ROYAL CARIBBEAN OFFICIALLY WELCOMES LEGEND OF THE SEAS TO THE REVOLUTIONARY ICON CLASS | News

Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Legend of the Seas to the family, continuing the evolution of the Icon Class series, designed to deliver the best family vacation experiences. After almost two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the third Icon Class ship is now ready to make its European debut in July 2026.

To celebrate the milestone, more than 1,200 crew members and partners gathered for a legendary ceremony led by Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku. During the celebration, the team recognized the hard work of thousands of engineers, designers, architects and crew members who brought Legend to life and marked the transition of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku.

“Today’s delivery of Legend of the Seas marks another important milestone in our ambition to continually redefine the vacation experience,” said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “This new ship reflects the power of the vacation ecosystem we are building – a combination of leading ships, innovative technology and exceptional experiences for our guests. It is an achievement only possible through the extraordinary collaboration 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 delivery is part of the company’s long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, which secures the Group’s access to shipbuilding capacity through 2036, including the order for the Icon 5 to be delivered in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon Class ships in 2029 and 2030 respectively.

Soon, Legend will travel from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean will put the finishing touches before vacationers depart this summer on seven-day adventures in the Western Mediterranean from Barcelona, ​​Spain and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. In November, the ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean vacation, with each adventure visiting Royal Caribbean’s top-rated Perfect Day CocoCay.

“We are incredibly proud to introduce Legend of the Seas to vacationers and continue the legacy of the revolutionary Icon Class,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean. “This wouldn’t be possible without the many talented individuals who came together to deliver what is truly the ultimate family vacation, and we look forward to making Legend’s debut this summer.”

Vacationers of all ages can enjoy a comprehensive offering of fine dining, immersive entertainment, adrenaline-filled activities and accommodations in eight neighborhoods at Legend.

Legend introduces the most dinners at sea with 28 options for every occasion. New experiences include the Hollywoodland Supper Club, a multi-course dinner inspired by old Hollywood; Royal Railway – Legend Station, an immersive five-course dinner journey through the Silk Roads; and AquaDome Market, an all-inclusive food hall with five concepts, along with a new juice and smoothie bar for wellness-minded guests.
Entertainment includes stage, air, water and ice, with productions designed for families, couples and multi-generational groups. Vacationers can experience Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas, in addition to deck-defying performances during the AquaTheater’s “Shockwave” and ice skating extravaganzas during Absolute Zero’s “Fusion” show.
Families can enjoy seven pools and special water experiences for all ages, including Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea; Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay in the Surfside family neighborhood; and adults-only spots at The Hideaway and Swim & Tonic swim-up bar.
Adventure seekers looking for thrills can venture onto Crown’s Edge – a part skywalk, part zipline experience 50 meters above the ocean. More adrenaline-pumping activities include mini golf at a new Lost Dunes, rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak, a Category 6 water park, the FlowRider surf simulator and more.
Signature Icon Class favorites on Legend include the floor-to-ceiling ocean views of the Royal Promenade and the Pearl – the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture – and the open-air Central Park, lined with more than 30,500 real plants, restaurants, live music and convenient take-out windows for sushi, champagne, sparkling wine and more.
For families of all ages, there are plenty of ways to stay in style, from the exclusive Suite Neighborhood to a redesigned three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, with a water slide, dedicated entertainment areas and rooms for the whole family.
Legend will be the holiday company’s fourth vessel powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and features a proven range of industry-leading environmental programs, including applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connections. As Legend continues Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035, the vacation brand will also deliver their fifth LNG-powered ship with Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class vacation debuting in 2027.

“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 in a systematic way. We have built on the experience gained from the previous ships and further improved efficiency with the customer and our extensive partner network,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku. “The ship is an exceptional project in terms of both scale and technical complexity, requiring strong expertise and seamless collaboration across the maritime cluster. At the same time, Legend of the Seas is moving shipbuilding towards more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions.”

Royal Caribbean’s suite of vacation experiences combines groundbreaking ships with unique destinations, including the groundbreaking Perfect Day CocoCay, the all-inclusive beach day experience at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas and the ultimate Santorini day at Royal Beach Club Santorini. The vacation brand continues to expand its portfolio of signature destinations in Mexico and Australia.

Holidays on Legend can be booked on the Royal Caribbean website.