Royal Caribbean orders fourth Icon-class ship from Meyer Turku, with option for two more

Royal Caribbean Group has signed an agreement with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku to order a fourth Icon Class ship for delivery to its flagship brand Royal Caribbean International in 2027. 

The agreement includes options to build two more Icon class ships after that, potentially expanding the class to six vessels, which will be sister ships to the current Icon of the Seas and upcoming Star of the Seas. 

“Building on the incredible momentum and market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas and the excitement for its sister ship, Star of the Seas, coming in 2025, we’re thrilled to join with Meyer Turku once again to expand our roster of Icon Class ships and continue our future growth plans,” said Jason Liberty, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. 

“Since its debut, Icon has changed the game in vacation experiences and exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance,” he added.  

“This is great news for Finland. Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term partnership will continue to have a positive impact on our employment and economy,” said Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland. “Their commitment and investment in Finland speak volumes about the strength of our maritime cluster and our world class shipyards.” 

Icon of the Seas, the class leader, was launched in January 2024 as the largest passenger ship ever built. She introduced an all-encompassing lineup of experiences that surpassed even the gargantuan Oasis class – from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure, to an expanded Central Park and all-new AquaDome experience. 

The 250,800-ton ships, which can carry nearly 8,000 people, have eight “neighborhoods” packed with amenities such as a 55-foot waterfall, six water slides and more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges.

The next ship in the lineup, Star of the Seas (launching in 2025) and the yet-to-be-named third Icon Class ship (launching in 2026), will continue this trend, and will make Royal Caribbean International the largest cruise line in the world by tonnage and passenger capacity.

Royal Caribbean is capitalizing on the cruise industry’s robust post-COVID recovery and forecast record demand, with 34.7 million people expected to take a cruise in 2024, according to Cruise Lines International Association.

This demand has prompted a new tonnage war between the world’s four main cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC). Royal Caribbean launched four new ships this year and now has seven more on order. While Carnival, Norwegian and MSC, are also launching next-generation vessels through 2027.

MSC Cruises has already introduced two 200,000 gross ton World class vessels, with more on order, while Carnival for the first time broke into the 200,000 gross ton class this year with an order for three new 230,000 gross ton vessels.

Orders such as these are driving up the average size of the world’s cruise ships, with the largest cruise ships today now twice as big as they were in 2000, according to a report by Transport and Environment.

“Icon of the Seas is unlike anything the world has seen before, and we’re just getting started,” said Michael Bayley, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We are leading the vacation industry in developing new experiences for our guests to create lifelong memories, and we continue dreaming and evolving to deliver more ways to chill and thrill.”