How the Captain of Icon of the Seas Lives
Funchal PortBahamas CountryFinland CountryRoyal Caribbean Cruise LineHelsinki PortMiami PortCarnival Celebration Cruise ShipHarmony of the Seas Cruise ShipIcon of the Seas Cruise ShipIndependence of the Seas Cruise ShipNorwegian Sun Cruise ShipStar of the Seas Cruise Ship
The captain of Icon of the Seas, first of the biggest class of cruise ships ever built, is responsible for nearly 10,000 people when she is full. So where does the captain sleep, eat and work, and who steers while the captain rests? We X-ray the role using published sources only (listed below). Where we found nothing published, we say so. 00:00 Nearly 10,000 people, 10 hours of rest 01:09 The bridge with fewer levers 02:15 Who holds the command 03:09 The door next to the bridge 04:40 The bridge never sleeps 06:02 The Miami hand-over 07:01 What the captain eats 08:30 The sleep math 10:11 The clause and the rescue 11:54 The Chief Dog Officer 12:25 Going home Sources: - Maritime Executive, Icon of the Seas delivered (2023): https://maritime-executive.com/article/world-s-largest-cruise-ship-delivered-to-royal-caribbean - MarineLink, Meyer Turku delivers Icon of the Seas: https://www.marinelink.com/news/worlds-largest-cruise-ship-meyer-turku-509720 - ABB, Icon-class bridge, power and propulsion: https://new.abb.com/news/detail/121936/cruise-sector-breaks-fresh-ground-as-newest-ships-adopt-innovative-abb-control-technology - Royal Caribbean, Introducing the captain of Icon of the Seas: https://webapps.royalcaribbean.com/blog/icon-of-the-seas-captain-interview-best-things-to-do/ - CBS News, Icon of the Seas test voyage: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/icon-of-the-seas-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ship-as-it-prepares-for-voyage/ - Seatrade Cruise News, Icon crew areas: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/crew-crewing/on-icon-crew-areas-get-special-attention-patented-cabin-design - RC Blog (independent), Icon crew areas 2023 / 2024: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2024/03/04/photos-show-the-secret-crew-only-areas-icon-of-the-seas - RC Blog (independent), captain's quarters on Harmony of the Seas: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/09/04/take-look-inside-cruise-ship-captains-living-quarters - RC Blog (independent), captain's quarters on Independence of the Seas: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2026/01/06/daughter-shares-rare-look-inside-cruise-ship-captains-living-quarters - RC Blog (independent), Ask a Captain: bridge manning: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/07/13/ask-captain-how-many-people-does-it-take-sail-cruise-ship - AFAR, What it's like to be a cruise ship captain (Kate McCue): https://www.afar.com/magazine/worlds-coolest-travel-jobs-what-its-like-to-be-a-cruise-ship-captain - ILO, Maritime Labour Convention 2006, Standard A2.3: https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/%40ed_norm/%40normes/documents/normativeinstrument/wcms_090250.pdf - ILO MLC FAQ: rest rules apply to masters: https://faqmlc.ilo.org/en/?p=20488 - Bahamas Maritime Authority, MN035 Hours of Rest: https://www.bahamasmaritime.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MN035-Hours-of-Rest-v1.0.pdf - COLREG Rule 5 (Steamship Mutual): https://www.steamshipmutual.com/colregs-rule-5-look-out - IMO Resolution A.960, pilotage: https://mpmhq.org.my/pdf/a960en-1.pdf - WLRN, Biscayne Bay harbor pilots: https://www.wlrn.org/post/biscayne-bay-harbor-pilots - Cruise Industry News, crew food: https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2021/07/good-food-but-fewer-options-crew-members-describe-their-cruise-food - FOX Weather, Icon of the Seas rescue, 3 March 2024: https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/cruise-ship-rescues-14-stranded-sea - West P&I, SOLAS Ch. V Reg. 33 duty to assist: https://www.westpandi.com/News-and-Resources/Loss-Prevention-Bulletins/The-Rescue-of-Migrants-and-Refugees-at-Sea/ - Cruise Industry News, Chief Dog Officer: https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/01/royal-caribbeans-icon-of-the-seas-to-feature-chief-dog-officer/ Footage and photos: - Icon of the Seas: photos by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Icon_and_Mariner_Cozumel_Mexico_2024.jpg · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lower_Aft_Icon_of_the_Seas_2024.jpg · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thrill_Island_Icon_of_the_Seas_2024.jpg - Meyer Turku yard (aerial): video by anotherview, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons (File:Aerial views of Perno shipyard, Turku, Finland with Icon of the Seas and Carnival Celebration cruise ships under construction.webm) - Other cruise ships (illustrative, not Icon): "Costa Magica, Funchal 16 de Agosto 2016" by AFFK PT, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons (File:Costa Magica, Funchal 16 de Agosto 2016.webm) · "Goodbye Helsinki! (2010) - Cruise Ship NORWEGIAN SUN" by Kauko Helavuo, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons (File:Goodbye Helsinki! (2010) - Cruise Ship NORWEGIAN SUN.webm) - Star of the Seas photos: Zarateman, CedarGlen86 (CC0, Wikimedia Commons). Other stock: Pixabay (illustrative). - Maps: Natural Earth. Music and sound: our own. Cruise X-Ray is an independent channel, not affiliated with Royal Caribbean. Footage of other ships is illustrative. 3D cutaways, floor plans and maps are our own illustrations, not official plans. Narration uses a synthetic voice.