Royal Caribbean’s New Ship in 2026 Will Tour the Caribbean and Europe

Legend of the Seas, the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, will launch in July 2026 and spend its first summer time cruising the Mediterranean. It is going to then journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from the place it is going to sail year-round to the Western and Southern Caribbean, the cruise line introduced immediately.

After Icon of the Seas, which debuted in January 2024, and Star of the Seas, coming in August of this 12 months, Legend will make it a trio of Icon Class vessels to hit the water in three years.

At present in construct in ​​Turku, Finland, Legend is ready to turn out to be the primary Icon Class to sail the Mediterranean. Bookings will open on Feb. 20 (earlier for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty membership members) for 7-night round-trip cruises visiting France, Italy, and different elements of Spain.

“There’s going to be demand and pleasure to deliver a ship like Legend of the Seas to those legendary, monumental locations,” Kara Wallace, Royal Caribbean’s Chief Advertising and marketing Officer, advised Journey + Leisure.

After its inaugural summer time in Europe, Legend will then make its Caribbean debut in November 2026 with 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean spherical journeys from Fort Lauderdale. Legend will go to locations the place the Icon Class has but to sail, Wallace stated, citing Aruba, Curaçao, and the Dominican Republic as examples. “In fact, on each single Caribbean crusing, Legend will go to Excellent Day at CocoCay, our hallmark vacation spot,” she added.

Wallace doesn’t, nonetheless, rule out a return to the Mediterranean. “I feel you may absolutely anticipate that this received’t be the one time,” she stated. “I really feel there’s a giant alternative to increase on this system that we’re constructing with Legend sooner or later.”

The identify Legend was chosen to proceed the theme of the Icon Class. “Like Icon and Star, Legend is the top, the height, the final word household trip,” Wallace defined. The selection additionally pays homage to a Imaginative and prescient class ship of the identical identify that left the Royal Caribbean fleet in 2017.

Royal Caribbean has stated extra particulars on what’s in retailer on Legend will comply with however guarantees extra of the identical Icon Class experiences which have seen over 300,000 visitors sail on Icon of the Seas within the 12 months since its maiden voyage.

Anticipate Icon Class highlights similar to Class 6, the biggest waterpark at sea, Royal Bay, the biggest pool at sea, the adults-only Hideaway, and over 40 eating and consuming venues.

With the expansion of the Icon Class, in addition to the growth of its non-public vacation spot portfolio with Royal Seaside Membership Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, opening in December 2025 and Excellent Day Mexico in Costa Maya in 2027, Wallace stated that there’s by no means been a extra thrilling time for Royal Caribbean. “We’re all the time dreaming about what’s past. We actually are envisioning and creating the following degree of holidays throughout your entire expertise, each ship and shore.”