Royal Caribbean has commenced the physical construction of its fifth Icon class cruise ship. A keel-laying ceremony took place earlier this week at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.
During the ceremony, the first major steel block was placed in the dry dock. This block forms the keel, which is the backbone of the ship, and provides the foundation for its construction over the next two years. The unnamed vessel is expected to launch in 2028.
The cruise line has also ordered a sixth and seventh Icon class cruise ship, which are due to be delivered in 2029 and 2030 respectively. This forms part of a long-term agreement between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku, which includes an option to build ships until 2036.