The world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, began its maiden voyage on Saturday when it set sail from the Port of Miami in the United States.
The ship extends approximately 1,200 feet (365 m) from bow to stern.
The ship – which is embarking on a seven-day island-hopping tour through the tropics – was officially named on Tuesday with the help of soccer star Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates.
The icon was built over 900 days at a shipyard in Turku, Finland. It has 20 decks and can accommodate 7,600 passengers with a maximum capacity and a crew of 2,350.
There will be 50 musicians and comedians as well as a 16-piece orchestra on board as the ship embarks on its sold-out inaugural voyage.
How is the ship operated?
The $2 billion (1.84 billion euros) ship features the latest technology and, despite its massive size, is more environmentally friendly than some smaller cruise ships.
The Icon is powered by what Royal Caribbean Group says is environmentally friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG).
However, some experts say LNG systems can leak harmful amounts of methane into the atmosphere.
“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and living our mission – to deliver the world’s best vacation experiences in a responsible way,” Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said in a statement earlier in the week.
“It is the ultimate multi-generational family vacation, changing the status quo in family travel forever and bringing vacation dreams for all ages on board.”
dvv/sri (AFP, AP)
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