Construction on Royal Caribbean’s fifth Icon Class vacation begins at Meyer Turku shipyard
The first block of the fifth Icon Class ship was officially placed and sealed with good fortune at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland
MIAMI, Sep. 14, 2026 – Royal Caribbean celebrated the start of physical construction of the fifth Icon Class ship with a keel-laying ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Set to debut in 2028, the fifth vacation in the Icon Class will deliver a revolutionary combination of thrills, relaxation, family experiences and entertainment 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. Building a series of ships allows us to continuously learn, improve and innovate, and each new vessel benefits from the expertise gained throughout the program. 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” says Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.
During the keel-laying celebration, the first major building block of steel was placed in the dry dock at the shipyard where the ship will take shape over the next two years. The keel forms the backbone of the ship along the bottom and center of its hull and provides the foundation for the ship’s construction. To mark the milestone, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku placed a layer of freshly minted coins beneath the steel block before it was lifted into position in a time-honored shipbuilding tradition sealing good fortune for the ship’s journey ahead.
The fifth Icon Class ship will build on the revolutionary Icon Class lineup that continues to redefine the world’s best family vacation, followed by the sixth in 2029 and seventh in 2030. From the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure, each bold vacation delivers ways for every type of vacationer and family to make memories together or on their own and without compromise.
More details about the fifth Icon Class ship, including its name and features, will be revealed at a later date.
The Meyer Turku Oy shipyard specializes in the construction of very demanding, innovative, and environmentally efficient cruise ships, car ferries, and special vessels. Our share of the global cruise construction market is 17%, and our shipyard order books extend to 2030. Our largest customers are Royal Caribbean and the Finnish Border Guard.
Meyer Turku recorded a turnover of EUR 2.1 billion in 2025. The company employs over 2.300 top professionals and operates the Turku shipyard where vessels have been built since 1737. Meyer Turku’s subsidiaries are Piikkio Works Oy, a cabin factory located in Piikkiö, Shipbuilding Completion Oy, which offers complete deliveries to public spaces, and ENG’nD Oy, a shipbuilding and offshore design company based in Rauma.
Meyer Turku - We Design and Build Cruise Ships of the Future
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About Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line’s game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with industry-leading innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills and ways to chill, to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 23 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas and Royal Beach Clubs in Paradise Island and Santorini, plus Royal Beach Club Lelepa coming soon.
Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.