Icon of the Seas made waves when she entered service in January of this yr because the world’s largest cruise ship – coming in at 248,663-gross tons and 1,196.7 ft lengthy.
However now it’s clear that she additionally holds the largest area within the hearts of Cruise Hive readers – as the primary of the Icon-class ships has formally been voted the Greatest New Cruise Ship of 2024.
Throughout the 2023 Cruise Hive Awards, the Royal Caribbean ship was additionally named as the Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2024 – and clearly she has lived as much as the hype.
Out of a aggressive group of 9 new ships that launched all through 2024, the 5,610-guest vessel (or as much as 7,600 at most capability) topped the checklist – incomes 34.68% of the votes.
That is fairly the accomplishment – with this one explicit ship standing out to 1000’s of Cruise Hive readers, who positioned their votes from mid-October by means of December 22, 2024.
Since her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024, 1000’s of cruisers have already gotten to discover the first-of-its-kind vessel as she alternates between 7-night Western and Japanese Caribbean sailings out of Florida’s Port Miami.
The ship is especially famend for the brand new, modern experiences she gives. One among which is Class 6, which is the largest waterpark at sea with six thrilling water slides for households to get pleasure from.
Chill Island on Deck 15 can also be residence to the largest pool at sea, which accommodates over 40,000 gallons of water.
The ship additionally pioneered the usage of the the Pearl, which doubles as a software for structural help and the world’s largest kinetic artwork sculpture.
The distinctive orb is positioned midship on the port facet of Icon of the Seas, stretching from Deck 5 to Deck 8, with a staircase by means of the inside for visitors to maneuver from the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 as much as the Pearl Cafe on Deck 6.
In fact, these examples solely scratch the floor of Royal Caribbean’s innovation that’s discovered throughout the eight neighborhoods, or zones, onboard the huge ship – which helped make it the winner right here on the Cruise Hive Awards.
Royal Caribbean Ships Snag First and Second Place
Whereas Icon of the Seas was the clear winner, one other Royal Caribbean ship is in second place for the title of Greatest New Cruise Ship of 2024.
Certainly, Utopia of the Seas earned the metaphorical silver medal by incomes 21.38% of the vote. This speaks to the top quality of Royal Caribbean’s most up-to-date additions – which is especially vital with Star of the Seas on the way in which for 2025.
Utopia of the Seas, which is presently the second largest ship at sea, formally entered service on July 19, 2024, from Port Canaveral, Florida. Since her maiden voyage, the 5,668-guest ship has continued to function 3 to 4-night voyages to the Bahamas from the Orlando-based port.
Like Icon of the Seas, this Oasis-class vessel has additionally improved the expertise at sea – resembling with the enlargement of The Final Abyss, which is the tallest dry slide at sea at 10-stories excessive and 259-feet in size. Whereas this racing slide is discovered on different Royal Caribbean ships, this model is 43 ft longer.
Learn Additionally: Royal Caribbean Facilities You Ought to Pre-Guide
Transferring down the checklist, the third-place spot for Greatest New Cruise Ship of 2024 belongs to Princess Cruises’ Solar Princess – which earned 17.81% of the vote.
After a delay that pushed again her unique inaugural voyage, the most important ship within the Princess fleet formally set sail on February 28, 2024 – and is presently alternating between Western and Japanese Caribbean voyages based mostly out of Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida.
The 4,300-guest ship launched with many new and improved options, such because the cruise line’s largest on line casino, the primary ever household zone on a Princess Cruise ship, a two-story Lotus Spa, and unique productions and performances within the spherical on the Princess Area.
