Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas reached another major construction milestone on Friday, September 4, 2026, when the ship floated out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
The day began with a traditional launching ceremony. Later that evening, after the building dock was flooded, the fourth Icon Class ship was moved out of the dry dock and taken to an adjacent outfitting pier, putting water beneath its keel for the first time.
The event took place with little public attention and was initially documented mainly through images and videos shared by Finnish ship spotters.
The float-out represents an important step in the construction process, but it does not mean the vessel is complete. Hero of the Seas will now undergo further outfitting alongside the pier, where teams will continue working on its cabins, public spaces, technical systems and interior areas.
The ship’s hull assembly was completed in July after the final block was lifted into place. At the time, Meyer Turku said construction was progressing rapidly, with teams welding the hull sections, installing cabins and preparing the vessel for its float-out and commissioning.
Another major milestone was reached earlier in the summer when the ship’s 50-meter-wide glass AquaDome was installed. The shipyard described it as the largest single-piece glass-and-steel structure ever lifted onto a cruise ship.
Hero of the Seas will be the fourth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, following Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas.
The ship will measure approximately 365 meters in length and have a gross tonnage of around 250,800. It will accommodate approximately 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, with capacity for around 7,600 guests when fully occupied.
Construction will continue at the outfitting pier before Hero of the Seas begins commissioning and sea trials. Its propulsion, navigation, safety, power-generation and hotel systems must all be tested before the vessel can be delivered to Royal Caribbean.
Hero of the Seas is scheduled to enter service in August 2027 and operate year-round seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami. Its itineraries will include visits to Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The ship is expected to feature eight neighborhoods, nine pools and 28 dining venues, along with new family attractions and updated versions of popular features introduced aboard previous Icon Class ships.
