The largest cruise ship in the world sailed from the Port of Miami on its seven-day inaugural journey in January. Icon of the Seas, a $2 billion (£1.6 billion) ship built by Royal Caribbean, has 18 decks, seven swimming pools, and more than 40 eateries, bars, and lounges. At 365 meters (1,195 feet) in length, it is almost five times larger than the Titanic and 35 meters (115 feet) longer than the Eiffel Tower.
Liquified natural gas (LNG), dubbed the “cleanest-burning marine fuel available” by Royal Caribbean, powers the ship. Environmental activists, however, contend that during a 20-year period, LNG releases damaging methane into the atmosphere, which is nearly 80 times more toxic than carbon dioxide (CO2).
The effects of the industry on the environment are only expected to increase as cruise travel grows. In 2024, cruise ship ticket sales have risen to an unprecedented level. 30 million passengers are expected to have traveled on 360 cruise ships by the end of the year, a 9.2% increase above 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.
