Construction on the Icon of the Seas began at Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland in June 2021. Not only was she designed to be the world’s largest cruise ship and the first in Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class of vessels, she was meant to redefine what a cruise ship could be.
With cutting-edge, family-friendly amenities, environmentally-conscious technologies, and unparalleled luxury, designing and constructing the Icon of the Seas wasn’t easy, but she set sail on her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024, helping to make a truly iconic step forward for Royal Caribbean International and the cruise industry as a whole.
In This Article:
The Vision
From the very beginning, Royal Caribbean International’s vision for Icon of the Seas was incredibly ambitious. The designers wanted to construct a cruise ship that would be record-breaking in scale and revolutionary, capable of providing the “world’s best family vacation at sea.”
The goal was to achieve this by focusing on sustainability, an unrivaled passenger experience, and building a ship that would stand out for its size and architectural grandeur.
As for the interior, Royal Caribbean Group wanted to create an immense cruise ship that would mimic a floating city. A key design element was the decision to separate the interior and top decks of the ship into eight distinct neighborhoods, each offering unique environments, amenities, dining establishments, themed suites, and atmospheres.
These neighborhoods would incorporate elements from luxury hotels, state-of-the-art theme parks, and real-life cities from around the world, like New York City and Paris.
Another key element of the original vision was the idea that the ship would be built around a massive, record-setting glass dome at the ship’s bow.
To this day, Royal Caribbean describes the Icon of the Seas as a “white paper cruise ship” because the main design elements, including the plan for the enormous glass dome that would become the ship’s iconic AquaDome, began as rough sketches on a white napkin four years before construction would begin.
These original drawings and notes started with Richard Fain, the company’s CEO from 1988 until January 2022, and the current CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Jason Liberty.
As for one of the other major focuses of the original vision for the gargantuan cruise ship, it was decided early on that it would be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), making it one of the most eco-friendly major passenger vessels in the world.
It would also incorporate fuel cell technology and advanced waste management systems into the design, helping to minimize its environmental footprint further.
Early on, it was recognized that a key part of the success of such a milestone ship was its ability to appeal to a more eco-conscious market. Basically, the ship would redefine what a cruise ship could be, both in terms of its size and offers, as well as how small its carbon footprint could be.
Once the decision was made to turn this ambitious vision into reality, a construction contract was set up with the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The immense project commenced in June 2021, starting with a first steel cut ceremony attended by then-CEO Richard Fain, Michael Bayley, the CEO of Royal Caribbean International, and Tim Meyer, the CEO and President of the Meyer Turku Shipyard.
Laying the Keel
Serious construction on the project commenced on April 5, 2022, with a keel-laying ceremony. Senior executives from all relevant companies at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland attended this keel-laying celebration. A keel-laying ceremony is a long-standing tradition that Royal Caribbean was set on honoring due to the project’s significance.
As part of the tradition, a commemorative coin was positioned directly beneath where the center of the keel would sit during the ship’s construction. The freshly minted coin depicted the completed ship on one side and the joint logos for the shipyard and Royal Caribbean on the reverse side.
Replica coins were also put aside to be given to the Icon of the Sea’s captain and crew before her maiden voyage, another traditional gesture that is supposed to bring good luck to the ship, her crew, and all future passengers.
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Given the immense scale of the ship’s keel, a 3,000-ton crane was required to lift the massive steel block onto the newly built platform that would hold it throughout the entire construction process. Using this considerable crane, the enormous steel block was put into place on the dry dock.
Given that the ship would have a final gross tonnage of 248,663 GT and a length of 1,198 feet, the proportions of the keel were also immense. Advanced construction techniques were required to ensure structural integrity, and high-strength steel struts were required to hold the huge keel in place as the ship’s framework was added.
State-of-the-art robotic welding machines were also employed at Meyer Turku to ensure that the positioning and securing of the keel were completed with precision.
The Building Phase
While the decision to construct the first Icon class ship was momentous from Royal Caribbean’s perspective, it was also a huge first for the Meyer Turku Shipyard, as they had never before undertaken such a colossal project.
Building the world’s largest cruise ship required a team of roughly 2,600 people working every day, with subcontractors and skilled tradespeople needing to be brought in from over 20 different countries.
Once the keel was laid, the Icon of the Seas began being built in modules, a construction method known as block assembly in the shipbuilding industry. Every phase of this modular process was completed at the Meyer Turku Shipyard.
This involved constructing over 100 massive prefabricated sections and meticulously and securely joining them together. This modular approach allowed for simultaneous construction and installation of key features, expediting the process while maintaining the highest standards for safety and quality.
