Royal Caribbean Group has announced a major expansion of its Royal Caribbean International fleet, with plans to add a fourth Icon Class ship by 2027. The company has secured a contract with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku for the construction of this new vessel, with options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship in the future.
Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, “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.” He further noted that the Icon Class has set new standards in vacation experiences, exceeding expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance.
The first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas, debuted on January 27, 2024, becoming the world’s largest passenger vessel at 250,800 gross tons. It accommodates up to 5,610 passengers at double capacity, along with 2,350 crew members. Operating from its homeport in Miami, the ship offers Caribbean voyages to destinations like Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and Puerto Rico, along with regular visits to Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The second ship, Star of the Seas, is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard. Scheduled to launch in 2025, it will slightly surpass its predecessor in size, taking the title of the world’s largest cruise ship. Star of the Seas will homeport at Port Canaveral, Florida, with its inaugural voyage set for August 31, 2025.
In addition to these, a third unnamed Icon Class ship is slated to debut in 2026, followed by the fourth vessel in 2027. All these ships are being built with sustainability in mind, incorporating energy-efficient technologies such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. The ships will also feature advanced waste management systems, water treatment solutions, and energy-efficient air conditioning.
Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating, “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.”
The addition of the fourth Icon Class ship will mark the 21st vessel that Meyer Turku has constructed for Royal Caribbean Group. Finland’s Prime Minister, Peter Orpo, praised the partnership, noting its positive impact on employment and the economy in Finland, and emphasizing the strength of the country’s maritime industry and shipyards.
Royal Caribbean Group, which also owns Silversea Cruises and TUI Cruises, has been aggressively expanding its fleet in 2024. This includes the launch of the 236,473-gross-ton Utopia of the Seas on July 20, 2024, which accommodates 5,668 passengers and offers 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. Additionally, Silversea’s Silver Ray and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7 were introduced in May and June of 2024, respectively.
This ongoing growth has resulted in record bookings for Royal Caribbean Group, which reported $4.1 billion in revenue in Q2 of 2024, and the company anticipates a 68 percent year-over-year increase as anticipation builds for its new offerings.
