Royal Caribbean installs Icon-Class glass dome on upcoming Hero of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has installed the signature Aquadome on its upcoming flagship Hero of the Seas.

The milestone marks a major stage in the construction of the fourth Icon-class ship, which is scheduled to enter service from Miami in August 2027.

Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, the 250,800-ton vessel recently received the 25-metre-high glass and steel structure that will form the centrepiece of its Aquadome entertainment complex.

According to Meyer Turku, the installation took place on June 28th, with the shipyard describing the 50-metre-wide structure as the largest single-piece glass and steel assembly ever lifted onto a cruise ship.

The operation required extensive preparation and favourable weather conditions, with the entire process taking approximately 24 hours to complete. The lift itself was completed within a matter of hours.

“This was already the fourth Aquadome lift. The entire operation went exceptionally well in terms of both timing and schedule,” said Elvis Kulovac, Foreman of Meyer Turku’s Factory Logistics Division.

“The prep work had been carried out carefully, and the conditions were perfect. There was virtually no wind, which is crucial for a lift of this scale. The entire process took about 24 hours, while the actual lift was completed in just a few hours,” he added.

Once completed, the Aquadome will become one of the ship’s signature public spaces, housing an indoor AquaTheater together with a collection of restaurants, bars and lounges beneath its glass canopy.

The venue has become a defining feature of Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, combining entertainment, dining, and panoramic ocean views within an enclosed multi-level space.

Hero of the Seas follows Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas as the fourth vessel in the class.

The ship is scheduled to debut in August 2027, sailing year-round from PortMiami on seven-night Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.

Its inaugural programme includes visits to destinations such as Cozumel in Mexico, Philipsburg in St. Maarten and Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

The installation comes as construction continues on Royal Caribbean’s expanding newbuild programme.

Under agreements announced with Meyer Turku, the Finnish shipyard is expected to deliver three additional Icon-class ships by 2030, extending what has become the company’s flagship class of vessels. Royal Caribbean is also due to receive three additional ships from France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique over the same period, including another Oasis-class vessel and two ships from its new Discovery class.