Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku has laid the keel for Royal Caribbean International’s fifth Icon-class cruise ship, marking the beginning of hull assembly for the vessel scheduled for delivery in 2028.
The ceremony took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, on September 14. The first major steel block was lowered into the dry dock, where the ship will take shape over the next two years.
Following a traditional shipbuilding custom, representatives of Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku placed a layer of freshly minted coins beneath the block before it was moved into its final position. The coins are intended to bring good fortune to the vessel, its future passengers and crew.
The unnamed ship, currently identified as Icon 5 or NB 1408, is expected to have a gross tonnage of approximately 250,800 GT and capacity for around 7,600 passengers. Like the other vessels in the series, it will use liquefied natural gas as fuel. Its official name, onboard attractions and other features will be announced later.
Production began on January 19, 2026, with a ceremonial steel-cutting event. Construction and outfitting are expected to take more than two years and will involve thousands of specialists from the shipyard and its partner network.
Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm said the start of construction demonstrated the strength of the shipyard’s long-term partnership with Royal Caribbean. He noted that building a series of sister ships allows the companies to continuously improve their processes and apply experience gained from each previous vessel.
The keel laying followed the September float-out of Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon-class ship. The vessel is now undergoing outfitting at the shipyard and is scheduled to enter service from Miami in August 2027.
Icon of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in 2024, followed by Star of the Seas in 2025 and Legend of the Seas in 2026. Hero of the Seas will follow in 2027, while the unnamed fifth vessel is scheduled for 2028.
Royal Caribbean Group has also confirmed orders for the sixth and seventh Icon-class ships, which are scheduled for delivery in the summers of 2029 and 2030. The orders form part of a long-term framework agreement securing the group access to Meyer Turku’s shipbuilding capacity through 2036.
Meyer Turku employs more than 2,300 people, recorded revenue of approximately €2.1 billion in 2025 and estimates its share of the global cruise ship construction market at around 17%.
