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Making an Icon: Icon of the Seas

Royal caribbean's biggest and boldest designed cruise ship..

By Amanda Mesa | Published on October 12, 2022

Icon of the Seas℠ is not just another cruise ship, it is an extraordinary new class of adventure built with technological innovation in mind. With this video series, “Making an Icon,” Royal Caribbean takes you behind the scenes on delivering the world’s best vacation. The forthcoming Icon of the Seas℠ — is poised to be its greatest creation yet promising bolder-than-ever onboard experiences, cutting-edge design and milestone advances in the cruise line's push for cleaner energy. Discover all that is to come from the very first ship in an all-new class.

"The driving force behind everything we do at Royal Caribbean International is to deliver the best vacations on earth," says Claudia Diaz-Gonzalez, associate vice president of product development at Royal Caribbean International. Icon is no exception. As one of the brand's most anticipated new cruise ships, it will launch the all-new Icon Class in 2024, shattering records and redefining what a family vacation can be.

Behind the Design

What bold ideas go into creating the largest cruise ship in the world? The journey to turn the vision behind Icon into reality has spanned for more than five years with endless hours of ideation. In order to actualize this new concept, the team leveraged mountains of guest data as well as the creativity, ideas and expertise of leading innovators, artists, architects, industrial engineers and designers from around the world.

Anna Drescher, the cruise line's manager of architectural design, newbuilding and innovation calls Icon of the Seas℠ a "white-paper ship" because it began with a blank sheet of sketching paper. "It truly is starting fresh," she says.

During the first few months of ideation for the cruise ship, the team went wild with ideas and what-ifs, taking care not to limit any creativity. During this phase, there was no such thing as "impossible" — every idea was carefully considered and went into shaping the vision behind the world's first Icon Class cruise ship. Brainstorming and product development sessions focused on the guest experience first and foremost, leveraging a staggering wealth of data gathered through surveys, guest correspondence and conversations onboard.

"Everything — every ship, every experience — starts with the guest," says Tim Klauda, vice president of product development at Royal Caribbean International.

Jennifer Goswami, director of product development at Royal Caribbean International, adds that walking the ship through the guest lens played a huge role in the innovation process and led to the ultimate design and vision for Icon of the Seas℠ . One key goal was to combine the best elements of a broad range of vacation styles and experiences — including city getaways, amusement parks, beach retreats, all-inclusive resorts and more — into one unforgettable experience at sea.

Pillars of an Icon

The next step in the journey to “Making an Icon” was to translate all those pie-in-the-sky ideas and guest needs into a strategic framework with five key pillars. The first was unrivaled water experiences . It aimed to tie every element of the ship back into the surrounding sea, which is ever-present during a cruise getaway. The second pillar focused on adrenaline-amping thrills and leveling up the cruise line's well-known penchant for exhilarating onboard activities and attractions .

The third pillar emphasized maximizing family-friendly vacation experiences by creating even more opportunities for bonding than ever before. The fourth pillar was all about offering a more diverse and expansive lineup of sensational cruise entertainment — a feat that Royal Caribbean's award-winning entertainment team is well-equipped to deliver.

Finally, the fifth pillar celebrated food and beverage at sea , promising to build upon the cruise line's robust collection of foodie-approved dining concepts by introducing new, never-before-seen restaurants and offerings.

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Evolution of cruise ship design: aesthetics, technology, and passenger experience.

Key Takeaways

• Cruise ship design has evolved over time, with the bow of the ship undergoing various changes to improve efficiency and stability.
• Aesthetics play a crucial role in cruise ship design, as the exterior appearance of the ship is important in attracting passengers and building the ship’s brand image.
• Technological advancements have been incorporated into cruise ship design, including improved propulsion systems, energy-efficient designs, advanced navigation systems, and integration of smart technologies.
• The design of a cruise ship directly impacts the passenger experience, with factors such as spacious cabins, amenities, efficient layout, and innovative entertainment options contributing to passenger comfort and enjoyment.

The Evolution of Cruise Ship Aesthetics

Incorporating Advanced Technology in Cruise Ship Design

Enhancing passenger experience through ship design, the role of aesthetics in cruise ship branding, technological innovations in modern cruise ship design, designing for passenger comfort and enjoyment, creating efficient and convenient cruise ship layouts, the impact of ship design on onboard amenities, balancing economic viability and passenger satisfaction in ship design, the future of cruise ship design: trends and considerations.

• Use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials
• Integration of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines
• Implementation of waste management systems to reduce pollution
• Adoption of advanced propulsion systems to minimize fuel consumption
• Utilization of LED lighting and smart energy management systems
• Incorporation of innovative HVAC systems for improved energy efficiency
• Incorporation of green spaces and vertical gardens for improved air quality
• Integration of water conservation systems and wastewater treatment plants
• Implementation of sustainable practices in onboard operations and services

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some specific examples of cruise ship designs that have been particularly iconic or visually appealing, how do cruise ship designers incorporate smart technologies to enhance the passenger experience, what are some key factors that influence the economic viability of cruise ship design, how have advancements in propulsion systems and navigation technology improved the maneuverability and safety of cruise ships, can you provide examples of innovative entertainment options and activities that cater to diverse passenger interests on modern cruise ships.

Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team.

From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

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Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team. From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

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Royal caribbean’s loyalty program: levels and perks revealed.

• Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program has multiple levels that are reached based on a points system.
• Platinum tier is reached at thirty cruise points and offers perks such as complimentary photos, laundry services, and exclusive access to staff members.
• Pinnacle Club is the highest level, requiring 700 cruise points, and grants members all perks from lower levels as well as additional benefits like complimentary drinks, discounted beverage packages, and access to exclusive lounges and restaurants.
• The loyalty program also includes benefits for families, with children sharing their parents’ status tier and receiving discounts on ice cream, arcade credits, and complimentary drink coupons.

