Glass Dome Installed on Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas

Posted on 15 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Glass Dome Installed on Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas

Meyer Turku recently installed the signature Aquahome on Royal Caribbean’s next Icon-class ship, the Hero of the Seas.

Scheduled for delivery in mid-2027, the 250,800-ton vessel is currently being built at one of the shipyard’s drydocks in Turku, Finland.

According to an update shared by Meyer Turku, the 25-meter-high piece was lifted into place on June 28, 2026.

The shipyard added that the 50-meter-wide dome is the largest single-piece glass and steel structure ever lifted onto a ship.

Part of Hero’s Aquadome complex, the space will house an aquatic theater, as well as a series of restaurants, bars and lounges.

“This was already the fourth Aquadome lift. The entire operation went exceptionally well in terms of both timing and schedule,” said Elvis Kulovac, foreman of Meyer Turku’s factory logistics division.

“The prep work had been carried out carefully, and the conditions were perfect. There was virtually no wind, which is crucial for a lift of this scale. The entire process took about 24 hours, while the actual lift was completed in just a few hours,” he added.

Following the Icon of the Seas, the Star of the Seas and the Legend of the Seas, the Hero of the Seas will debut as the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class.

With its maiden voyage scheduled for August 2027, the 5,610-passenger ship will offer cruises departing from PortMiami.

As part of its maiden season, the vessel will operate a series of seven-night voyages to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

The itineraries include visits to a range of destinations, such as Cozumel in Mexico, Philipsburg in St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

As part of recently announced deals, Meyer Turku will build three additional Icon-class ships for Royal Caribbean through 2030.

The company is also taking delivery of three vessels from Chantiers de l’Atlantique during that timeframe, including an additional Oasis-class ship and two new Discovery-class vessels.

Cruise Industry 10-Year Timeline: 50+ Million Guests, 20% Growth

Posted on 14 April, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Cruise Industry 10-Year Timeline: 50+ Million Guests, 20% Growth

The global cruise business is on course to grow at least 20 per cent between 2026 and 2036, with big new ships driving growth to an estimated 50 million guests, according to the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

That is compared to just over 23 million guests 10 years ago, and an estimated 39 million this year.

The bulk of the growth is coming from the industry’s major players that have numerous new big ships on order, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, MSC Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.

Together, these five brands have a combined 34 ships on order, amounting to just over 150,000 new berths.

The most growth is coming from MSC, with 10 newbuilds set to debut. The new ships from the industry’s fastest-growing will include more World-class vessels built in France, and an entirely new class of vessel set to be constructed in Germany at Meyer Werft.

Norwegian Cruise Line is close behind with eight ships on order, adding more than 36,000 berths through 2037 as the brand continues to scale its large-ship fleet at Fincantieri in Italy.

Royal Caribbean International has six newbuilds scheduled, building on the success of its Icon-class platform with additional vessels from both Meyer Turku in Finland and Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France.

Carnival Cruise Line has five ships on order totalling nearly 30,000 berths, with new tonnage coming from both Meyer Werft and Fincantieri.

Disney Cruise Line, meanwhile, is accelerating its own expansion with five ships set to debut through 2031, more than doubling its current fleet size and extending its reach into new global markets.

The combined orderbook across all cruise lines stands at 78 ocean ships valued at approximately $80 billion, reflecting the industry’s confidence in sustained long-term demand.

MSC Poesia Enters Drydock for Major Refurbishment

Posted on 26 February, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Poesia Enters Drydock for Major Refurbishment

The MSC Poesia recently entered drydock at the Palumbo Shipyard in Malta to undergo a major refurbishment project.

Having completed its winter season in Northern Europe, the MSC Cruises vessel arrived at the facility on Feb. 19, 2026.

As part of a modernization effort that will see all of the Musica-class ships undergoing refits, the 2008-built vessel is now set to get new features and venues.

The project includes the addition of MSC Yacht Club, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept that will feature 62 new suites.

Guests staying in these new staterooms will take advantage of private areas including a sun deck, a restaurant and a lounge.

The MSC Poesia is also getting two new specialty restaurants: the American-style Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse and Kaito Sushi Bar.

Other areas undergoing significant changes include the MSC Aurea Spa, which will be redesigned and modernized.

The ship’s gym will be moved to a new area, where it will offer a fresh layout and state-of-the-art equipment.

Upon completing its drydock, the MSC Poesia is set to kick off a repositioning voyage to North America ahead of MSC’s first season in Alaska.

The two-part voyage starts with a trans-Atlantic crossing to PortMiami that is set to depart from the Italian port of Civitavecchia on April 6, 2026.

The 90,000-ton ship is then scheduled to offer an 18-night cruise to the Panama Canal that sails between Florida and Seattle.

Starting in early May, the MSC Poesia offers a series of seven-night cruises to destinations in Alaska and Canada.

Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the itineraries are highlighted by scenic cruising at Tracy Arm Fjord and Inside Passage. Ports of call set to be visited include Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point and Juneau.

Following MSC’s maiden season in the region, the vessel is scheduled to reposition to Miami for longer cruises to the Caribbean and Central America during the 2026-27 winter season.