World’s Biggest Cruise Ship, Icon of the Seas, Squeezes Under Great Belt Bridge

Royal Caribbean International’s brand-new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has today sailed under the Great Belt Bridge, as it makes its way from the shipyard in Finland to Cadiz, Spain.

Icon of the Seas sailed under the Great Belt Bridge, in Denmark, on Friday 1st December as it left the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland heading for the port of Cadiz in Spain before sailing across the Atlantic. The Great Belt Bridge is 65 metres high, meaning Icon of the Seas had less than two metres of clearance. In order to get under the bridge, Icon of the Seas’ had to retract their smoke stacks and videos posted online show just how tight it was

​The 258,000 GT ship has taken the title of the world’s largest cruise ship, when it was delivered to Royal Caribbean International earlier this week.

​The five brand-new neighbourhoods and three reimagined favourites are destinations in themselves filled with a variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants and bars, including:
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• Thrill Island – The new centre of thrill features Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking slides; Crown’s Edge, part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride on which adventurers swing 154 feet above the ocean; the FlowRider simulator; the Lost Dunes minigolf course and more. In between adrenaline rushes, just steps away are new spots to grab laidback bites or sweet treats: Basecamp and Desserted for over-the-top milkshakes.

 

• Chill Island – Four of the seven pools on Icon are at this three-deck slice of paradise, each with a unique vibe and prime ocean views: the lively Swim & Tonic, the cruise line’s first swimup bar at sea; Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea; Cloud 17, an adults-only retreat; and the serene, infinity-edge Cove Pool. With different tunes from live bands and DJs, and poolside spots for drinks and quick, casual food – like The Lime & Coconut and its new frozen cocktail bar, and El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresca – vacationers can chill day and night.

 

• Surfside – Introducing the first neighbourhood made for young families. Adults and kids can stay and play all day between ways to splash, like at the new Water’s Edge pool for grownups nearby Baby Bay and the Splashaway Bay aquapark for kids, and new, dedicated dining options such as the Surfside Eatery buffet, Pier 7 for all-day brunch and the convenient Surfside Bites To chase down the bites, there’s The Lemon Post, a brand-new bar that features two menus – one for adults and the other for kids.

 

• AquaDome – A tranquil oasis by day and vibrant hot spot at night, the new neighbourhood is filled with wraparound ocean views, new and returning restaurants and bars, a 55-foot-tall water curtain, and the next-level AquaTheater that debuts the first cast of robots, skateboarders, divers and more. From Royal Caribbean’s first foodhall, AquaDome Market, and Rye & Bean – a new bar for lattes and coffee-infused cocktails – to the new Overlook bar and pods, and the cruise line’s marquee aqua shows, it’s a transformational experience.

 

• The Hideaway – Tucked away and sitting 135 feet above the ocean is a new neighbourhood that combines the good vibes of beach club scenes around the world. The first suspended infinity pool at sea is at the centre of it all, and it has 180-degree ocean views that make it the perfect place to watch sunsets from the point of view only a cruise can offer as vacationers enjoy the dedicated DJ and bar.

 

• Royal Promenade – The heartbeat of Icon features more than 15 restaurants, bars and lounges, including Dueling Pianos, Royal Caribbean’s first duelling pianos bar; the new 1400 Lobby Bar, inspired by the history of shipbuilding, with an ocean-facing terrace that opens the reimagined neighbourhood to the outdoors for the first time; and favourites with a twist like Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Starbucks and more. The all-time favourite also debuts floor-to-ceiling ocean views, an engineering feat made possible by The Pearl, the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture.

 

• Central Park – Lusher and livelier than ever, the open-air neighbourhood is reimagined with more ways to dine, drink and be entertained. Thousands of real plants line new experiences and favourites with a twist, such as the popular Izumi, with a new location and a walk-up window; and American steakhouse Chops Grille. Making their debut are spots like Empire Supper Club, an extravagant experience that pairs eight courses with wine, cocktails and music; and Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, for live performances of soulful jazz, jazzy pop music and more.

 

• Suite Neighbourhood – Spanning four decks, Royal Caribbean’s most expansive Suite Neighbourhood features larger suites, the new Grove Suite Sun Deck, complete with a private pool, whirlpool and dedicated Mediterranean dining; and a now two-level Coastal Kitchen with views of the AquaDome and the ocean.

Icon is also the cruise line’s first ship that can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional fuel. The dual-fuel engines will work alongside a lineup of energy efficiency initiatives and industry-leading environmental programs on board, like the first waste-to-energy plant at sea. Twenty-four percent more energy efficient than the standards required for ships being designed today, the cruise line’s most sustainable ship yet will mark the next step in parent company Royal Caribbean Group's journey to introduce a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

Every type of family and adventurer can get away on the world’s best vacation and island hop in the tropics at any time of the year. Each 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean adventure from Miami features idyllic destinations across the Caribbean and an unmatched day of thrill and chill at Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Plus, dialling up the perfect on Perfect Day in January 2024 is the private island’s first adults-only escape, Hideaway Beach, an all-day experience complete with a private beach and pools, new dedicated spots for drinks and bites, exclusive cabanas, live music and more.