The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Is Nearly 1,200 Feet Long.
Scheduled to debut in January, the vessel can accommodate 5,600 guests and 2,350 crew members Icon of the Seas successfully passed an initial round of sea trials. Royal Caribbean International The world’s largest cruise ship is almost ready to set sail. Royal Caribbean’s massive new ship, Icon of the Seas, passed its inaugural round of sea trials with flying colors, bringing it one step closer to hitting the open ocean with passengers, the cruise line announced late last month. If all goes as planned, the record-breaking vessel will begin sailing in the Caribbean in January 2024. Just how big is Icon of the Seas? Really big. As Jalopnik’s Ryan Erik King writes, it’s the size of five Titantics. More specifically, Icon of the Seas measures 1,198 feet long—nearly a quarter of a mile—and has a gross tonnage of 250,800. All that space means it can accommodate 5,600 guests and 2,350 crew members. An artistic rendering of the ship’s top deck . Royal Caribbean International The cruise line is positioning the vessel as “the ultimate family vacation,” as CEO Michael Bayley told reporters earlier this year, per CNN’s Maureen O’Hare. “When you step back and look at all the energy and time that has gone into creating this ship, it is mind-blowing,” he added. The previous world’s largest cruise ship was also a Royal Caribbean vessel, Wonder of the Seas, which spanned 1,188 feet long and featured 18 decks. Crews in Turku, Finland, began work on Icon of the Seas in 2021. Last month, the vessel sailed the open ocean for the first time, as staffers spent four days testing the main engines, hull, brakes, steering system and other components. They also measured noise and vibration levels. Crews are building the ship in Turku, Finland. Royal Caribbean International The vessel will undergo another round of sea trials later this year before officially launching in Miami early next year, according to Royal Caribbean. Icon of the Seas will primarily take cruisers to the islands of the eastern and western Caribbean on seven-night itineraries. With progress on Icon of the Seas moving along, Royal Caribbean has already started building another large “icon class” ship. The cruise line expects that unnamed vessel to launch in 2025, per a statement. Icon of the Seas has 20 total decks, 7 swimming pools and 8 “neighborhoods,” or distinct areas with entertainment and dining. Another noteworthy feature is Category 6, which will be the largest waterpark at sea when Icon of the Seas sets sail. The ship will be equipped with a special grooming robot that will clean the hull whenever it’s in port to help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency by 3 to 4 percent, reports TTG Media’s Charlotte Cullinan. Icon of the Seas will run on fuel cells and liquified natural gas. Royal Caribbean International Icon of the Seas will also be the first ship in the cruise line’s fleet to run on liquefied natural gas and fuel cells, which are similar to batteries but do not need to be recharged. Water is the main byproduct of fuel cells—which combine oxygen and hydrogen to produce energy—which should help the ship reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Liquefied natural gas, meanwhile, is a controversial energy source that involves cooling natural gas to a liquid state to make it easier to transport. The liquid version is “actually worse than ordinary gas,” writes the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The energy required to chill, ship and regasify the fossil fuel makes it far more carbon-intensive and increases the potential for leakage of dangerous methane,” according to the organization. Royal Caribbean’s leaders say they view liquified natural gas as a “transitional fuel,” and that they hope to continue to reduce the environmental impact of their ships moving forward. “[Liquefied natural gas] is about 20-30 percent better for the environment [than heavy fuel oil], but it’s still not going to be the solution,” Bayley tells TTG Media. “We don’t know the answer, but the whole industry is working towards the answer.” Source: Royal Caribbean International
Carnival Adding the First 5G Cell Phone Coverage on a Cruise Ship in North America
Carnival Cruise Line is adding the first 5G cell phone coverage on a cruise ship in North America when their next new ship debuts at the end of December, Carnival Jubilee. Carnival Cruise Line has partnered with cellular provider Wireless Maritime Service (WMS) to provide 5G service on the ship. While the ship debuts at the end of year, this 5G enabled service will not be available until early 2024. This 5G coverage will not be included in cruise fares. Guests will be able to take advantage of it through service plans for cruise ships that are provided by their wireless carrier. To see which cell phone companies offer ship service and the plans that they have available, you can see those here. Carnival Cruise Line plans to rolls out 5G coverage to other ships in their fleet after it is enabled on Carnival Jubilee. This 5G coverage is in addition to Carnival’s Starlink WiFi service that is available on every ship in their fleet. All Posts Cruise Carnival Adding the First 5G Cell Phone Coverage on a Cruise Ship in North America November 17, 2023/No CommentsRead More Top Places to Cruise Without a Passport November 17, 2023/No CommentsRead More 2024 Panama Canal Cruises: Explore Peru, Guatemala & Mexico November 16, 2023/No CommentsRead More “Carnival Jubilee will be the fleet’s most-connected ship – literally raising the connectivity bar for our guests and serving as another big step in a period of vigorous advancement of our onboard connectivity,” said Luis Terife, vice president of onboard guest commerce at Carnival Cruise Line. “The ongoing enhancements we’re rolling out on all of our ships, such as SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, make it significantly easier for guests to share the memorable experiences of their cruise with friends and family.” Carnival Cruise Line said that they have received positive feedback from guests after they increased WiFi capacity from adding Starlink. They said that their goal is to enhance the internet experience for their guests and crew members. Carnival Jubilee will be Carnival’s third and final Excel class ship and will homeport in Galveston, Texas sailing week long cruises to the Western Caribbean. The cruises will visit Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay and include three sea days. View Prices on Carnival Jubilee The star attraction on the top deck of the cruise ship will be BOLT, a roller coaster that travels up to 35 mph around the ship’s iconic Carnival funnel. The vessel will be the largest in Carnival’s fleet at 183,521 gross tons in size. It will be 1,130 feet long and carry 5,324 guests (double occupancy). Source: https://cruisefever.net/carnival-adding-the-first-5g-cell-phone-coverage-on-a-cruise-ship-in-north-america/
