Legend of the Seas

Legend of the Seas is an Icon-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International, a cruise brand within Royal Caribbean Group. The vessel is being built at Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland, and is designed as the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class. At roughly 250,800 gross tonnage as designed, it is intended to share the position of the world’s largest cruise ship with its Icon-class sister ships. The ship is planned to accommodate approximately 5,610 guests at double occupancy across 2,805 cabins, with a maximum passenger capacity of about 7,600. The vessel’s design follows the neighborhood-based layout introduced by other Icon-class ships. Its onboard proposition combines large-scale accommodation, family entertainment, resort-style pools, water attractions, dining, nightlife and destination cruising. Planned features include seven pools, approximately 20 bars and 28 restaurants, as well as activities such as skywalks, surf simulators and waterparks. These facilities position Legend of the Seas as a floating resort rather than simply a means of transportation, with the ship intended to serve both family groups and multigenerational travelers. Legend of the Seas is also part of Royal Caribbean’s stated effort to move toward a net-zero cruise operation by 2035. The ship is designed to use liquefied natural gas, or LNG, making it the fourth Royal Caribbean ship identified in the reference material as using that fuel after Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. LNG can reduce certain local air pollutants compared with conventional marine fuels, although the ship remains part of the wider environmental debate surrounding cruise emissions and the lifecycle impact of fossil-derived LNG. The name revives an earlier Royal Caribbean vessel. The first Legend of the Seas was a Vision-class ship launched in 1994 and operated by Royal Caribbean until it was sold to Marella Cruises in 2017, where it became Marella Discovery 2. Royal Caribbean’s chief marketing officer Kara Wallace explained that the revived name was chosen because “Legend” matched the high expectations associated with the Icon class while also acknowledging the company’s earlier fleet history. The new ship is scheduled to begin its initial commercial season in the Western Mediterranean during summer 2026. Planned itineraries range from three to seven nights and are expected to operate primarily from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome, Italy. This deployment would make Legend of the Seas the first Icon-class ship to offer regular European sailings. After the Mediterranean season, the ship is planned to reposition to Florida for Western and Southern Caribbean cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale. The repositioning is planned as a 13-night transatlantic voyage, followed by three- to eight-night Caribbean itineraries. Deployment plans are subject to operational change by the cruise operator.

Legend of the Seas is the second Royal Caribbean vessel to bear the name. The original ship was a Vision-class cruise ship launched on September 5, 1994. It remained in Royal Caribbean’s fleet until 2017, when it was sold to Marella Cruises and renamed Marella Discovery 2. The reuse of the name links the new vessel to Royal Caribbean’s earlier fleet while placing it within the much larger and more technologically ambitious Icon-class platform. The new Legend of the Seas is being constructed by Meyer Turku at the shipyard in Turku, Finland. Construction began with the cutting of the first steel in January 2024, followed by keel laying in October 2024. The ship was floated out on September 2, 2025, after which it moved to an outfitting pier for the installation and completion of interior and operational systems. A fire in the engine room was reported during construction on December 2, 2025; the available reference material stated that the incident was not expected to affect the planned construction schedule. The vessel was designed at approximately 250,800 gross tonnage, with 2,805 cabins and an estimated double-occupancy capacity of about 5,610 guests. Its maximum capacity is described as approximately 7,600 passengers. Like other Icon-class vessels, it is organized around themed neighborhoods and is intended to function as a destination in its own right. The planned onboard environment includes pools, waterparks, surf-related attractions, skywalks, restaurants, bars and other entertainment spaces. The reference material identifies seven pools, 20 bars and 28 restaurants as part of the ship’s planned or reported onboard offering. Legend of the Seas is designed to be powered by liquefied natural gas. Royal Caribbean has presented LNG propulsion as part of its broader pathway toward a net-zero cruise ship operation by 2035. The vessel follows Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas in the company’s LNG-powered fleet. This technical positioning is paired with the commercial positioning of a high-capacity resort ship offering extensive amenities and relatively short vacation itineraries. Royal Caribbean planned the ship’s first passenger season for summer 2026 in the Western Mediterranean. The initial schedule is expected to include three- to seven-night voyages, mainly from Barcelona and Rome. The deployment is notable because it would make Legend of the Seas the first Icon-class ship to operate European sailings. At the end of the Mediterranean season, the ship is planned to cross the Atlantic on a 13-night repositioning voyage and begin Caribbean operations from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its planned Caribbean program consists of three- to eight-night Western and Southern Caribbean cruises. The ship’s construction and deployment dates are based on forward-looking material and may change. The available reference describes sea trials of approximately 2,400 nautical miles in April 2026, delivery to Royal Caribbean on June 10, 2026, and a passage beneath the Great Belt Bridge on June 19 after height modifications. These dates and operational details should be verified against later shipyard, operator and maritime records.

