Royal Caribbean slammed after photos of its Icon of the Seas mega-ship sparks outrage online: 'It's disgusting'
Yahoo••business
Key Points:
- Cruises saw an unexpected surge in popularity in 2025, with AAA reporting an 8.4% increase in ocean cruises from 2024 and predicting a busy 2026 season.
- A Reddit user on the r/megalophobia subreddit shared a photo comparing the Carnival Dream cruise ship to the much larger Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, highlighting the massive scale of modern cruise ships.
- Environmental concerns are significant, as cruise ships are among the most unsustainable travel options, with a single 3,000-passenger ship generating over 176,000 gallons of sewage weekly; the Icon of the Seas carries 7,600 passengers.
- Major cruise lines have refused to disclose details about their sewage treatment, drawing criticism
