More MEGA Ship! Royal Caribbean Begins Construction on Fourth Icon Class Ship

More MEGA Ship! Royal Caribbean Begins Construction on Fourth Icon Class Ship === #cruisenow #cruiseship #cruisetour #cruisenews #cruise === More MEGA Ship! Royal Caribbean Begins Construction on Fourth Icon Class Ship Crowds of tourists squeezing through narrow streets and alleyways, filling shops, restaurants, and overwhelming famous landmarks — this has become a familiar scene at cruise destinations across the world. When several massive ships dock in a city at the same time, thousands of passengers can easily overwhelm local infrastructure, leading to noise, congestion, and a diminished experience for both tourists and residents. This growing strain is exactly why destinations like Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Nice, and Cannes have begun restricting or outright banning large cruise ships. Their efforts aim to curb over-tourism, reduce environmental pollution, and protect fragile infrastructure from the burden of mass arrivals. More MEGA Ship! Royal Caribbean Begins Construction on Fourth Icon Class Ship Given this trend, one might expect cruise lines to scale back the size of their ships. Yet, the opposite seems true. Industry giant Royal Caribbean International, already the operator of the three largest cruise ships in the world, continues to double down on its megaship strategy. Recently, the company announced a milestone that has the cruise world buzzing: the start of construction on its fourth Icon Class ship. This highly anticipated vessel, still unnamed, will join Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas in the revolutionary Icon lineup. The newbuild officially began its journey with a steel-cutting and keel-laying ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. This event, steeped in maritime tradition, marks the symbolic start of the ship’s assembly process. More MEGA Ship! Royal Caribbean Begins Construction on Fourth Icon Class Ship During the ceremony, the first large block of the ship was lowered into the dry dock, forming the backbone of the future vessel. In keeping with long-standing seafaring customs believed to bring good fortune, a freshly minted coin was placed beneath the massive steel keel before it was set in place by shipyard workers and Royal Caribbean representatives. Set for delivery in 2027, the fourth Icon Class ship is expected to build upon the innovations of her sister ships. While Royal Caribbean has yet to release detailed plans, the line confirmed that the vessel will offer the signature blend of adventure, relaxation, and family-friendly experiences that have made the Icon Class a global phenomenon.