Loyalty Program Tiers

Earning Points

Platinum tier benefits.

Pinnacle Club Perks

Family benefits, how long does it take for loyalty points to expire, can i request to add missing cruise points if i forgot to have them added after a previous cruise, can perks be shared among friends traveling together, does celebrity cruises honor crown and anchor status for all levels, is there a limit to the number of points that can be earned in the loyalty program, ideal time for a bahamas cruise: beat the crowds and heat.

• November to May is the ideal time for a Bahamas cruise, as it offers fewer crowds and a more peaceful atmosphere.
• Booking before Thanksgiving in November may provide better pricing for a Bahamas cruise.
• The average high temperature in the Bahamas is 86 degrees, with an average low of 71 degrees.
• Cruising in November to May offers a more comfortable climate compared to July, which has temperatures around 83 degrees.

Weather and Temperatures

Personal considerations, are there any specific events or festivals in the bahamas that i should consider when planning a cruise, are there any specific activities or excursions that are highly recommended during a bahamas cruise, can you provide any tips or recommendations for first-time cruisers to the bahamas, what are some popular cruise lines that offer bahamas itineraries, are there any specific ports in the bahamas that are known for their beautiful beaches or unique attractions, exploring the charms of bimini, bahamas: adventure, views, and local delights.

• Bimini, Bahamas offers pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
• The destination is known for its vibrant marine life and sense of adventure.
• Travelers can enjoy activities such as renting kayaks to explore secluded coves and beaches, and sipping cocktails with panoramic views.
• Local cuisine in Bimini includes fresh seafood, conch salad, cracked conch, and coconut shrimp.

Places to Visit

Tips for traveling.

What are some popular water activities to do in Bimini, Bahamas?

Are there any historical sites or landmarks to visit in bimini, can you recommend any local restaurants or food specialties in bimini, are there any festivals or events that take place in bimini throughout the year, what is the best way to get around the island of bimini.

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The Ten Stages of Building Cruise Ships

From steel-cutting to maritime traditions

It feels like a new ship is being launched every other month currently, and to be honest, you would be right.

The cruise industry is undergoing explosive growth right now and the thirst for bigger, better and more exciting ships has never been so great!

The Initial Order

Everything starts with an order. Although shipyards around the world are pretty busy, we’re not quite at a stage yet where rival cruise lines are buying construction slots “just in case” then selling them as airlines do with planes.

Generally, a shipyard will have several ships being built at the same time, all in various different stages and many ships placed in their order books as either confirmed or as ‘an option’ – which allows the cruise line to cancel or postpone the build if necessary.

It is at this stage that the cruise line will announce they’ve placed an order for a new ship and it is usually around 3-4 years away. No name or any details is given at this stage, just the tonnage, possible class of ship (for example a sister ship or a brand new design) and usually the passenger capacity.

The Steel-Cutting Ceremony

By the time we get to the steel-cutting ceremony, the cruise line is starting to generate some press about their new ship. At this point, the ship is usually given a name publicly, although in some instances she may still only have a build number which is referenced on her hull. The first steel is cut in front of senior management from the cruise line, the shipyard and the press. What you’ll actually see doesn’t really resemble anything but laser-cut steel at this point!

This process continues for months as the shipyard creates lots of pieces of steel all cut into different shapes and sizes which are then welded together to make sections or ‘blocks’.

The Keel-Laying Ceremony

The next important part of building a ship is the laying of the keel. The keel is the lowest (or bottom) of any ship and will be part of the first block that is lowered by massive cranes into the dry dock or basin as it is sometimes called.

At this point, there is usually a coin laying ceremony . Specially commissioned gold coins are laid in the keel block to symbolise good luck. Sometimes they are welded in and at other times, they are just placed in and then retrieved later on and then used in a mast stepping ceremony, where the coins are welded under the bottom of the main ship’s mast. These days cruise ships don’t have a mast like sailing ships and therefore they are placed under or attached to the very bottom of the radar mast and left on display.

The coin ceremony is carried out by the Godmother ( Madrina ) of the ship. The Godmother at this point isn’t the same as the official Godmother that will name the ship when she is finished, instead, it may be someone important from the cruise line or occasionally two people, one from the shipyard and another from the cruise line.

The keel is then laid with exact precision, usually using GPS coordinates which are accurate to the centimetre. We now have (part) of the bottom of the new cruise ship!

As modern ships are now built by block (like Lego!), there is an ongoing process in the shipyard. Engineers will construct new blocks in one area of the shipyard whilst in another area large cranes will lower completed blocks into the dry dock and more engineers will weld together the large sections. These sections can commonly weigh in at 150 tonnes or more with ease.

Eventually, you end up with something on the outside looking like a cruise ship. Although the inside is generally bare at this point apart from structural things like decks and staircases. Temporary lifts will be fitted at the side of the ship and large equipment and more steel will be either lifted or craned onto the ship.   From the outside, your ship will look a familiar shape, but her paintwork will be patchy in places and she may not have any glass or outdoor facilities fitted yet.

As the months progress the ship has her azipods fitted (propellers fitted to large shafts which can rotate 360 degrees allowing the ship to move in any direction) and she is now pretty much waterproof, at least from below.

The Float Out

The Float Out is a large milestone in any ship’s build. At this point, there are 100s of workers working on every area of the ship, sometimes in rolling 24/7 shifts depending on how quick the cruise line wants their ship and how many ships the shipyard has on their order books!

By now, cabins – which are usually made in a factory nearby and prefabricated are literally craned or lifted onto the ship and then slotted in next to each other like jigsaw pieces. The plumbing and wiring are connected to each cabin or “pod” and it is ready to go – just needing bedding and other small furniture items adding!

