Royal Caribbean’s latest vessel, the Icon of the Seas, measuring nearly 1,200 feet in length and boasting a gross tonnage of 250,800, embarked on its inaugural cruise from the Port of Miami just before sunset on Saturday.
Resembling a multilayered birthday cake, the ship features seven swimming pools, a whimsical striped carousel, lush tropical greenery, and vibrant waterslides in hues of green, pink, blue, and orange.
With a price tag of $2 billion, the vessel spans nearly 1,200 feet from bow to stern, featuring 20 decks, accommodating 2,350 crew members, and providing 2,805 staterooms, with a capacity for 7,600 passengers.
Icon of the Seas Unveils Cruise Innovation
The Icon of the Seas includes noteworthy amenities such as a 55-foot artificial waterfall, 40 dining venues and bars, seven swimming pools, including a 40,000-gallon ‘lake,’ and entertainment options comprising 50 musicians, comedians, and a 16-piece orchestra.
The ship operates on eco-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Royal Caribbean highlights that the Icon is 24 percent more carbon-efficient than the standards set by the International Maritime Organization.
Royal Caribbean emphasizes a meticulous examination of every kilowatt utilized on the Icon of the Seas for energy efficiency and emission reduction.
However, environmentalists express concerns about potential methane emissions, despite assertions that the fuel used is an improvement over traditional marine fuel.
Icon of the Seas: Methane Emissions Cause Climate Concerns
According to the International Council of Clean Transportation, methane emissions from ships using LNG, such as the Icon, contribute to climate change through a phenomenon known as “methane slip.”
This occurs when low-pressure, dual-fuel engines, like those on the Icon, leak methane into the atmosphere during combustion.
The director of the Marine Program at the ICCT, Bryan Comer, expressed concern, stating that using LNG as a marine fuel could result in over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil.
Cruise ship engines, on average, have an estimated methane slip of 6.4%, higher than the IMO’s assumption of 3.5%.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, being the second-largest contributor to climate warming after carbon dioxide, responsible for 60% of current methane emissions from human activities. Despite these environmental concerns, the Icon is scheduled for year-round Caribbean voyages from Miami, featuring stops at destinations like the “award-winning private island” Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
