Royal Caribbean takes delivery of new Icon-class cruise ship Legend of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has taken delivery of Legend of the Seas ahead of its Mediterranean debut next month.

The cruise line accepted delivery of the third ship in its Icon Class series, during a ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

The handover marks the completion of nearly two years of construction and sees the vessel join the cruise line’s fleet ahead of its maiden voyage on July 4th, 2026.

More than 1,200 crew members, shipyard workers, and partners attended the ceremony in Turku, where ownership of the vessel formally transferred from Meyer Turku to Royal Caribbean.

The ship will now sail to Cadiz, Spain, where final preparations will take place before it enters service in the Western Mediterranean. During its inaugural European season, Legend of the Seas will offer seven-night cruises from Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia).

In November, the vessel is scheduled to reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will begin operating six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean itineraries. All of the Caribbean cruises will include visits to Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

“Today’s delivery of Legend of the Seas marks another important milestone in our ambition to continuously redefine the vacation experience,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean Group.

“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.
 he added. “It is an achievement only possible through the extraordinary partnership and expertise of Meyer Turku and the thousands of talented people whose creativity and commitment continue to help us design the future of vacations.”

The delivery forms part of Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, which secures shipbuilding capacity for the company through 2036. The agreement includes the construction of Icon 5, scheduled for delivery in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels in 2029 and 2030 respectively.

Legend of the Seas is the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The vessel also incorporates a range of environmental technologies, including waste heat recovery systems and shore power connectivity.

The vessel’s delivery continues the expansion of the Icon Class, which has become central to Royal Caribbean’s newbuild programme as the company increases capacity while also introducing ships designed to improve energy efficiency and support its longer-term environmental targets, including its aim of introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

Legend of the Seas key features

28 dining venues

7 pools

8 neighbourhoods

AquaDome Market food hall

Hollywoodland Supper Club

Royal Railway – Legend Station dining experience

Category 6 waterpark

Crown’s Edge skywalk and zip line attraction

Open-air Central Park with 30,500+ plants

3-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse accommodation

Shore power connection and waste heat recovery systems