This week marked a significant milestone in the construction of Royal Caribbean’s third Icon Class cruise ship with the laying of the keel.
The ceremony took place on Monday, October 7, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, celebrating the official commencement of construction.
Icon of the Seas was the inaugural ship of the Icon Class, debuting earlier this year to much excitement. Its innovative design has captured the cruise industry’s attention, and now work has begun on the third vessel in this class.
Royal Caribbean has yet to disclose the ship’s name, or any anticipated features and specifications.
Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku, expressed the importance of this occasion, stating, “Icon 3 is a crucial vessel for both the shipyard and our partner network. The construction process showcases the synergy of advanced know-how and the experience gained from its sister ships.”
The keel, the first major component of the ship, has been laid in a maritime tradition that marks this phase of a new ship’s construction.
In accordance with this tradition, “lucky coins” symbolizing both the shipyard and the cruise line are placed within the keel. These coins are intended to bring good fortune during the building process and will later be presented to the captain and crew of Icon.
The laying of Icon 3’s keel occurred just a few days after the float-out ceremony for Icon 2.
Named Star of the Seas, this ship was first launched into the water at the end of September. It is not uncommon for two vessels of the same class to be constructed simultaneously, as the construction of Star of the Seas began while Icon of the Seas was still in development.
Typically, cruise lines order multiple ships at a time and stagger their construction to allow for launches approximately a year apart.
What’s in a name for Icon 3?
Although Royal Caribbean has not revealed the name of the third Icon Class vessel yet, speculation is rampant regarding its potential name.
There are rumors suggesting that the cruise line may revive a classic name. The speculated name for Icon 3 is Legend of the Seas, previously assigned to a Vision Class cruise ship that was sold to another cruise line in 2017 and is currently operated as Marella Discovery 2.
Several sources have fueled the rumor about the name. During a Top Tier event aboard Harmony of the Seas in May, the ship’s Hotel Director informed passengers that the new ship would be named Legend of the Seas.
Additionally, metadata found on Royal Caribbean’s website hinted at the possible reuse of the name Legend.
Given the enthusiasm of cruise fans for enticing rumors, these speculations tend to circulate widely.
Royal Caribbean routinely trademarks ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, many of which are never utilized.
Recent trademark applications by Royal Caribbean include:
- Happy of the Seas
- Fun of the Seas
- Idol of the Seas
- Love of the Seas
- Nova of the Seas
- Titan of the Seas
- Sun of the Seas
- Marquee of the Seas
- Hero of the Seas
- Fantasia of the Seas
The company strategically trademarks various names that they do not intend to use, making it difficult to identify the true contenders.
What’s next for Icon 3?
The launch of the third Icon Class ship is scheduled for 2026, and bookings have not yet opened, mainly due to the extensive work still required.
Construction will progress over the coming months as the ship’s steel framework is assembled. The keel serves as the foundational block, with additional blocks connected to create the ship’s main structure. Subsequently, other features like cabins, interior systems, and paneling will be incorporated.
Icon 3 will boast a gross tonnage of 250,800 GT, accommodating up to 5,610 passengers.
In the upcoming months, Royal Caribbean will unveil the ship’s name, home port, sailings, and other key information.
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