Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas—built in Finland and designed for families—sets off from Civitavecchia, Italy, on Saturday for a Mediterranean maiden voyage. The ship will call at Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and La Spezia before repositioning
A record-size Royal Caribbean ship is about to enter Europe’s ports, and this time it’s not just another addition to the fleet—it’s Legend of the Seas, a new Icon Class giant scheduled to sail from Civitavecchia, Italy, on Saturday.
Standing 20 decks high, Legend of the Seas begins its maiden voyage in Italy before heading to Marseille, France, then to Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The itinerary continues with a stop in La Spezia, Italy, before the ship turns back toward Civitavecchia.
Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku. Finland. Legend of the Seas is the latest vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class series. a lineup already known for breaking size expectations. Two earlier ships in the category—Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas—arrived as about 6% larger than the previous size leader among cruise ships. Royal Caribbean’s four-year-old Wonder of the Seas.
Legend of the Seas also measures about 248,660 gross tons, like its Icon Class sisters. The difference is its length: Legend of the Seas is a foot longer than those earlier vessels, making it the new world’s largest cruise ship—by a small margin.
For travelers, the scale is more than a flex. Legend of the Seas can hold up to 7. 600 passengers when every berth is full. a record number that tops any other vessels afloat by a significant amount. Add 2,350 crew members, and it can sail with nearly 10,000 people aboard, also described as a record for a cruise vessel.
After its Mediterranean run—mostly seven nights in length—Legend of the Seas will reposition across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. From there. it will operate alternating six- and eight-night sailings to the Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean. with calls at ports including Falmouth. Jamaica and Willemstad. Curacao. destinations said not to have traditionally seen Icon Class ships.
Throughout all itineraries, every Legend of the Seas voyage will include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
The ship’s design leans hard into family-friendly cruising. Like the other Icon Class ships. Legend of the Seas includes more cabins offering extra bunks to accommodate families with children than earlier Royal Caribbean vessels. It also features new-for-the-line outdoor “neighborhoods” called Surfside, built specifically for families with young children.
Surfside includes splash areas for babies and kids, pools and lounge spaces for parents, family-friendly eateries, and shops. The area also features splash zones for the youngest travelers, with pools and seating aimed at giving adults a place to regroup between play sessions.
Water attractions are a centerpiece. Legend of the Seas features seven pools and the largest water parks ever built on a cruise ship, with a record six waterslides each. The ship is also listed with a Hollywood-themed Supper Club and new food venues at the top-of-the-ship AquaDome Market.
Entertainment offerings expand beyond the onboard basics, including a version of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which played on Broadway and London’s West End.
Prices for the opening Mediterranean sailings are anchored at $1,480 per person for seven-night voyages, based on double occupancy. After the repositioning to Florida, fares for seven-night itineraries start at $1,582 per person for double occupancy.
With a Mediterranean debut from Civitavecchia and a jump to Port Everglades later in the season, Legend of the Seas is set to bring its record scale—and its family-heavy onboard lineup—into two of cruising’s busiest regions.
Legend of the Seas Royal Caribbean Icon Class cruise ship debut Europe Civitavecchia Marseille Barcelona Palma de Mallorca La Spezia Port Everglades Fort Lauderdale Perfect Day at CocoCay Surfside family cruise
So it’s the biggest cruise ship now? Cool I guess, until it hits bad weather.
Why would you put like 7,600 people on one ship lol. That seems like a floating city that’ll never get anything done. Also “Icon Class” sounds like a video game.
Wait it’s from Finland but starting in Italy… so does that mean they built it in Europe and shipped it across the ocean already? I thought all cruise ships are just assembled in Florida. Anyway Marseille and Barcelona are gonna be packed.
“Seven nights” in the Mediterranean and 10,000 people aboard… that’s literally like going to a theme park but with seasickness. Also they say it’s the largest “by a small margin” which feels like clickbait. I’m surprised they didn’t call it the biggest since the last biggest ship, because that’s what it always is. Who even needs 20 decks?