Royal Caribbean’s Next Icon Mega Ship Adds Huge Glass Structure
Key Aspects:
Meyer Turku shipyard has installed the massive AquaDome on Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas.
At 82 feet high and 164 feet wide, it is the largest single-piece glass and steel structure ever lifted on a ship.
The AquaDome is one of the signature features of every Icon-class ship in the cruise line’s fleet.
One of the most recognizable features of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class has officially taken shape on the line’s newest ship.
Workers at the Meyer Turku shipyard successfully lifted the massive AquaDome onto the 248,663-gross-ton Hero of the Seas on June 28, 2026, marking another milestone in the construction of the fourth Icon-class vessel.
Standing 82 feet tall and stretching 164 feet wide, the shipyard says the AquaDome is the largest single-piece glass and steel structure ever lifted onto a cruise ship.
The operation required careful planning and ideal weather conditions to safely maneuver the enormous structure into place. While the overall operation lasted about 24 hours, the actual lift was completed in just a few hours.
“This was already the fourth AquaDome lift,” said Elvis Kulovac, foreman of factory logistics at Meyer Turku. “The entire operation went exceptionally well in terms of both timing and schedule.”
He said the conditions were perfect. “Virtually no wind, which is crucial for a lift of this scale,” he added.
The AquaDome is far more than an architectural centerpiece. Located at the front of the ship, the enclosed venue serves multiple purposes throughout the cruise.
During the day, guests can relax in lounges and restaurants while enjoying panoramic sea views through its towering glass panels. At night, the space transforms into the AquaTheater, where divers, aerialists, and robotic technology combine for one of Royal Caribbean’s signature entertainment experiences.
The massive structure has become one of the defining design elements of the Icon Class, first introduced aboard Icon of the Seas and later installed on Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. All four AquaDomes have been installed at the Meyer Turku shipyard.
What’s Next for Hero of the Seas
The AquaDome installation follows several other major construction moments for Hero of the Seas. Earlier milestones included the installation of the Royal Caribbean Pearl structure and the ship’s keel laying in September 2025, when the first steel block was lowered into the building dock at Meyer Turku.
Construction has continued at a steady pace since then, with workers assembling the vessel’s neighborhoods, technical systems, and public spaces as the ship continues to take shape inside the building dock.
Read Also: Icon of the Seas AquaDome: Design, Features and Facts
While installing the AquaDome is one of the shipyard’s most visible construction milestones, significant work remains before Hero of the Seas is ready to welcome guests. Once the vessel leaves the building dock, crews will continue outfitting the ship before sea trials and delivery in 2027.
Hero of the Seas is expected to debut in August 2027 as the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Icon Class.
Like her sister ships, the LNG-powered vessel will feature eight neighborhoods, seven swimming pools, a waterpark, Surfside neighborhood for young families, and accommodations for 5,654 guests at double capacity.
With the massive glass structure now in place, Hero of the Seas is beginning to take on the unmistakable silhouette that has come to define Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class.
Royal Caribbean’s Next Icon Mega Ship Adds Huge Glass Structure