The ship gets to a point where it is ready to be moved out of the dry dock for the first time. Press are gathered, cruise line management, workers who have helped build the ship and even some local dignitaries may also attend. There is a speech, generally by the Chief Engineer and he gives thanks to the builders and talks about the milestones they completed and then the shipyard and cruise line representatives also give speeches.

Then, the Godmother (still not the official one that will name it!) will smash a bottle of champagne over the bow of the ship and everyone will gather at the rear of the ship as the dry dock is flooded for the first time.

Depending where the ship is being built, other maritime traditions may also take place – commonly a sample of the first water to touch the ship’s hull is collected and kept in a sealed bottle (called an ampoule) . It is then presented to the Captain of the ship who will have it on display in his office near the Bridge.

Now the ship is floated out it will be moved to another part of the shipyard for the rest of the fit-out.

The fit-out can usually take months and the ship is usually alongside in the shipyard whilst the next ship to be built is being put together in the drydock. The shipyard operates like a game of chess as ships move in and out of the drydock area and alongside to maximise productivity.

The Sea Trials

The ship still isn’t complete, glass and various other parts might be visibly missing from the ship. But it is now time to test the ship at sea. Commonly sea trials last from a day to several depending on how complex the ship is, especially if it is a new class. The ship will be loaded with the crew, shipyard officials and also representatives from the insurance companies and also people like the British MCA (Maritime & Coast Agency) who will certify the ship as seaworthy.

The ship will perform various manoeuvres including seeing how quick she can stop, a compass swing (to calibrate the ship’s compasses) and the crew will also get used to how she handles at different speeds. No two cruise ships are generally the same, especially when technology changes at such a fast pace, a ship built just a year later may benefit from better hull design or more efficient engines.

After the sea trials, the ship is brought back alongside or even into a drydock again whilst her internal fit out is completed and her hull and the rest of her external paintwork is completed.

The Handover Ceremony

At the handover ceremony, senior representatives from the shipyard, the cruise line and the press are in attendance. At this point, the ship looks like a ship you could board tomorrow – however, it is probably empty of supplies and the majority of the crew will be flying in from all around the world to join the ship for the very first time.

The ship will load some basic supplies and may set sail to its homeport or wherever the naming ceremony is taking place.

The Shakedown Voyage

This voyage is nothing like a cruise you would want to experience! During this voyage, which may last anywhere from 1-7 days the ship will relocate from the shipyard to its new homeport for the season or where it will be named.

The shakedown voyage will possibly include a full ship. Certainly, all crew will be on board, learning everything about their new workplaces. The passenger cabins may also be occupied with workmen from the shipyard installing and carrying out finishing touches around the ship. Additionally, marketing staff will join the ship at this point and take all those lovely photos and videos of the ship whilst everything is looking brand new and is free of passengers!

The Inaugural Voyage

Not all cruise lines do this, but some do sell a pre-maiden voyage if the ship is looking like it will be completed earlier than expected.

The inaugural voyage is sometimes for members of the media and travel agents only. It can last anything from 1-3 nights and sometimes it might not even be a full voyage but could just be alongside in the homeport whilst invited guests come to visit and tour the ship.

The Christening Ceremony

This ceremony is the final milestone in the ship going to sea and starting its life with paying passengers. A large naming ceremony is very popular, with representatives from the cruise line, shipyard, cruise industry and the media all in attendance. Depending on the cruise line the Godmother might be someone who is famous, Royalty or tradition. It might even be someone who won a competition!

The Godmother blesses the ship and smashes a bottle of champagne across her bow. The tradition goes if the bottle doesn’t break on the first time, it is bad luck!

The Maiden Voyage

This is what you all have been waiting for, right? The ship is now ready for paying passengers to enjoy the very first voyage on the ship – in restaurants that haven’t been eaten in and beds that haven’t been slept in! The Maiden Voyage is usually quite special and may actually be a repositioning voyage rather than a normal itinerary. The cruise line may choose to give everyone who travels special commemorative gifts to mark the maiden voyage. This can sometimes be drawn out to a Maiden Season as the ship visits new ports for the very first time on each cruise.

After this, the ship will keep on performing cruises day-in-day-out, without stopping until her next dry dock. Legally the ship must undergo a dry dock for a full hull inspection every five years, at that point cruise lines usually refurbish carpets, cabin materials and sometimes reconfigure bars or restaurants depending on the current trends. Sometimes some ships may perform a dry dock period sooner if the cruise line wants to increase the number of cabins or facilities onboard.

We hope you enjoyed this article about building cruise ships – if you want to see more of what we do, then Like our Facebook page , Follow us on Twitter or Instagram and come and join our Cruise Fans group !

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• How are Cruise Ships Built? Discover the Construction...

How are Cruise Ships Built? Discover the Construction & Engineering Behind these Treasures of the Sea

Have you at any point gazed at a huge cruise ship and considered how it was able to remain above water? Many cruise ships constantly travel to Alaska and Hawaii during the summer. During the winter, an abundance of cruises are available to go to Mexico, the Caribbean, and other locations in the South Pacific. Considering the continuous growth & development of the cruise sector, the several types of materials & metals required for assembling the ships, we thought it's worth taking a deeper dive here into the full construction involved.

The Components used for Construction of Cruise Ships

Every one of the heaviest sections of the ship like the powerplants, engines, ballast, water, and fuel tanks are kept at the lower part, 20% from the bottom of the ship in order to ensure the ship remains upright. Ideally, underneath the waterline which is used to make sure the ship remains steady and reduces the center of gravity. The 80% left over part of a regular cruise ship is created to be employed by passengers, which is light and open as it can be.

