The world’s largest cruise ship sets sail
This page is translated from the original post "Le plus grand bateau de croisière du Monde a pris la mer" in French.
- 29/01/2024 15:03
Ship of all proportions, five times larger than the Titanic, the Icon of the Seas departed from Miami this weekend for its maiden voyage.
The first cruise of the Icon of the Seas sold out in minutes, and trips through the end of 2024 are filling at a record pace. It must be admitted that the figures for this ship are staggering. The cruise ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower and has no less than 20 decks. It offers seven pools, including the largest sea pool, as well as an water park with six slides. The vessel has more than 40 bars and restaurants spread across eight neighborhoods.
Five times larger than the Titanic at 365 meters long, it has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers spread across 2,805 cabins. Over 2,000 crew members are needed to operate it.
Such grandeur raises concerns about the environmental impact of these ever-larger ships. This is where the Greenwashing operation begins… With engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and heat generated by the machinery used to heat the entire ship and its facilities, it aims to be greener than any other ship in the world. With the possibility to connect to power sources in ports, the Icon of the Seas would be the “most sustainable ship to date” according to its owner, Royal Caribbean.
Burning LNG indeed releases less nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and particulate pollution than traditional fuels, as well as about 25% less carbon dioxide. The minimum acceptable levels, considering that on the basis of displacement alone, a cruise passenger would generate roughly double the total amount of greenhouse gases compared to an airplane passenger traveling the same distance. Not to mention that many people fly to reach their departure port.
Next year, the oceans will host the Celebrity Xcel, a ship with a capacity of 3,248 passengers equipped with a tri-fuel engine that can also run on methanol. The company claims it built the Icon of the Seas to be adaptable to other fuel sources like methanol in the future.
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