Icon of the Seas, the newest ship to join Royal Caribbean International, has reached a significant construction milestone with its keel-laying ceremony. Ahead of her debut in autumn 2023, the ship underwent the age-old maritime tradition that involves a massive steel block being lowered on top of freshly minted coins. This is said to bring good luck during the construction phase and the coins will be retrieved and handed to the captain of Icon of the Seas and its crew before the ship sets sail.

The ceremony took place at Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku and officially marks the start of the physical construction of the ship.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said: “Five years ago, we began dreaming of Icon of the Seas, and now the next phase of this iconic adventure is beginning.

“As this game-changing ship takes shape, the excitement from families and travellers alike, travel advisors and our partners continues to build. Later this year, we’ll reveal the lineup of firsts and favorites that will set a new standard for vacations come fall 2023.”

Icon of the Seas will be powered using liquefied natural gas (LNG), making it the first of three Royal Caribbean ships to make the shift towards the cleaner fuel. This is currently the cleanest fossil fuel that is available to cruise ships.

Tags: , | Categories: Cruise Industry News, Cruise Ships, New Cruise Ships | Cruise Lines: Royal Caribbean