Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed its commitment to the largest cruise ship class by placing orders for the sixth and seventh Icon-class vessels with the Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku. These ships are set to be...
Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed its commitment to the largest cruise ship class by placing orders for the sixth and seventh Icon-class vessels with the Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku. These ships are set to be delivered in 2029 and 2030.
This deal enhances one of the most important shipbuilding programs in the cruise industry. It also strengthens Royal Caribbean's long-term plans for megaship deliveries, as major cruise companies increasingly focus on developing larger and more advanced vessels despite uncertainties in global shipbuilding capacity.
The order is part of a long-term agreement that guarantees Royal Caribbean access to construction slots at Meyer Turku until 2036. This follows the announcement of a fifth Icon-class ship scheduled for delivery in 2028. The launch of the seventh ship will depend on standard financing and other criteria.
“The Icon Class showcases our bold creativity and engineering excellence, continually redefining what a vacation can be,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, in a statement.
For Meyer Turku, this order confirms its status as one of the top builders of large cruise ships globally. It also extends a partnership with Royal Caribbean that has lasted over 30 years and produced 25 ships.
“The orders for the sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels highlight Meyer Turku and Finland’s maritime industry's talent and expertise,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.
This announcement has broader implications for Europe’s cruise ship industry. Meyer Turku and its suppliers employ about 13,000 people and contribute over €1 billion annually to Finland’s economy, with each Icon-class vessel being one of the country’s largest industrial projects.
The Icon-class program is a key part of Royal Caribbean’s growth strategy. The first ship, Icon of the Seas, began service in 2024, followed by Star of the Seas in 2025. A third ship, Legend of the Seas, is set to launch this summer in the Mediterranean, while Hero of the Seas is expected in 2027.
These ships are not just about attractions and passenger amenities; they also symbolize the industry's growing scale. Weighing approximately 250,000 gross tons, these vessels rank among the largest ever built and are some of the most complex passenger ships currently in operation.
The latest orders arrive as cruise lines are betting on long-term demand growth while competing for limited shipyard resources, especially in Europe, where only a few builders dominate the large-cruise market.
For Royal Caribbean, these new ships provide visibility into the next decade and support a strategy focused on large flagship vessels and expanding destination offerings, including an increasing number of private resorts and the planned introduction of river cruising in 2027.
The company mentioned that more orders under the framework agreement could be on the way, indicating that the Icon-class development may continue beyond the current plan for seven ships.