Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas ready for European debut
After nearly two years of construction, Royal Caribbean's third Icon-class cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, has officially joined the cruise line's fleet ahead of its inaugural season in Europe.
On June 10, Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku handed the ship over to Royal Caribbean with a special ceremony to mark the milestone and recognize the thousands of engineers, designers, architects, and crew members involved in bringing the ship to life.
"We're incredibly proud to introduce Legend of the Seas to vacationers and continue the legacy of the revolutionary Icon Class," Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley said during the ceremony. "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."
Now that Royal Caribbean has the keys, Legend of the Seas will head from the Turku, Finland shipyard to Cadiz, Spain, where the cruise line will add finishing touches before the ship's inaugural cruise in early July.
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Legend of the Seas' inaugural season includes Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises
From July through October, Legend of the Seas will sail seven-night Western Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. In November, the ship will cross the Atlantic for the first time to begin its Caribbean season from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which features six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
On board the 5,600-passenger Legend of the Seas, vacationers can enjoy a wide range of dining options, immersive entertainment, thrilling activities, and spaces to relax across eight neighborhoods.
Related: Royal Caribbean launches ‘Quack Quest' for cruise discounts
Legend of the Seas highlights include:
- The most dining at sea with 28 options, including the new Hollywoodland Supper Club, the Royal Railway – Legend Station immersive train dining journey, and the AquaDome Market food hall
- Entertainment that spans stage, air, water, and ice, including Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and America's Got Talent LIVE
- Seven pools and dedicated water experiences for all ages, from kids' splash zones and family pools to adults-only pools and swim-up bars
- Adrenaline-charged activities like Crown's Edge – a part skywalk, part zip line experience 154 feet above the ocean; Category 6 waterpark; and the FlowRider surf simulator
- Popular Icon-class features like the Royal Promenade's floor-to-ceiling ocean views and the open-air Central Park, featuring more than 30,500 real plants, restaurants, live music, and pick-up windows for sushi, champagne, and sparkling wine
- Luxurious family accommodations like a three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, featuring a slide, dedicated entertainment spaces, and rooms for the whole family
Fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, will launch in 2027
Although Legend of the Seas is leaving the shipyard, Meyer Turku's work on the Icon Class is far from complete - and building momentum. Construction is underway on the fourth and fifth Icon-class ships, which are set for delivery in 2027 and 2028, with the sixth and seventh to follow in 2029 and 2030.
"Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship built at our shipyard, and constructing the series has enabled us to develop our production processes in a systematic way," said Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm. "We have built on the experience gained from the previous vessels and further improved efficiency with the customer and our extensive partner network."
Related: Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas review
The fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, will launch from Miami in August 2027, featuring an even bigger focus on pools and water attractions than its sister ships. It will take over the original Icon's space at PortMiami as Icon of the Seas moves west to bring Icon-class cruises to Texas for the first time.
Alongside new Icon-class ships, Royal Caribbean will add a seventh Oasis-class ship in 2028 and introduce the first two ships from its brand-new Discovery Class in 2029 and 2032.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:53 PM.