Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas set sail for the first time Sunday evening for sea trials ahead of her Mediterranean debut in July and arrival in Florida in November.
The 248,663 gross tonnage mega-ship, the third addition to the cruise line’s Icon class, departed from the Mayer Turku shipyard in Finland and sailed 2,400 nautical miles, testing the ship’s navigation systems, propulsion, speed and safety features.
Over 10 days, 2,000 engineers, experts and crew members will carry out a series of technical tests, from testing the ship’s movement in the open ocean to pushing the limits of engine performance. This important milestone comes after a year and a half of construction of the two-person ship, which can accommodate 5,602 guests and 2,500 crew members.
Once the ship returns to the shipyard, it will be handed over to Royal Caribbean for final touches before spending the summer in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is expected to arrive at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale this fall.
For passengers aboard Legend of the Seas, the ship has 28 restaurants, which is more than Legend’s sister ships Icon and Star. Highlights include Hollywoodland Supper Club and an immersive railway-themed dining experience called Royal Railway – Legend Station.
Guests can also enjoy stage shows from Broadway hits such as Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “America’s Got Talent” while sailing on a floating giant ship.
Cruisers familiar with Royal’s other Icon-class ships will find repeats in the restaurant lineup, including Aquadome Market, Surfside Italy, Basecamp, Chops Grill, Izumi, and Hooked Seafood. Fan-favorite bars featured in Legend of the Seas include the jazz club Lou’s, the popular dueling piano bar, and the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar.
In the entertainment lineup, guests can watch an ice skating show at absolute zero or watch high divers, aerialists and dancers put on a show in the aquatheater.
Around the ship, other Icon Class staples will feature prominently on the Legend, including a Category 6 waterpark, Crown’s Edge skywalk and zipline, mini golf, Flowrider surf simulator, and Adrenaline Peak rock climbing wall. The array of pools is also similar to the other two Icon ships, including an adults-only Hideaway infinity pool, a splashaway bay for children, and a large Royal Bay pool.
After her Mediterranean debut this summer, Legend will arrive in Fort Lauderdale in November, sailing six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean itineraries. Many sailings include a visit to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day on CocoCay.
Details of Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, were announced earlier this year ahead of its debut in summer 2027. She is the fifth ship in the Icon class and is scheduled for delivery in 2028.
Meyer Turk has built 25 ships for Royal Caribbean since the 1990s, according to cruise reviewers. In addition to the three confirmed Icon-class ships, Royal Caribbean has the option to build a sixth and seventh ship in the class if desired. Meanwhile, the company is developing the seventh confirmed Oasis-class ship.
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