![]() Icon of the Seas on her first sea trial outside Turku, Finland in 2023 | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Builders | Meyer Turku, Turku, Finland |
Operators | Royal Caribbean International |
Preceded by | |
Planned | 3 |
Building | 2 |
Completed | 1 |
Active | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Cruise ship |
Tonnage | 248,663–250,800 GT |
Length | 364.75 metres (1,196.7 ft) [1] |
Beam | 48.47 m (159.0 ft) [1] |
Draught | 9.25 metres (30.3 ft) [1] |
Decks | 20 |
Installed power | |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
Capacity |
|
Crew | 2,350 [3] |
The Icon class (formally Project Icon) is a class of cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean International to be built by Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. As of 2024 this class is the largest cruise ship class ever constructed. Royal Caribbean plans to have three Icon-class ships by 2026, which will include Icon of the Seas (launched in 2024), Star of the Seas (planned to launch in 2025), and an unnamed third ship (planned to launch in 2026).
On 10 October 2016, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku announced an order to build two ships under the project name "Icon". [4] Icon of the Seas was delivered on 27 November 2023, and the second ship, Star of the Seas , is expected to be delivered in 2025. [4] [5] The ships will be classified by DNV. [6]
Royal Caribbean applied to register a trademark for "Icon of the Seas" in 2016, which was at the time suggested as an indication of the name of the first ship. [7]
On 2 July 2019, Royal Caribbean announced an order for a third ship in the "Icon" class. The third ship is planned to be delivered in 2026, one year after Star of the Seas. [8] [9]
Steel-cutting for Icon of the Seas began on 14 June 2021, [10] and the keel was laid on 5 April 2022. [11]
Steel-cutting for the second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas began on 15 February 2023. [12] Parts of the ship are built at Meyer Werft, Papenburg. [13]
Icon of the Seas arrived in her home port of PortMiami on 10 January 2024 for the first time after leaving Europe in December, with the inaugural passenger sailing occurring on 27 January 2024. [14]
Steel-cutting for the third Icon-class ship began in January 2024. [15]
The ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas, with a gross tonnage of about 200,000 GT. [5] Ships will contain other alternative energy features, like the use of fuel cells to produce electricity and fresh water. [4] They will have a capacity of 5,600 berths. [16]
The Icon class is the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature a parabolic bow design, which is intended to aid stability and provide smoother motion. [17]
In 2020, the director of projects and facilities at Nassau Cruise Port said that the specifications for the Icon class indicate it would be larger than the Oasis class. [18] Later, in May 2022, Royal Caribbean confirmed that Icon of the Seas would be bigger than the Oasis class. [19]
Name | Status | Entering service | Gross tonnage | Length | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Icon of the Seas | In service | 27 January 2024 [20] | 248,663 [1] | 364.75 metres (1,196.7 ft) [1] | Shipyard number NB-1400 [21] | ![]() |
Star of the Seas [22] | Under construction | 31 August 2025 [23] | 250,800 [24] | Shipyard number NB-1401 [24] | pictures from June 2024 [25] | |
TBA | Under construction | Q2 2026 [20] | 250,800 [26] | Shipyard number NB-1402 [27] |
Royal Caribbean International (RCI), previously known as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line brand founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997. Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passengers counts. In 2018, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 14.0% by revenue. As of January 2024, the line operates 27 ships and has three additional ships on order.
The Oasis class is a class of 7 Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were delivered respectively in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland. A third Oasis-class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in 2016 built by STX France. A fourth vessel, Symphony of the Seas, was completed in March 2018. As of March 2022, the fifth Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, was the largest cruise ship in the world. A sixth ship, Utopia of the Seas, is currently being built for entry into service in July 2024 with a seventh to follow in 2028.
The Radiance class is a class of four cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean built between 2001 and 2004 at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The class was preceded by the Voyager class and succeeded by the Freedom class.
Allure of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. As of 2018, the Oasis class ships were the largest passenger vessels ever in service, and Allure is 50 millimetres (2.0 in) longer than her sister ship Oasis of the Seas, though both were built to the same specifications. Designed under the name "Project Genesis", she was ordered from Aker Finnyards in February 2006 and her construction began at the Perno shipyard, Turku, Finland, in February 2008. She was named in May 2008 after a contest was held to name her and her sister. The keel of Allure of the Seas was laid on 2 December 2008, shortly after the shipyard had been acquired by STX Europe.
TUI Cruises is a cruise line based in Germany. It was formed in 2007 as a joint venture between the German tourism company TUI AG and the American cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Group, both of whom hold a 50% stake in the company.
The Quantum class is a class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International, previously known by the code name Project Sunshine.
Quantum of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship currently operated by Royal Caribbean International and is the lead ship of her class. At her time of delivery in 2014, Quantum of the Seas was the third largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage. She is currently deployed to serve the Alaskan and Australian cruise markets.
Norwegian Joy is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and is the second of four Breakaway Plus-class vessels in the company's fleet. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, she was delivered in April 2017.
Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the third ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class, Royal Caribbean International's Oasis class, and Royal Caribbean International's Icon Class by gross tonnage.
Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the second ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class and Royal Caribbean International's Icon class and Oasis class by gross tonnage.
Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship built by STX France at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Royal Caribbean International. With a gross tonnage of 226,963 GT, she is the fourth largest passenger ship in the world, larger than her older sisters Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, but surpassed by her newer sisters Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Harmony of the Seas is also the second longest cruise ship in the world, being surpassed by Icon of the Seas.
Meyer Turku Oy is a Finnish shipbuilding company located in Turku, Finland Proper. The company is fully owned by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft GmbH. The main products are cruise ships and cruiseferries.
The Excellence class, including the sub-classes Helios class and XL or Excel class, is a class of cruise ships ordered by Carnival Corporation & plc for its subsidiary brands AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. The ships are being constructed by Meyer Werft at their shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and Meyer Turku at their shipyard in Turku, Finland. The first, AIDAnova, entered service for AIDA Cruises in 2018.
Spectrum of the Seas is a Quantum-Ultra-class cruise ship currently operated by Royal Caribbean International and the first ship of the Quantum Ultra class, a modification from the company's Quantum class of ships. The ship was constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and was delivered in April 2019. At 169,379 GT, she became the fifth largest ship in the fleet by gross tonnage upon delivery. She currently operates primarily in East Asia.
Odyssey of the Seas is the second Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship and the last of the class operated by Royal Caribbean International. She primarily operates in the Caribbean out of Port Everglades.
Wonder of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was completed in 2022 in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire France, the fifth in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of cruise ships. At 235,600 GT, she was the largest cruise ship by gross tonnage, until she was surpassed in 2024 by the Icon-class cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, also owned by Royal Caribbean International.
Icon of the Seas is the lead ship of the Icon class. She entered service on 27 January 2024 out of the Port of Miami in the US. At 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.
Utopia of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the sixth ship in the Oasis Class and is scheduled to enter service on 19 July 2024 out of Port Canaveral. She is larger than sister ship Wonder of the Seas by gross tonnage.
Star of the Seas is a cruise ship being built for Royal Caribbean International and will be the second Icon-class cruise ship built, the first being Icon of the Seas. The name was announced on 5 October 2023. She is expected to enter service on 31 August 2025, and will be homeported at Port Canaveral, Florida, United States.