ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
People have one question as world's largest cruise ship makes its grand entrance
Home>News>World News
Published 17:26 22 Aug 2024 GMT+1

People have one question as world's largest cruise ship makes its grand entrance

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas cruise ship boasts a whopping 20 decks and weighs 248,663 GT

Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

People have been left with the same question on their minds after seeing footage of mega cruise ship Icon of the Seas arriving at a US harbour.

The Icon of the Seas - also known as the world's biggest cruise ship - has been making headlines since it set sail earlier this year as people simply cannot get over its size.

The Royal Caribbean International ship first set sail on 27 January and constantly amazes people by the fact it's so bl**dy massive.

Advert

Measuring 364.75 m (1,196.7 ft) long and 66 m (217 ft) at its biggest points, the Icon is often referred to as a sailing city, thanks to the fact that it has a water park, a mini shopping mall and even an ice arena.

The mega ship even comes with its own waterpark. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The mega ship even comes with its own waterpark. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The ship was recently filmed arriving at the Port of Miami, showing off its phenomenal size for all to see. The clip has since circulated across social media, with the majority of viewers absolutely baffled as to how a ship of this size is able to remain afloat in the ocean.

"How tf does this float," one person wrote on X, while a second person added: "World's largest Cruise Ship. Icon of the Seas, somebody tell me how does this thing manage to float."

"You could explain it to me in a billion different ways... I still don't understand how this thing can float," a third person commented.

Of course cruise ships are specifically designed not to tip over, but it's still difficult to see a picture of Icon of the Seas and not worry that a large wave or strong gust of wind would flip the boat sideways.

Thankfully the beauty of the internet means there is always an engineering expert readily available to spell things out in layman's terms.

The insane height of ship leaves many people wondering how it doesn't tip over. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The insane height of ship leaves many people wondering how it doesn't tip over. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Replying to a tweet asking someone to explain to them 'like a five-year-old' how the ship manages to stay upright and afloat, an engineering student replied: "The water is pushing up on the ship with a force equal to the weight of water it pushes aside. Because the ship is so big, it pushes aside a lot of water, creating a strong upward force."

Explaining why the bottom of the ship doesn't need to be majorly submerged in water, they continued: "The ship only needs to sink a little bit into the water to float. You can see the waterline - everything below that is pushing water out of the way, creating the upward force that keeps it afloat.


"While parts of the ship (like the hull) are very dense, the overall density of the entire vessel is less than water due to its largely hollow design. This lower average density is what allows such a giant structure to float effortlessly on water."

So there you have it, the Icon of the Seas is perfectly safe to travel the world's oceans - no matter how ginormous it looks.

Featured Image Credit: X/@TheFigen_

Topics: Viral, World News, Travel, Cruise Ship

Brenna Cooper
Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper is a journalist at LADbible. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in History, followed by an NCTJ accredited masters in Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer for Digital Spy, where she wrote about all things TV, film and showbiz. Her favourite topics to cover are music, travel and any bizarre pop culture.

X

@_brencoco

Recommended reads

Taylor Swift just lost 5 million Instagram followers overnightMichael Buckner/Billboard via Getty ImagesLegendary singer Bonnie Tyler in ‘induced coma after emergency surgery'Jakubaszek/RedfernsEight signs someone is a high functioning alcoholicGetty Stock ImagesMother of girl, 7, killed by FedEx driver shares tragic last words she said to herNBC News

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • NBC News
    7 hours ago

    Mother of girl, 7, killed by FedEx driver shares tragic last words she said to her

    Maitlyn Gandy described her daughter's killer Tanner Horner as a 'monster'

    News
  • Jeffrey Groeneweg / ANP / AFP via Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Brit who left cruise ship early missing as five more hantavirus cases confirmed

    Efforts to track down the passengers are underway

    News
  • Netflix
    10 hours ago

    Deadpool Killer Wade Wilson gave chilling excuse for murdering two women

    The 31-year-old said he was overcome by thoughts of 'murder, murder, kill, kill, kill'

    News
  • Getty Stock Photo
    10 hours ago

    Signs of 'ketamine nose' that can occur after taking drug

    It's destroying you from the inside

    News
  • Hantavirus Andes variant warning signs as WHO confirms deadly person to person strain on cruise ship
  • Keir Starmer statement on hantavirus cruise ship outbreak as British crew member to be evacuated
  • Brit who left cruise ship early missing as five more hantavirus cases confirmed
  • Family breaks down true cost of travelling on world's largest cruise ship