Looking higher up the cruise ship, you will realize that it gets more open and lighter in weight which is aimed at limiting the weight. The pool is only an exception. Apart from being extremely heavy, you can only get the best view at the top which makes the swimming pool located there. 

The materials are properly chosen and are also based upon your location in the vessel. Close to the upper part of the ship, the prominent selections are high durable steel and aluminum. This provides the best available strength-to-weight ratio. Carbon fibers and fiber strengthened plastics are now been tested on more recent vessels as these materials are quite new and pretty uncommon. Getting a little lower, hotter rolled steels would be found. The crucial features here are heavyweight and durability which allows designers to employ thicker materials in this section.

The part that requires more strength, usually very complicated and developed first is the hull. It has the shape of a massive metal tube with several supports and leak-proof rooms inside it. This is vital because several stresses are exerted by the ocean on ships. Tubes are part of the shapes that have the most mechanical strength in the world but it gets weaker when holes are drilled into it like it is required for doors. This makes the door locations to be planned properly which is then strengthened by the structural support.

The massive structure is then fitted at the top after the completion of the hull. But this massive structure spaces of the entire cabin and activity area remains open. The cabin and other components are assembled in a contained environment that is not on the ship just like a car. After the construction of these flat-packed spaces, they are then integrated into the massive structure and installed like the plugging in a huge LEGO.

Several facades are present in many of the rooms looking into the ship. Considering those attractive sheets of surfaces of wood and marble, they are actually artificial wood on light, durable and frames of metal or thin stony sheets. Stainless steel and ceramics are also very common since they are very durable, cost-effective and incombustible.

Crucial Ship Rigging Equipment

Rigging is an important component of ship employment. Riggers set up ships’ parts & equipment for transports by the crane, hoists or other material handling equipment.

When considering ship rigging tools, you’ll be majorly getting involved with hooks, eye straps, swivels, pulleys, and other devices. Even though many of these materials are quite simple and modest. An effective rigging task can only be achieved with all these tools working collectively.

In regards to lifting tools, you typically would be looking at chokers, hooks, halyards, eye straps, connectors, blocks, swivels and many more. Each of these small devices plays a major part in pulling off a rigging job.

Other components such as the ropes and dynamometers are also very crucial when performing rigging and lifting tasks.

The demand for guy wire or wire rope in the marine industry is numerous whether during the start of the construction process of the ship or when harboring the ship at the docks. Heavy strains, pressure and loads are usually involved irrespective of what the wire ropes will be used for. A thin rope can obviously not be able to harbor a ship at the docks. Lifting materials are usually developed to carry out numerous tasks that involve heavy pressure and strain which makes it a top choice for the marine industry.

During the start of a marine procedure, the wire ropes are also employed to build the ships since it is usually employed with cranes when performing lifting tasks in the engineering and construction industry. Ships developed with solid and enormous materials and the best equipment that can help to move them around in a building site is by using wire ropes.

Apart from the lowering and lifting jobs carried out when building a vessel, cranes found in the docks and on the ships are also beneficial when transferring cargos. Concerning the point mentioned above, the best choice for transferring heavy loads is still the rope.

The components are as well beneficial in securing vessels at the docks. The weight of the ships is without any doubt very heavy and one of the tools that can position them securely without floating off is the rope.

The ready-made strategy is usually not far-fetched however, the monstrosity of the scale makes the construction of a heavy ship an enormous task. The construction process incorporates many years of preparation and design procedure along with millions in cost of materials and workers. Ships that are as enormous as the Quantum of the sea with a construction cost of about $1.6 billion. However, in the end, a beautiful transportation masterpiece arises that can be appreciated for years to come.

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How Long Does It Take to Build a Cruise Ship?

Want to get an idea of how long it takes to build a brand new cruise ship? As you might imagine, it can take a long time… but what might surprise you is that it doesn’t take as long as you might think.

Think about what today’s modern cruise ships actually are. Ever been to Las Vegas? A cruise ship is a resort on par with the nicest Vegas hotels. And not only are there thousands of cabins for passengers, there are also an unbelievable amount of amenities.

On a cruise ship you’ll find pools, gyms, and spas. There are typically more than a dozen restaurants, including not just the space for guests, but all the kitchen and food storage needed to serve a small city of guests every day.

There is everything from casinos to grand theaters, not to mention unique activities like waterslides, climbing walls, mini-golf courses, and even an IMAX theater and go-kart track on some ships.

As if that weren’t enough, all of these features have to be built onto a ship more than 1,000 feet long with a curved hull that doesn’t allow for a square and solid foundation like you’d find on land. Oh yeah, it also has to be able to move at 20 miles per hour and be stable in ocean swells.

If all that sounds like a daunting task, you’re right. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think it would take a decade or more to get a ship built. Truth is that some of the largest cruise ships in the world can be built in less than two years .

The Time It Took to Build Major Cruise Ships

Below, we’ve rounded up the time it took to build many of the newest cruise ships. Keep in mind that this time doesn’t include much of the “backend” work that goes into building a ship, including drawing up plans, sourcing materials, securing financing and more. Instead, this is simply the time it takes to build from the start of construction .

For our research we looked at the time it took to build the Carnival Horizon, MSC Seaside, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, Carnival Vista, and Norwegian Bliss. These represent the newest ships in major cruise line fleets and give us the best estimate of the time it takes to build a ship today.

As you can see, today’s cruise ships take roughly 18-30 months to complete. Considering the size and scope of these ships (it’s not unusual for a new ship to cost more than $1 billion), it’s our opinion that is an amazingly short time to complete such a large project.

