Royal Caribbean Group has announced that it’s preparing to launch an all-new class of ships, described as a “game-changing class beyond Icon.”

The announcement was alongside the establishment of a long-term partnership agreement with the Finnish shipyard that has been building ships for Royal Caribbean since 1990. While details about the new design haven’t been disclosed yet, the agreement will guarantee the availability of shipbuilding slots at the yard through 2036.

As part of the announcement, Royal Caribbean also confirmed ordering a fifth Icon-class vessel and an option for a seventh. According to plans, the newly ordered ship will enter into service in 2028, after the Legend of the Seas in 2026 and another unnamed Icon-class ship in 2027.

Meyer Turku has delivered 25 ships for the cruise line, including the Icon of the Seas in 2023 and the Star of the Seas, which will begin in 2025.

Further projects are underway elsewhere in the Royal Caribbean orderbook. Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France is building Celebrity Xcel, with a sister ship to be delivered in 2028, and also a seventh Oasis-class ship, debuting in 2028.

The group is erecting Mein Schiff Flow at Fincantieri Italy by virtue of the joint venture agreement with TUI AG.

Further down the ocean riverway, Royal Caribbean is expanding into river cruising under its new Celebrity River Cruises brand. At least 10 riverboats are ordered on Team Co Shipyard in the Netherlands, with deliveries slated over the next couple of years.