Royal Caribbean is not resting on any laurels when it comes to building up its fleet of large, modern cruise ships.
The cruise line on Monday announced the start of construction for its next ship, its fourth 'Icon' class ship.
A 'keel-laying' ceremony took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, this weekend, Royal Caribbean said.
Royal Caribbean also confirmed the timeline for the new ship, which is confirmed for a 2027 debut.
The new vessel, which has yet to be named publicly, follows the three that came before it: Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas (which launched this summer), and the third Icon, Legend of the Seas.
Legend of the Seas, which debuts in 2026, was only last week floated from the dry dock and remains in Turku, where it is undergoing further fitting work ahead of next year's launch.
The 'keel laying' ceremony saw the first steel block was lowered into dry dock. From this somewhat humble and unassuming base, the rest of the giant cruise ship will eventually be assembled.
As is maritime tradition, the teams of ship builders placed a layer of freshly minted coins beneath the keel, to give the vessel good-luck tradition and to signal the official start of the build.
Royal Caribbean said the ship will “continue to take shape over the next two years” ahead of delivery, the company said.
"The yet-to-be-named fourth Icon Class vacation will deliver more of the unmatched combination of experiences that defines the game-changing Icon Class," Royal Caribbean said.
"Each bold adventure brings together plenty of ways for every type of family and vacationers to make memories across adrenaline-pumping thrills and unmatched ways to chill, a variety of ways to dine and drink, and more."
This new milestone for Royal Caribbean's Icon class fires the starting pistol on a new countdown, towards the new cruise ships expected launch in 2027.
In the meantime, guests can look forward to news announcements in the coming months and years to reveal the ship's name, onboard features, and the itineraroes for its debut season.
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Where did Royal Caribbean start building the fourth Icon Class ship?
Royal Caribbean began construction with a keel-laying at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
When will the fourth Icon Class ship debut?
Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon Class ship is slated to debut in 2027. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
What is the ship called and where can I see construction photos?
Royal Caribbean has not yet named the ship; keel-laying photos are available on the Royal Caribbean Press Center images page. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
