The Icon Class Keeps Growing as Royal Caribbean Signs Off on Two More Ships

There is no doubt among the loyal to Royal crowd that Icon-class ships are overwhelmingly popular. Cruise fans can now rejoice as two more sister ships will be joining the class in the years to come.

On Monday, April 27, 2026, Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the order for two more Icon-class vessels from Meyer Turku, adding the sixth and seventh ships of the largest class in the world to their future cruise lineup.

The two ships are slated for delivery in 2029 and 2030, respectively, following the upcoming delivery of Legend of the Seas before her debut in July 2026, Hero of the Seas in late 2027, and the as-yet unnamed fifth ship in the Icon class in mid-2028.

“The Icon Class reflects our bold creativity and engineering excellence that continues to define what a vacation can be,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

Both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas have pushed boundaries and offered unique and innovative experiences to as many as 7,600 guests per sailing. The sister ships were built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in southwestern Finland, which is also where Legend of the Seas is under construction.

In fact, Cruise Hive just recently reported that the third Icon-class ship is now undergoing her first set of sea trials, having departed Meyer Turku on April 20 for the 10-day testing period.

“The order of sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels is a significant recognition of Meyer Turku and the Finnish maritime industry’s talent and expertise. This milestone represents an important step forward in our partnership with Royal Caribbean Group to develop the shipbuilding sector over the next decade and beyond,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.

The orders for the new ships are subject to appropriate financing, which is standard in the cruise industry. By securing these orders so far in advance, however, Royal Caribbean Group ensures itself ongoing fleet expansion for years.

Meyer Turku has built 25 ships for Royal Caribbean over more than 30 years. The Icon-class ships, when under construction, are the largest industrial projects in Finland and contribute a significant investment to the economy.

“Through our long-standing partnership with Meyer Turku, the Finnish government, and the strong Finnish maritime cluster, we are reimagining the industry for decades to come while also delivering meaningful economic impact for Finland,” said Liberty.

What Will Newer Icon-Class Ships Offer?

Little is known about the evolution of the Icon-class vessels at this point, but each new ship, even within the same class, generally has some tweaks and refinements from her predecessors.

Royal Caribbean has a long history of bigger and better with its innovative new ships, and the newer Icon designs are sure to reflect that.

One tweak that may be made could be changes to the Category 6 waterpark and its collection of six different waterslides. The cruise line has been subject to numerous complaints in recent weeks over extended closures of multiple slides and whether or not the promised thrills are being delivered.

In August 2025, one of those waterslides dramatically broke onboard Icon of the Seas as a guest was descending a nearly vertical portion of the slide. The guest sustained some injuries, and the slide (as well as the identical slide on Star of the Seas) was closed for refurbishment for several weeks.

Different restaurants, such as the elite Supper Clubs and the innovative Royal Railway immersive dining journeys, are also likely to be rethemed for each new ship, continuing the experience but in a new way aboard each vessel.

Spectacular shows, themed neighborhoods, and all-new features are sure to be a part of each Icon-class ship to come, ensuring fantastic cruise vacation experiences for generations.