Royal Caribbean’s next Icon Class vacation, Hero of the Seas, has officially floated for the first time. The milestone, achieved at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, marks the latest phase of construction for the newest family vacation experience ahead of its August 2027 debut in Miami.
As part of the float out, the ship’s dry dock was filled with more than 90 million gallons of water overnight before Hero moved into the outfitting pier, where it will continue to take shape over the next year.
Hero of the Seas is the next evolution of the revolutionary Icon Class lineup, combining signature favorites with new experiences designed for every type of guest. Across eight neighborhoods, vacationers can explore nine pools, 28 dining spots – including the brand-new Orleans Parrish Supper Club – and a range of accommodations like the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse.
From thrills like Crown’s Edge – part skywalk, part zip line experience 154 feet above the ocean – to ways to kick back at the new Coconut Cove pool and adults-only The Hideaway, plus an unmatched lineup of dining, bars and entertainment, families of all kinds can make lifelong memories together. Hero will take vacationers on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures from Miami, with every vacation visiting Royal Caribbean’s top-rated destination, Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean Group’s Icon-class cruise ships are approximately 365 meters long, 50 meters wide, and have a gross tonnage of 250,000. The ship features 20 decks and is equipped with 2,805 staterooms. It can accommodate 5,610 passengers based on double occupancy, and up to 7,600 passengers when all staterooms are fully occupied, while also accommodating 2,350 crew members.
This class of cruise ship will be equipped with an air-lubrication system to reduce hull drag; robotic hull cleaners that remove debris and slime while the ship is docked to prevent increased drag; shore power connections; and a pioneering waste heat recovery system capable of converting waste heat into up to 3 megawatts of additional energy.
To date, Royal Caribbean Group has ordered seven Icon-class luxury cruise ships from Meyer Turku. Three of these have already been delivered: the first, “Icon of the Seas,” entered service in January 2024; the second, “Star of the Seas,” entered service in August 2025; and the third, “Legend of the Seas,” made its European maiden voyage in July 2026.