MIAMI, Florida – 10 June 2026 — Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Legend of the Seas to its fleet, marking the delivery of the third Icon Class ship after nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, according to the official press release.
The handover took place ahead of the ship’s planned European debut in July 2026. Legend of the Seas is the latest vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class series and follows the introduction of earlier ships in the class, which the company has positioned around family-focused cruise holidays.
The delivery ceremony in Turku brought together more than 1,200 crew members and partners. The event was led by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm. Royal Caribbean said the ceremony recognised the work of engineers, designers, architects and crew involved in the ship’s construction and marked the transfer of ownership from Meyer Turku to Royal Caribbean.
Delivery marks Icon Class milestone
Legend of the Seas will now travel from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean will complete final work on the vessel before its first passenger sailings.
The ship is scheduled to begin 7-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, in summer 2026. In November 2026, Legend of the Seas is due to reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will operate 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises. Royal Caribbean said every Caribbean sailing will include a visit to Perfect Day CocoCay.
“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 CEO, 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.
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.”
Royal Caribbean said the delivery forms part of its long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku. The agreement secures Royal Caribbean Group access to shipbuilding capacity through 2036 and includes Icon 5, scheduled for delivery in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon Class ships, due in 2029 and 2030 respectively.
Onboard features span dining, entertainment and family facilities
Legend of the Seas will feature eight neighbourhoods and a range of dining, entertainment, activity and accommodation options. It will introduce 28 dining options, including Hollywoodland Supper Club, Royal Railway – Legend Station and AquaDome Market. The AquaDome Market will feature five concepts, alongside a new juice and smoothie bar.
Entertainment venues and productions will include Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas, AquaTheater performances in “Shockwave” and the Absolute Zero ice show “Fusion”.
The ship will also feature seven pools, including Royal Bay, described by Royal Caribbean as the largest pool at sea. Additional water and family areas will include Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay in the Surfside neighbourhood, as well as adults-only spaces at The Hideaway and the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar.
Activity spaces will include Crown’s Edge, which combines a skywalk and zip line-style experience 154 feet above the ocean. Other onboard features include Lost Dunes mini golf, Adrenaline Peak rock climbing, the Category 6 waterpark and the FlowRider surf simulator.
Icon Class features will include the Royal Promenade with floor-to-ceiling ocean views, the Pearl kinetic art sculpture and the open-air Central Park area, which Royal Caribbean said will include more than 30,500 real plants, restaurants, live music and pick-up windows for sushi, champagne and sparkling wine.
Accommodation options will include the Suite Neighborhood and a redesigned three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse with a slide, entertainment areas and family rooms.
Meyer Turku highlights shipbuilding collaboration
“We’re 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, Royal Caribbean. “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.”
Legend of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean’s fourth ship powered by liquefied natural gas. The company said the vessel will include environmental programmes such as waste heat recovery systems and shore power connection.
Royal Caribbean also said the ship supports Royal Caribbean Group’s journey towards introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035. Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class ship, is set to debut in 2027 and will be the company’s fifth LNG-powered ship.
“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. We have built on the experience gained from the previous vessels 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 entire maritime cluster. At the same time, Legend of the Seas moves shipbuilding towards more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions.”
Source: Official Press Releases from Royal Caribbean Press Centre, 10 June 2026, Miami.