Not only would the Icon of the Seas become the world’s biggest cruise ship at the time, but it would also have numerous other record-breaking features, like the Royal Bay, which would become the largest pool at sea, the tallest water slide on any ship, called the Frightening Bolt, and single largest glass dome on water, which would become the enormous 82 feet high and 164 feet wide AquaDome.
All of these enormous features required specialized care, which helped play into the decision to construct the ship in modules. Allowing teams to work on these sections before lifting them into place helped keep the thousands of workers focused, which helped avoid confusion and unnecessary safety issues.
Other major structural sections, like the engine rooms, theaters, and water park areas, were also built as individual blocks and then joined together. Again, this allowed teams to work on different parts of the ship in tandem.
Given its complexity, the construction required precision engineering to bring each component together seamlessly and ensure structural integrity. Due to the specialized nature of certain features, the Meyer Turku shipyard also contracted certain components out to partner companies for off-site construction.
This included the incredibly heavy glass and steel structure that would become the AquaDome and The Pearl, a nearly 50-foot-wide signature staircase that doubles as a load-bearing structure for the ship’s 20 decks.
Unfortunately, the shipbuilding industry, like so many, encountered workplace restrictions, shutdowns, and supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
As a result, the construction phase faced numerous delays, pushing back the completion day by an estimated full year. However, by March 2023, all of the modular sections had been lifted into place, and the steel hull panels could be fixed in place. It was now ready for the next phase of the construction process.
Outfitting the Ship
Once the ship’s structure was complete and the ship was roughly 70 percent complete, the outfitting phase could begin.
While there was no specific date for when this phase commenced, the shell of the mighty ship and the modular components were all attached to the keel by mid-March 2023. So, it was now time to transform this somewhat raw shell into a luxurious, record-breaking floating resort.
During this phase, the ship was slowly and meticulously moved from the original dry dock to the outfitting pier. Teams of designers, engineers, outfitters, interior decorators, and other specialists worked together to outfit the ship’s eight neighborhoods, which included:
- The AquaDome Neighborhood
- Thrill Island
- Chill Island
- The Hideaway
- SurfSide
- Central Park
- The Royal Promenade
- Suite Neighborhood
To start, public spaces and amenities were prioritized, as these were the most ambitious projects. Deck by deck, major features were lifted onto the ship and fixed into place, including the features of what would become the largest waterpark at sea, called Category 6 because of its six water slides.
Other entertainment amenities, like a carousel, the FlowRider wave simulator, sports courts, laser tag, fitness centers, spas, swimming pools, hot tubs, and more, needed to be finished.
While the modular building process helped in this regard, outfitting the ship with these amenities and ensuring they were passenger-ready was an enormous project.
Of course, one of the ship’s signature features, the iconic AquaDome Neighborhood, required significant work.
Beyond fixing the huge glass and steel dome into place, the interior also needed to be outfitted with dining venues, bars, a cutting-edge transforming pool, four robotic arms, a massive projection and lighting system, seating, and, of course, the enormous, cascading waterfall that would become the centerpiece for the entire AquaDome Aquatheater.
Thinking of just how complex that one component of the outfitting job would be gives you an idea of how much thought and effort is needed to coordinate the work.
Once the ship had been equipped with the main amenities and the propulsion system was completed, the focus shifted to outfitting the ship’s 2,805 cabins and suites, 20 restaurants, and numerous public entertainment areas.
With 28 different types of staterooms that range from basic family suites to intricately designed and decorated themed suites, like the Ultimate Family Suite, outfitting the passenger quarters was an immense task requiring thousands of employees working in tandem.
Since dividing the ship’s public spaces into eight distinct neighborhoods was a major component of the original vision, making sure they were expertly decorated with eye-catching features was another major part of the outfitting process.
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As mentioned, each neighborhood was designed to create a unique ambiance—from the energetic design elements found in Thrill Island to more tranquil spaces, such as Central Park, which features living greenery, park benches, streetlights, and open-air dining spaces.
Despite the incredible complexity of the outfitting process and the incredible number of workers the job required, the ship was almost entirely outfitted by early June 2023.
Sea Trials
As with any ship, sea trials are a critical step that ensures it is seaworthy and safe enough for long-distance travel. For the Icon of the Seas, these trials were a major step forward for the entire cruise industry, as the ship broke numerous records the second it set sail.
Before the sea trials, the Icon of the Seas underwent numerous safety and equipment system tests while it was still in the Meyer Turku Shipyard. Over 450 specialists carried out these tests, which included inclining tests, bunker inspections, navigation and steering tests, and more.
Once she had passed the dock testing, it was time for the first sea trial, which began on June 22, 2024, and culminated with a final sea trial test on October 29, 2023.
These sea trials involved rigorous testing of the ship’s propulsion, navigation, and safety systems, with regular trips throughout the Baltic Sea used to test the ship’s capabilities, even in harsh weather.
