Port Canaveral now home to 2 of worlds largest cruise ships as Florida winter sailing season shifts begin

largest cruise ship florida

However, for those wishing to explore the western Caribbean, many fine cruises leave Port Tampa for destinations like Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan. The most popular ports in Florida for cruise ships are Port Tampa, Port Canaveral, and – last but certainly not least – Port Miami. However, before we talk about Port Miami, we need to talk about the other cruise terminals in Florida so you can see why Port Miami is the largest and best cruise port in Florida.

What Is The Largest Cruise Ship Port In Florida? (+Port Amenities)

Family Infinite Balcony rooms take that concept a step further, adding a separate alcove of bunk beds for the kids, and a split bathroom design for convenience. After dinner, D’Souza suggests popping by Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, which features two New Orleans-inspired cocktails on the menu and live performances of soulful classics and jazz-pop tunes surrounded by thousands of plants and greenery. Icon will introduce the first food hall, AquaDome Market—and it truly offers something for everyone.

largest cruise ship florida

How to Book: Plan your 2024 or 2025 vacation now

I smile when I see them, but then some young kids from the group makes Mr. Washy Washy do a cruel, caricatured “Burger Dance” (today he is in his burger getup), and I think, Well, so much for intersectionality. The 250,800-ton ship will have eight neighborhoods and never-before-seen advancements, such as a swim-up bar, a new adults-only retreat, and an expanded Royal Promenade. The Promenade has more than 15 restaurants, bars and lounges and floor-to-ceiling ocean views. Icon of the Seas has not only more to do onboard than other ships, but its Royal Caribbean's play at positioning itself as the preeminent family vacation choice. Clearly visible are so many of the ship's signature features, from the AquaDome to Surfside neighborhood to the Category 6 water park.

PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY

But Royal Caribbean canceled its inaugural season of China cruises and redirected the ship to the U.S. market in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the higher end, Oceania Vista, the first new ship from culinary-focused Oceania Cruises in more than a decade, has already made its maiden call to PortMiami when it arrived earlier this month. The 1,200-guest ship then left for a pair of Panama Canal cruises, but will return for four months out of Miami on Caribbean itineraries. The ship’s godmother, celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, is also bringing dishes to the ship’s Italian venue while the popular culinary test kitchen gets its largest space yet across the Oceania fleet. The demand is there, Oster said, noting the ship was sailing with 6,300 passengers on its first sailing.

largest cruise ship florida

Wonder of the Seas is a massive 236,857 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,734 at double occupancy. You can check the current top biggest cruise ships in the list below. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas became the new world’s largest cruise ship when she was delivered to the cruise line in November 2023, at a massive 250,800 gross tons and a length of 1,198 feet. The LNG-powered vessel will also have a guest capacity of 5,610 at double occupancy, which can reach a maximum of 7,600. Since being delivered from the shipyard to the cruise line in November 2023, Icon of the Seas overtook Wonder of the Seas as the world’s largest cruise ship.

Cruise line launches booking for new ship coming from Florida seaport

I Was Among the First To Sail On The World's Biggest Cruise Ship—And Here's What I Thought - Southern Living

I Was Among the First To Sail On The World's Biggest Cruise Ship—And Here's What I Thought.

Posted: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

(Only Suites are granted these robes to begin with.) Today, I will try many of the activities these ships have on offer to provide their clientele with a sense of never-ceasing motion. Storm Chasers consists of falling from the “mast” down a long, twisting neon tube filled with water, like being the camera inside your own colonoscopy, as you hold on to the handles of a mat, hoping not to die. The tube then flops you down headfirst into a trough of water, a Royal Caribbean baptism. Pinnacles, it is explained to me over translucent cantaloupe, have sailed with Royal Caribbean for 700 ungodly nights. Pandemic Pinnacles took advantage of the two-for-one accrual rate of Pinnacle points during the pandemic, when sailing on a cruise ship was even more ill-advised, to catapult themselves into Pinnacle status. I may have failed to mention that all this time, the Icon of the Seas has not left port.

