by Donald Wood
Last updated: 7:45 AM ET, Tue August 27, 2024
Royal Caribbean Group announced an agreement with Finnish
shipbuilder Meyer Turku to order a fourth Icon Class ship for delivery to Royal
Caribbean International in 2027.
The agreement between the cruise company and shipbuilder also
includes options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship. The first ship in
the Icon Class launched in January 2024 as a first-of-its-kind vacation and
introduced an all-encompassing lineup of experiences.
The next Royal Caribbean vessel in the lineup will continue
to deliver revolutionary experiences as it joins Icon, Star of the Seas—launching
in 2025—and the yet-to-be-named third Icon Class ship—launching in 2026.
“Building on the incredible momentum and market response to
the launch of Icon of the Seas and the excitement for its sister ship, Star of
the Seas, coming in 2025, we're thrilled to join with Meyer Turku once again to
expand our roster of Icon Class ships and continue our future growth
plans," Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said.
“Since its debut, Icon has changed the game in vacation
experiences and exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and
financial performance,” Liberty continued.
With this order, Meyer Turku will have built 21 ships for the
Royal Caribbean Group over 28 years.
In total, Royal Caribbean Group has seven new ships on
order, with two options. In 2024, the company welcomed four new vessels,
including Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the
Seas, Silversea's Silver Ray and TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff.
“Icon of the Seas is unlike anything the world has seen
before, and we're just getting started,” Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley
said. “We are leading the vacation industry in developing new experiences for
our guests to create lifelong memories, and we continue dreaming and evolving
to deliver more ways to chill and thrill.”
The latest order comes on the heels of the company's
announcement for a seventh Oasis Class ship, set to debut for Royal Caribbean
International in 2028. The agreement is contingent upon customary conditions,
including financing.
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