World
Set sail on world’s largest cruise ship, which can accommodate over 7,000 guests per voyage
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to set sail on the world’s largest cruise ship? In order to cross that item off your bucket list, you’ll need to book a trip on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which currently holds the record for the largest cruise ship in the world.
Icon of the Seas was built at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, according to Royal Caribbean’s Press Center Fact Sheet, and set sail on its first voyage on Jan. 27, 2024.
The ship has 20 decks, 18 of which are accessible to guests, with 2,350 crew members, 2,805 staterooms and the capability to hold 5,610 guests at double occupancy on each trip, according to the fact sheet. At maximum capacity, the cruise ship can hold 7,600 passengers, per the Economic Times.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is the world’s biggest cruise ship. (Getty Images)
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The Royal Caribbean ship weighs 248,663 gross tons and is 1,196 feet long, per the fact sheet.
Icon of the Seas departs out of Miami and offers both Western and Eastern Caribbean seven-night vacations for guests.
There is one Western Caribbean option for guests who wish to travel on Icon of the Seas. The itinerary for this vacation is a departure from Miami, a day at sea, followed by the first stop in Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, immediately followed by Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico. The sixth day of the vacation is spent at sea, and then the ship stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, Royal Caribbean’s private island.
Icon of the Seas stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, a destination exclusively for Royal Caribbean guests. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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There are five different Eastern Caribbean options guests can choose to set sail on, varying slightly in the stops made.
Stops of the Eastern Caribbean Icon of the Seas cruise include Labadee, Haiti, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
Not all the Eastern Caribbean cruises stop at all these destinations. Some vacations are filled with more destinations, while others are filled with more days spent at sea.
For those full days at sea and hours spent on the ship after exploring a stop, there is so much for guests to do.
Surfside is one of the neighborhoods on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. (Saul Martinez for Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Guests certainly won’t be hungry while traveling, with 13 dining options included in the price of your vacation.
Complimentary dining options include Royal Caribbean favorites like Windjammer for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sprinkles for a soft-serve ice cream cone whenever you desire and Sorrento’s for a late night slice of pizza.
There are also new complementary dining options on Icon of the Seas, such as Aquadome Market, The Pearl, Basecamp, Surfside Bites and The Grove.
If you want specialty dining while on board, there are, again, Royal Caribbean stables like Izumi and Chops Grille, as well as new places to dine, like Celebration Table and Pier 7.
Sorrento’s is a Royal Caribbean favorite, where guests can grab a complimentary slice of pizza. (Pedro Portal/El Nuevo Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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For days spent lounging in the sun, guests can relax at one of Icon of the Sea’s seven pools, including Royal Bay, which is the largest at sea, containing over 40,000 gallons of water, according to Royal Caribbean’s website.
Icon of the Sea’s also broke a record for the largest swim-up bar at sea, with Swim & Tonic, according to Royal Caribbean’s website, which is the only swim-up bar on any Royal Caribbean ship.
The Hideaway Pool is an adult-only area, which features the first ever infinity pool at sea, according to Royal Caribbean.
Cloud 17 is another adult-only area, featuring a more secluded pool overlooking the ocean on the top deck of the ship.
Icon of the Seas features six waterslides. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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The Cove Pool is another option guests can spend time in, with plenty of loungers and daybeds to ensure a relaxing experience.
For the kids, there’s an aqua park, as well as record-breaking watersides that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Among the six watersides on Icon of the Seas are Frightening Bolt, the tallest at sea, according to Royal Caribbean’s website, as well as Pressure Drop, which is the first free fall waterside on a cruise ship.
There are several different pools on Icon of the Seas, with plenty of relaxing and thrilling spaces for guests to utilize during their vacation. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Throughout the day, there is often live music and other entertainment at the pools for guests to enjoy.
After a day in the sun, there is plenty to do going late into the night with over 15 bars and lounges for guests to visit while onboard Icon of the Seas, like Boleros, Schooner Bar and Spotlight Karaoke. New bars and lounges on Icon of the Seas include Bubbles, Dueling Pianos and The Lemon Post.
Additionally, there are several different shows, including Broadway-style productions, ice shows in the Absolute Zero rink, as well as water shows in the Aquadome (Icon of the Seas’ version of Royal Caribbean’s popular AquaTheater), that guests can see during their vacation.
There is a plethora of stateroom and suite options on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas for a comfortable stay. (Saul Martinez for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
As for accommodations, there are many options to choose from, including interior state rooms, ocean view rooms, balcony rooms and large family suites, such as the two-bedroom, three-level Ultimate Family Townhome fit for eight cruisers.
