Royal Caribbean International has taken delivery of its new LNG-powered cruise ship Legend of the Seas, built by Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku, marking the third unit in the operator’s Icon-class series. The handover took place on June 10 in Turku, Finland, where the vessel was officially transferred following final construction and outfitting works.
The ship measures approximately 365 metres in length with a gross tonnage of about 250,800 and is designed to carry around 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, supported by a crew of roughly 2,350 personnel.
The vessel is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and features a dual-fuel propulsion setup. The machinery package includes six dual-fuel main engines, five bow thrusters, and three 20 MW diesel-electric azimuthing thrusters, supported by onboard fuel cell systems used for auxiliary power generation and freshwater production.
The ship’s design incorporates a parabolic bow form intended to improve hydrodynamic efficiency and reduce motion in seaway conditions, contributing to greater operational stability during open-ocean voyages.
Operationally, the vessel functions as a large floating city with extensive hotel and service infrastructure, including 28 dining venues, multiple swimming pools, leisure zones, and entertainment spaces distributed across 20 decks. The ship also features large-scale public areas such as an enclosed AquaDome entertainment complex, a multi-deck theatre system, and the Icon-class “neighbourhood” layout combining accommodation, recreation and service zones. Accommodation capacity exceeds 2,800 cabins, with a significant proportion designed for multi-occupancy.
Following delivery, Legend of the Seas is scheduled to sail to Cádiz, Spain, for final outfitting and preparation before entering commercial service. The vessel will then begin Mediterranean operations on seven-night itineraries before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, later in the year for Caribbean deployment.
The ship is the third vessel in Royal Caribbean’s LNG-powered Icon-class series, following Icon of the Seas delivered in 2024 and Star of the Seas in 2025. The company has additional units under construction as part of a long-term fleet expansion programme extending into the next decade.
With its scale, dual-fuel propulsion system, and high-capacity passenger and crew complement, Legend of the Seas represents one of the largest and most technically complex cruise vessels delivered to date.