Top Places to Cruise Without a Passport
Did you know it’s possible to cruise without a passport? Many people don’t know that as a U.S. Citizen, you can take advantage of the benefits of no-passport cruises for itineraries that begin and end at a U.S. Port. This way, you can take advantage of those amazing last-minute cruise deals. You’ll also have shorter travel times than if you’re vacationing abroad, and a no-passport-required cruise is great for first-time cruisers that don’t want to go too far from home. So where can you go? Read on for a list of pretty incredible options. Vacations That Don’t Require a Passport Vacation planners are always wondering if you need a passport for a cruise. When sailing from and back to the same US port, there are a surprising number of cruise destinations you can visit with Norwegian. Our top places to cruise without a passport include: 1. Alaska Sporting one of the youngest fleets to sail along the spectacular coastline of British Columbia, Norwegian will take you in style as you cruise from Seattle to ports of call such as Glacier Bay, Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Victoria. Think: whale spotting, dog-sledding or thrill riding on a jet-powered catamaran. Or maybe unprecedented photo ops, wildlife viewing, and glacier watching are more your thing. Whatever you’re looking to do, Alaska is definitely nature at its best. 2. Bahamas You’ll be living on island time in no time with the Bahamas’ close proximity to the US mainland! You can sail from Port Canaveral or Miami on a 3-, 4- or 7-day cruise on board the newly refurbished Norwegian Sky. You can visit Norwegian’s pristine private island, Great Stirrup Cay, or destinations like Nassau. If you’ve got some extra time to spare, be sure to take advantage of available Florida pre- and post-cruise stays, because, after all, you’re on vacation! So, why not make the most of it? 3. Bermuda When you get to spend 3 full days on the beautiful, oh-so-British (and pink!) island of Bermuda, it’s no wonder Norwegian was voted as having the Best Bermuda Itinerary! You can cruise without a passport from Boston on board Norwegian Dawn, or from New York on Norwegian Escape or Norwegian Breakaway, to Bermuda where those gorgeous pink sands await you. And with 3 days to explore, you can cover the island at your leisure while visiting shops, restaurants and even golf courses ‘til your heart’s content. 4. Canada & New England See Mother Nature at her best when the autumn months turn seemingly ordinary trees into a striking array of crimson and gold. As an added bonus, a cruise to Canada & New England is a history lover’s delight! You can embark from Boston on board Norwegian Dawn or from New York on Norwegian Gem or Norwegian Escape, where highlights can include visiting the historical destinations of Quebec City, Halifax, and Charlottetown, along with Portland and Bar Harbour. 5. The Caribbean With so many picture-perfect islands, a wide variety of ships to choose from, and multiple convenient departure points including Boston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Port Canaveral, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Tampa, it’s not surprising Norwegian has retained its title as the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line for the past 10 years! With so many choices, you’ll be grooving to those alluring Caribbean island rhythms in no time! And of course, we can’t forget the fantastic array of duty-free shopping and the delicious Caribbean cuisine. Oh, and the colorful tropical fish you’ll see when snorkeling and scuba diving. And…okay. You get the idea. 6. Mexican Riviera See more of Mexico and all it has to offer on a Mexico Cruise. Norwegian will take you from Los Angeles to a variety of ports that will offer you a combination of adventure and relaxation that you could not get anywhere else. Sail aboard some of our newest ships, including Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy. Ports of call can include Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, where you’ll find that charming Mexican vibe, along with water sport and adventures galore. 7. Hawaii Voted to be the Best Hawaii Cruise Itinerary, the Pride of America sails round-trip from Honolulu while offering 4 islands during her 7-day cruise, including 2 overnight stays, which means you’ll be able to maximize your island time in port while visiting the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. Your tropical Hawaiian paradise experience awaits! And if you want even more from your vacation, consider adding a 4-day Land Tour in Oahu. Because why? That’s right, you’re on vacation! Required Documents in Leau of No Passport Even though you’ll be sailing on a no-passport-required cruise, you’re still required to carry the following 2 pieces of identification: Proof of Citizenship (as outlined below) AND Government-issued photo ID State certified U.S. birth certificate (Baptismal paper, hospital certificates of birth, and Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable.) Original certificate of U.S. naturalization Original certificate of U.S. citizenship U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad OR WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative)-compliant documents. **A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 does not require a government-issued photo ID. Although you do not need a passport to visit these destinations as a U.S. citizen, It’s strongly recommended to obtain a passport for your cruise vacation for the following reasons: If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship. You unexpectedly need to depart the ship from a foreign port prior to the end of sailing, a passport would be required to leave or re-enter the U.S. by air. If you need to obtain a passport quickly, please contact VisaCentral at 844-834-5702 and reference account 75006 for discounted VisaCentral service fees. VisaCentral can obtain a passport in as little as 48 hours. Source: https://www.ncl.com/in/en/travel-blog/places-to-cruise-without-a-passport
