A giant AquaDome has been installed on Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship, Hero of the Seas

The Meyer Turku shipyard recently installed the signature AquaDome on the next Icon-class ship for Royal Caribbean — Hero of the Seas.

The 250,800-gross-ton vessel, scheduled for delivery in mid-2027, is currently under construction in one of the shipyard's dry docks in Turku, Finland.

According to a statement from Meyer Turku, the 25-meter-high structure was lifted into place on June 28, 2026. The shipyard also noted that the 50-meter-wide dome is the largest single structure of glass and steel ever lifted onto a ship. This space, which is part of the AquaDome complex aboard Hero, will house the AquaTheater, as well as a variety of restaurants, bars, and lounge areas.

“This was already the fourth AquaDome lift. The entire operation was exceptionally successful, both in terms of meeting deadlines and the schedule itself,” said Elvis Kulovac, logistics department master at the Meyer Turku shipyard. “The preparatory work was done meticulously, and the weather conditions were perfect. There was virtually no wind, which is critical for a lift of this scale. The entire process lasted about 24 hours, while the actual lift was completed in just a few hours,” he added.

Following Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas, the Hero of the Seas will debut as the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean's Icon class. The ship's maiden voyage is scheduled for August 2027; the liner, designed for 5,610 passengers, will operate cruises departing from the Port of Miami. As part of its debut season, the ship will run a series of seven-night itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The routes feature calls at destinations such as Cozumel (Mexico), Philipsburg (St. Maarten), and the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas).

According to recently announced agreements, Meyer Turku will build three additional Icon-class ships for Royal Caribbean by 2030. During this period, the company is also set to receive three ships from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, including another Oasis-class ship and two new Discovery-class vessels.

       
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