Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas takes step toward 2026 debut

Royal Caribbean has announced that its latest Icon class cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, has officially "floated for the first time".

The brand new ship, which is scheduled to debut in Summer 2026, saw the construction milestone at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

It will now continue to undergo outfitting to be ready for next year's big launch.

Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class ship, promises its future guests "the family time of a lifetime"

The brand new cruise ship will feature eight neighborhoods, including the 'adrenaline-pumping' Category 6 waterpark and Crown’s Edge - described as “part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride” - along with top-class entertainment venues as well as expanded dining and bar choices that have still to be revealed.

It will debut in Europe, with 7-night Western Mediterranean itineraries in summer 2026 before voyaging to the Caribbean season from November, when it will run 6-night and 8-night sailings including calls at Royal Caribbean's private island destination 'Perfect Day at CocoCay'.

The float out

In Finland, the float-out saw the dry dock filled over nearly 12 hours before the Legend of the Seas moved to an outfitting berth.

Described as an engineering feat, Royal Caribbean said it brings the ship “one step closer to welcoming its first vacationers.”

Sustainability

Royal Caribbean also highlighted on Tuesday that Legend of the Seas will be cruise operator's fourth LNG-powered ship, and it's part of the group’s push toward a net-zero cruise operations by 2035.

The new ship's sustainability-focused tech also includes waste heat recovery and shore-power connectivity.

For conscious guests, that means it will be a big-ship of thrills, with a lighter environmental footprint.