Papathanassis noted that "there are obvious economic benefits" to mega-sized ships, reducing the cost of individual passengers. "We have seen over the last decade that cruise ships have become bigger," said Alexis Papathanassis, professor of Cruise Management at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. Meyer Turku also has two more similar sized Icon-class vessels in their order books.
With a gross tonnage of 250,800 - five times the size of the Titanic - Icon of the Seas will snatch the title of the world's largest cruise ship from Royal Caribbean's current flagship, Wonder of the Seas.
"After the restrictions are gone and the situation has eased up, we are seeing that the market is coming back very strong," Meyer said. The Cruise Lines International Association has predicted that passenger volume will surpass pre-pandemic levels with 31.5 million passengers in 2023. The pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the industry, raising questions about whether it would ever recover.Ĭruise companies are now seeing customers return. Resembling a village more than a ship, the mammoth vessel boasts colourful waterparks, more than 20 decks and can carry nearly 10,000 people.Ī distinct feature of the new ship, which went into construction in 2021 and entered sea trials in June, is a gigantic glass dome that covers part of its front section. While some have labelled the colossal structure a "monstrosity", citing its vast climate footprint, others are in awe of the sophisticated engineering integrated into this floating holiday destination and flocking to buy tickets.
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