Royal Caribbean announces two more in its fleet of world's largest cruise ships
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas will be the third ship in its Icon class following 2024’s Icon of the Seas and this year’s Star of the Seas. The cruise line has ordered a sixth and seventh ship in the Icon class. Credit: Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is expanding its fleet of megaships in its Icon class with two more ships ordered to be delivered in 2029 and 2030, respectively.
The cruise line confirmed its order with Meyer Turku, the Finnish shipbuilder that has built 25 ships for the company since the 1990s and worked closely with Royal Caribbean to develop its Icon class. At 248,663 gross tons, each of these vessels, including Port Canaveral-based Star of the Seas, is tied for the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with capacity for more than 5,600 guests and 2,500 crew.
The two new ships represent the sixth and seventh additions to the Icon class. The announcement comes less than a year since the company ordered its fifth Icon-class vessel.
“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 of Royal Caribbean Group, in a news release. “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.”
The Royal Bay pool is a central spot for swimming onboard Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas. Credit: Patrick Connolly
The order of Icon 6 and 7 is part of Royal Caribbean’s long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku that secures the company’s access to shipbuilding capacity through 2036.
The Icon class has made waves in the cruise industry with each existing ship boasting six water slides, seven pools, eight distinct neighborhoods and dozens of places to eat and drink on board. When bookings opened for Icon of the Seas in October 2022, Royal Caribbean saw its single largest booking day in the company’s history.
Legend of the Seas, the third Icon-class ship, is set to debut this summer in the Mediterranean before heading to Fort Lauderdale in the fall. Hero of the Seas will join the fleet in 2027, followed by Icon 5 in 2028.
Royal Caribbean’s expansion plans come amid a worldwide surge in cruising that saw 37.2 million travelers embark on ocean-going cruises in 2025.
