Meyer Turku wins third Icon class ship contract from Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Meyer Turku shipyard have signed an agreement (still subject to financing) on the delivery of a third Icon class cruise ship, to be delivered from Turku in the spring of 2025, Meyer Turku says in a press release. The previous Icon ships are to be delivered in 2022 and 2024. Icon ships will be approximately 200 000 gross tonnage cruise ships and will be powered by LNG.
"At Royal Caribbean, we are constantly focused on enhancing the guest experience by building new cruise ships in five different countries. The Icon ship design is developing well with Meyer Turku and will push the boundaries of what defines a modern cruise ship. Icon has been designed with the utmost attention to the environmental sustainability and reducing our emissions. Together with the Meyer Turku, we have leveraged the latest technologies and jointly look to develop new ones.
It is with great confidence, that we proudly order Icon III. To build the three Icon’s, we rely on the development and flexibility of Turku shipyard and the Finnish maritime cluster and a suitable business environment in Finland”, Executive Vice President for Maritime & Newbuilding for Royal Caribbean Cruises Harri Kulovaara comments.
Meyer Turku has a long-standing history together with Royal Caribbean that was proven time and time again with many innovations and ships that were and are still the hallmarks of cruise ship building industry. These include among others the first Royal Promenade walkway built to Voyager of the Seas in 1999 and at the time revolutionarily large and complex cruise ships Oasis and Allure of the Seas in 2009 and 2010.
"We are very thankful to Royal Caribbean for their confidence in the Icon ship design and our ability to build such an exceptional ship even before the first Icon is delivered. Icon III further extends our order book until 2025, which gives the shipyard and the Finnish maritime cluster a long term stability, which we need to further develop our capabilities for a future with new emerging and often government owned competition. The order is placed on the assumption and trust that our business environment allows us to be flexible and competitive also in the future”, CEO of Meyer Turku Jan Meyer states.
The construction of the first Icon ship will begin at Meyer Turku shipyard in the spring of 2020.