Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas Reaches Float-Out Milestone

Royal Caribbean’s next Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, has floated for the first time, marking a major step forward in construction ahead of her August 2027 debut in Miami.

The milestone took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, and represents the next phase of building for what Royal Caribbean is calling its newest family vacation experience. To achieve the float out, the ship’s dry dock was filled with more than 90 million gallons of water overnight, allowing Hero to move to the outfitting pier, where construction will continue over the coming year. The occasion was marked with a ceremonial cannon firing, a nod to maritime tradition, as the ship touched water for the first time.

Hero of the Seas is set to build on the Icon Class lineup, blending established fan favorites with a slate of new features aimed at a wide range of travelers. The ship will offer eight neighborhoods, nine pools and 28 dining venues, including the newly introduced Orleans Parrish Supper Club. Accommodations will include the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse, while thrill-seekers can look forward to Crown’s Edge, a skywalk-and-zip-line experience suspended 154 feet above the ocean. Guests looking to relax can head to the new Coconut Cove pool or the adults-only Hideaway retreat.

Once in service, Hero will operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami, with every sailing including a stop at Perfect Day CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas.