Royal Caribbean International has laid the keel for its as-yet-unnamed fifth Icon-class ship at Meyer Turku in Finland ahead of its planned 2028 debut.
The milestone marks the start of physical construction of the vessel, with the first major steel block lowered into the drydock at the Turku shipyard.
Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku placed a layer of newly minted coins beneath the block before it was moved into position, following a traditional shipbuilding ceremony intended to bring good fortune to the vessel.
The ship, currently referred to as Icon 5, is scheduled to spend the next two years under construction, with its name and further details due to be announced in the coming months.
“The start of construction for the fifth Icon Class ship reflects the strength of the long-term partnership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO, Meyer Turku.
“Building a series of ships allows us to continuously learn, improve, and innovate, and each new vessel benefits from the expertise gained throughout the programme. Together with our partner network, we are proud to demonstrate the world-class shipbuilding capabilities developed in Turku and to help shape the future of cruise shipbuilding,” he added.
Royal Caribbean has so far said the fifth vessel will combine elements of a beach retreat, resort, and theme park, continuing the overall concept established across the Icon class.
The keel-laying comes shortly after Hero of the Seas, the fourth vessel in the series, floated out at Meyer Turku.
Hero of the Seas is scheduled to debut from Miami in August 2027 and is currently at the outfitting pier, where work will continue over the coming year.
The ship will introduce modifications to the Icon-class concept across its outdoor attractions, dining, and family accommodation, including an expanded adults-only Hideaway, changes to the Category 6 waterpark, and the new Orleans Parish Supper Club.
Royal Caribbean has indicated that the class will continue to evolve with successive vessels rather than replicate the same onboard product across each ship.
The fifth vessel is due to enter service in 2028, with two further Icon-class ships currently planned to follow.
Icon 6 is scheduled for 2029, while a seventh vessel is planned for 2030 under Royal Caribbean’s framework agreement with Meyer Turku.
The agreement also secures the cruise line access to shipbuilding capacity at the Finnish yard through 2036, providing scope for further newbuilds beyond the seven Icon-class vessels currently planned.
Further details about Icon 5, including its name, onboard features, deployment, and homeport, are expected to be announced as construction progresses.
Royal Caribbean Icon-class pipeline
- Hero of the Seas – fourth Icon-class ship, debuting August 2027
- Icon 5 – keel laid, debuting in 2028
- Icon 6 – planned for 2029
- Icon 7 – planned for 2030
Categories: Cruise News
