ROYAL CARIBBEAN SELECTS COHORT OF LEGENDARY ARTISTS FOR LEGEND OF THE SEAS | News
Today, Royal Caribbean unveiled the next chapter of its Artist Discovery Program with its newest crop of emerging artists on Legend of the Seas, the ultimate family vacation debuting in Europe in July 2026. This summer, six artists from the Caribbean and Central America will debut original, destination-inspired artwork throughout the ship, bringing the spirit, color and culture of the region in bold new ways.
The Artist Discovery Program connects emerging local talent and their artwork with audiences around the world experiencing Royal Caribbean ships and destinations. The latest cohort for Legend marks the continued expansion of the program, which now extends beyond the Caribbean to include artists from Mexico and Central America. The initiative also extends beyond the ship to showcase local talent at Royal Caribbean destinations, including Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas, with 11 local Bahamian artists across 25 locations in the all-inclusive beach club.
“Since its introduction on Icon of the Seas, the Artist Discovery Program has continued to evolve in the way we connect guests to the places we visit by supporting emerging artists and giving them a global stage to showcase their work,” said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean. “With Legend of the Seas, we have expanded our call for talent beyond the Caribbean to Mexico and Central America, bringing together an even broader range of voices and perspectives. Welcoming artists aboard our ships and to our destinations like Royal Beach Club Paradise Island creates a seamless ship-to-shore experience, where the art brings each destination to life.”
For Legend, Royal Caribbean received 250 artist applications consisting of a personal statement, resume and unpublished conceptual artwork from the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. Six artists were chosen and received grants to create works of art, each inspired by the artist’s home country. The artwork will be displayed in six highly visible locations around the ship, including the embarkation and welcome area when guests first arrive; the Royal Promenade area; the exclusive Suite Sundeck and Suite Sundeck Lobby; and two new locations at the entrance to the Royal Promenade on deck six and the guesthouse on deck two. In addition to large-scale murals, the artworks on Legend will take shape in various art forms, such as a ceramic mosaic artwork and a stainless steel structure.
The featured artists include:
Giovanni Abath from Curaçao: As vacationers enter the Royal Promenade on deck six, they will encounter a large-scale mural and stainless steel sculpture created by Abath, which sets the tone for the vibrant area filled with restaurants, bars and entertainment. A multidisciplinary artist, Abath uses diverse materials and techniques, such as metal and Styrofoam, to create sculptures and installations that bridge industrial materiality with cultural symbolism and personal stories. His work focuses on bringing to life the landscapes, community and cultural traditions of the Caribbean.
Vanessa Dalla Costa from Trinidad and Tobago: Costa is a ceramicist who will create a mosaic sculpture for the Suite Sundeck, an elevated outdoor space for suite guests. Her artistic style explores the intersection of light, texture and the transformation of raw earth, such as clay, to create stained glass-like art. Each piece of clay is hand-carved and painted and embodies the atmosphere of the space in which it is located.
Porschia Denning from the US Virgin Islands: Denning is a multidisciplinary artist who creates vibrant paintings and sculptures using acrylic oil, stone, copper and more. Her art is inspired by the energy of nature and the rhythm of island life. She aims to invite audience members to slow down, unplug and reconnect, evoking the atmosphere guests will experience when they see her custom mural in the luxurious Suite Sundeck Lobby.
Rafeal Vega Feliciano from Puerto Rico: Feliciano is a contemporary visual artist who will draw on his experience in expressionist portraiture and ancestral symbolism to create an expressive, thought-provoking mural in the boarding area on deck two, where guests disembark and return to the ship for port visits and excursions. His artwork reflects the often overlooked history of pre-colonial Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, bringing on board the vibrancy of the communities Legende visits.
Rodrigo Macias Maldonado from Mexico: Maldonado is a visual artist who will design a large-scale mural in the heart of Legend, the Royal Promenade. His artwork explores the relationship between geometry, human resilience and the built environment, inspiring him to curate an immersive experience as guests explore the space.
Alexander Lopez Ryliouk from Costa Rica: Ryliouk’s large-scale mural will illuminate Legend’s embarkation point for a breathtaking first impression at the start of their vacation. Using vibrant paint, the art will set the tone for what vacationers will experience during their time on board.
Legend will offer an all-encompassing array of fine dining, excitement, entertainment and ways for families and vacationers of all ages to make memories in eight neighborhoods. From July 2026, holidaymakers can experience 7-day getaways in the Western Mediterranean from Barcelona, Spain and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. In November 2026, the adventures continue with six-night getaways in the Western Caribbean and eight-night vacations in the Southern Caribbean, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the sun-drenched shores of Roatan, Honduras; Willemstad, Curacao and more, along with visits to the vacation brand’s top-rated destination, Perfect Day CocoCay in the Bahamas.
