First look at Icon of the Seas: Behemoth will be world’s biggest cruise ship when she debuts in 2024

A first look has been revealed at what will be the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in 2024.

Royal Caribbean’s mega-ship Icon of the Seas will be 1,198 feet long and weigh 250,800 gross tons, stats that put her ahead of the current largest cruise ship – Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, which is 1,187 feet long and weighs 236,857 gross tons.

In addition, Icon of the Seas will have features as eye-opening as its size, from the first hanging infinity pool at sea to a three-storey family suite. This room comes complete with its own white picket fence and letterbox.

Icon has a capacity of 7,600 guests, with other room options for them, including the ‘Surfside Family Suite’, which features alcoves for children ‘tucked away from the adults’, ‘Sunset Corner Suites’ and ‘Panoramic Ocean View’ quarters.

Once out of bed, guests will find so many water features that they may have trouble distinguishing the boat from the ocean.

For starters, Icon will feature the largest water park at sea – dubbed ‘Category 6’ – with six ‘record-breaking’ slides: ‘Pressure Drop’ and its 66-degree incline – ‘the industry’s first open free-fall slide’; the 46-foot-tall ‘Frightening Bolt’, the tallest drop slide at sea; ‘Storm Surge’ and ‘Hurricane Hunter’, the first family raft to glide at sea – and ‘Storm Chasers’, which Royal Caribbean claims is ‘cruising’s first mat-racing duo’.

The water park is located on Thrill Island, which Royal Caribbean has described as a “lost island adventure where vacationers can test their limits and reach new heights.”

Icon also introduces the line’s first swim-up bar at sea – dubbed ‘Swim & Tonic’ – and ‘Royal Bay Pool’, the ‘largest pool at sea’. Both features are on ‘Chill Island’.

The hanging infinity pool, meanwhile, is in an area called The Hideaway and is surrounded by a multi-level sundeck with hot tubs.

Once guests are dried off, they are sure to be lured to ‘AquaDome’, a ‘transforming place like no other’ located at the top of the ship.

Royal Caribbean describes it as a “quiet daytime oasis,” where guests can enjoy a snack or drink while taking in the surrounding ocean views and gazing at an “awesome waterfall.”

In the evenings, we are told, the venue becomes ‘a lively place great for a night out, complete with restaurants, bars and aqua shows’.

Icon will be Royal Caribbean’s first ship with fuel cell technology and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest burning marine fuel.

And thanks in part to ‘other proven applications’ such as shore-side power connection and waste heat recovery systems, the Icon will become, it has been touted, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable vessel to date.

“With each new ship, we are raising the bar in the travel industry and improving what our guests know and appreciate,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

“From the moment they step on board, each experience is specially designed to give them the best vacation, anywhere on land or at sea. With Icon of the Seas, we’ve taken this to a new level and made it the ultimate family vacation.”

Icon sails seven nights in Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami year-round. Each cruise visits Royal Caribbean’s top-rated private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas.

Vacationers can book their ‘iconic’ adventure at Royal Caribbean’s website on Tuesday, October 25.

‘Crown & Anchor’ loyalty members can look out for special access on Monday, October 24.