Royal Caribbean orders two more Icon-class ships from Meyer Turku

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed orders for a sixth and seventh Icon-class ship from Meyer Turku, bringing the class total to seven vessels.prnewswire+1
The order exercises options from a September 2025 framework agreement securing shipbuilding capacity at the Finnish yard through 2036.prnewswire
The Icon class, at roughly 250,000 gross tons, are the largest cruise ships ever built and the first Royal Caribbean ships to run on LNG.shippax

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed on Monday that it has ordered a sixth and seventh Icon-class cruise ship from Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, extending the world's largest cruise ship class through the end of the decade with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030.prnewswire+1

Expanding the World's Largest Ships

The order firms up options that were part of a long-term framework agreement signed with Meyer Turku in September 2025, which secured Royal Caribbean's shipbuilding capacity at the Finnish yard through 2036. The seventh ship remains subject to customary conditions, including financing.prnewswire+2

"The Icon Class reflects our bold creativity and engineering excellence that continues to define what a vacation can be," said 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."prnewswire

At roughly 250,000 gross tons and 365 meters in length, the Icon-class vessels are the largest cruise ships ever built. They are also the first Royal Caribbean ships to run on liquefied natural gas and incorporate fuel cell technology.shippax

A Pipeline Stretching to 2030

The announcement brings the total Icon-class order book to seven ships. Icon of the Seas entered service in January 2024, and Star of the Seas followed in August 2025. The third ship, Legend of the Seas, is currently undergoing sea trials after departing Meyer Turku on April 20 and is set to debut in July 2026 in the Western Mediterranean. Hero of the Seas, the fourth vessel, will follow in 2027, and a fifth ship — whose steel was cut in January — is due in 2028.cruisehive+2

Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm called the order "a significant recognition of Meyer Turku and the Finnish maritime industry's talent and expertise." The collaboration between the two companies spans more than three decades, during which the shipyard has built 25 ships for Royal Caribbean. Meyer Turku and its supplier network employ approximately 13,000 workers and contribute over a billion euros annually to Finland's economy.prnewswire

Broader Growth Strategy

The new ships are part of Royal Caribbean's wider push to expand beyond traditional ocean cruising. The company is growing its portfolio of private destinations from three to eight by 2028 and plans to enter river cruising in 2027 with Celebrity River Cruises. Beyond the Icon class, Royal Caribbean also has a seventh Oasis-class ship on order at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France.maritime-executive+1

Sources (15)