Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Royal Caribbean Group partners with Meyer Turku for a fourth Icon Class ship, set for 2027 delivery, with options for two more vessels in the future. Royal Caribbean Group has signed an agreement with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku to order a fourth Icon Class ship, scheduled for delivery to Royal Caribbean International in 2027. The agreement also provides options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship.
“Building on the incredible momentum and market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas and the excitement for its sister ship, Star of the Seas, coming in 2025, we’re thrilled to join with Meyer Turku once again to expand our roster of Icon Class ships and continue our future growth plans,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Since its debut, Icon has changed the game in vacation experiences and exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance.” “This is great news for Finland.
Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term partnership will continue to have a positive impact on our employment and economy,” said Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland . “Their commitment and investment in Finland speaks volumes about the strength of our maritime cluster and our world class shipyards.” The first ship in the Icon Class, launched in January 2024, introduced a groundbreaking vacation experience that combines the best of every type of getaway—from beach retreats to resort escapes and theme park adventures.
The next ship in the lineup will continue delivering revolutionary experiences, joining Icon, Star of the Seas (launching in 2025), and the yet-to-be-named third Icon Class ship (launching in 2026). With this announcement, Royal Caribbean Group drives its moderate capacity growth, helping guests transform a once-in-a-lifetime vacation into a lifetime of vacations. “This order is an important milestone for the future of shipbuilding in the maritime network in Finland,” added Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku .
“With Icon of the Seas, our team, consisting of the shipyard and partners, have built an extraordinary ship in respect of naval architecture, energy efficiency and customer experience. This is yet another recognition of the professionalism of our personnel and of our leadership in the maritime industry’s innovation and green transition. The options underline the strong outlook of our order book.
” Renowned for its history of delivering best-in-class ships, this order further strengthens Royal Caribbean Group’s longstanding partnership with Meyer Turku. With this new agreement, Meyer Turku will have built 21 ships for Royal Caribbean Group over the span of 28 years. Anticipation for Royal Caribbean Group’s newbuild pipeline continues to rise, with seven new ships on order and two shipyard options available.
This year alone, the company introduced four industry-leading ships: Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, Silversea’s Silver Ray, and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7. This latest order follows the company’s recent announcement of a seventh Oasis Class ship, set to debut for Royal Caribbean International in 2028. “Icon of the Seas is unlike anything the world has seen before, and we’re just getting started,” added Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International .
“We are leading the vacation industry in developing new experiences for our guests to create lifelong memories, and we continue dreaming and evolving to deliver more ways to chill and thrill.” This agreement is contingent upon customary conditions, including securing financing..
