A milestone in the construction of Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class cruise ship has officially begun.
(Credit: Meyer Turku / Facebook)
According to Royal Caribbean's social media accounts, Legend of the Seas has started her sea trials, which allow certain navigation and technical systems to be tested that cannot be completed while the ship is docked.
It marks the final stage of a ship's construction before being delivered to the cruise line and ensures that everything is in working condition before joining the fleet.
(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / X)
"During sea trials, all critical systems and the vessel’s overall performance are evaluated under real operating conditions, including machinery, navigation, and hotel operations, to ensure everything functions as intended," the Meyer Turku shipyard wrote on Facebook.
Legend's sea trials will take place over ten days, giving over 2,000 engineers and specialists plenty of opportunities to push her engines to the limit across 2,400 nautical miles.
(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / X)
Icon of the Seas had two separate sets of sea trials since she was the first vessel in the brand-new class. Typically, subsequent ships in the same class have just one sea trial. However, the scope and number of sea trials are subject to change based on technical refinements and final performance evaluations.
Legend of the Seas will set sail in July 2026
(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / X)
Legend of the Seas will embark on her first cruise with paying passengers in July. Her first cruise has been moved up a few times because of the timely construction, which means the vessel will be ready ahead of schedule.
Her first voyage is now scheduled for July 4, 2026, from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise will visit iconic destinations like Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Florence / Pisa (La Spezia), Italy.
(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / X)
Legend's inaugural season marks the first time that an Icon Class ship will offer European sailings. Both Icon and Star of the Seas begin their careers in Florida, sailing to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Legend of the Seas will eventually move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, her time in the Caribbean will be short-lived, as she's scheduled to return to Europe in 2027.
(Credit: Meyer Turku / Facebook)
She will measure 248,663 gross tons, 1,196 feet long, be able to accommodate over 5,600 guests at double occupancy, and host 2,500 international crew members, according to the cruise line.
The fourth Icon Class ship is also under construction
At the same time, construction on the next-gen Icon Class ship is already well underway. Hero of the Seas is expected to launch in 2027, offering sailings from Miami, Florida.
Although much of the ship will be similar to other Icon Class vessels, Royal Caribbean plans on refining and evolving the design to enhance the overall guest experience.
For example, Hero of the Seas will feature new pools, a brand-new funnel raft slide, redesigned supper club, immersive train car specialty dining restaurant, three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse suite, and more.
"With more water, more thrills, and more choices for all ages, we're continuing to build on what our guests love about Royal Caribbean and delivering the experiences families are looking for when vacationing together," said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO.
