The world’s largest cruise ship has made its way to Puerto Rico as it prepares to accept its first paying passengers.
Locals and tourists in Ponce, Puerto Rico, were given a sneak peak at the 1,198 foot-long, 250,800-tonne pleasure cruiser, named the Icon Of The Seas, as it took a break in port as part of its trial voyage, necessary to gain its certification.
The 20-deck vessel, five times larger than the ill-fated Titanic, towered above the town on the southern coast of the Caribbean island. The massive ship, which cost cruise-line company Royal Caribbean $2 billion (£1.58 billion), boasts a food hall, seven swimming pools and the largest at-sea water-park of any cruise ship in the world.
Its inaugural sailing for paying customers will be out of Miami, Florida, on January 27 for a seven-night dash around the Caribbean, including a stop at ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay’, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
Its inaugural sailing for paying customers will be out of Miami, Florida, on January 27 for a seven-night dash around the Caribbean. The rooms left up for grabs cost between £4,000 and £6,000.
The ship’s Aquadome (pictured in this rendering) – the largest free-standing dome at sea, with nearly 700 glass panels and weighing 333.5 metric tonnes – was raised from the dock and plonked on the ship like a flying saucer, its weight evenly distributed with the help of computers connected to each cable.
The cruise took years to put together, with the ‘neighbourhoods’ – as the eight main areas of the ship are known – being constructed elsewhere then lifted into position.
The most daring lift came when the Aquadome – the largest free-standing dome at sea, with nearly 700 glass panels and weighing 333.5 metric tonnes – was raised from the dock and plonked on the ship like a flying saucer, its weight evenly distributed with the help of computers connected to each cable.
This particular manoeuvre took 24 hours and the dome now features a 55ft waterfall and seating for 1,300 people.
