On September 8, Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku held a keel-laying ceremony for the fourth Icon-class luxury cruise ship being built for Royal Caribbean Group, marking the start of hull assembly. The vesse is scheduled for delivery in 2027.
Within half a month, Meyer Turku has achieved its second key milestone in the construction of Icon-class luxury cruise ships. On August 29, the series’ luxury vessel “Legend of the Seas” was launched and has recently been moved into the outfitting dock, with completion expected in summer 2026.
Previously announced, the first Icon-class luxury cruise ship, Icon of the Seas (248,663 GT), was completed and delivered in December 2023; the second ship, Star of the Seas (248,663 GT), is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in July 2025. Under current confirmed contracts, Meyer Turku also holds options for the fifth and sixth vessels in the series, scheduled for delivery after 2027.
Royal Caribbean Group’s Icon-class cruise ships are approximately 365 meters long, 50 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of approximately 250,000 tons, 20 decks, and 2,805 cabins. They can carry 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, and up to 7,600 passengers if all cabins are full, while also accommodating 2,350 crew members.
This cruise ship will also feature an air lubrication system to reduce hull friction; robotic hull cleaners that remove debris and slime while docked to prevent increased resistance; shore power connections; and an innovative waste heat recovery system capable of converting waste heat into up to 3 megawatts of additional energy.
According to its official website, Meyer Turku was founded in 1737 and has a history of 288 years. It has become one of the world’s largest and most advanced shipyards for large cruise ships and passenger vessels. Over the years, the shipyard has built over 1,300 vessels for owners worldwide. Meyer Turku is owned by the German Meyer family, with the Meyer Group now under seventh-generation management. In addition to Meyer Turku in Finland, the German Meyer family also owns two other shipyards: Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and Neptun Werft in Rostock.