On Monday, September 8th, 2025, a significant stage in ship construction was reached at the Meyer Turku yard in Turku, Finland with the laying of the keel for RCI-Royal Caribbean International’s fourth Icon Class cruise ship. Scheduled for delivery in 2027, the vessel is expected to rank among the largest cruise ships in operation upon completion.
The ceremony followed long-standing maritime practice. The first steel block of the newbuild was lowered into the dock in the presence of representatives from both the shipyard and the cruise line. Newly minted coins were set beneath the block, a tradition believed to ensure good fortune for the ship and her future voyages.
Casimir Lindholm, Chief Executive Officer of Meyer Turku, noted the importance of the project to the yard and its network of partners. He remarked that a vessel of this scale accounts for approximately 13,000 person-years of employment and emphasized that the company continues to seek new shipbuilders for roles spanning from design to final delivery.
The keel laying followed closely on the float-out of Legend of the Seas, the third ship of the Icon Class, which was moved to the outfitting pier the previous week. With that milestone achieved, construction space was cleared for the next member of the series to rise within the dock.
Once completed, the new vessel will join Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas in Royal Caribbean’s expanding class of next-generation cruise ships. The line has indicated that the design will continue its focus on combining leisure, entertainment, and family-oriented amenities. Assembly will now proceed block by block, leading to the ship’s scheduled delivery in 2027, with further details on her design and eventual name to be released in due course.