Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas mega cruise ship can accommodate 9,950 people. Feeding everyone is no easy feat.Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Most people don't go on airplanes just to get airplane food. Some travelers do, however, go on cruises just to get cruise food.
And for these hungry sailors, Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas could be the closest thing to culinary heaven on earth (or at sea).
On the new world's largest cruise ship, dining is more than just a traditional buffet and poolside grill with burgers and pizza. It's that, of course, plus a feast of spaghetti Bolognese, raw oysters, and even rabbit — enough of it to feed up to 9,950 people (7,600 guests and 2,350 crew).
As you can probably guess, feeding everyone isn't cheap: Food is Royal Caribbean's second-highest expense after fuel, Linken D'Souza, the cruise line's senior vice president of food and beverage, told reporters in late January.