New Icon: Royal Caribbean Welcomes Star of the Seas to its Fleet

Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Star of the Seas into the family after nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

The keys to the next Icon Class ship were officially handed over to Royal Caribbean just a few weeks ahead of its August debut in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.

In a ceremony fit for a star, 1,250-plus crew members and partners gathered to mark the milestone in the ship’s AquaTheater. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, along with Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm, hosted the event, recognizing the hard work and innovation that brought Star to life and celebrating the team of engineers, designers and architects who made it all possible. 

From the first steel cut to the final delivery, the highlights of how it all came together can be seen here.

“The delivery of Star of the Seas marks another bold step forward in Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to reimagine the future of vacations,” said Liberty. “Star and the Icon Class are a symbol of what’s possible when innovation, imagination and our relentless focus on delivering exceptional experiences come together, ultimately creating unforgettable memories for millions of families and vacationers.”

The delivery of the new ship marked the transfer of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku and celebrated the feats of engineering accomplished during construction, like the installation of the glass-and-steel AquaDome, the development of six record-breaking waterslides and more. 

Soon, Star will make its way from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean will administer the finishing touches before Star sets sail on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures.

“We’re incredibly proud to welcome Star of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family as we continue to revolutionize how families and adventurers vacation,” said Bayley. “It’s a true team effort with so many talented individuals coming together to make the new Icon Class vacation a reality, and we’re excited to debut this incredible achievement with a star-studded celebration this August.”

Star is the third Royal Caribbean ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and it features a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Star will advance Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.