Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship in the world, docked at Mahahual Tuesday with 7,600 passengers. The 365-meter-long 20-deck ship docked at the Grand Costa Maya dock in Mahahual Tuesday morning on its Maiden Voyage from Miami.

The ship has a capacity for 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members.

Accompanied by Royal Caribbean executives Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President of Product Development James Boink, Vice President André Pousada, Regional Vice President and Jaime A. López, Director of Product Development, Lezama stated that the arrival of the Icon of the Seas means a new chapter for the Grand Costa Maya and reinforces the dedication to responsible tourism and a vibrant future.

The Governor highlighted that in 2023, 1,618 cruise ships arrived in Quintana Roo and 462 stopped in Mahahual where more than two million cruise passengers arrived.

At the end of 2023, throughout the state there was an 18% growth in the number of cruise passengers with more than 6 million, compared to the 5 million registered in 2019, the year before the pandemic.

Likewise, she pointed out that in January 2024, the state registered 217 cruise ships between the Mahahual and Cozumel ports.

The Icon of the Seas has 20 decks, seven pools, six slides and more of 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, the largest water park at sea and the largest pool on a cruise ship.

The welcome included several local chartable donations as well as the exchange of a plate and key by Governor Mara Lezama, the State Secretary of Tourism Bernardo Cueto Riestra and the Director of APIQROO Vagner Elbiorn to the captain of the ship.

Icon of the Seas stopped at Mahahual during its Maiden Voyage before heading to the island of Cozumel.