We love to spend days in theme parks, but let’s face it…that kind of vacation can sometimes be EXHAUSTING (seriously, just a day walking all over EPCOT can wear you out). So if you’re looking for a different kind of vacation, a cruise might be just what you’re looking for. It’s relaxing, but there’s still plenty to do because most cruise ships are like little cities at sea.

©Royal Caribbean

Well, Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise lines out there, and they’re building a NEW ship, the fifth in their Icon Class. And now, we have a first look at what construction of that new Royal Caribbean ship is looking like.

Royal Caribbean is celebrating the start of the actual physical constructon of the new ship and recently had a keel-laying ceremony at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done on the new ship, but it won’t set sail on its maiden voyage until 2028. It’s fascinating to see how these massive cities-at-sea are built, though, right?

©Royal Caribbean

So what happens during a keel-laying celebration? Well, the first block of steel is placed in the dry dock at the shipyard where the ship will be constructed. The keel is the backbone of the ship and provides the foundation for the ship’s construction, so it’s pretty important. As part of the celebration, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turki also put a layer of freshly minted coins beneath the steel block. This is a long-standing shipbuilding tradition that is said to give the ship good fortune for its future journeys.

©Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean isn’t stopping with this ship, though. Two more Icon Class ships are in the works, including one in 2029 and another in 2030. For the record, the Icon Class ship is the largest cruise ship ever constructed, so Royal Caribbean will be sailing a total of seven of these massive beasts by 2030.

©Royal Caribbean

We’ll keep an eye out for more cruise line news, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

Behind The Scenes Look At Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship

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What do you think of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships? Share your thoughts in the comments!