Royal Caribbean’s Next Giant: Legend of the Seas Debuts in 2026

Today, Royal Caribbean announced details about their third Icon Class ship, which will debut in July 2026. The ship will be tied for the largest cruise ship in the world and will be very similar to its siblings. The big difference will be where this ship is going.

Third Icon Class Ship Is Legend of the Seas

In one of the worst-kept cruise secrets in a long time, it’s finally been confirmed that the third Icon Class ship will be Legend of the Seas. The name had previously leaked when Royal Caribbean’s IT systems showed sailings and the name in various online listings.

Legend of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean’s second ship with that name. The original Legend of the Seas debuted in 1995 and sailed until 2017 before being sold to Marella Cruises, where it now sails as Marella Discovery.

Not Many Differences for Legend of the Seas

Like Star of the Seas, the second Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, will be very similar to its sister ships. It’ll be just as large, making it a three-way tie for the largest cruise ship in the world.

It will feature all of the elements that made Icon of the Seas so popular, such as the Category 6 Waterpark, the AquaDome, the dedicated family neighborhood Surfside, and the extra-large Royal Promenade with The Pearl in the center. That also means some of the shortcomings will likely not be fixed, like the poor entrance to the Absolute Zero ice rink, where guests have to walk directly through Playmakers Sports Bar, or the open design of the Royal Promenade bars, which causes music to spill into other venues.

Of course, the ship will have some customizations that will make it unique. Artwork and theming will vary, and they may swap out a few venues with new options. For example, on the already released deck plans, Pier 7, the extra-fee specialty restaurant in the Surfside Neighborhood, is still blank.

Legend of the Seas Will Sail 7-Day Western Mediterranean Cruises

Beginning in July 2026, the ship will offer 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain. It will be the first time an Icon Class ship has sailed the Mediterranean, allowing a whole new market to experience the world’s largest class of cruise ship.

Legend of the Seas will visit picturesque ports of call in France, Italy, and Spain.

In the Fall, The Ship Will Sail 6- and 8-Day Cruises

Starting in November 2026, Legend of the Seas will leave the Mediterranean and head for Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From there, the ship will offer 6-night Western Caribbean sailings and 8-night Southern Caribbean sailings.

Up until this point, Icon Class ships have only sailed 7-day itineraries, so this new ship will give travelers the option for slightly shorter or longer sailings.

Legend of the Seas will also visit some new ports that an Icon Class ship has yet to visit, including Oranjestad, Aruba, Falmouth, Jamaica, and Willemstad, Curaçao. Of course, all Caribbean sailings will include a visit to Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Bookings Open February 19

Members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, the cruise line’s loyalty program, can begin booking a cruise on Legend of the Seas starting Wednesday, February 19. Bookings will open to the general public on February 20.

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