Royal Caribbean Group has reached a long-term framework agreement with the shipyard Meyer Turku that secures its rights to build at the yard through the next decade.
The deal also confirms an order for cruise ship Icon 5 to be delivered in 2028, subject to financing, and adds an option to build Icon 7, in addition to the previously announced option to build Icon 6.
“As we continue to reimagine the future of vacations, we are excited to continue collaborating with Meyer Turku to grow the Icon Class – a first-of-its-kind series that delivers exceptional vacation experiences – and position us to usher in a new era of innovation that will disrupt the vacation sector through 2036,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
To date, Meyer Turku has built, and Royal Caribbean Group has launched two Icon Class ships with Icon of the Seas (January 2024) and Star of the Seas (August 2025), with the third, Legend of the Seas, scheduled to sail next year (summer 2026). Icon 4 is scheduled to be delivered in 2027.
Orders beyond Icon 5 are subject to Royal Caribbean Group’s exercise of the options and execution of firm construction agreements, which are expected to be subject to customary conditions including financing.
The Turku shipyard has built 25 ships for Royal Caribbean Group since mid-1990s. The buildout of each cruise ship of this scale is the largest single industrial project in the country, employing approximately 13,000 people at Meyer Turku and in the shipyard’s network, the Royal Caribbean Group said, generating over a billion euros in added value annually for Finland.
Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo called the agreement “excellent news” for his country. “The longstanding collaboration between Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku will continue to have a significant positive impact on Finland’s economy, creating jobs across the country and energizing our unique maritime ecosystem.”
“Our strong shipyards, industrial networks and leading research institutions around them, deliver innovative and sustainable world-class ships, making Finland an attractive destination for future investment,” added Sakari Puisto, minister of economic affairs of Finland.