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Sex on a Cruise: What to Know Before You Get Down

Too much news of bigger cruise ships creating blowback among passengers, carnival orders three new ships… that will be among the biggest in the world, hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

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How a New Cruise Ship Is Built

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Cruise ship construction is an enormous undertaking that involves thousands of decisions and logistical planning protocols that must be precisely set and coordinated in just the right order.

Watching a ship come together is a fascinating process, and I was able to witness it firsthand in Saint-Nazaire, France, where the Celebrity Apex was being built as the second in a series of five Celebrity Edge ships at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.

The scope of building a ship

The ship is actually built in stages, often in different locations before being put together like a jigsaw puzzle or a game of Legos. It comes together as the result of 1,000 key steps, 200,000 different tasks, and the involvement of 500 subcontractors and suppliers. According to shipyard officials, each shipyard completes the process a bit differently.

For the Celebrity Apex, it has taken one year to go from having its first pieces of steel cut and prepared to seeing the final touches added before its March 2020 delivery to Celebrity Cruises.

More than 1.5 million manpower hours are involved in putting such a large ship together. In fact, the building of the ship begins even while engineering work is still going on; such is the large-scale nature of this process.

3D imagery and virtual reality are used in creating the mockups and models, which allow interior designers to take tours of the ship before it is built. They can decide where to most efficiently install electrical outlets or piping, as well as how the style of the interiors will come to life. No one wants a power outlet on the ceiling!

This process also allows designers to work on various parts of the ship simultaneously instead of needing to have each be ready before another can start.

» Learn more: Does cruise travel fit into your points and miles strategy?

Starting construction

It takes six months to build the outer structure of the ship, which is then stocked with passenger cabins, restaurants, public areas, bathrooms, and hundreds of miles of electrical wires and plumbing pipes.

Large cranes capable of lifting 1,400 tons at a time put each of the pieces together into what we recognize as a cruise ship.

Stacking cabins like Legos

For me, the most surprising element of ship construction was that most of it is actually built elsewhere. The ship as a whole consists of dozens of smaller parts, including cabins, which are each built at an assembly line.

The assembly line includes the installation of almost all passenger amenities — light fixtures, wiring, power outlets, furniture, TVs, beds, bathroom fixtures and even trash cans — so that when cabins are stacked into the ship, their electrical wires and plumbing can be instantly connected to the rest of the vessel. There is little additional work that needs to be done once the cabin is loaded onto the ship.

In fact, more than 3,000 miles of electrical wires come affixed to the cabin; some suites have even more due to their more spacious quarters. Everything must arrive to the ship at the right time and at the right place.

One installed in the ship, each cabin is furnished with decor and amenities in as few as 20 minutes, as staffers pass through installing facilities and cross-check one another's work.

If you think about it, the cabins must come furnished because large items like beds and sofas would not fit through many ship doorways or hallways. Once the cabins are stacked across the previously built hull, the steel sides are wrapped around the vessel. Designers had left cutouts where the windows and balconies belong.

Altogether, more than 40 individual blocks and 500 panels — each constructed off-site — are eventually integrated into the ship’s frame, which composes 250,000 steel parts representing 25,000 tons of steel.

» Learn more: Our family vacation: A Mexican cruise for 5

Wood, weight and 'wow factor'

Wood is not allowed in the construction of the ship because it can easily burn. Those walls in your room might be covered by wallpaper and artwork, but they are actually made from metal and steel.

The weight of the ship must be balanced and optimized, with a focus on keeping the center of gravity low to the waterline. Celebrity Cruises has a team that manages the weight of everything aboard the ship. Once designers choose what they want to install on the ship, a separate team of engineers gets involved to see if there are more lightweight options to use.

It is a balancing act to reduce weight while also maintaining the overall design aesthetic and “wow factor” of the ship.

Heavier materials are less efficient at the top of the ship; no one wants a top-heavy ocean liner. Thus, the Celebrity Apex uses a more eco-friendly material that looks just like glass for the transparent atrium in the Solarium — though it weighs only 1% of what glass would weigh. Other materials like lightweight carbon fiber help offset the weight of steel and fuel tanks.

Even the smallest details like room and public area signage is examined by a variety of teams from lawyers to marketing experts. To convey important messages, the cruise line wants to be informative without being stern.

For example, small placards by toilets in cabin bathrooms say, “Excuse me, only toilet paper please.” Throwing anything else into these vacuum toilets can cause plumbing stopups.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

What’s new on board

Adding new amenities for passengers can sometimes pose challenges for designers. New features like the Magic Carpet (also aboard sister ship the Celebrity Edge), required plenty of additional planning.

This cantilevered deck ascends the side of the ship between decks 2 and 16, allowing guests to dine or gather with panoramic views while more comfortably boarding smaller tender boats to go ashore when needed. It essentially is an external elevator on the side of the ship.

In the trilevel Grand Plaza area, the Martini Bar features over 700 LED lights in crystallized lenses designed to dance in coordinated fashion for dramatic effect. If lined up on the ground, these lights would span more than half a mile.

A Spa Thermal Suite adds eight different therapeutic experiences like a salt room, massaging Rainfall Water Therapy room, Iyashi Dome sauna (said to cleanse and detoxify the body), and new treatment tables. It also features the first F45 fitness classes at sea as well as a Kerastase Institute beauty salon.

Each of these elements requires significant plumbing and wiring design, which is different from the systematic approach found in cabins and must be integrated into the overall maze of pipes on the ship. The spa’s design, especially, requires unique setups for plumbing and piping.

A 23-foot 4K LED screen curving around the main theater stage is fitted with laser projectors for wraparound lighting during stage shows.

And Eden, a combined dining and lounge space, features a canopy of leaves, which are more than decorative — they shield the view of electronic equipment and lighting.

