Meyer Turku Lifts AquaDome Onto Hero of the Seas
The shipyard said the twenty-five-meter-high, fifty-meter-wide dome is the largest one-piece glass-and-steel element ever hoisted onto a vessel.
Meyer Turku lifted the AquaDome onto Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas on June 28, placing a 25-meter-high, 50-meter-wide glass-and-steel structure on the fourth Icon-class ship in Turku, Finland. The shipyard said the dome is the largest one-piece glass-and-steel element ever hoisted onto a vessel, and the 250,800-gross-ton ship is scheduled for delivery in mid-2027.
The operation added one of the Icon class’s eight neighborhoods, a bow-mounted space that combines an indoor aquatic theater with restaurants, bars and lounges. Hero of the Seas is due to enter Royal Caribbean service from PortMiami in August 2027.
A 24-hour operation in Turku
“This was already the fourth Aquadome lift,” said Elvis Kulovac, foreman in Meyer Turku’s factory logistics division. “The entire operation went exceptionally well in terms of both timing and schedule.”
Kulovac said preparation was central to the lift. “There was virtually no wind, which is crucial for a lift of this scale,” he said. The full operation took about 24 hours, with the actual lift completed in a few hours.
The AquaDome is designed with wraparound sea views, and the class’s AquaTheater design includes a 55-foot waterfall.
Fourth ship in the Icon class
Hero of the Seas follows Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas in Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class program. The lead ship entered service in January 2024; Hero is listed at 365 meters in length and 65 meters in beam, with 2,805 staterooms, capacity for 5,610 passengers at double occupancy and 2,350 crew.
During its first season, Hero will sail seven-night Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from PortMiami. Scheduled ports include Cozumel, Philipsburg and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean’s newbuild pipeline extends beyond Hero
Meyer Turku has three more Icon-class ships for Royal Caribbean due through 2030. Over the same period, Royal Caribbean is also scheduled to receive three vessels from Chantiers de l’Atlantique: one additional Oasis-class ship and two ships in the new Discovery class.
See current Hero of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
