Royal Caribbean’s behemoth, ‘Icon of the Seas’, has sailed out of the Meyer Shipyard in Turku to complete its final set of sea trials before its first sailing early next year.
Icon of the Seas will usher in a new era of travel for Royal Caribbean when she first sets sail in January next year out of Miami.
She will be the biggest cruise ship in the world, capable of holding over 7,000 people across her 18 (guest) decks and 365-metre length.
Over the weekend, Icon of the Seas sailed from her dock at the Meyer Shipyard to begin her second set of sea trials – a range of tests that cannot be completed while docked – to ensure she is 100 per cent functional ahead of delivery to Royal Caribbean.
Sea trials are an important test of a ship’s navigational and technical systems, with this second set of trials being one of the final stages of construction, pushing the ship to ‘her limits’.
Icon is the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet that will use the more sustainable LNG fuel which is considered the cleanest burning fossil fuel available, resulting in virtually zero sulfur dioxides and particulates and a significant reduction in nitros oxides.
Earlier this year, Tim Meyer, the CEO of Meyer Turku told Travel Weekly that LNG is the right fuel to use now, but it was also important to consider what may come in the future, so Icon was designed to ensure compatibility with future systems.
“The biggest challenge is we don’t yet know the technology that will bring us to the ultimate goal, and that is something we are developing and you have to look at different streams,” Meyer, said.
“Which fuel in the future is the right fuel? We have LNG here which at the moment is the right fuel, we can reduce emissions and it (Icon of the Seas) is also fit for purpose for other fuels which might be created.”
Icon of the Seas will set sail for the first time on 27 January next year out of Miami where she will complete both Eastern and Western Caribbean routes year round, all of which will stop in at Royal Caribbean’s exclusive Bahamas island, ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay’.
To be part of cruising history, now is the time to jump at tickets as the final allocation will soon sell out!
