Production has officially started on the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean International’s Icon class, marking another major step forward for the cruise line’s newest generation of vessels.
The steel-cutting ceremony took place on January 19, 2026, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, signaling the beginning of a long and detailed build process.
This milestone kicks off more than two years of construction and outfitting work. Thousands of skilled workers, engineers and suppliers will be involved as the ship slowly takes shape from raw steel to a fully finished cruise vessel.
A Growing Partnership in Finland
Leaders at Meyer Turku highlighted how each new Icon-class ship builds on lessons learned from the previous ones. The yard says experience gained from earlier vessels allows teams to work more efficiently while improving quality with every ship delivered.
Each Icon-class ship carries a price tag of roughly €2 billion, with about 70 percent of that value staying within Finland’s economy.
According to the shipyard, a project of this size supports around 13,000 person-years of employment across the country, underlining the scale of its impact.
Meyer Turku has also invested heavily in upgrading its facilities, committing €150 million to strengthen its ability to build increasingly complex cruise ships. Those investments are expected to support future projects well into the next decade.
What’s Next for the Icon Class
While Royal Caribbean continues to push ahead with new ship construction, the cruise line has also been fine-tuning operations across its existing fleet, including recent itinerary updates on Symphony of the Seas linked to navigational speed limits.
The fifth Icon-class ship is scheduled for delivery in summer 2028. Meanwhile, the shipyard is already busy with the third and fourth vessels in the series, keeping production lines running at full pace.
The third ship, Legend of the Seas, is set to enter service later this year, starting with cruises in the Mediterranean before moving to the Caribbean for winter. It will then return to Europe for the 2027 summer season, following a flexible deployment plan.
Looking ahead, Royal Caribbean International and Meyer Turku have secured options for a sixth and seventh Icon-class ship. A long-term cooperation agreement signed last year keeps the partnership in place through 2036, ensuring Finland remains central to the future of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships.
