Royal Caribbean’s new Hero of the Seas floats for the first time at Meyer Turku shipyard

September 2026 – Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, marked an iconic construction milestone and floated for the first time. The newest family vacation will continue to take shape at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, ahead of its August 2027 debut in Miami.

MIAMI, Sep. 8, 2026 – Royal Caribbean’s next Icon Class vacation, Hero of the Seas, has officially floated for the first time. The milestone, achieved at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, marks the latest phase of construction for the newest family vacation experience ahead of its August 2027 debut in Miami.

As part of the float out, the ship’s dry dock was filled with more than 90 million gallons of water overnight before Hero moved into the outfitting pier, where it will continue to take shape over the next year. From the ceremonial firing of a cannon – a maritime tradition – to Hero’s first moments afloat, the milestone can be viewed here.

"Hero of the Seas is another important milestone in the long-standing partnership between Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean. Building consecutive Icon Class ships has enabled continuous development of our expertise, production processes and energy-efficient shipbuilding solutions together with our partners and thousands of shipbuilding professionals involved in the project. We are proud to see Hero of the Seas move one step closer to delivery," says Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.

Hero of the Seas is the next evolution of the revolutionary Icon Class lineup, combining signature favorites with new experiences designed for every type of guest. Ac4ross eight neighborhoods, vacationers can explore nine pools, 28 dining spots – including the brand-new Orleans Parrish Supper Club – and a range of accommodations like the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse. From thrills like Crown’s Edge – part skywalk, part zip line experience 154 feet above the ocean – to ways to kick back at the new Coconut Cove pool and adults-only The Hideaway, plus an unmatched lineup of dining, bars and entertainment, families of all kinds can make lifelong memories together. Hero will take vacationers on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures from Miami, with every vacation visiting Royal Caribbean’s top-rated destination, Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Vacations on Hero are now open to book on Royal Caribbean’s website.

About Meyer Turku

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.

Media can find assets from Hero of the Seas’ float out at www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/hero.