A brand new, seriously over-the-top cruise ship has been labelled a “monstrosity” and compared to the Titanic as it prepares to set sail for the first time.
Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, which is the largest cruise ship in the world, is set to launch in January.
But this week, after a series of social media posts celebrating its upcoming maiden voyage, the huge ship went viral for all the wrong reasons.
“The ‘Icon Of The Seas’ sets sail in January 2024. 5610 passengers, 2350 crew members, 5 times larger and heavier than the Titanic, 19 floors with more than 40 bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. What a monstrosity!” one person tweeted.
The extravagant, multi-coloured ship looks like a Barbie dreamhouse on steroids — but critics were quick to point out that bigger is not always better.
“As visions of hell go, that’s pretty much the most hellish,” one person tweeted in response to a photo of the new cruise ship, while another said, “I’m sorry but this is a nightmare.”
“Every time I see a picture of the Icon of the Seas cruise ship I am filled with an intense dread,” another person wrote.
“It looks fun, but I don’t want to go on anything compared to the Titanic,” a third wrote in response to a celebratory Facebook post.
“Where does one go to read a book?” another asked.
Royal Caribbean, however, insists Icon of the Seas will take the cruising world by storm.
“We are positioning it as the ultimate family vacation and when you step back and look at all the energy and time that has gone into creating this ship it is mind-blowing,” Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Michael Bayley said in a statement.
Given the ship’s monstrous size, set over 20 decks, it’s safe to say no luxury was overlooked. In fact, Icon of the Seas claims to offer passengers more than 40 ways to dine, drink and be entertained.
The ship will have seven pools, nine whirlpools and the largest waterpark at sea. Several viral images showed a tangled mess of six multi-coloured water slides, spread over six storeys.
The Royal Bay Pool in the ship’s so-called “Chill Island” is the largest pool at sea.
The ship’s three-storey dining room, complete with a huge, dazzling chandelier, features a rotating menu from around the world. A private 12-seat dining table is reserved for VIP guests.
An on-board casino hosts 30 table games and more than 370 slot machines.
The ship also boasts a rock climbing wall, Royal Caribbean’s first food hall, a beach-themed carousel, an arcade and a minigolf course.
It even includes Royal Caribbean’s largest ice-skating arena to date.
As for technical features, Icon of the Seas is equipped with 17 lifeboats with the capacity for up to 450 people each — meaning the ship can host 7650 people, despite having capacity for 7960.
Specifically, it holds up to 5690 passengers and 2350 crew across 19 floors. There are 28 different types of accommodation, with more categories for families, more layouts with ocean views and more space for group travellers.
The cruise line says it’s the longest time frame it’s ever dedicated to “designing the perfect home base.”
Currently, the cheapest ticket will set you back $2690 per person (US$1851) for an interior room on a seven-night round-trip to the Western Caribbean, setting sale from Miami in September next year.
The most expensive is $15,800 (US$10,864) for a suite on the same cruise in March.
Despite the negative comments, cruising fanatics have rushed to sign up.
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Mr Bayley described Icon of the Seas during the company’s quarterly financial results as “literally the best-performing new product launch we’ve ever had.”
It has already sold out in January — the first month of its launch.
– with New York Post
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