Royal Caribbean International’s LNG-powered Icon of the Seas has started its sea trials in Finland after leaving the Meyer Turku yard.
Meyer Werft said in a social media post on Monday that the vessel has left its yard and started sailing through the Turku archipelago.
During the sea trial, Meyer Turku will test the performance of the ship’s propulsion systems, navigation systems and other ship features, such as the ship’s stability at open sea.
The sea trials will take about a week, according to the shipbuilder.
Meyer Werft launched Royal Caribbean International’s 365 meters long Icon of the Seas in December last year.
Royal Caribbean International, a unit of Royal Caribbean, and Meyer Werft claim this is the world’s largest cruise ship and the shipbuilder in Turku plans to deliver the vessel at the end of 2023.
According to Royal Caribbean International, the ship would debut from Miami in January 2024, sailing year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations.
Meyer Turku, a unit of Meyer Werft, started building this vessel in June 2021, and laid the keel in April 2022.
This new Icon Class series of ships will comprise three luxury liners with a tonnage of about 250,800 GT and enough room for up to 5,610 passengers.
Meyer Turku’s website shows that the shipbuilder plans to deliver the second vessel in 2025, followed by the third ship in 2026.
Besides these vessels, Royal Caribbean International has also an LNG-powered ship under construction at French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
