The Meyer Turku shipyard in southwest Finland has completed the construction of the world's largest cruise liner, the Icon of the Seas, and delivered the ship to US company Royal Caribbean International.
"After more than seven years of dreaming and 900 days of design and construction by thousands of experts, Royal Caribbean International welcomes the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas to the family in a momentous celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland," the company said in a press release.
Meyer Turku's Managing Director, Tim Meyer, told Yle that the completion and delivery of the liner was a special moment in the shipbuilding business.
"It brings a tear to my eye to see the ship leaving Turku for Miami," Meyer said.
The Icon of the Seas is the twentieth ship built for Royal Caribbean at Turku's shipyard since 1995. Meyer declined to comment on whether Royal Caribbean has any more orders in the pipeline once the three Icon-class ships are completed.
"It is now important that this ship starts sailing and succeeds. That's the best reason to order more," he said.
The Panama-flagged Icon of the Seas is 365 metres long and weighs 248,655 tonnes, with room for 7,600 passengers as well as a crew of 2,350.
The project was significantly delayed by the Covid pandemic, which caused difficulties for the shipbuilding business.
The second Icon-class vessel is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and the third in 2026.
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