- I spent three nights on Royal Caribbean’s new world’s largest cruise ship, the 9,950-person Icon of the Seas.
- The 1,198-foot-long beast was overflowing with flashy amenities I never imagined possible on a ship.
- Kids might love the $1,775-per-person ship, but I spent most of my time overwhelmed.
Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas isn’t a regular cruise ship. It’s a cool cruise ship — one that will overwhelm you so much, you’ll end up retreating to your tiny cabin more than you expected.
Love it or hate it, the 250,800-gross-ton vessel is here and hard to ignore. At 1,198 feet-long and 20 decks tall, the Icon of the Seas and its rainbow spaghetti-like water park stands out from its comrades at Miami’s bustling cruise terminal.
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Get used to the sight: The new world’s largest cruise ship will be homeported there for a year of seven-night cruises.
Looking at a ship of its size, it’s hard not to wonder: Has science gone too far? Is it as overwhelming as it seems? Is it safe? Will it blow a hole in the ozone layer?! (The answers, in order, are: maybe, yes, yes, maybe.)