To conduct these trials, Royal Caribbean’s engineering and operations teams collaborated with engineers and representatives from the shipyard and specialized third-party inspection teams. Together, they conducted numerous on-water tests and trials under various conditions to assess the ship’s performance and stability.
The ship’s communications systems and emergency protocols were also evaluated to guarantee passenger safety. After being signed off by representatives from the relevant maritime regulatory agencies, which certified she met stringent international standards for passenger safety.
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She was ready for the final stage of the entire process—the first transatlantic crossing, which took over a week and began when she set sail from Cadiz, Spain, on December 22, 2023.
After arriving at her destination of Ponce, Puerto Rico, on January 2, 2024, she was joined by the full team of crew members for training, as well as finishing touches, like stocking the ship and inspecting all of the systems to ensure that the first major journey was a success.
Finishing Touches
Finishing touches on the Icon of the Seas began after the ship arrived at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. This final outfitting work commenced in early December before she set sail across the Atlantic Ocean.
This work included adding last-minute design elements and ensuring that all of the staterooms were properly outfitted with functional amenities, like televisions, beds, showers and sinks, and more.
Before arriving in Spain, the ship regularly returned to the Meyer Turku Shipyard for final adjustments and tests, including inspections to ensure that all fixed components had not shifted during the sea trials.
Quality control tests were also conducted to ensure everything worked as it should. From cooking appliances in the ship’s numerous kitchens to testing onboard communications systems and other technology, these tests also required a team of over 1,500 individuals working around the clock.
Once she arrived in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and was joined by her crew, detailed cleaning and other preparation procedures began to ensure that she was ready to welcome her first passengers later that month. Again, tests were meticulously conducted to ensure that everything worked as intended.
Quality control teams from Royal Caribbean were also sent to Puerto Rico to conduct walkthroughs of each neighborhood, ensuring that features were not only functional but as visually stunning as the design team envisioned them to be.
Attention to detail was paramount; from comfortable furnishings to perfect lighting, every element of the interior of the Icon of the Seas was designed and tested to provide a memorable experience for passengers.
From climate control systems to pool filtration systems and water slides, the crew and visiting quality control teams were incredibly careful about ensuring the first voyage would succeed.
Once all of this was complete, she was ready to travel up to Miami, Florida, where the ship was met by representatives of the US Coast Guard and other regulatory bodies to ensure she was compliant with all necessary regulations. After passing these tests, it was time to prepare for her first passenger voyage.
The Maiden Voyage
All of the hard work that went into designing, building, and outfitting the Icon of the Seas culminated in one single moment: her maiden voyage. The voyage took place on January 27, 2024, when the ship departed from PortMiami in Miami, Florida.
Given the immense scale of the ship and the fact that it cost roughly $2 billion to construct, the maiden voyage was preceded by a naming ceremony attended by a star-studded array of industry insiders, members of the press, celebrities, and world-renowned sports icon Lionel Messi, who was named the official icon for the ship.
The highly anticipated inaugural voyage was a seven-night Eastern Caribbean adventure from PortMiami to St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Then she returned to PortMiami.
Although Icon of the Seas had a higher maximum capacity, she traveled with 5,610 guests for her first voyage, which included a variety of influencers, media representatives, and high-profile travel agents as part of a highly publicized itinerary.
While regular travel on Icon of the Seas is extravagant, this initial voyage had even more of a party atmosphere. Guests were welcomed by a red carpet, glasses of champagne, and representatives from Royal Caribbean’s executive team.
Guests were also provided with free giveaways that marked the occasion, including baseball caps, water bottles, lanyards, and other items branded with the ship’s name and the Royal Caribbean logo.
The departure from Miami was announced with fireworks, while each port of call stop had celebrations of its own, including visits from that particular country’s government.
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The maiden voyage was a complete success, and those lucky first guests enjoyed the full experience. Even the specialty restaurants were open to try free of charge.
The fact that Icon of the Seas continues to be one of the most in-demand cruise ships in service shows just how successful this maiden voyage was.
Mega-Icon Now Sailing the Seas!
From the original concept to the maiden voyage, constructing Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was a giant step forward for the entire cruise industry.
Building the ship was an incredible accomplishment for Royal Caribbean, and the ship is a testament to their bold vision and the hard work of everyone who was involved in bringing the concept to life.
While Icon of the Seas is a giant cruise ship, she represents a lot more than her giant proportions. The ship blends sustainability, unmatched family-friendly experiences, groundbreaking designs, and more to truly redefine cruising.
With Royal Caribbean set to launch three more Icon-class ships between 2025 and 2027, it is exciting to wonder how the industry will continue to evolve.
