Fire Erupts Aboard World’s Biggest Cruise Ship

The world’s largest cruise ship, the newly-delivered Icon of the Seas, experienced a small fire while in port in Costa Maya, Mexico on Tuesday. The crew’s fire teams quickly extinguished the fire, resulting in no injuries and minimal impact on board, as confirmed by operator Royal Caribbean. The blaze caused a brief blackout until backup power came online, with passengers reporting intermittent periods of power and a small plume of black smoke from one of the vessel’s twin stacks.

Passengers were kept informed of the incident, but emergency procedures were not necessary. Despite the fire, Icon of the Seas continued its itinerary and has since departed Costa Maya en route to Cozumel. Minor fires are not uncommon for maritime operators, including cruise ships, with previous incidents like the one aboard Carnival Freedom earlier this year.

Icon of the Seas, a new vessel that entered commercial service on January 27, is nearly 1,200 feet long and can accommodate up to 7,600 passengers. This incident marks the second power-related issue for the ship, with a previous power loss at sea on May 19. Despite these challenges, the cruise industry continues to adapt and ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers.

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