Meyer Turku
The future of shipbuilding is not created by a single breakthrough, but by thousands of people working together to turn bold ideas into reality. In 2026, Meyer Turku demonstrated how vision, collaboration and industrial execution can come together to shape the next era of cruising.
2026 marked the public unveiling of AVATAR, Meyer Turku’s first Net-Zero cruise ship concept. Developed through years of research and collaboration, AVATAR provides a tangible vision of how cruise ships could evolve to meet future operational and environmental requirements.
Turning such ambitions into reality requires broad cooperation across the maritime sector. To accelerate this work, Meyer Turku launched MERiON, its next Leading Company program, bringing together partners from industry, academia and the wider maritime ecosystem to develop the technologies and concepts that will define the next generation of cruise ships.
Innovation also requires long-term commitment. In 2026, Meyer Turku officially commenced its four-year, €200+ million investment program, strengthening the facilities, expertise and industrial capabilities needed to transform future concepts into commercially successful vessels.
Most importantly, Meyer Turku continues to demonstrate its ability to deliver at scale. Alongside its future-focused initiatives, the shipyard is building the groundbreaking ICON Class for Royal Caribbean, one of the most ambitious shipbuilding programs ever undertaken and a new benchmark for cruise ship design, energy efficiency and passenger experience.
Together, these achievements demonstrate that Meyer Turku not only continued building some of the world’s most advanced cruise ships in 2026, but also invested in the people, partnerships, technologies and capabilities that will define the future of the cruise industry. This unique combination is what makes Meyer Turku deserving of the title Shipyard of the Year.