» Learn more: I survived a cruise — and you can too

The bottom line

On this ship, I found everything seemed to fit together with precision and often served to function both for internal use and passenger appreciation.

The next time you travel aboard a new cruise ship, look closely to appreciate the myriad details that came together to create it.

Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruises and Ramsey Qubein.

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I've sailed on two all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruise ships. These are the 3 reasons I think they're worth the cost.

• I sailed on Regent Seven Seas and Silversea's newest ships, Seven Seas Grandeur and Silver Ray.
• The pricier of the two, Silver Ray, starts at $400 a day in 2025.
• The convenience, all-inclusivity, and suites make  ultra-luxury cruise ships  worth their hefty cost.

Luxury cruises can be more than quadruple the cost of an average ship. But before you click away, hear me out — the higher-end vessels are worth the splurge.

The world's largest and most popular ships are beloved for their exciting, family-friendly amenities. But if you'd rather trade the VR arcades for complimentary cocktails and rock climbing walls for some time in the sauna, luxury cruises could be a great option — especially if you prioritize convenience over cash.

I attended complimentary, non-revenue sailings on ultra-luxury cruise lines Regent Seven Seas and Silversea's latest ships, Seven Seas Grandeur and Silver Ray . The latter and more expensive of the two starts at a cool $400 per person and day for a weeklong cruise in 2025.

Not cheap, compared to Carnival's equally new Firenze ship , which starts for as little as $82 per guest and day next year.

But you get what you pay for. And in the case of the cruise industry, money does, in fact, buy happiness.

If you think spending hundreds of dollars a day for a small ship sounds unreasonable, I have three good reasons you should reconsider.

Luxury cruises have some obvious and expected plus-sides, like an elegant ambiance and great food.

On Regent Seven Seas and Silversea's latest ships, mediocre lunch buffets are replaced with endless raw fish. And instead of a "main dining room" with upcharged lobsters, guests can dine on complimentary caviar and foie gras.

I love fine dining. So, it might be a surprise to hear that I don't think the free beef tenderloin is the best part about Silversea's and Regent Seven Seas' cruises.

Instead, I think the ships' convenience, all-inclusivity , and suites make them worth the cost.

1. Their convenience is unparalleled, even by industry standards.

Cruises are popular in part for their ease of travel. What other fare includes dining, activities, accommodations, and the opportunity to see several destinations in just a few days — all without needing to plan logistics like hotels and ground transportation?

But if you think mass-market cruises are easygoing, just wait until you see their luxury counterpart.

If you're willing to pay extra, you won't even have to plan your flights.

Close your Google Flight tabs. Silversea and Regent Seven Seas will book your roundtrip pre- and post-cruise airfare for you, although at a cost.

Silversea offers three pricing tiers: door-to-door, port-to-port, and an "essential fare."

The first, the most expensive option, is best for guests who want a truly all-inclusive package . It's the only one that includes flights (with the option to upgrade to Business Class), private transfers between the airport and guests' homes, and shore excursions.

But with this comes a fairly stark price difference.

One of Silver Ray's cheapest door-to-door itineraries in 2025 is a seven-day cruise from Monte Carlo, Monaco, to Rome for $6,700 per person. The same itinerary's port-to-port option, which doesn't include flights or transfers, is $1,500 cheaper.

Regent Seven Seas' cruises can also be upgraded to include the same services. However, doing so will cost an extra $1,100 per guest for Seven Seas Grandeur's most affordable seven-night roundtrip Miami cruise in 2025, which already starts at $4,200 per person.

It's worth it if convenience is your top priority.

Planning the trip and getting to the ship could be your cruise vacation's only two stressful moments.

If you're flying to the port, should you arrive the day before or just a few hours in advance? When should you call your Uber to the airport? What if you miss your desired embarkation time because you mistimed your flight?

All these logistics could add plenty of unwanted stress to an otherwise stress-free trip.

So, if you detest the pre-vacation planning routine, the airfare upgrades that make these cruises truly all-inclusive could be worth the extra cash.

2. No need to worry about onboard spending when you don't have much to spend on.

Many mass-market cruise lines are increasingly outfitting their new ships with irresistible pay-to-play amenities . Dinner at a specialty restaurant, an hour at the arcade, and a few glasses of wine later, and travelers could easily blow past their budget.

Ironically, guests on more expensive all-inclusive ships rarely face this problem.

Yes, the upfront fare is higher. But once onboard, you'll never have to reach for your wallet.

The incessant and difficult-to-resist upcharges on Carnival Firenze left me more annoyed than relaxed.

The opposite can be said for Seven Seas Grandeur and Silver Ray.

WiFi, alcohol, and access to the spa are all included in the base fare, as are almost all excursions if you opt for Silversea's door-to-door fare.

You'll have to pay extra when you're at the casino or want a spa treatment, a fancier bottle of wine, or, in the case of Silver Ray, dinner at the Chef's Table and French restaurants. Besides that, all the dining venues, bars, and activities are complimentary.

Free booze. Imagine that. There's truly no cruise vacation more relaxing than one where you can't overspend.

3. You'll never be stuck in a windowless interior cabin.

I've stayed in some dark and depressing cruise accommodations. My interior stateroom on Carnival Firenze looked like it belonged in a hospital, while my balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas had the smallest bathroom I've ever seen.

You won't have to worry about cramped cabins on a luxury cruise.

Ironically, smaller high-end cruise ships seem to have more spacious accommodations than the world's largest vessels.

Even Silver Ray and Seven Seas Grandeur's cheapest cabins have balconies and sumptuous amenities like a bottle of Champagne and high-end toiletries.

My suites on both ships had spacious balconies, walk-in closets, and espresso machines.

