According to its builders, it is the largest cruise ship in the world. ‘The Icon of the Seas’, whose maiden voyage is scheduled for January 2024, has seen the light of day at the shipyards of Turku, Finland, despite its critics, who talk of “anti-environmental monstrosity».

Icon of the Seas, the largest ship in the world

The ship, commissioned by the shipping company Royal Caribbean, looks like a small city, with seven swimming pools, a park, shops and an ice rink. With a gross tonnage of 250,800 tons, five times the size of the Titanic, it can carry almost 10,000 people and will soon set sail for the Caribbean from Miami. “According to our information, this ship is currently the largest cruise ship in the world,” confirms Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku. While some criticize this colossal structure due to its carbon footprint, others admire the sophisticated engineering of this floating tourist destination and are already booking tickets. One of the special features of the new ship, whose construction began in 2021, is the giant glass dome that covers the bow.

The photo of the controversy

When the photo from the top of the ship went viral in July, the first shock was an uplift for the luxury, colors and many activities on the bridge. But not everyone appreciated this lavish representation of fun and relaxation at sea. In a short time the image of the seas was labeled as a “monstrosity”, “an image of disease” and defined as “tacky and vulgar”. But what is it about the image that evokes such strong emotions? According to Tom Davis, a professor of psychology at the University of Alabama who CNN heard, the fact that it’s a rendering and not an actual photo plays a key role. “It almost gives the impression of a low ship, stacked. Actually this could be a play on perspective, as the actual ship is apparently three or four times longer than the concept that the image conveys. Profile photos add a more logical and balanced feel,” he said.

The emotional aspect

The user’s reaction could depend on many variables, including personal concerns and fears. “For some – continued the professor – a ship of this size with such a load probably represents a lot of fun. For others, who may never have been on a cruise, it may be too much to take on. Are fears of social situations, open sea, small spaces a problem? Then that image could trigger memories of everything from virus news to movies like “Jaws,” “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Titanic.”

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