Royal Caribbean Starts Building Fifth Icon Class Ship at Turku Yard

Royal Caribbean International has begun construction of its fifth Icon Class cruise ship, starting production with a steel-cutting ceremony held Jan. 19, 2026, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

The vessel, currently known as Icon 5, is scheduled for delivery in summer 2028. Royal Caribbean described the milestone as the start of a multiyear build spanning design, engineering and other technical disciplines.

Steel cutting in Turku marks the official start of production

The steel-cutting event took place inside Meyer Turku’s steel hall and brought together representatives from Royal Caribbean Group, Meyer Turku and the classification society involved in certifying the ship’s construction standards.

In its announcement, Royal Caribbean said: “The initial cut of steel kicks off the official start of production and the multiyear journey ahead.” Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm also highlighted the shipyard’s role in the program, saying, “Icon 5 is further proof of Meyer Turku’s unique ability to design and build cruise ships of the future.”

Royal Caribbean has said the construction phase will involve thousands of skilled professionals across multiple fields as work progresses toward the ship’s 2028 delivery.

What Royal Caribbean has and has not revealed about Icon 5

Royal Caribbean has not yet announced Icon 5’s final name, passenger capacity, onboard features, homeport or itinerary plans. The company has indicated the ship may include enhancements informed by operational experience with earlier Icon Class vessels, but it has not provided specifics.

The Icon Class debuted in 2024 with Icon of the Seas and has been positioned as Royal Caribbean’s newest flagship platform. Icon of the Seas measures 248,663 gross tons and is designed to carry 5,610 guests at double occupancy; Royal Caribbean has not confirmed whether Icon 5 will match those figures.

Build timeline: next milestones on the path to summer 2028 delivery

With steel cutting complete, the project moves into hull and block construction before extensive outfitting and interior work. The next closely watched milestone is keel laying, which typically follows steel cutting by about six to 12 months; Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku have not announced a specific keel-laying date for Icon 5.

Icon 5 is expected to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), consistent with the propulsion approach used for the class.

Multiple Icon Class ships moving through the yard at once

Meyer Turku is building multiple Icon Class ships in parallel. The third ship in the series, Legend of the Seas, is scheduled to be delivered in summer 2026 and is set to begin cruising in the Mediterranean in July before shifting to the Caribbean during the winter; Meyer Turku has said the ship is then slated to return to Europe for the 2027 summer season.

Royal Caribbean has also said the name of the fourth Icon Class ship, expected to enter service in 2027, will be announced soon. Earlier in January, that vessel moved into a major interior phase as modular cabins began being installed to create 2,800 staterooms.

• In service: Icon of the Seas; Star of the Seas
• In the build pipeline at Meyer Turku: Legend of the Seas (delivery expected summer 2026); the fourth Icon Class ship (expected to enter service in 2027); Icon 5 (delivery expected summer 2028)

Economic impact in Finland and investment at the Turku shipyard

Meyer Turku linked the Icon Class program to broader investment and employment effects in Finland. Lindholm said a 150 million investment program launched by the shipbuilder is intended to strengthen the yard’s operational capabilities.

On the scale of the ships themselves, Meyer Turku said each Icon ship is valued at approximately 2 billion euros, adding that 70% of that value remains in Finland due to domestic content and that a ship of this size generates about 13,000 person-years of employment in the country. Royal Caribbean has separately described each Icon Class ship as representing an investment of about $2 billion.

Lindholm also framed the series as an ongoing effort to improve production efficiency and quality, saying: “Together with our partner Royal Caribbean and the entire maritime industry network, we learn from every Icon ship and are able to build vessels more efficiently and with even higher quality as the series progresses.”

Partnership through 2036 and options beyond the fifth ship

Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean signed a cooperation agreement last autumn that extends plans to build ships at the Turku shipyard through 2036. Meyer Turku has also said it holds options connected to potential sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels, though no firm order has been announced for those additional ships.

With Icon 5 now in production and sister ships advancing through major construction phases, the next updates are expected to focus on the vessel’s eventual name, its deployment plans and additional construction milestones as it progresses toward its scheduled summer 2028 delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will Icon 5 be delivered?

Icon 5 is scheduled for delivery in summer 2028, following more than two years of construction and outfitting work at the Meyer Turku shipyard.

Where is Icon 5 being built?

The ship is being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, which is the exclusive builder for Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships.

Has Royal Caribbean announced the name, capacity, homeport, or itineraries for Icon 5?

No. Royal Caribbean has not yet released Icon 5’s final name, passenger capacity, onboard features, homeport, or sailing region.

How is Icon 5 expected to be powered?

Icon 5 is expected to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), consistent with the propulsion approach used for the Icon Class, though Royal Caribbean has not released detailed technical specifications for the fifth ship.

What other Icon Class ships are being built right now?

Meyer Turku has said it is building the third and fourth Icon Class ships while beginning production on Icon 5. The third ship, Legend of the Seas, is scheduled for delivery in summer 2026, while the fourth ship is expected to enter service in 2027.