The Bahamas plans to charge cruise lines 10% on goods and services provided on the their private islands, according to reports.
28.01.2024 - 01:21 / euronews.com / Royal Caribbean / Rosie Frost
The world’s biggest cruise ship is about to embark on its first sailing. On 27 January, the Icon of the Seas will depart on its inaugural cruise
The Icon of the Seas is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall with 20 decks. There are seven pools including the “largest pool at sea” as well as a waterpark with six waterslides. The ship has more than 40 bars and restaurants spread across eight “neighbourhoods”.
Five times larger than the Titanic, it has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and more than 2,000 crew.
The ship’s first sailing has already sold out and trips through the rest of 2024 are fast filling up. It is one of 14 new cruise ships setting sail this year alone.
With features like liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered engines, heat from the engines used to warm water, and the ability to plug into electricity supplies at ports, Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean’s “most sustainable ship to date”, according to the company.
And cruise ships are only getting bigger with the average liner growing by 10,000 gross tonnes every decade. Some are concerned about the environmental consequences of such increasingly massive vessels.
So do bigger cruise ships really mean a bigger impact on the climate?
The launch of Icon of the Seas comes as many European countries crack down on cruise ships with new regulations aimed at targeting pollution in ports.
Tough new rules in Norway will mean that only ships powered by alternative fuels can dock in the country’s harbours from 2026. The government is trying to cut down on pollution in its scenic fjords caused by the marine diesel that many cruise liners run on.
Espen Barth Eide, Norway's foreign minister, told German broadcaster DW that cruise ships “cause the world’s highest emissions per passenger and travel kilometre”.
So just how carbon-intensive is the average cruise? The most efficient cruise ships emit around 250g of CO2 per passenger kilometre, according to estimates by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).
Using the same methodology the carbon intensity of a short-haul flight is around 110g of CO2 per passenger kilometre.
ICCT tallied up the emissions for a five-night 2,000-kilometre trip in the US on the most efficient cruise line and compared it to a round-trip flight and same length stay in a hotel.
The person taking the cruise would generate about double the amount of total greenhouse gases of the person taking a flight, it found - and that’s without considering that many people fly to get to their departure port.
The newest cruise ships are increasingly fuelled by liquified natural gas (LNG) with the aim of cutting carbon emissions.
Burning LNG releases less nitrous oxide, sulphur oxide and particulate pollution than traditional fuels - a
The Bahamas plans to charge cruise lines 10% on goods and services provided on the their private islands, according to reports.
In a landmark development for astrotourism, Under Canvas, a leader in upscale outdoor hospitality, has announced a significant achievement: all five of its Grand Circle camps across Utah and Arizona—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, and Moab—have been certified as the world's first official DarkSky resorts. This recognition is not just a badge of honor; it represents a committed effort to preserve and appreciate the natural beauty of the night sky.
Last week, we revealed our 2024 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards. Click here to see the list of winners.
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The states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho — all part of the USA's Pacific Northwest region — offer a unique natural beauty that begs to be explored. From towering sea stacks and sandy beaches to ancient rainforests and enormous volcanic mountains, it's a region that's as diverse as it is impressive. Preserving its wildest corners, the national parks of the Pacific Northwest are often the choice destinations for travellers seeking the most awe-inspiring experiences. And, while the entire region rings with beauty, these five parks stand out, providing opportunities not just for exploration, but for connection, rejuvenation and discovery.
When I was a travel consultant in the early 2000s, the concern I would most often hear from potential first-time cruisers were about crowded ships: “I don’t want to be cooped up with all those people,” they’d groan.
Norwegian Cruise Line is saying arrivederci to Venice, cutting the canal city from its cruise itineraries in 2024 and 2025.
Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, is helping Royal Caribbean compete for tourism dollars with Las Vegas, Orlando and other destinations for multigenerational family vacations, said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.
I was one of the first guests to sail on Royal Caribbean's newest vessel: The $2 billion Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship.
On January 27, the world's largest cruise ship is set to glide out of the Port of Miami. For the several thousand passengers who have reserved a berth on its maiden voyage through the Caribbean, the Icon of the Seas might seem like the dream holiday. Weighing as much as five Titanics, the ship is a floating ziggurat of fun and indulgence.
Norway’s status as one of the world’s most attractive cruise destinations continues with the release of record-breaking visitor figures.
On Tuesday, in a ceremony that, of course, involved a soccer ball, the Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi pressed a button and a bottle of champagne smashed against the bow of Icon of the Seas, christening the world’s largest cruise ship at its home port of Miami. Like an A-list celebrity stepping onto the red carpet, the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s 250,800-ton ship has captured the world’s attention, with some marveling over its cutting-edge features, like the largest water park at sea, while others criticize the gigantic ship’s potential to damage the environment.