Key Aspects:
- Meyer Turku shipbuilders officially began construction on Royal Caribbean’s fifth Icon Class ship.
- The steel-cutting ceremony took place on January 19, 2026, with representatives from Royal Caribbean Group on hand.
- The initial steel cutting signals the first production phase of the vessel, scheduled for delivery in summer 2028.
Royal Caribbean’s fifth Icon ship is officially underway! On January 19, 2026, workers at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, began construction on the cruise line’s vessel, cutting the first pieces of steel that will be used as the building blocks of the ship’s hull and framework.
The traditional steel-cutting ceremony was held in the shipyard’s steel hall and was attended by representatives from Royal Caribbean Group, the Meyer Turku organization, and the classification society responsible for certifying the vessel’s construction standards.
The event marks the formal start of more than two years of construction and outfitting work that will involve thousands of professions that culminate in a beautiful new ship.
“The initial cut of steel kicks off the official start of production and the multiyear journey ahead, where thousands of experts across design, naval engineering, architecture, and more will come together to make the world’s best family vacation a reality,” said Royal Caribbean in its announcement.
Added Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku, “Icon 5 is further proof of Meyer Turku’s unique ability to design and build ships of the future.”
Once completed, the vessel will become the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class. While the cruise line has not yet released the ship’s name, passenger capacity, or onboard features, it will share more details as Meyer Turku continues construction phases.
Read Also: What Are Royal Caribbean’s Icon-Class Cruise Ships?
The next major milestone will be Icon 5’s keel laying, which typically follows 6 to 12 months from steel cutting. The ship, which will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), is scheduled to be delivered to Royal Caribbean in summer 2028.
Icon Class Momentum Continues
Construction on Icon 5 comes as Royal Caribbean continues to move forward with multiple ships in the Icon Class pipeline. The class debuted with Icon of the Seas in 2024 and has since become the cruise line’s flagship platform, with new ships entering service on an almost annual schedule.
Icon Class vessels are built exclusively at Meyer Turku and rank among the largest cruise ships ever constructed. So far, each completed ship comes in at 248,663 gross tons and have the capacity to hold 5,610 guests at double capacity.
While Royal Caribbean has not confirmed whether Icon 5 will introduce new design changes, the company has previously indicated that each ship in the class may incorporate refinements based on experience from earlier vessels.
The fourth Icon Class ship also recently entered a significant new phase of its build at the Finnish shipyard. On January 9, interior work launched, with the installation of modular cabins that will create 2,800 staterooms.
Icon 4 is expected to enter service in 2027, one year ahead of Icon 5. When delivered, the new ships will join Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas.
Although no official order is in place, Royal Caribbean has an option with Meyer Turku to reserve build space for a sixth and seventh Icon Class ship in a deal that extends the partnership into 2036, indicating big things are on the horizon for the fleet.
