Finland’s shipbuilder Meyer Turku has successfully floated out Star of the Seas, the second Icon-class cruise ship for Royal Caribbean International, marking a major milestone in the vessel’s construction. The event was celebrated with a traditional maritime ceremony at the Turku shipyard, which included the firing of a ceremonial cannon.
The process of floating out the ship began with the opening of the dry dock gates, a structure that measures 16 meters deep, 80 meters wide, and 365 meters long. Over the course of nine hours, the dry dock was filled with 92 million gallons of water, after which the ship was floated out and moved to the outfitting pier for the final stages of construction. Once the dock was filled, emptying it took an additional 12 hours.
Star of the Seas is set to enter service in 2025, sailing week-long cruises from Port Canaveral. The 365-meter-long vessel will have a capacity of up to 5,610 passengers and will be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), in line with Royal Caribbean’s commitment to more sustainable cruise operations. At 250,800 GT, Star of the Seas will surpass its sister ship, Icon of the Seas, currently the world’s largest cruise ship, which was also built by Meyer Turku and delivered in late 2023.
This float out marks 19 months of construction involving thousands of workers. Royal Caribbean continues to expand its fleet with a strong newbuild pipeline, which now includes seven new ships on order and two shipyard options. A third Icon-class ship is scheduled for delivery in 2026, with a fourth to follow in 2027. The company also holds options for two additional Icon-class vessels.
The launch of Star of the Seas reflects Royal Caribbean’s growing capacity to meet increasing demand in the cruise industry. The ship will officially begin operations in August 2025, further enhancing the cruise giant’s offerings in the Caribbean market.
