Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever, is now being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, with just one year left till its launch.

Exactly one year from now, the largest cruise ship in the world sets sail for the first time; Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley gave an insight inside the building of Icon of the Seas by sharing a new photograph on his Facebook page.

The Icon of the Seas is now being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and despite the chilly climate, the ship is taking shape nicely.

The ship’s interior decor is currently being installed, and the ship’s onboard venues will soon take shape; this process should be finished in time for delivery before the maiden voyage.

Previously unseen details about the Icon of the Seas, such as its massive size and distinctive parabolic bow shape, are now clear. The form of the hull has been optimised for increased stability and a more comfortable cruise over rough seas. Sea trials, the next stage, are anticipated to kick off in May or June 2023.

This is an essential part of the process since the ship must pass tests to prove that it lives up to Royal Caribbean’s standards. During the sea trials, the crew will familiarise themselves with the ship and its systems before they set sail.

On 9 December, the first float of the Icon of the Seas was made, and the ship is on schedule to begin sailing in late 2023. As the first LNG-powered ship in the fleet, it will showcase Royal Caribbean’s dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, she is the most anticipated new cruise ship.

Launching from Miami, Florida, on 27 January 2024, Icon of the Seas will travel to the Eastern Caribbean for the first time, visiting ports including St. Kitts, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and PerfectDay at CocoCay.

With a capacity for up to 7,600 people, the ship will be larger than the current record holder, the Wonder of the Seas. The 1,198-foot-long, 250,800-ton Icon of the Seas is sure to be an amazing sight.

There will be 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises available aboard the ship, including stops in Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Icon will have the largest water park at sea and the largest pool at sea. The Royal Bay, an impressive pool complex with many pools, hot tubs, and lounging places, will be located on Deck 15 in the ship’s Chill Island Neighbourhood.

And that’s not all; the cruise ship will also include Category 6, a brand-new waterpark with a wide range of thrilling slides and attractions.

Frightening Bolt, the world’s highest drop slide at sea, Pressure Drop, the world’s first open freefall slide at sea; Hurricane Hunter, the world’s first family raft slide at sea; and numerous other water slides will be featured at the waterpark.

Unlike the other cruise ships in the Royal Caribbean International line, which all have white hulls, the Icon of the Seas will have a baby blue hull.

Excited anticipation for the Icon of the Seas will only increase next year as the ship nears completion and more information about it is made public in preparation for its inaugural voyage.