World’s Largest Cruise Ship Renderings Divide Opinions With Lavish Vision
Come January 2024, the Icon of the Seas—the largest cruise ship in the world—will make its maiden voyage. Measuring 1,198 feet long and 159 feet wide, there’s evidently nothing small about the vessel, be it in terms of size or the number of offerings.
A total of 20 decks will fit nearly 10,000 passengers and crew onboard, with renderings showcasing the ship decked out in vibrant hues. The highlight, no doubt, is the impressive water slide featured on its stern.
However, it appears not everyone is a fan of the lavish sneak peeks Royal Caribbean unveiled. Some, like professor of psychology Tom Davis, found the pictures “odd” due to the “unsettling” combination of the artist’s chosen perspective and the idea of being packed into a space full of people post-pandemic.
Others, as pointed out by CNN, likened the gargantuan boat to a “pile of decadence” and suggested it be renamed the “Icon of Disease” instead due to its “intricately tacky and vulgar” appearance.
Icon of the Seas looks more like a Hieronymus Bosch painting than a cruise ship. https://t.co/wkmiMncU41 pic.twitter.com/BONzLaoHJk
— Tay ð“…“ (@GrizzlyPhantoms) July 10, 2023
In fact, users on social media even went as far as to compare the layout of the ship’s overladen stern to circles of hell as depicted by Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch in his iconic works.
This response, although concerning, doesn’t necessarily mean the Icon of the Seas will be met with disdain when it finally sets sail. As Davis suggested, many of the polarized opinions could be attributed to the fact that the render portrays it as a “short, over-tall, stacked vessel.”
In real life, the actual ship could look much different. It’s likely much longer than it appears to be in the illustration and may not induce the same feeling of claustrophobia as it currently does.
Of course, the choice as to whether a traveler decides to go on the cruise or not will ultimately depend on personal experiences.
For those who don’t find the bustle off-putting, there’s an abundance of activities awaiting, from a surf simulator to a rock climbing wall, a mini golf course, and over 40 restaurants and bars.
[via CNN and stupidDOPE, images via Royal Caribbean]
