Royal Caribbean Welcomes Legend of the Seas: New Superliner Prepares for July Debut

Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Legend of the Seas into its fleet, a vessel that became the third representative of the Icon class.

After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, and sea trials that began in April, the ship is ready to make its European debut in July 2026, the cruise line announced in a statement.

More than 1,200 crew members and partners gathered for a ceremony led by Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean , and Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.

The event marked the transfer of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku.

“Today's delivery of Legend of the Seas marks another significant milestone in our commitment to continuously redefining the vacation experience. This new ship reflects the strength of the vacation ecosystem we are building, combining industry-leading ships, innovative technology, and exceptional experiences for our guests,” noted Liberty.

“This achievement was made possible only through the extraordinary partnership and expertise of Meyer Turku and the thousands of talented people whose creativity and dedication continue to help us design the future of vacations.”

The ship is scheduled to depart Turku for Cádiz, Spain, shortly for final touches by Royal Caribbean.

       
Consultation on any questions

Following that, it will sail 7-night itineraries in the Western Mediterranean from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, this summer as part of its inaugural season.
In November, the ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to offer 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises.

The delivery is part of the company's long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, which secures shipbuilding capacity through 2036.

Under this agreement, the shipyard will build Icon 5, scheduled for delivery in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon-class ships, set to arrive in 2029 and 2030 respectively.

“Legend of the Seas is the third Icon-class ship built at our shipyard, and building this series has allowed us to develop our production processes systematically. We have built on the experience gained from previous ships and further improved efficiency with our client and our extensive network of partners,” added Meyer.

“The ship is an exceptional project both in terms of scale and technical complexity, requiring strong expertise and seamless collaboration across the entire maritime cluster. At the same time, Legend of the Seas drives shipbuilding toward more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions.”

Legend of the Seas will be the company's fourth liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ship, as it continues its journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

       
Consultation on any questions

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