The new RCI-Royal Caribbean International ship, Icon of the Seas, has commenced her sea trials. Shipbuilder Meyer Turku announced on Facebook that the vessel has left the shipyard, marking an important milestone in her construction.
Icon of the Seas, an innovative and highly anticipated vessel, embarked on her maiden voyage from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku Finland, where she is being built from scratch. The ship began multiday sea trials earlier this week, with a team of 450+ specialists on board. These trials involve conducting essential tests on the ship's main engines, hull, lifeboats, thrusters, and other crucial components. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that the ship is fully prepared for the upcoming second round of sea trials, scheduled for later this year.
During the forthcoming trials, Icon of the Seas will be pushed to her limits to evaluate her performance and readiness for her grand debut in January 2024. Despite a slight delay in departure due to wind conditions, the current information suggests that all the tests in the sea trial program can be completed as originally planned, adhering to the initial schedule.
After the completion of the sea trials, Icon of the Seas is scheduled to return to the dock on June 22nd, as intended. Work on the ship will then continue.
As the first ship in its class, Icon of the Seas boasts an impressive size of 250,800 gross registered tons, making her the largest cruise ship in the world. She will have the capacity to accommodate 5,610 guests in double occupancy or 7,600 guests when all beds are filled.
Following a transatlantic voyage early next year, Icon of the Seas will make her debut in January from PortMiami, Florida, where she will be based year-round for Caribbean cruises.