Royal Caribbean Group Confirms Orders for Icon Class Six & Seven
by Bruce Parkinson
A Royal Caribbean Group Icon Class ship. Photo: Royal Caribbean
An iconic run continues. Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed orders with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku for a sixth and seventh Icon Class ship to be delivered in 2029 and 2030.
“The Icon Class reflects our bold creativity and engineering excellence that continues to define what a vacation can be,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
“Through our long-standing partnership with Meyer Turku, the Finnish government, and the strong Finnish maritime cluster, we are reimagining the industry for decades to come while also delivering meaningful economic impact for Finland.”
The collaboration between Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku spans more than three decades, during which the shipyard has built 25 ships for the company. Meyer Turku and its supplier network employ approximately 13,000 workers, contributing over a billion euros annually to Finland’s economy.
The Icon class ships are among the largest and most innovative cruise vessels ever built. To date, Meyer Turku has completed two Icon Class ships for Royal Caribbean Group — Icon of the Seas (January 2024) and Star of the Seas (August 2025). The third ship in the class – Legend of the Seas – will debut in July 2026 in the Western Mediterranean. It features eight distinct neighbourhoods, the most dining at sea with 28 options, all-new nightlife and entertainment.
The fourth in the Icon class, Hero of the Seas, will follow next year.
“The order of sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels is a significant recognition of Meyer Turku and the Finnish maritime industry’s talent and expertise. This milestone represents an important step forward in our partnership with Royal Caribbean Group to develop the shipbuilding sector over the next decade and beyond,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.
