Royal Caribbean's Hero of the Seas completes hull construction at Finnish shipyard

Royal Caribbean International’s fourth Icon‑class cruise liner, Hero of the Seas, has reached a major construction milestone as the final hull block was installed at Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland. The 248,633‑gross‑ton vessel’s hull was fully assembled in early July 2026, allowing the shipyard to move from structural work to the fitting‑out phase, which includes cabin installation, system testing and interior outfitting.

The next steps will involve a float‑out ceremony, followed by extensive commissioning activities ahead of the ship’s scheduled delivery for summer 2027. Once operational, the ship is planned to sail Caribbean itineraries from Miami and will join a broader fleet expansion that sees Royal Caribbean adding several more Icon‑class ships and new Discovery‑class vessels through the early 2030s.