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Royal Caribbean has begun the physical construction of its fifth Icon class cruise ship.
A keel-laying ceremony was held at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland earlier this week.
During the keel-laying celebration, the first major block of steel was placed in the dry dock at the shipyard where the new Royal Caribbean ship will take shape over the next two years.
The keel forms the backbone of the ship along the bottom and centre of its hull and provides the foundation for the ship’s construction.
To mark the milestone, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku placed a layer of freshly minted coins for good luck beneath the steel block before it was lifted into position.
The ship has not yet been named but is due to launch in 2028.
There are no further details on the fifth ship but passengers can expect giant waterparks on board as well as plenty of dining options and West End-style shows.
Construction of the fourth Icon class ship Hero of the Seas was successfully floated-out last week ahead of a 2027 launch. Its new features include the Orleans Parish Supper Club, the first funnel raft slide at sea and a three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse suite.
The ships will join Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. All three are the largest cruise ships in the world, featuring giant waterslides as well as different districts including the relaxing Central Park deck and the family-focused Surfside area.
Royal Caribbean has also ordered a sixth and seventh Icon class cruise ship to be built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland in the coming years.
The new vessels are due to be delivered in 2029 and 2030 respectively.
This is part of a long-term deal between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku that provides the option to build ships until 2036.
Read more: I spent a week on Legend of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship
