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 shipyards' 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.
