Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, began its maiden voyage on Saturday despite criticism from some climate activists

Icon of the Seas, owned and operated by the Royal Caribbean Group, is the world’s largest cruise ship at 1,200 feet long and 250,800 tons

The vessel has 20 decks and can carry 7,600 passengers plus 2,350 crew members at full capacity

The $2B vessel has 40+ restaurants, seven swimming pools, six water slides, the world’s largest orchestra at sea, and a multitude of bars, theaters, and other amenities to serve guests

The vessel was built in Finland and recently completed a trans-Atlantic voyage to the Port of Miami

On Thursday, soccer great Lionel Messi christened the vessel by placing a soccer ball on a stand as part of a traditional ceremony for good luck

The sold-out ship began its maiden, week-long voyage on Saturday to islands in the Caribbean

Icon of the Seas includes a series of cutting-edge features designed to reduce its carbon emissions

Among other things, the vessel’s engines are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which Royal Caribbean says is 24% more energy-efficient than international climate standards

The vessel also has a waste-to-energy system (MAP) that converts onboard waste into fuel

Yet many climate activists criticized the vessel, claiming that it will generate more emissions over its lifetime than traditional cruise ships

Of particular concern is “methane slip,” wherein methane – a greenhouse gas much more heat-trapping than carbon dioxide – accidentally leaks from the ship’s engines

In a recent report, the International Council on Clean Transportation said that methane slip would cause the ship to emit 120% more greenhouse gasses than traditional cruise ships

Royal Caribbean has dismissed those concerns, calling Icon industry-leading in climate efforts

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