Royal Caribbean Orders Two More Icon Ships

(eap) The US cruise company Royal Caribbean International has announced the order of a sixth and seventh Icon Class ship from the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku. The two newbuilds are scheduled to be delivered in 2029 and 2030, respectively. The order is part of a long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, which is intended to secure Royal Caribbean Group’s access to shipbuilding capacity through 2036. It also includes the previously announced fifth Icon Class ship, which is scheduled for delivery in 2028.

“The Icon Class reflects our bold creativity and engineering excellence that continues to define what a vacation can be,” emphasized Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Through our long-standing partnership with Meyer Turku, the Finnish government, and the strong Finnish maritime cluster, we are reimagining the industry for decades to come while also delivering meaningful economic impact for Finland.”

Meyer Turku has already built the first two Icon Class ships for Royal Caribbean Group, Icon of the Seas (2024) and Star of the Seas (2025). The third ship in the class, Legend of the Seas, is scheduled to debut in the Western Mediterranean this July and will feature an extensive leisure and entertainment offering, including what the group says is the “largest waterpark at sea”. The fourth Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, is scheduled to follow in 2027. Overall, Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku have already been working together for more than three decades. During this period, the Finnish shipyard has built 25 ships for the company.

“The order of sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels is a significant recognition of Meyer Turku and the Finnish maritime industry’s talent and expertise. This milestone represents an important step forward in our partnership with Royal Caribbean Group to develop the shipbuilding sector over the next decade and beyond,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku. ■