Royal Caribbean has officially expanded its fleet of the world’s largest cruise ships after taking delivery of Legend of the Seas at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland this week.
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After two years of construction, the third Icon-class ship is officially a part of Royal Caribbean’s lineup. Legend will sail its maiden voyage on July 4 with a 7-night Mediterranean cruise departing from Rome, Italy. After a summer in Europe, the vessel is headed for Fort Lauderdale this fall.
The 248,663-gross-ton megaship is tied for the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with Miami-based Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, which sails out of Port Canaveral. The vessel has capacity for 5,610 guests at double occupancy and 2,350 crew with 28 dining options, the most of any Royal ship.
To mark the handover from Meyer Turku to Royal Caribbean, more than 1,200 crew members and partners came together for a ceremony led by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley and Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm.
“Today’s delivery of Legend of the Seas marks another important milestone in our ambition to continuously redefine the vacation experience,” Liberty said in a news release. “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.”
Highlights of the new ship include the Hollywoodland Supper Club and an immersive railroad-themed dining experience called Royal Railway – Legend Station. Guests can also enjoy the Broadway hit Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and an “America’s Got Talent” stage show while sailing on the floating behemoth.
Cruise passengers familiar with Royal’s other Icon-class ships can find recognizable repeats in the dining lineup, including the AquaDome Market, Surfside Eatery, Basecamp, Chops Grille, Izumi and Hooked Seafood. Fan-favorite bars making an appearance on Legend of the Seas include jazz club Lou’s, the popular dueling piano bar and the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar.
In the entertainment lineup, guests can see ice skating shows in Absolute Zero or catch high divers, aerialists and dancers putting on a show in the AquaTheater.
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Around the ship, other Icon-class staples will feature prominently on Legend, including the Category 6 waterpark, the Crown’s Edge skywalk and zipline, mini golf, the FlowRider surf simulator and the Adrenaline Peak rock-climbing wall. The array of pools will also be similar to the other two Icon-class ships, with the adults-only Hideaway infinity pool, the kid-friendly Splashaway Bay and the large Royal Bay pool.
“We’re incredibly proud to introduce Legend of the Seas to vacationers and continue the legacy of the revolutionary Icon Class,” Bayley said in a news release. “This wouldn’t be possible without the many talented individuals that came together to deliver what is truly the ultimate family vacation, and we look forward to making Legend’s debut this summer a legendary one.”
After its Mediterranean debut this summer, Legend arrives in Fort Lauderdale in November to sail six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean itineraries. Many sailings include a visit to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Details about Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, were unveiled earlier this year ahead of its summer 2027 debut. A fifth Icon-class ship is slated for delivery in 2028, while two more are on the way to be completed in 2029 and 2030, respectively.
Legend of the Seas itineraries sailing out of Florida start at $783 per person for a three-night naming cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay. Six-night itineraries start at $1,149 per person. See details at royalcaribbean.com.
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