672.jsp|access-date=3 February 2017|work=Meyer Turku Oy|archive-date=14 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014174152/http://www.meyerturku.fi/en/meyerturku_com/media/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detailansicht_12672.jsp|url-status=dead}} The ships will be classified by DNV.{{cite web|date=8 May 2018|title=DNV GL sorgt bei Turku-Schiffen für Klasse|trans-title=DNV GL provides class on Turku ships|url=https://www.hansa-online.de/2018/05/featured/98972/dnv-gl-sorgt-bei-turku-schiffen-fuer-klasse/|access-date=9 May 2018|language=de}}
Royal Caribbean applied to register a trademark for "Icon of the Seas" in 2016, which was at the time suggested as an indication of the name of the first ship.{{cite web|author=Matt Hochberg|title=Royal Caribbean files trademark for Icon of the Seas ship name|date=22 October 2016 |url=http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/10/22/royal-caribbean-files-trademark-icon-of-the-seas-ship-name|access-date=4 January 2017|publisher=Royal Caribbean Blog}}
On 2 July 2019, Royal Caribbean announced an order for a third ship in the "Icon" class. The third ship is planned to be delivered in 2026,{{update after|2026}} one year after Star of the Seas.{{cite web|date=2 July 2019|title=Royal Caribbean Inks Deal for Third Icon Class Ship for 2025 Delivery|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21175-royal-caribbean-inks-deal-for-third-icon-class-ship-for-2025-delivery.html|access-date=2 July 2019|website=Cruise Industry News|language=en-gb}}{{Cite press release|url=https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/34/royal-caribbean-fleet-expansion-cruises-to-clean-energy-future/|title=Royal Caribbean Fleet Expansion Cruises to Clean-energy Future|website=Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Press Center|publisher=Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.|access-date=21 October 2019}}
Steel-cutting for Icon of the Seas began on 14 June 2021,{{Cite web |date=16 June 2021 |title=Meyer Turku cuts steel for Royal Caribbean's newly named Icon of the Seas |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/shipbuilding-refurb-equipment/meyer-turku-cuts-steel-royal-caribbeans-newly-named-icon-seas |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=seatrade-cruise.com |language=en}} and the keel was laid on 5 April 2022.{{Cite web |date=5 April 2022 |title=Meyer Turku lays the keel for Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/shipbuilding-refurb-equipment/meyer-turku-lays-keel-royal-caribbeans-icon-seas |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=seatrade-cruise.com |language=en}}
Steel-cutting for the second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, began on 15 February 2023.{{Cite web |title=The Next Iconic Adventure Begins With Royal Caribbean's Second Icon Class Ship |url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1634/the-next-iconic-adventure-begins-with-royal-caribbeans-second-icon-class-ship// |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com |language=en}} Parts of the ship are built at Meyer Werft, Papenburg{{cite web|url=https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/kreuzfahrt-schwesterschiff-der-icon-of-the-seas-im-nord-ostsee-kanal-CCJVCTHZ7VAOXA3H4OV2ZAGUOA.html|date=2024-02-10|accessdate=2024-02-12|language=german|title=Wie das Schwesterschiff der "Icon of the Seas" durch den Kanal kommt|archive-date=10 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210165133/https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/kreuzfahrt-schwesterschiff-der-icon-of-the-seas-im-nord-ostsee-kanal-CCJVCTHZ7VAOXA3H4OV2ZAGUOA.html|url-status=live}} and also at Gdańsk shipyard Marine Projects Ltd.{{cite web | url=https://www.marinepoland.com/the-stern-block-for-the-second-icon-is-departing-from-gdansk-to-finland-2017 | title=The stern block for the second Icon is departing from Gdańsk to Finland [video] - ZielonaGospodarka.pl }}{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy2wUS_qQro | title=Blok rufowy dla drugiego Icona rusza z Gdańska do Finlandii | website=YouTube | date=23 January 2024 }}
Icon of the Seas arrived in her home port of PortMiami on 10 January 2024 for the first time after leaving Europe in December, with the inaugural passenger sailing occurring on 27 January 2024.{{Cite web |title=Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, arrives at PortMiami |url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/icon-of-the-seas-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ship-arrives-at-portmiami/3202224/ |website=nbcmiami.com |date=10 January 2024 |language=en}}
Steel-cutting for the third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, began in January 2024.{{Cite web |author=Elizabeth Wright|date=12 January 2024|title=First steel cut for Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class cruise ship {{!}} Royal Caribbean Blog |url=https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2024/01/12/first-steel-cut-royal-caribbeans-third-icon-class-cruise-ship |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=royalcaribbeanblog.com |language=en}}
In August 2024 an order for a fourth ship to be delivered in 2027{{update after|2027}} was announced and options for two additional ships.{{cite web|url=https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/213/royal-caribbean-group-signs-agreement-with-meyer-turku-for-the-next-ship-in-its-revolutionary-icon-class-adds-options-for-additional-icon-class-ships/|title=Royal Caribbean Group Signs Agreement with Meyer Turku for the Next Ship in its Revolutionary Icon Class; Adds Options for Additional Icon Class Ships|date=2024-08-27|accessdate=2024-08-27}}
Design
The ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas, with a gross tonnage of about 250,800 GT. Ships will contain other alternative energy features, like the use of fuel cells to produce electricity and fresh water. They will have a capacity of 5,600 berths.{{Cite web|date=5 August 2021|title=Form 10-Q Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd|url=https://sec.report/Document/0000884887-21-000018/|access-date=20 October 2021|website=sec.report|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805131046/https://sec.report/Document/0000884887-21-000018/|url-status=dead}}
The Icon class is the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature a parabolic bow design, which is intended to aid stability and provide smoother motion.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=Icon of the Seas looks like it will have a new bow design for Royal Caribbean |url=https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/09/06/icon-of-the-seas-looks-it-will-have-new-bow-design-royal-caribbean |access-date=28 June 2023 |work=Royal Caribbean Blog |language=en}}
In 2020, the director of projects and facilities at Nassau Cruise Port said that the specifications for the Icon class indicate it would be larger than the {{sclass|Oasis|cruise ship|4}}.{{Cite web|date=20 November 2020|title=Nassau port advances as Bahamas expects an edge in cruise recovery|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/nassau-port-advances-bahamas-expects-edge-cruise-recovery|access-date=17 December 2020|website=seatrade-cruise.com|language=en}} Later, in May 2022, Royal Caribbean confirmed that Icon of the Seas would be bigger than the Oasis class.{{Cite web |last=Huxley |first=Lucy |title=Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas to be 'bigger than Oasis-class' |url=http://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/royal-caribbeans-icon-of-the-seas-to-be-bigger-than-oasis-class |date=10 May 2022 |website=Travel Weekly |language=en}}
Ships
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite news |last=Yeğinsu |first=Ceylan |date=2024-08-27 |title=Another Icon-of-the-Seas-Style Megaship? Make That 3 More. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/travel/icon-of-the-seas-new-ships.html |access-date=2024-08-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |url-access=subscription}}
{{Royal Caribbean International cruise ships}}