Royal Caribbean's Hero of the Seas reached a major construction milestone last Friday when Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, flooded its dry dock with more than 90 million gallons of water overnight, floating the massive vessel for the first time. The occasion was marked with a ceremonial cannon firing, a long-standing maritime tradition.
The ship is the fourth entry in Royal Caribbean's Icon class — each weighing in at 248,663 gross tons and tied for the title of world's largest cruise ship, with capacity for more than 5,600 guests and 2,500 crew. Work on Hero of the Seas will continue at the shipyard's outfitting pier before sea trials begin, with an August 2027 debut out of Miami planned, sailing seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Compared to its sister ships, Hero of the Seas adds a number of new and expanded features. The Category 6 waterpark gains two new family raft slides, including what Royal Caribbean says is the first funnel raft slide at sea. The adults-only Hideaway area now boasts what the cruise line calls the largest swim-up bar at sea, while the Swim & Tonic pool has been expanded by 30%. A new pool area, Coconut Cove, offers Central Park views alongside the Caribbean bar The Lime and Coconut.
On the dining front, the ship introduces the Orleans Parish Supper Club, an upscale multi-course experience featuring live jazz and Cajun and Creole cuisine inspired by the early 20th-century French Quarter, as well as Royal Railway – Hero Station, an immersive world-cuisine concept set inside a train car. The ship totals 28 dining spots. Hands-on cooking classes for families in the Surfside neighborhood are also planned, though the venue hasn't been fully revealed yet. Fan-favorite restaurants including Izumi, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Chops Grille and Hooked Seafood all return.
When Hero of the Seas arrives in Miami, Icon of the Seas will relocate to Galveston, while Florida's Star of the Seas continues sailing from Port Canaveral. Meyer Turku is already at work on the fifth Icon-class ship, with a sixth and seventh planned for 2029 and 2030 delivery. This story was originally reported by Patrick Connolly of the Orlando Sentinel.