1. 2026Planned sea trials

   The ship was scheduled to undertake approximately 2,400 nautical miles of sea trials in April 2026.

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2. 2026Planned delivery to Royal Caribbean

   Delivery to Royal Caribbean was scheduled for June 10, 2026, subject to completion and acceptance procedures.

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3. 2026Planned Western Mediterranean debut

   Legend of the Seas is scheduled to begin passenger operations in the Western Mediterranean during summer 2026.

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4. 2025Ship floated out

   Legend of the Seas was floated out on September 2, 2025 and moved to the outfitting pier.

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5. 2025Engine-room fire during construction

   A fire was reported in the engine room on December 2, 2025. The available reference indicated that the event was not expected to delay completion.

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6. 2024First steel cut

   Meyer Turku began construction of the new vessel with the first steel-cutting ceremony in January 2024.

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7. 2024Keel laid

   The ship’s keel was laid at Meyer Turku in October 2024.

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8. 2017Original ship sold to Marella Cruises

   The original Legend of the Seas left Royal Caribbean’s fleet after being sold to Marella Cruises, where it became Marella Discovery 2.

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9. 1994Original Legend of the Seas launched

   The first Royal Caribbean ship to use the name Legend of the Seas was launched as a Vision-class vessel on September 5, 1994.

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A large-scale LNG-powered Icon-class resort ship designed to combine family entertainment, extensive dining and nightlife with short- and medium-length Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises.

• Legend of the Seas cruise shipCruise ship2025

  The core offering is the Icon-class vessel itself: a very large LNG-powered cruise ship designed around multiple onboard neighborhoods. Its approximately 250,800-gross-ton design includes 2,805 cabins, extensive pools and water attractions, family-oriented activities, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The ship is intended to support both the onboard resort experience and itineraries in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

• Western Mediterranean itinerariesCruise vacation2026

  The planned inaugural program consists of three- to seven-night voyages in the Western Mediterranean, primarily using Barcelona and Rome as operating bases. These cruises are intended to combine access to major European ports with the ship’s large onboard leisure, dining and entertainment offering.

• Western and Southern Caribbean itinerariesCruise vacation2026

  After the planned Mediterranean season, the ship is scheduled to operate three- to eight-night cruises in the Western and Southern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. The program is expected to follow a 13-night transatlantic repositioning voyage from Europe.

• 2026Planned transition from Mediterranean to Caribbean deploymentStrategy

  The ship is planned to debut in Europe before moving to a North American homeport for Caribbean operations.

  What changed. Royal Caribbean scheduled Western Mediterranean cruises for summer 2026, followed by a transatlantic repositioning and Fort Lauderdale-based Western and Southern Caribbean sailings.

  Aftermath. If carried out as planned, the deployment will give the Icon class a European operating presence before placing the ship in a Caribbean-focused program.

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• Revival of the Legend of the Seas nameStrategy

  Royal Caribbean chose to reuse a name associated with a former Vision-class ship while introducing a new vessel in the Icon class.

  What changed. The company named its second Icon-class follow-on vessel Legend of the Seas.

  Aftermath. The name connected the new ship with Royal Caribbean’s earlier fleet and was presented as a fit for the high expectations associated with the Icon class.

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• Selection of LNG propulsionStrategy

  Royal Caribbean has described LNG-powered ships as part of its pathway toward a net-zero cruise ship operation by 2035.

  What changed. Legend of the Seas was designed as the fourth LNG-powered ship identified in the available reference material for Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

  Aftermath. The propulsion choice supports the ship’s environmental positioning while placing it within the broader debate over cruise-fuel emissions and LNG lifecycle impacts.

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• 2026Legend of the Seas planned for European debut

  The ship is scheduled to enter service in the Western Mediterranean during the summer 2026 season, marking the planned European debut of an Icon-class ship.

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• 2026Planned deployment shifts to the Caribbean after summer 2026

  Following its Mediterranean season, Legend of the Seas is planned to relocate to Fort Lauderdale and operate Western and Southern Caribbean cruises.

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• 2025Engine-room fire reported during construction

  A fire occurred in the ship’s engine room during construction. The available reference states that the incident was not expected to alter the construction schedule.

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• 2024Construction begins at Meyer Turku

  The first steel for Legend of the Seas was cut at Meyer Turku in Finland in January 2024.

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• Legend of the Seas announced as the third Icon-class ship

  Royal Caribbean identified Legend of the Seas as the third vessel in its Icon class and revived a name previously used by a Royal Caribbean ship.

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1. Legend of the Seas
2. Legend of the Seas official ship page