The largest cruise ship in the world is currently being built in the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku. The “Icon of the Sea” is already about 70 percent complete. Crucero author Christoph Assies was the only German journalist who had the exclusive opportunity to visit on board.
Almost 2,600 employees from the shipyard, partner companies and Royal Caribbean International work on board every day. Icon of the Seas will be the first of three Icon-class ships on order and will accommodate up to 7,600 passengers (5,610 double occupancy). “She is the evolution of all ship classes in our fleet,” says Royal Caribbean boss Michael Bayley, describing the new building.
The “Icon of the Seas” is “full of modern technology and innovations”
In the so-called “Site Office” of the shipping company at the shipyard, Iina Jokinen is in charge of completing the Icon of the Seas. The ship is scheduled to join the fleet on October 26. For Jokinen, Icon is the first major project she is leading. “We are all so proud of this ship, because it’s not just the largest cruise ship in the world, it’s full of modern technology and innovations that nobody has ever realized before,” says the 28-year-old.
This includes, for example, the “Aqua Dome”, which also characterizes the outer appearance of the ship at the very front, at the top. “This will be a spectacular evolution from popular areas on other ships, such as the Quantum-class Two70 and the Oasis-class Aqua-Theater,” said Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean’s chief entertainment officer. During the day, guests can enjoy a 220 degree view of the ocean, in the evening and at night the area transforms into an entertainment area that integrates a waterfall from the ceiling.
The “Aqua Dome” consists of a glass and aluminum structure that weighs more than 300 tons, is 25 meters high and 50 meters wide. According to naval architect Iina Jokinen, two and a half years of development work were required for this area of the Icon of the Seas alone. “The ship moves, so the biggest challenge was that the Aqua Dome is flexible, but not too flexible so that the glass breaks,” says the Finn.
Infinity pool and swim-up bar on the world’s largest cruise ship
Part of the total of eight “neighborhoods” are also a total of seven pools, as in “Chill Island”. There are four swimming and paddling opportunities here alone. Among them is “Swim & Tonic”, the first so-called swim-up bar of the shipping company. The guests sit there on bar stools standing in the water.
At the stern is “The Hideaway”. A beach club feeling with a sea view should arise here. The central element is the first “floating” infinity pool at sea. The comparatively large number of pools, some in places where they had not previously been installed on other cruise ships, presented the makers of the Icon of the Seas with further challenges. “When the ship moves, the water moves too and we had to build barriers accordingly. We then combined the technical necessity with an attractive design so that the passenger does not even notice the technical aspect,” explains Iina Jokinen. The result is “islands” in the pool landscapes or benches within the pools for the passengers, who simultaneously control the water movements.
It took six years to develop the different cabins on board
According to Raimund Gschaider, Vice President Hotel Operations at Royal Caribbean, efficient passenger routing was above all design options. Two gangways were deliberately provided for boarding in the main ports of Miami and Port Canaveral, which can be used to board up to 2,500 guests per hour. The lifts from a Finnish manufacturer are intended to steer people by driving them directly to the decks with the restaurants and bars at peak times without making any stops. “The guest then has to get used to the routes of the lifts a bit,” explains Gschaider.
The development of the various cabins on board took a total of six years. According to Michael Bayley, the 2805 cabins in 28 different cabin categories are based, among other things, on feedback from Royal passengers over the past 15 years. For example, 70 percent of all cabins can be combined into family cabins. These include special family accommodations for five or more people, such as the “Surfside Family Suite” with niches for the children or the “Family Townhouse” which extends over three decks. With a white fence and its own mailbox. The advance laurels are already plentiful for Royal’s new flagship. The Icon of the Seas is the best-selling product in the history of the shipping company.
“Central Park” with about 80,000 real green plants
In the coming months, the gigantic ship will continue to fill with life. A characteristic element, however, only really blossoms at a later point in time: The “Central Park” with around 80,000 real green plants and real trees up to nine meters high is created during a call after the ship has been taken over in Cadiz, Spain, in the autumn filled with life.
“The plants were grown there six months before they come on board and can only come on board then,” explains Raimund Gschaider while walking across the deck, which is currently defined by steel frames in which trees and bushes will later find their place . It will take a total of four and a half days until the green area is covered with all the plants. “Here on Icon we have 50 percent more plants than on the Oasis Class ships,” says Gschaider, explaining the dimensions.
You can read more background information about the Icon of the Seas shipyard visit in the upcoming print edition of Crucero.
By Christopher Assies