A new Royal Caribbean ship name has surfaced in maritime records that’s catching the attention of eagle-eyed cruise fans: Champion of the Seas. The name recently appeared in the Equasis vessel database and is listed at approximately 248,000 gross tons. This would place it squarely in the size range of Royal Caribbean’s massive Icon Class ships.
Equasis is a publicly accessible maritime database that provides detailed information on ships, including ownership, management, and safety records worldwide. According to the registry data, a vessel listed as “Champion of the Seas” is currently recorded as under construction, with a 2028 build year.
The database shows the ship flagged to the Bahamas, with a gross tonnage of 248,600, which is consistent with Royal Caribbean’s massive Icon Class ships. The listing was last updated on February 17, 2026.
While a listing in Equasis does not constitute an official announcement from Royal Caribbean, the platform itself is an established maritime registry. If a ship name appears in Equasis, it generally indicates that the name has been registered or provisionally filed for documentation purposes.
The listing didn’t go unnoticed for long. Cruise fans quickly began sharing it on social media, fueling speculation that “Champion of the Seas” could be the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Icon Class.
A new Icon in the making?
Royal Caribbean officially began construction on its fifth Icon Class ship on January 20, 2026, marking the milestone with a traditional steel-cutting ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The ship represents the next phase in the cruise line’s record-breaking Icon Class expansion.
These next-generation ships are defined by their colossal scale and a wide range of onboard experiences, from expansive water parks and Central Park-style neighborhoods to immersive entertainment spaces.
Official statements from the cruise line confirm Icon 5 is slated for delivery in 2028, though details including the ship’s name have not been publicly released. Royal Caribbean also holds options for additional Icon-series builds, indicating its long-term commitment to the class.
The rumored Champion of the Seas joins a growing lineup that includes Legend of the Seas, debuting in Europe in July 2026, as well as a yet-to-be-named fourth Icon Class ship arriving in 2027.
However, according to Equasis maritime registry data, that fourth vessel may be named Hero of the Seas, a name that aligns with Royal Caribbean’s current nomenclature theme with Icon, Star, and Legend.
Debate among cruise fans
Responses from cruise community members range from excitement to bemusement. Some feel Champion of the Seas fits within Royal Caribbean’s tradition of evocative ship names. Others compare it unfavorably to existing titles like Icon or Star, which they believe better capture the grandeur and identity the brand seeks to project.
“I feel like Hero and Champion just doesn’t sound good like Icon, Star and Legend,” replied one user on Reddit.
Another shared, “I was already unimpressed with the “Hero” name, but it looks pretty stellar when in comparison to Champion.”
With Royal Caribbean’s bold innovation, each ship name is a direct representation of the brand. Names carry weight in cruising, as they’re a large part of how passengers connect with an experience before they ever step on board.
As such, any potential name for a brand-new vessel tends to attract a lot of opinion and serious debate about branding consistency.
Whether Champion of the Seas will stick, be refined, or ultimately replaced with something entirely different remains up in the air. Royal Caribbean traditionally reveals ship names closer to the official launch announcements, often accompanied by broader marketing campaigns and reveal events.
What this means for Royal Caribbean’s future
Whether the final name remains Champion of the Seas Royal Caribbean or evolves into something else entirely, one thing is clear: the cruise line is doubling down on its record-breaking Icon Class.
These ships represent one of the most ambitious expansions in the company’s history, blending size, innovation, and neighborhood-style layouts that have already reshaped the mega-ship market. With additional Icon-class options on the table beyond Icon 5, Royal Caribbean’s long-term growth strategy is firmly anchored in this next generation of vessels.
As Royal Caribbean continues expanding its fleet, travelers often ask which Royal Caribbean class is the best, especially with so many options now available. For now, the appearance of the name has given cruise fans something new to speculate about — and in the cruise world, anticipation is half the fun.
