Icon of the Seas became the world’s largest cruise ship when it entered service in 2024.
Royal Caribbean International took delivery of Icon of the Seas in January 2024, and the ship began its first commercial voyage from Miami later that month. It was built by Meyer Turku in Finland and is the first vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class.
The ship measures about 365 metres in length and has a gross tonnage of more than 250,000. Its facilities include several pools, water slides, entertainment venues, restaurants, and family-focused accommodation. Icon of the Seas is powered primarily by liquefied natural gas, although environmental specialists note that LNG still produces greenhouse-gas emissions.
The title “largest cruise ship” can vary depending on whether sources compare gross tonnage, passenger capacity, or physical dimensions. Icon’s 2024 distinction referred to its overall scale by gross tonnage and capacity, not simply its length.