Woman who works aboard the world’s LARGEST cruise ship ever Icon of the Seas shares a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the 350-metre ship – from incredible amenities to delicious food

An employee of the world’s largest cruise ship Icon of the Seas has given a sneak peek at what passengers can expect when they board at the end of this month, with everything from Japanese cuisine to mini golf on the menu.

Erica DePascale, who uses the handle @ericafromamerica on her social media channels, she boarded the 380-meter, 250,800-ton ship in Cádiz, Spain, on December 22 and arrived in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on January 2.

While on the 20-deck ship, Erica reveals that she and her colleagues have been ‘stress testing’ all the facilities on board, to ensure they are working before guests depart from Miami, Florida on January 27 for a seven-day trip. hours. -night flight around the Caribbean.

In one of her TikToks, Erica shows how she dined on Christmas Day at the ship’s Japanese restaurant Izumi (one of over twenty dining options on the ship) and she described the food as “amazing as usual” with a large bowl of ramen that brought her ‘back to life.’

Later they had a crew show and a bingo session in one of the ship’s theater rooms, which she said was a lot of fun.

Some of the other facilities Erica got to try out included laser tag, which she described as ‘such a cool experience’, as she tested her mini golf skills on the Lost Dunes course on the top deck of the ship.

The ship’s roof decks are also home to one of the largest water parks at sea, and Erica’s images give a preview of some of the standout attractions, including colorful water slides and a 40,000 liter pool that has yet to be filled.

In one clip, staff members, including the ship’s Santa Claus, are seen giving FlowRider, a 40-foot surfing simulator, a whirl.

In her latest TikTok, Erica is seen getting ready for the ship’s first New Year’s Eve extravaganza, which is reserved for the crew only, and she reveals that Royal Caribbean let her check into one of the ship’s most exclusive suites for the night for the occasion the ship.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse accommodates eight people and has its own sundeck, indoor slide, a karaoke room and several balconies.

Seven nights will set families back a staggering $85,000, but Erica has yet to pass judgment on the three-story suite.

When the cruise professional first arrived at the ship in Spain, it was in dry dock and not in the water, and she was allowed to tour underneath the massive structure.

She said of the walking tour: ‘I’ve done it before on Mariner of the Sea, but so I could go under the largest cruise ship in the world.

‘It was like walking through a cave that was pitch black.

“I mean, we literally walked under the ship, with our heads touching the bottom of the ship.

‘It was a unique experience. I almost had tears inside.’

Before she left, Erica said she saw the ship transform as “a lot of construction was going on, a lot of artwork was being installed, [and] there is a lot of testing going on.’

“It’s just so amazing to see how the ship changes every day,” she told her fans.

In total, the ship features eight different ‘neighborhoods’, including Central Park with four living walls, and The Hideaway with the first hanging infinity pool at sea.

Chill Island also promises to be a crowd pleaser among cruise goers, with a swim-up bar called Swim & Tonic.

Icon of the Sea’s inaugural sailing includes a stop at ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay,’ Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

Prices for this year’s seven-night Caribbean cruise schedule start at around $1,800.

However, so far almost all of the “staterooms” have been reserved and paid for, and those that are still available cost between $4,793 and $7,121.

The cruise ship cost cruise line Royal Caribbean $2 billion to build and took years to assemble.

It can carry up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew and promises to be one of the most environmentally friendly ships ever built.

It is powered by liquefied natural gas, which powers six engines and generates 67,500 kW (90,520 hp).

Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean, said: “Looking at the energy and time that has gone into this ship, it is astonishing.”

Erica was one of 500 employees who set out on Icon of the Sea’s first major voyage. Another 500 would sail along the way and more will follow before holidaymakers can see it with their own eyes.