My 332-square-foot concierge suite on Regent Seven Seas's ship was only 25 square feet bigger than the smallest option. And yet, it was one of the most spacious cabins I had ever stayed in, complete with a bathtub and L'Occitane en Provence toiletries.

Unfortunately, some of the decor looked dated for a brand-new ship . But a relaxing warm bath quickly helped me forget my design gripes.

Silver Ray's 357-square-foot Deluxe Veranda suite didn't come with fancy products.

But it did have a toiletries "menu" with Bulgari options, a separate pillow menu, a stocked mini-fridge with alcohol, and a butler.

Yes, butler. Every suite on Silver Ray has one who can help with tasks like packing your luggage, setting up a relaxing shower, and even delivering caviar.

Because if the suite itself didn't convince you that ultra-luxury cruises could be worth the price, I'm sure the hand-delivered caviar — which you can eat on your couch while wearing a comfy bathrobe— might.

• Main content

Carnival Cruise Line will launch biggest ships ever starting in 2029

Carnival Cruise Line is going bigger than ever before with a new class of ships.

The cruise line will welcome the first of the three new vessels in the summer of 2029, each with more than 3,000 cabins and a full capacity of nearly 8,000 guests. The others will follow in 2031 and 2033, and the class will mark the largest ships in the history of the line and its parent company, Carnival Corp.

“We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests,” the line’s president, Christine Duffy, said in a news release Tuesday. “For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new fun features and excitement that we know our guests will love.”

The ships will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

“We are excited to join forces with Carnival Cruise Line to debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built in Italy,” Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero said. The cruise line will share additional specifics about the design and itineraries at a later date.

A roller coaster in the ocean: What Carnival Cruise Line's BOLT ride is like

The news comes after Carnival announced orders for two more Excel class ships earlier this year, scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028. Those will join current Excel class ships Carnival Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee.

Carnival will also add two existing ships to its fleet from sister brand P&O Cruises Australia, which Carnival Corp. plans to retire in March 2025.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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July 17, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line will make Philly a home port for one of its ships in 2026

The agreement will revive an industry that largely vanished from the city more than a decade ago..

Norwegian Jewel, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, will call Philadelphia its home port in 2026. The ship carries 2,330 passengers and will make voyages to Bermuda and the North Atlantic coast.

Norwegian Cruise Line will make Philadelphia its home port for voyages to Bermuda and the northern Atlantic Coast beginning in spring 2026, city officials said Wednesday. The agreement marks a new chapter for cruise travel out of the city, a small industry that collapsed around the start of the 2010s as cruise lines opted for other ports of departure.

The Port of Philadelphia said the Norwegian Jewel, a cruise ship with a capacity of 2,330 passengers, will make 24 calls to the city between April and October of 2026. It will offer seven- and nine-day trips to Bermuda during the spring and summer months. In the fall, it will sail 10- and 11-day voyages north to New England and Canada, where it will use Quebec as an alternating home port. The northern trips will make stops in Boston and Bar Harbor, Maine, and Saguenay, Charlottetown and Halifax in Canada.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the arrangement will bring millions of passengers to the Philadelphia waterfront during the same year the city becomes the focus of the U.S. semiquincentennial.

"With all eyes on Philadelphia as we prepare to host our country's 250th birthday in 2026, the Port will continue to help support and grow Philadelphia tourism to create economic opportunity for our region, workers, and businesses," Shapiro said .

The cruise industry has been largely absent from Philadelphia's port for more than a decade. Norwegian Cruise Line's former ship, the Majesty, called the city its home port in the mid-2000s before that vessel was sold in 2008.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise lines also operated out of Philly during that period, but the industry dwindled from 36 departures in 2006 to just two in 2011. At that point, the Delaware River Port Authority voted to shut down its cruise terminal at the Navy Yard where it had a longstanding association. 

DRPA had been involved in the cruise industry since 1998 and landed the city's first home port vessel, the Crown Dynasty, in 2001. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Navy Yard terminal accommodated more than a dozen that were diverted from New York and other ports of call. And in October 2002, the city hosted the maiden voyage of the Carnival Legend cruise ship. 

At the time, DRPA viewed the Navy Yard terminal as a "valuable asset" that uplifted tourism in the city. But when the activity dried up, DRPA determined it no longer made economic sense to stay in the cruise business. 

DRPA spokesperson Mike Williams said Wednesday the agency will not be involved in the new agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line. It will be managed by the Port of Philadelphia, which operates as an independent state agency also known as PhilaPort and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

"Since ceasing its cruise operations in 2011 due to changes in the industry, the DRPA has focused solely on managing its four bridges and the PATCO transit line," Williams said. "This new development, a collaboration between PhilaPort and Norwegian Cruise Lines, reflects a renewed interest in and potential growth for cruise tourism in Philadelphia and South Jersey."

Philadelphia's port has been hampered in the past by height restrictions on ships traveling under the bridges that cross the Delaware River. It's also a longer journey to and from the open ocean out of Philadelphia – about 100 miles – than it is from ports in New York, Bayonne and Baltimore. It takes about six hours to sail up the Delaware River and out to the Atlantic Ocean, DRPA officials had said when they closed the Navy Yard terminal. 

Changes in the cruise industry also have shifted fleets toward larger "megaships" that can carry more than 5,000 passengers and pack more amenities into an amusement park-style experience. This was another reason DRPA moved away from cruises. Larger ships drive profits for cruise lines, but the trend has  split the industry into multiple segments with smaller vessels focused on passengers' tourism in the cities where they stop. 

In 2026, Philadelphia will be re-entering a global cruise industry that has been growing since the COVID-19 pandemic. The expansion has been buoyed by  demand from U.S. travelers , who made up 43% of cruise passengers in 2022.

