World’s Largest Cruise Ship—Setting Sail In 2024—Will Have Drop Slide & Skywalk

Royal Caribbean recently welcomed the latest addition to its popular fleet of cruises, with the Icon of the Seas being the world’s largest yet. 

Scheduled to set sail on the open seas from January 28, 2024, the gargantuan vessel can hold up to 7,600 passengers at once, measuring 1,200 feet long and 20-decks high, weighing a jaw-dropping 250,800 tons. 

According to the company, the ship will become the industry’s “first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation,” comprising spaces modeled after beach resorts, theme park adventures, including the largest waterpark at sea, and any other kind of holiday you can dream up. 

When you’re not swimming in the pool or soaking up the vibes on deck, the cruise will offer over 40 new and returning dining, bar, and nightlife options for guests, with eight different neighborhoods to choose from. 

Firstly, visitors can put their nerves to the test at Thrill Island, with the waterpark's six record-breaking slides—including the first open free-fall slide and the tallest drop slide at sea—and a skywalk ropes course that will elevate you 154 feet above the ocean.

If that’s not your thing, there’s always Chill Island, comprising seven swimming pools with excellent ocean views, complete with the inaugural swim-up bar at sea, an infinity-edge Cove Pool, and a special adults-only retreat to get away from the noise.

Families can try their hand at Surfside, with pools dedicated to children and even a carousel and arcade for teens to spend the day at. The Hideaway, which will contain the first suspended infinity pool at sea, offers multilevel sun terraces with whirlpools to kick back and relax at, together with a dedicated bar. 

Accommodation-wise, Icon of the Sea will allow guests to choose from new suite layouts, depending on the size of your crew. There’s even a three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, with your own mailbox and white picket fence onboard the cruise. 

Interestingly, the vessel’s debut will also signal the first step of the firm’s journey towards a more sustainable future, and will be the first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG)—the cleanest marine fuel—and decked out with fuel cell technology, waste heat recovery systems, and other eco-friendly measures. 

The ship will be sailing throughout the year, with seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami, with a stop along the way at Perfect Bay resort at CocoCay in The Bahamas. 

Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.

[via Forbes and Royal Caribbean, images via Royal Caribbean]