The biggest cruise ship in the world sailed from the Port of Miami on Saturday.

From bow to stern, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas spans approximately 1,200 feet (365 meters).

With assistance from soccer great Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, the ship was formally christened on Tuesday before setting out on its inaugural seven-day island-hopping journey across the tropics.

“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and living our mission – to deliver the world’s best vacation experiences responsibly,” Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said earlier this week. “She is the ultimate multigenerational family vacation, forever changing the status quo in family travel and fulfilling vacation dreams for all ages on board.”

Across 20 decks, the Icon of the Seas is organized into eight neighborhoods. The ship has over 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges in addition to six waterslides, seven swimming pools, an ice skating rink, a theater, and more. At full capacity, the ship can accommodate 7,600 passengers and 2,350 staff members.

According to Royal Caribbean, the ship caused the single greatest booking day and the highest volume booking week in the company’s 53-year history when it was originally unveiled in October 2022.

It has six dual-fuel engines that can run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel substitute that lowers emissions of greenhouse gases and sulfur, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. But some environmentalists are concerned that ships running on LNG emit more methane. Some claim that when on a cruise, tourists produce eight times as much carbon as they do when they are on shore.

Every kilowatt utilized on the Icon of the Seas, according to Royal Caribbean, “is scrutinized for energy efficiencies and emission reductions.”