This cruise ship can carry nearly 10,000 people. Here’s more of what sets Icon of the Seas apart

CNN Travel’s Terry Ward reported from the maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, officially the world’s largest cruise ship at launch: nearly 1,200 feet long, 250,800 gross tons and built for 7,600 guests plus 2,350 crew. The story covers its eight onboard neighborhoods, its record-setting pools, water park and ice arena, criticism of its LNG fuel, and Royal Caribbean’s view that Icon competes with vacations on land.

Fantasy designed Royal Caribbean’s app and digital ecosystem, which guests use for everything from booking and planning to mobile keys, dining reservations and show bookings, across three brands and a fleet of more than 50 ships. See the Royal Caribbean case study.

• Size. At launch, the largest cruise ship in the world, ahead of Royal Caribbean’s own Wonder of the Seas.
• Capacity. Up to 7,600 guests at full capacity, plus 2,350 crew.
• Firsts at sea. The first cantilevered infinity pool at sea, the largest pool and ice arena at sea, and a 17,000-square-foot water park.
• Eight neighborhoods. Spaces designed for multigenerational travel, from families with young kids to adults-only areas.
• A different competitor. Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean’s chief product innovation officer, says Icon was designed to compete with any family vacation, from skiing to Vegas to the Grand Canyon.