In a joint statement, Meyer Turku announced the signing of the agreement, which will be valid until 2036. The news was highlighted by both the mayor of Turku, Piia Elo, and by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and the Minister of Employment and Economy, Sakari Puisto.
SEPTEMBER, 2025.- The city of Turku received great news yesterday after Meyer Turku announced that it had signed a long-term agreement—10 years—with Royal Caribbean Group for the construction of ships at the Turku shipyard until 2036, which will result in the creation of more jobs for the region.
The mayor of the city, Piia Elo, highlighted this in her LinkedIn post: "The large order from the Turku shipyard made by Royal Caribbean Group and announced today is a great recognition of Finnish and Turku-based shipbuilding expertise, which is among the best in the world".
She added, "The agreement gives the subcontracting network that extends throughout the country a positive outlook far into the future".
For its part, Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm said: "With the framework agreement now signed, we announce our common plan for the next decade in cooperation with Royal Caribbean Group and other key partners to build more Icon Class ships and drive the future of shipbuilding over the next decade. I am extremely proud of the recognition that these orders bring to the skilled personnel at Meyer Turku and to the Finnish maritime industry expertise."
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"As we continue to reimagine the future of vacations, we are excited to continue collaborating with Meyer Turku to grow the Icon Class - a first-of-its-kind series that delivers exceptional vacation experiences - and position us to usher in a new era of innovation that will disrupt the vacation sector through 2036," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
"This is an exciting time for our company, and we are proud to launch this new stage in our history with our esteemed partners, Meyer Turku, the Finnish government, and the Finnish maritime cluster", added Liberty.
DETAILS: MEYER TURKU - ROYAL CARIBBEAN GROUP
As part of the agreement, Royal Caribbean Group has ordered the Icon 5 ship from Meyer Turku, scheduled for delivery in 2028. The agreement is subject to customary conditions, including ship financing.
Alongside the previously announced option for Icon 6, the company is adding an option for Icon 7. This new long-term agreement further strengthens Royal Caribbean’s relationship with Meyer Turku, one of the world’s largest and most modern shipyards, and prepares the company for an entirely new class of ships.
To date, Meyer Turku has delivered two Icon-class ships to Royal Caribbean: Icon of the Seas, handed over in November 2023, and Star of the Seas, delivered in July 2025. The third Icon ship, Legend of the Seas, will be delivered in summer 2026, followed by Icon 4 in 2027.
Orders following Icon 5 remain subject to option execution and separate shipbuilding contracts, including customary conditions such as ship financing.
GENERATING EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC IMPACT
Renowned as the builder of some of the world’s most advanced cruise ships, Meyer Turku Shipyard has constructed 25 ships for Royal Caribbean Group since the mid-1990s.
Each cruise ship of the current scale is Finland’s largest single industrial project, representing approximately 13,000 person-years at Meyer Turku and within its network, and generating over one billion euros in added value for Finland.
Meyer Turku and the Finnish maritime industry at the forefront of developing energy and environmental technologies that accelerate green transition, their efforts are strengthening Finland's international competitiveness and reputation as a country with a large network of specialized companies for cruise shipbuilding, extraordinary design capability, cutting edge technology, and demanding project management.
In this context, the Mayor Piia Elo emphasized that, "The employment impact of shipbuilding is very large and the degree of domestic origin of ships is very high. This is exactly the kind of news that Finland needs to kick-start economic growth".
"Turku and the people of Turku are very proud of their shipyard. This is a great day", wrote this on her social media.
"This memorandum of understanding is excellent news for all of Finland. The long-standing cooperation between Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean will continue to significantly impact Finland’s economy, create jobs across the country, and energize our unique maritime ecosystem," said Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo.
"Our strong shipyards, industries, and leading research institutions are producing innovative and sustainable world-class vessels, making Finland an attractive destination for future investments", added Minister of Employment and the Economy, Sakari Puisto.
It's worth noting that last summer (on July 18th), hundreds of people gathered in Saaronniemi to watch the "Star of the Seas" depart. This was one of the luxurious cruise ships built at the Turku shipyard, and it was the second Icon-Class cruise ship built by Meyer Turku, while the third one is currently under construction at the shipyard.
With information: Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean Group.
Photos: Meyer Turku/Mediascope Productions