Exploring Icon of the Seas: All You Need to Know About the World’s Largest Cruise Ship

As the 2024 cruise season began, most eyes were on Royal Caribbean and their newest ship, Icon of the Seas. Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. The ship has also broken other records, including the largest pools and swim-up bars at sea. Icon of the Seas was built for Royal Caribbean International and is the lead ship of the Icon class. She entered service on 27 January 2024 out of the Port of Miami in the US. At 248,663 gross tonnage, Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.

If you are planning on taking a cruise in the next few years, as Icon of the Seas is currently booked out to 2025, be sure you know what to expect from this giant cruise ship. Every cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship comes with its benefits and negatives. Your safety should be the first priority. As a law firm specializing in cruise accident cases, we invite you to learn more about this colossal vessel. Beyond the opulence and excitement lies a realm where understanding safety protocols and potential risks is paramount. In this blog, we’ll delve into the fascinating features of the Icon of the Seas while also shedding light on the importance of being informed about potential accidents and how to navigate legal recourse in the event of an incident at sea.

Before you ever set foot on a cruise ship, especially the Icon of the Seas, know that injuries and accidents are possible. When you are facing a devastating accident or injury case after a cruise ship accident, the team at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is here to help. With our combined 200 years of experience, hundreds of TV appearances, and a vast number of awards, we have the recognition and resources to help you following an accident. We currently have seven locations. Our awards include being named among the “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report since 2016 and four of our attorneys named to “Best Lawyers”®.

Icon of the Seas: How Big Is the World’s Largest Cruise Ship?

After it was first announced in October 2016 that two new ships would be built under the project name Icon, the Icon of the Seas has been in the news as a massive project by Royal Caribbean International, with a cost of €1.86/$2 billion. This ship also gained fame for being around five times the size and weight of the Titanic. At 1,196 ft long, 159 ft wide, and more than 240,000 gross tons, this ship is easily larger than even the most massive cruise ships.

This ship is also packed with amenities and entertainment. The ship contains 20 total decks, with 18 of those decks being specifically for guests. These mini decks are split into seven neighborhoods, each built for specific entertainment or amenity needs.

The Neighborhoods of Icon of the Seas: Navigating the Ship

When navigating the Icon of the Seas, one of the key differences to other ships is that its size requires it to be split into areas or neighborhoods. These neighborhoods represent different types of entertainment, meant to supply options for all members of your group. These neighborhoods include the following:

• The AquaDome
• Chill Island
• Thrill Island
• The Hideaway
• Surfside
• The Royal Promenade
• Central Park

The ship features an eighth deck, but this is exclusive to suite guests. Known as the Suite Neighborhood, this deck includes private dining, private sundeck, private pools, and more. For a higher price, guests can enjoy these exclusive amenities.

Accidents on Board: How Safe is the Icon of the Seas?

Because Icon of the Seas has been sailing for such a short time, there have not been many reports of accidents. Royal Caribbean has worked hard to create a particular image of this new cruise, enticing enough passengers to book the ship out to 2025. However, that does not mean it is perfectly safe.

While the Icon of the Seas has not been subject to many lawsuits or accidents yet, cruise ships can be dangerous places, and other ships under the Royal Caribbean banner have been subject to safety issues. All it takes is negligence on the part of the crew or operators who are responsible for ensuring the ship is compliant with safety regulations.

A lack of compliance has led to dangerous accidents in the past. Other ships have seen slip-and-fall accidents, overboard accidents, FlowRider accidents, staircase accidents, injuries during short excursions, gangway injuries, and more. With multiple pools and giant slides, Icon of the Seas may see devastating accidents, injuries, and deaths in the future.

What You Can Do If an Accident Happens on the Icon of the Seas

Facing a cruise ship accident can be a frightening experience, but it does not mean you are without options. As an injury victim, your first option is to seek medical care, which should be provided on the ship. Even if you feel okay now, seeking medical care creates medical records for your injury and can prevent worsening injuries.

Reporting your accident is a crucial second step. Authorities aboard the ship and at port should know that your accident happened, how it happened, and what conditions caused that accident. This report can be used as a launching point for legal action.

You may also need to seek out an attorney’s guidance as soon as possible. Your lawyer can provide information when an accident happens on the Icon of the Seas. With an attorney’s specific guidance, you have the tools and resources needed to identify why your accident happened, determine the at-fault party, and seek compensation that covers the entirety of your damages.

Contact Us if You Were Injured on Icon of the Seas or Any Other Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Our firm is made up of national leaders in cruise ship accident cases and maritime law. Members of our team have received “Lawyer of the Year” in Admiralty and Maritime (Miami) by US News & World Report in 2020, along with many other nationally recognized awards. We put more than 200 years of combined experience and a firm with a 50-year reputation to work for you.

When something goes wrong on a cruise ship, it can be a frightening experience. It may leave you struggling to recover following the accident. Worst, a cruise ship line like Royal Caribbean may be unwilling to pay for the damages you have suffered in the accident. Fortunately, whether you are injured on the Icon of the Seas or one of their smaller cruises, you have grounds for a lawsuit if you were injured through their negligence.

Injury victims can seek out the guidance of our team for compensation. This begins with a free consultation, where we can discuss your opportunities for compensation. To learn more, reach out by calling 877-233-1238 or filling out our online contact form.