The so-called “Icon” series is said to enable a “systematic refinement of shipyard processes”: The “Legend of the Seas” has been delivered at Meyer Turku.
The cruise ship is scheduled to begin service on July 4 with Mediterranean cruises for the U.S. cruise line Royal Caribbean. It will then cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Shipyard CEO Casimir Lindholm officially handed over the new vessel to Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, and Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean.
The “Legend of the Seas” is the third ship in the Icon class built at the shipyard, which has been legally separate from the Papenburg-based Meyer Werft since the German federal government and the state government of Lower Saxony acquired a stake in the Turku facility. The series holds great significance for the Finns: “The construction of this series enabled the systematic further development of our production processes. We leveraged the experience gained from previous ships and further optimized production in collaboration with the customer and our extensive partner network. The ship is an extraordinary project in terms of size and technical complexity. Its realization required comprehensive expertise and seamless cooperation across the entire maritime cluster,” said CEO Lindholm.
The shipping company and the shipyard view the delivery as part of a long-term framework agreement that secures the availability of shipyard capacity for the shipping company through 2036. The agreement includes, among other things, the Icon 5-class vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon-class vessels for 2029 and 2030. Each Icon-class ship is valued at around 2 billion euros, with 70% of the value added remaining in Finland, according to the latest information regarding the order for “No. 5.”
The Royal Caribbean Group currently operates 69 ships. The group also includes the three wholly-owned subsidiaries Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, as well as a 50% stake in Tui Cruises, the operator of the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd brands. The partnership between the Royal Caribbean Group and Meyer Turku has been in place for over three decades. During this time, the shipyard has built 25 ships for the company. To date, the shipyard has built two Icon-class ships for the Royal Caribbean Group: the “Icon of the Seas” and the “Star of the Seas.” The third ship in the class, the “Legend of the Seas,” is scheduled to enter service in the western Mediterranean in July. According to current plans, the “Hero of the Seas” will follow in 2027.
