Royal Caribbean Orders Two More Icon Class Ships for 2029-30

Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed orders for a sixth and seventh Icon Class cruise ship from Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard, with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030.

The newbuild agreement extends a production run that already includes multiple Icon Class ships in various stages of construction or delivery. Royal Caribbean said the order sits within a long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku that secures shipbuilding capacity through 2036, while noting the Icon 7 order remains subject to customary conditions, including financing.

How the new order fits into Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class pipeline

Meyer Turku has already delivered two Icon Class ships to Royal Caribbean, Icon of the Seas in January 2024 and Star of the Seas in August 2025. Additional ships are progressing through the yard’s production schedule, including a previously announced fifth Icon Class ship due in 2028, followed by the newly confirmed sixth and seventh vessels.

• Icon of the Seas (delivered January 2024): The first ship in the class entered service after delivery from Turku, launching the Icon Class program for Royal Caribbean.
• Star of the Seas (delivered August 2025): Meyer Turku’s 2025 delivery maintained what the shipbuilder described as a pace of delivering one completed cruise ship to a customer each year.
• Legend of the Seas (scheduled to debut July 2026): The third Icon Class ship is set for an inaugural season in the Mediterranean before later repositioning to Florida for Caribbean itineraries.
• Hero of the Seas (scheduled for 2027): Royal Caribbean has said Hero of the Seas is slated to follow Legend of the Seas as the next entry in the series.
• Fifth Icon Class ship (scheduled for delivery in 2028): Royal Caribbean has previously announced a fifth vessel, but the ship’s name has not yet been released.
• Icon 6 (scheduled for delivery in 2029): The newly confirmed sixth ship is set for delivery near the end of the decade as the production line continues in Turku.
• Icon 7 (scheduled for delivery in 2030): Royal Caribbean said Icon 7 is scheduled for 2030, and has added that the order is subject to customary conditions, including financing.

Executive comments highlight long-term partnership and industrial impact

Royal Caribbean positioned the latest order as a continuation of its long-running collaboration in Turku. Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said: “The Icon Class reflects our bold creativity and engineering excellence that continues to define what a vacation can be.”

Liberty added: “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.”

Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku, said: “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.” Lindholm added: “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.”

What Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku have said about Icon Class scale and features

Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class launched in 2024 with Icon of the Seas, and the company has described the series as a platform built around major new-build scale and a high-density resort-style layout that includes multiple themed neighborhoods and a range of entertainment and amenities.

Across the class, Royal Caribbean has highlighted LNG propulsion. In published descriptions of the Icon Class, the ships have also been characterized as among the world’s largest cruise ships, with gross tonnage exceeding 250,000 and a guest capacity of up to 7,600 passengers.

Separately, technical details reported for Icon Class construction at Meyer Turku describe a platform with more than 2,800 cabins and accommodations for around 5,600 guests, a figure commonly used to reflect occupancy assumptions rather than maximum capacity.

Reported technical specifications for the platform

Royal Caribbean has not released pricing for the newly confirmed ships. Industry estimates referenced by Seatrade Cruise News put the cost of the fifth Icon Class ship at about $2.2 billion, a reference point Royal Caribbean has not confirmed as a contract value.

For the newly ordered ships, published specifications cited for the Icon Class platform include overall dimensions of about 1,196 feet by 159 feet (364.75 by 48.47 metres), as well as a parabolic bow design described as intended to improve stability.

Propulsion and energy systems described for Icon Class construction

Reported engineering details for the series describe a propulsion arrangement combining dual-fuel engines with additional energy systems and maneuvering equipment.

• Dual-fuel main engines: The configuration described includes six dual-fuel main engines designed to run primarily on LNG.
• Fuel cells: The platform description includes fuel cells intended to support lower-emission electricity generation and freshwater production.
• Thrusters: Bow thrusters and azimuthing thrusters are listed as part of the maneuvering and propulsion system.

Legend of the Seas moves through sea trials ahead of July 2026 debut

Before Icon 6 and Icon 7 arrive at the end of the decade, the next major milestone for the series is Legend of the Seas, the third ship in the Icon Class. Meyer Turku said the ship recently entered sea trials in the Baltic Sea after departing the yard, with testing focused on propulsion, maneuverability, and safety systems.

Meyer Turku has said the sea trials involve more than 2,000 engineers, technicians, and specialists evaluating the ship under operating conditions, with a program expected to cover roughly 2,400 nautical miles before the vessel returns to Turku for final outfitting and preparations. Another description of the trials characterized the testing as a 10-day program.

Royal Caribbean has said Legend of the Seas is scheduled to debut in July 2026, with an inaugural Mediterranean season sailing from Barcelona and Rome, before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean itineraries later.

Onboard highlights described for Legend of the Seas include returning features such as Central Park, AquaTheater performances, and six waterslides, alongside new additions such as the Broadway production Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Additional concepts mentioned include a Hollywood-inspired supper club and Royal Railway immersive dining experiences.

Why the deal matters for Finland’s shipbuilding sector and Meyer Turku’s planning

Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku have worked together for more than 30 years, and Meyer Turku has built 25 ships for the cruise company over that period. The Icon Class program has also been tied closely to employment across the shipyard and its supply chain, with Meyer Turku and its supplier network employing approximately 13,000 workers and activity linked to the yard described as contributing more than 1 billion euros annually to Finland’s economy.

The latest order was announced alongside Meyer Turku Group Oy’s 2025 financial results, which showed turnover of 2.14 billion euros, a 17.2% increase year over year, and adjusted EBIT of 105.1 million euros. Lindholm said: “The result achieved last year supports us on our path towards a stronger independent company,” pointing to the delivery of Star of the Seas, confirmed orders and options, and the framework agreement with Royal Caribbean extending through 2036.

Meyer Turku has said three vessels are under construction at the shipyard simultaneously and at different stages of completion. The yard has also highlighted other recent deliveries, including Mein Schiff 7, delivered in summer 2024 and described as the first ship built at the Turku yard to be methanol ready.

With Icon 6 and Icon 7 now confirmed for 2029 and 2030, the next near-term checkpoints for the Icon Class program remain the debut of Legend of the Seas in 2026 and the planned entry into service of Hero of the Seas in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will Icon 6 and Icon 7 be delivered?

Royal Caribbean Group has scheduled Icon 6 for delivery in 2029 and Icon 7 for delivery in 2030.

Is the order for both ships fully firm?

Royal Caribbean has said the Icon 7 order is subject to customary conditions, including financing.

How many Icon Class ships has Meyer Turku delivered so far?

Meyer Turku has delivered two Icon Class ships to Royal Caribbean, Icon of the Seas (January 2024) and Star of the Seas (August 2025).

What is the framework agreement between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku?

The companies have a long-term framework agreement that secures Royal Caribbean Group’s access to shipbuilding capacity at Meyer Turku through 2036.

What itineraries can guests expect for Legend of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean has said Legend of the Seas will debut in July 2026 with a Mediterranean inaugural season sailing from Barcelona and Rome, before later repositioning to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean itineraries.