The massive Icon class is set to become the largest cruise ship class ever

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Royal Caribbean is redefining maritime scale with its Icon class. These vessels, including the flagship Icon of the Seas, are designed to dwarf previous giants like the Oasis class, utilizing advanced engineering and alternative fuels to navigate the seas with unprecedented capacity and stability.

The Icon class, originally known as Project Icon, represents a significant leap in cruise ship engineering. Ordered by Royal Caribbean International and built by Meyer Turku in Finland, this class is expected to be the largest cruise ship class ever constructed as of 2026. The fleet is set to include at least seven ships, with the first, Icon of the Seas, entering service in 2024, followed by Star of the Seas in 2025, Legend of the Seas in 2026, and Hero of the Seas in 2027.

Beyond sheer size, the class introduces specific technical innovations. These ships feature a parabolic bow design, a first for Royal Caribbean, specifically engineered to enhance stability and ensure a smoother motion through the water. To power these massive vessels, which have a gross tonnage of approximately 250,800 GT, Royal Caribbean utilizes liquefied natural gas. The ships also incorporate alternative energy features, such as fuel cells, which are used to generate both electricity and fresh water.

The scale of the Icon class has been a point of confirmation for the industry. While projections were made as early as 2020, Royal Caribbean officially confirmed in May 2022 that Icon of the Seas would be larger than the previous Oasis class. With a capacity of 5,600 berths, these ships represent a major expansion of the company's fleet, with additional orders extending the class's presence into the next decade.

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