I freely admit to being mechanically challenged. I look at complex bridges and buildings with awe and wonder, but I’m completely baffled by the process of construction.

That’s one reason I jumped at Royal Caribbean’s invitation to visit the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where Icon of the Seas, arguably the most ambitious cruise ship to ever be built, is currently in the latter stages of construction. A group of 60 media members joined the 3,000 workers who toil each day to complete the construction of this massive floating resort.

Instead of getting on the ship for an inaugural sailing and thinking ‘How on earth did they build this?,’ I’d have on-the-ground, during-the-process insights. All secrets would be revealed.

Having now toured the 80%-complete vessel, ducking under pipes and cables, stumbling over unfinished floors and twice thanking my hard hat for absorbing blows, I can confidently say I have a much keener appreciation for the shipbuilder’s art and the how the bold dreams of Royal Caribbean leadership are turned into reality.

But alas, I know that when I do get onboard the finished product, I’ll still be thinking ‘How on earth did they build this thing?’

The first of a transformative new ship class for a cruise line that revels in superlatives, Icon of the Seas will deliver many of its own. “This is probably the most amazing ship the world has ever seen,” said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer for Royal Caribbean.

Here are a few quick facts to acquaint you with the next world’s largest cruise ship, set to begin sailing from Miami in January, 2024.

Newest Titleholder: Icon of the Seas will weigh in at 250,800 gross tons, making her the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage.

A Floating City: Icon will have a double occupancy capacity of 5,610 passengers, nearly 7,600 at maximum capacity. Add a crew complement of 2,350, and you’re looking at nearly 10,000 souls.

Water, Water Everywhere: The 20-deck Icon will feature nine whirlpools and seven swimming pools, including the Royal Bay Pool, the largest at sea. In total, it will feature 62% more water surface than any previous Royal Caribbean ship. The 17,010 sq. ft. Category 6 Waterpark will offer the tallest drop slide at sea, the first open freefall slide at sea, first family raft slides at sea and the first mat-racing duo at sea.

New Self-Contained Neighbourhoods: Royal Caribbean’s ground-breaking Oasis Class ships introduced the concept of neighbourhoods, themed areas offering food, drink and widely varied entertainment and amenities. Icon of the Seas features eight different neighbourhoods, including five new ones: Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside – the first neighbourhood designed for young families -- The Hideaway and AquaDome. Each neighbourhood will offer easy access to food and drink, so guests won’t have to travel far for sustenance.

Forty Shades Of Food & Drink: The total number of restaurants, bars and lounges on Icon exceeds 40, a number that would have been incomprehensible just a few years ago. Among them are Swim & Tonic, the line’s first swim-up bar; a kids and adults bar called The Lemon Post, with both cocktail and mocktail menus; a new Central Park music venue dubbed Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, and a Duelling Pianos venue on the Promenade Deck. There will be four of the popular Lime & Coconut bars onboard, including the first-ever Lime & Coconut frozen cocktail bar. "Food and beverage variety is a major factor in choosing a vacation," says Royal Caribbean VP Food & Beverage Linken D'Souza. "From the largest Windjammer buffet with over 300 choices, to over 20 brand-new food and beverage experiences, Icon will deliver convenience, choice and exciting new experiences."

Fourteen New Accommodation Categories: Icon will feature 28 types of accommodations, including 14 new to the brand. Likely favourites include the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony, the Sunset Corner Suite and the Surfside Family Suite. Family suites are distinguished by split bathrooms, making for more efficient ablutions.

Spotlight On Sustainability: Icon will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to be powered with cleaner-burning liquid natural gas (LNG). The ship is shore power ready and there’s also a pilot fuel cell project aboard, with the overall result that Icon will be 20% more efficient than previous RCI ships. More than 100 hull designs were assessed, in search of the one that would result in the least friction as Icon travels through the water. A hull-cleaning robot will keep the surface smooth. There are also projects to turn waste into energy, capture waste heat and more. As Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty put it: “As obsessed as we are by creating the perfect vacation, we take the same approach to sustainability – we dream, we innovate, we execute.”

The attention to detail in the planning and building of Icon is incredible to witness firsthand. With each new ship, Royal Caribbean takes the learnings from past projects and uses extensive guest data analytics to find areas of potential improvement and innovation.

These are divided into three categories: familiar – things that guests love, like the Schooner Bar that is on every ship in the fleet; evolutionary – popular amenities that are taken to another level; and revolutionary – completely new concepts.

On Icon, there are a couple of transformational engineering achievements that have far-reaching implications for guest enjoyment. The first is the AquaDome, a massive glass-enclosed structure at the top and front of the ship that defines its unique profile. It is 82 feet tall and 164 feet wide and features a 55 foot tall waterfall and 220-degree ocean views.

By day, guests can relax and savour those sea views in the AquaDome, while enjoying drinks and bites in comfortable seating. At night, the area will be transformed into a high-tech theatre, with robotic arms, projection mapping and innovative sound and light capabilities. Nick Weir, Senior Vice President, Entertainment, says the AquaDome will host extravaganzas that are much more than diving demonstrations, with high-tech melding with the extreme sports skills of performers.

Another Icon game-changer is The Pearl, a spherical structure spanning decks 5-8, mid-ship, where guests will board the ship. Weighing more than a 787, the Pearl supports the decks above, enabling the two-deck Royal Promenade to be flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows. Details are still forthcoming, but RCI execs say the Pearl will deliver “an awesome, amazing arrival experience.”

“This ship is an evolution of all the ships before it,” said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO. “There’s an expectation that we are constantly innovating. It’s not one thing, it’s a thousand things. Sometimes I think we’re a little bit crazy.”

It’s only crazy if it doesn’t work, and Royal Caribbean has demonstrated time and again that it can do things on ships that most would consider impossible. With Icon, the cruise line is promising “the best family vacation” on sea or land, and Bayley says “We believe that’s what we will deliver.”

Fans of the Royal Caribbean product appear to agree: when Icon opened for sale, the company achieved its biggest booking days and weeks in its 53-year history. That’s a pretty iconic start for the next world’s biggest cruise ship.