World’s largest cruise ship coming to Florida in 2025

The vessel is going on a seven-day island-hopping voyage in the tropics. The 365m-long (1,197 ft) Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and can house a maximum of 7,600 passengers. Notably, Wonder of the Seas has room for up to 6,988 passengers with every berth filled -- more than any other passenger ship in history. Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Chief Product Innovation Officer, says the cruise ship is more than just its amenities.

Given the capacity of passengers the Icon of the Seas holds, it’s no surprise that there are 2,805 cabins to house everyone. But it’s the fact that there are 28 different types of stateroom and suite categories that’s truly remarkable. It’s an exterior elevator platform that acts primarily as an innovative way for passengers to disembark and reboard the ship at ports of call but also doubles as an entertainment and dining venue. British-based P&O Cruises took delivery of its largest-ever cruise ship and first to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in October 2020. This came after delays due to the global pandemic and the impact on the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papengburg, Germany, which is where the vessel was constructed.

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Cruising is fun, but one of the best things about Port Miami is that the fun begins before the cruise and carries on afterward. Furthermore, there are a ton of amenities located just a short distance from the cruise terminals. One of the most significant benefits of sailing from Port Miami is the convenience of the port. Travelers can now book their seven-night voyages aboard the new ship through Royal Caribbean’s official website.

New charttopping showstoppers blow your mind on stage, ice, water and air. This is the World’s Biggest Weekend — arriving in summer 2024 to Port Canaveral. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Royal Caribbean revealed plans for Icon of the Seas in October 2022, and the hype surrounding the ship has never stopped. Icon of the Seas’ bookings so far have performed better than any other cruise ship launch.

Forget everything you thought you knew about beach days, because this private island destination is raising the standard to a whole new level. Experience elevated island vibes while lounging in The Bahamas’ only private overwater cabanas. Earn bragging rights on the tallest waterslide in North America. And take your vacation to new heights — literally — in a helium balloon ride above the island. The arrival of Icon of the Seas represents a historical moment for Royal Caribbean, and it ushers in a new kind of cruise ship experience. Along the way, there will be opportunity for the media and travel agents to get onboard too.

The new-class Icon of the Seas is an impressive 250,800 gross tons and can hold 5,610 passengers at double occupancy. The giant ship that Meyer Turku built in Finland can also hold 2,350 crew members. Most cruise ships have a swimming pool or two that are nice for taking a quick dip—but Icon of the Seas has made the pool decks a focal point full of fun firsts for the entire family. Plus, there are plenty of dry and in-water loungers, and shaded areas when you need a little break from the sun’s intense Caribbean rays.

As the fiery mango of the subtropical setting sun makes Miami’s condo skyline even more apocalyptic, the ship shoves off beneath a perfunctory display of fireworks. After the sun sets, in the far, dark distance, another circus-lit cruise ship ruptures the waves before us. We glance at it with pity, because it is by definition a smaller ship than our own. This is a large, multichandeliered room where I attended my safety training (I was shown how to put on a flotation vest; it is a very simple procedure).

There are 28 different types of rooms, including Royal Caribbean’s first cabins that can turn the balcony space into an extended indoor living space. They're called infinite balconies, and it's a concept first implemented on sister-brand Celebrity Cruises. As Icon finished her turn, she headed to Terminal A. The new ship will conduct a series of shakedown cruises, which is a sort of "dress rehearsal" for the new ship.

I usually tan very evenly, but something about the discombobulation of life at sea makes me forget the regular application of sunscreen. As I walk down the streets of Charlotte Amalie in my fluorescent Icon of the Seas cap, an old Rastafarian stares me down. As a coddled passenger with a suite, I feel like I am starting to understand what it means to have a rank and be constantly reminded of it.

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