Meyer Turku to construct the next LNG-fueled Icon class cruise ship

August 28, 2024, by Sara Kosmajac

Following the delivery of the Icon of the Seas cruise ship last year, Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku has signed a brand-new agreement with the US-based cruise company Royal Caribbean International to build the fourth Icon class vessel.

As informed, the newbuilding will be delivered in 2027. The agreement between Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean, however, does not just encompass the construction of the fourth vessel; under the contract, Meyer Turku is also set to build the fifth and sixth vessels of the series.

Reflecting on this new order, Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer stated: “This order is an important milestone for the future of shipbuilding in the maritime network in Finland. With Icon of the Seas, our team, consisting of the shipyard and partners, have built an extraordinary ship in respect of naval architecture, energy efficiency and customer experience. This is yet another recognition of the professionalism of our personnel and of our leadership in the maritime industry’s innovation and green transition.”

To remind, in late 2023, Meyer Turku delivered the LNG-powered newbuilding Icon of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International—a feat which Meyer then called ‘a significant step toward green transition‘.

The inaugural vessel in the Icon class series, the 364-meter-long Icon of the Seas, possesses a gross tonnage of 248,655 tones, accommodating up to 7,600 passengers as well as 2,350 crew members.

The vessel is equipped with fuel cell technology, shore power connections, and waste heat recovery systems, which enable it to turn waste heat into around 3MW of extra energy. Icon of the Seas also has an air lubrication system for the underwater hull, reducing friction by sending millions of microscopic bubbles alongside the hull.

The Star of the Seas, Meyer Turku’s third LNG-powered ship, will soon join Icon of the Seas, as well as an Oasis Class vessel, slated for delivery in the summer of 2025. It is scheduled to debut from Port Canaveral, Florida.

In related news, Meyer Werft—Meyer Turku’s parent company—received a contract earlier this month to build four additional ships that will join Disney Cruise Line’s fleet between 2027 and 2031.