The Port of Philadelphia projects that a resurgent cruise industry could generate more than $40 million in annual county and state tax revenue by 2028, the agency said. The industry could create about 2,000 jobs directly and indirectly, officials said, and the biggest beneficiaries could be hotels, restaurants, museums and historical sites that get more visitation. 

Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled details about its 2026 itineraries on Wednesday, including plans for its Breakaway and Aqua cruises to continue voyages out of Boston and New York. Company president David J. Herrera said Jewel's home port agreement in Philadelphia is a "key milestone" for the cruise line to spotlight the city for the first time in years. The American cruise line was founded in Norway in 1966 and currently operates 19 ships. 

The port said it will spend the next 18 months making improvements to the port, which is already one of the nation's fastest-growing cargo hubs.

"Now we are pleased to add tourism and cruises to our portfolio," PhilaPort executive director and CEO Jeff Theobald said.

The expected arrival of the cruise line in 2026 adds to a busy schedule that year in Philadelphia, which is slated to host events including the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, NCAA March Madness games and the festivities surrounding the nation's 250th birthday celebration.

Michael Tanenbaum PhillyVoice Staff

[email protected]

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Another cruise line is about to make a comeback — in an unusual place

Another cruise line is about to relaunch after not operating for many months — in a place that typically doesn't get a lot of cruise ships.

Small-ship operator Victory Cruise Lines, which until recently was part of American Queen Voyages , will restart operations in April with sailings on the Great Lakes.

The two-ship line is being revived by John Waggoner, a well-known entrepreneur in the maritime world. Waggoner bought Victory's two vessels in May at an auction in the wake of the bankruptcy of American Queen Voyages.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Waggoner has a history with the vessels, as he ran American Queen Voyages when it originally bought them in 2018. Waggoner founded American Queen Voyages but no longer owned it when it was placed into bankruptcy earlier this year by subsequent owners.

Waggoner's new company on Tuesday announced that Victory would restart operations April 16 with a special 10-night cruise from Portland, Maine, to Toronto on one of the two vessels, 190-passenger Victory I.

Dubbed the New England and Canada 2025 Reunion Cruise, the sailing will be hosted by Waggoner and his wife, Claudette, and include a passage through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes.

Related: TPG's guide to Great Lakes cruising

The ship will then be rechristened in Toronto on April 27.

The line's second vessel, 190-passenger Victory II, will restart operations shortly thereafter. It'll be rechristened in Chicago on May 12.

The inaugural season of the two ships will bring itineraries that span all five Great Lakes.

"As long-time enthusiasts of maritime adventures, my wife Claudette and I are thrilled for the team to open reservations for the inaugural season as we prepare to sail these magnificent waters," Waggoner said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "Our cruise experience will offer many special touches, including being the only cruise line to dock at Chicago's Navy Pier, and most of all, our ships will be a home away from home exploring all five Great Lakes."

Both of the Victory vessels were originally purpose-built to fit into the locks of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, which are narrower than some other locks around the world. Their small size — roughly 5,000 gross tons — allows them to navigate small harbors and call at downtown marinas in the region that would be off-limits to bigger ships.

The relaunching line on Tuesday revealed all its planned sailings for 2025 — a total of 36.

They will include 33 voyages that feature visits to every one of the five Great Lakes — the most of any cruise operator.

The line also said it would include a one-night precruise hotel stay at a premium hotel property and ground transfers for all voyages, something no other line does with every sailing.

The initial year of sailings will include:

• Nine-night Ultimate Great Lakes sailings from Chicago to Toronto that bring travel through all five Great Lakes. There will be 25 of these sailings from April through September 2025. Stops will include Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland; and Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) in Ontario.
• Nine-night Ultimate Great Lakes sailings that will be similar to the above with the exception that they will begin in Milwaukee after an overnight hotel stay in Chicago. There will be six of these sailings from May through August 2025.
• Eleven-night Ultimate Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway sailings from Chicago to Montreal that bring travel through the St. Lawrence Seaway. There will be three of these sailings in September and October 2025. Stops will include Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland; and Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) and Toronto in Ontario.
• Fourteen-night Great Lakes and Thunder Bay sailings that are round-trip from Chicago. There will be two of these sailings in May and June. Stops will include Mackinac Island (for an overnight), Marquette, Houghton, Sault Ste. Marie and Muskegon in Michigan; Thunder Bay, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; and Green Bay, Wisconsin (for an overnight).

The Great Lakes have been growing in popularity as a cruise destination in recent years, in part due to the arrival of a new line in the region, Viking . Viking added its first Great Lakes cruises in 2023.

Small-ship specialist Pearl Seas Cruises also has a presence in the Great Lakes.

Built in the early 2000s, the two Victory ships are small coastal vessels with 95 cabins spread over four passenger decks. Each of the ships has a main restaurant called the Coastal Dining Room for sit-down meals, as well as a more casual buffet eatery called The Grill.

They're also home to a main lounge called the Compass Lounge, which features singalong piano music, and an English-style tavern.

There are sun decks with cushioned sofas at the top of each vessel.

Each of the ships sails with Great Lakes experts that the line calls "Lakelorians." They lecture on local history, ecology and culture.

Itineraries for the ships opened for booking on Tuesday, with fares starting at $5,799 per passenger. Fares come with unlimited beverages, including wine, spirits, local craft beers and specialty coffees; unlimited Wi-Fi; and a shore excursion in every port.

A one-night precruise hotel stay is also included in fares, along with ground transfers between the hotel and vessel.

Victory is joining luxury operator Crystal in restarting operations after shutting down in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crystal restarted sailings under new owners in July 2023.

More information about the new Victory sailings is available at the Victory Cruise Lines website .

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