Royal Caribbean Group has signed a long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, securing the Group's rights to build at the shipyard for the next decade. As part of this agreement, Royal Caribbean Group has also confirmed an order for the Icon 5, scheduled for delivery in 2028, subject to financing, and added an option to build the Icon 7 (in addition to the previously announced option to build the Icon 6).
This multi-year agreement strengthens Royal Caribbean Group's relationship with Meyer Turku, one of the world's largest and most modern shipyards specializing in cruise ships, and prepares the group for a revolutionary new class of ships beyond the Icon series.
“As we continue to reinvent the future of vacations, we are excited to continue collaborating with Meyer Turku to grow the Icon Class – a pioneering series that delivers exceptional vacation experiences – and position ourselves to usher in a new era of innovation that will transform the vacation industry through 2036,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “This is an exciting time for our company, and we are proud to launch this new chapter in our history alongside our esteemed partners: Meyer Turku, the Finnish government, and the Finnish maritime cluster.”
To date, Meyer Turku has built, and Royal Caribbean Group has launched, two Icon-class ships: the Icon of the Seas (January 2024) and the Star of the Seas (August 2025). The third Icon ship, the Legend of the Seas, is scheduled to set sail next year (summer 2026). Icon 4 is slated for delivery in 2027.
Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholmadded: “With the framework agreement now signed, we are announcing our joint plan for the next decade in cooperation with Royal Caribbean Group and other key partners to build more Icon-Class ships and lead the future of shipbuilding over the next ten years. I am extremely proud of the recognition these orders give to Meyer Turku’s highly skilled staff and the expertise of the Finnish maritime industry.”
Orders subsequent to the Icon 5 are subject to the exercise of options by Royal Caribbean Group and the execution of firm construction contracts, which are expected to include the usual conditions, such as financing.
Renowned for its track record of delivering world-class ships, the Turku shipyard has built 25 ships for Royal Caribbean Group since the mid-1990s. The construction of each cruise ship of this scale represents the largest single industrial project in the country, employing approximately 13,000 people at Meyer Turku and across the shipyard's supplier network, and contributing over one billion euros of added value to Finland annually.
“This new framework agreement is excellent news for Finland. The long-standing collaboration between Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku will continue to have a significant positive impact on the Finnish economy, creating jobs across the country and boosting our unique maritime ecosystem,” said Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland.
With a differentiated ecosystem that currently includes a portfolio of nine new ships, seven land destinations in total by 2028, plus unique experiences and an integrated digital ecosystem, Royal Caribbean Group is in the process of unveiling its multi-year portfolio of new vacation offerings that encompass sea, river and land travel, consolidating its position as an innovator in the vacation sector.
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