Royal Caribbean marks steel cutting for second Icon-class mega cruise ship

Royal Caribbean International has marked the first steel cutting for its second Icon-class cruise ship, an intended sister ship to Icon of the Seas.

The second ship, which will join Icon of the Seas as the largest cruise ship ever built, is due for delivery in 2025.

No name has been announced for the second Icon-class ship, which is currently known only as “Project NB-1401”.

Royal Caribbean traditionally use synonymous names for the ships in each class, and with Legend of the Seas having been retired from the fleet back in 2016, this could be a contender for the new ship’s name.

The steel cutting of a new ship marks the first stage in its construction, with sheets of steel cut, which are then used to construct individual blocks that are subsequently welded together to form the hull and superstructure of the vessel.

The steel cutting ceremony was held at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland and attended by officials from Royal Caribbean International as well as Meyer Turku. This is the same shipyard where Icon of the Seas is being constructed.

Icon of the Seas delivery is scheduled for late 2023, with her first passenger-carrying voyage on January 27th, 2024, but no such details have been released about the second Icon class ship.

As a sister ship to Icon of the Seas, however, we know that she will be LNG-powered, and will feature at least eight neighbourhoods, with a range of high-energy amenities, venues, and activities for passengers.

The second Icon class cruise ship is also likely to be at least 250,000 gross tons, with a passenger capacity of roughly 7,600 guests at full occupancy. If she’s anything like her sister ship, she’ll also feature an on-board theme park, water park, at least 40 restaurants and bars, seven pools, and several new neighbourhoods.

The neighbourhoods aboard the Oasis-class and Icon-class cruise ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet are distinct areas onboard the ship dedicated to specific activities and experiences.

Aboard Icon of the Seas there is a Central Park like the Oasis-class ships, as well as AquaDome, Chill Island, Thrill Island, Royal Promenade, The Hideaway, Surfside, and the Suite Neighbourhood, Royal Caribbean’s first ship-within-a-ship luxury annex.