World
War, latest news. Trump: agreement with Iran to be signed soon. Tehran media: approval likely from top officials
Oxfam: ‘Over 540 settler attacks in the West Bank in the first few months of 2026’
A new analysis by Oxfam highlights the exponential rise in attacks by Israeli settlers and military forces in the occupied West Bank: in the first few months of 2026 alone, there were over 540 incidents and “in three years, the number of Palestinian civilians killed has exceeded that of the previous 17 years”, mainly children. According to the report, based on an analysis of data provided by the United Nations, “it is clear that Israel’s annexation plan is accelerating, with mass forced displacements, increased restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement and an unprecedented escalation of violence by settlers and the army”. A plan of ethnic cleansing and annexation that, since 2023, has caused over 46,000 people to be displaced, the construction of over 925 barriers that impede the movement of 3 million people, and an unprecedented wave of violence that has claimed over 1,200 lives, including nearly 270 children. In particular, between 2006 and 2022, Oxfam points out, there were 1,036 victims, including 225 children, whilst since 2023 alone, 1,244 have been recorded, with 268 children killed. This means that, over the last 20 years, one in five killings involved a child, around 22 per cent. By contrast, in the first 17 years under review, 86 Israeli settlers were killed by Palestinians, including 12 children, whilst there were 43 victims, including 10 children, between 2023 and 2025. “The massacre of civilians we are witnessing is painful and disturbing,” said Paolo Pezzati, spokesperson for humanitarian crises at Oxfam Italia – “Whilst the eyes of the world were rightly focused on the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, following the atrocities committed by Hamas and other armed groups in 2023, an unprecedented wave of violence was unfolding across the West Bank, which has now escalated into a systematic plan of ethnic cleansing. In this context, we are therefore launching an urgent appeal for all necessary diplomatic pressure to be brought to bear on Israel to halt the ongoing annexation plan,” concludes Pezzati.
US: third Iranian oil tanker breaching the blockade neutralised
The US Central Command stated on X that it had intercepted an oil tanker, the third in a week, accused of violating the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command says it struck the M/T Jalveer, flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, “as it attempted to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman”. “A US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles at the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly refused to obey orders from US forces,” Centcom said.
Meloni: the Council should reflect on the direction of relations between the EU and Israel
“Not only because of what is happening in Lebanon, but also given the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, it is clear that the European Council will need to reflect on the direction of relations between the European Union and Israel.” This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Chamber of Deputies, in her address ahead of the EU Council meeting. “On this,” she added, “I would like, for once, to see a debate here that goes beyond the emphasis on facile polemics, which certainly yields an immediate return in terms of visibility, but does not reflect the strategic importance that the issue holds for Italia.”
World
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to 30 years over North Korea drone flights
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A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison Friday in a case that accused him of ordering drone flights over North Korea in an effort to justify his declaration of martial law.
Yoon, 65, was sentenced alongside former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun by the Seoul Central District Court.
The ousted president was previously sentenced to life in prison for leading an insurrection following his declaration of martial law in December 2024.
North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets on three occasions in October 2024.
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South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Feb. 11, 2025. (Lee Jin-man/AP)
Then-Defense Minister Kim initially issued a vague denial before South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
Although tensions between the two Koreas escalated following the incident, the drone flights did not lead to any military clashes.
Prosecutors accused Yoon of attempting to create a crisis with North Korea while plotting an authoritarian power grab aimed at removing political opponents and consolidating control.
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Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally outside the Seoul High Court in Seoul on April 29, 2026. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)
Before declaring martial law, Yoon delivered a televised address accusing liberal lawmakers of sympathizing with North Korea.
Yoon has argued that he possessed the constitutional authority to declare martial law and said the move was intended to draw attention to what he viewed as obstruction by opposition parties.
His attempt to impose martial law lasted roughly six hours before lawmakers voted to overturn it amid mass public protests.
Yoon was arrested in July 2025 and continues to face multiple criminal proceedings.
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South Korea’s ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at Seoul Central District Court in Seoul to attend his trial on charges related to declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2025. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)
The insurrection verdict has been appealed by both Yoon and prosecutors, who had sought the death penalty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Tinubu takes victorious tone despite recent mass kidnappings by armed groups across the country.
Published On 12 Jun 2026
Nigeria’s military has “neutralised” more than 13,000 “terrorists” in the past year, the president says, as armed groups and criminal gangs continue to carry out mass attacks and kidnappings in the country.
In a televised national address on Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the death toll from Nigeria’s fight against armed rebels is down 81 percent since he took power in 2023.
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Tinubu added that “124,000 fighters and dependants have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” a programme aimed at rehabilitating repentant armed group members who voluntarily lay down their arms.
Tinubu’s speech was in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, which marks the end of several years of military rule and the restoration of democracy in 1999.
However, despite the victorious tone of his speech, Africa’s second-biggest economy is in the throes of a spiralling insecurity crisis that has seen armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda, as well as criminal gangs, abduct citizens for ransom money.
Soft targets, including schools, churches and mosques, particularly in vulnerable rural communities with limited state security presence, have been particularly at risk.
While armed groups initially limited their operations to the country’s north, they have begun spreading through thick forest corridors to attack targets in the country’s southwest.
Officials say the groups are shifting base because of military pressure on their locations.
Following unfounded allegations of a “Christian genocide” in the country by US President Donald Trump late last year, the United States military has since begun supporting Nigeria in conducting precision strikes on armed group locations. In February, 100 American soldiers were deployed to Nigeria.
Scores of people have been abducted since January alone, including teachers and pupils as young as four years old. The latest incident in May saw 46 people kidnapped from a school in southwest Oyo state.
On Monday, the Nigerian military said it rescued 360 people kidnapped by ISIL-linked Boko Haram and held in a remote mountain hideout in northern Borno State.
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