Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean confirmed an order for Icon 5, scheduled for delivery in 2028.
- The cruise line also extended its partnership with Meyer Turku shipyard through 2036.
- The announcement hinted at a possible new class of ship beyond Icon.
Royal Caribbean has locked in the future of its Icon Class fleet, confirming on September 23, 2026, an order for Icon 5 to be delivered in 2028 and extending its partnership with Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard for another decade.
The announcement means Meyer Turku will be constructing new ships for the Miami-based cruise giant through 2036.
Along with the Icon 5 order, Royal Caribbean revealed it added an option for a seventh Icon ship, building on an existing option for Icon 6.
The Icon Class is the cruise line’s newest and largest series of ships, each carrying more than 5,600 passengers and offering a mix of neighborhoods, entertainment, and technology.
The first vessel, the 248,663-gross-ton Icon of the Seas, debuted in January 2024 and was billed as the world’s largest cruise ship. Star of the Seas, at the same tonnage, joined the fleet in August 2025, and will be followed by Legend of the Seas in the summer of 2026.
The yet-to-be-named Icon 4 is scheduled to arrive in 2027 and with Icon 5, the lineup extends into 2028.
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All Icon Class ships have been or will be constructed at Meyer Turku. The shipbuilders have delivered 25 ships to Royal Caribbean since the mid-1990s.
“As we continue to reimagine the future of vacations, we are excited to continue collaborating with Meyer Turku to grow the Icon Class – a first-of-its-kind series that delivers exceptional vacation experiences – and position us to usher in a new era of innovation that will disrupt the vacation sector through 2036,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm called the agreement a “common plan for the next decade” and highlighted the recognition it brings to Finland’s shipbuilders.
The agreement paves the way for a new class of ship beyond Icon, although no details have been released.
Orders for Icon 6 and 7 remain conditional on financing, but Royal Caribbean’s plans include nine new ships, as well as seven land-based destinations by 2028.
“This is an exciting time for our company, and we are proud to launch this new stage in our history with our esteemed partners, Meyer Turku, the Finnish government, and the Finnish maritime cluster,” added Liberty.
Royal Caribbean Expanding at Land and Sea
Included in Royal Caribbean’s expansion plans are to grow its land-based destinations. In the Bahamas, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is scheduled to open in December 2025, transforming a 17-acre site in Nassau into a beach destination.
A second beach club is planned for Cozumel, Mexico, with an opening slated for 2026. Also in Mexico, the company is building Perfect Day Mexico, featuring a massive waterpark and the world’s longest lazy river. That project is scheduled to be complete by fall 2027.
The cruise line is also pushing into the South Pacific with a destination on Lelepa, Vanuatu, expected to open in 2027.
In the meantime, Meyer Turku is busy finishing up Legend of the Seas. On August 29, 2025, Legend of the Seas floated out of dry dock for the first time.
In fact, construction is moving so quickly on the next Icon Class ship that Royal Caribbean has added earlier sailings into her inaugural season. The first of those will depart July 11, 2026, from Civitavecchia (Rome).
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Legend of the Seas’ float out also allowed Meyer Turku to begin keel-laying for Icon 4.
Royal Caribbean is also developing a new Discovery Class. This in-design concept is expected to introduce smaller ships that can reach more intimate ports and will replace the fleet’s aging Vision and Radiance Class vessels.
