“Legend of the Seas” in the Baltic Sea – one of the world’s largest cruise ships sets out on sea trials

A new cruise ferry of the renowned shipowner Royal Caribbean departed this week from the Finnish shipyard in Turku. Before Legend of the Seas takes its first tourists on board, it will spend 10 days sailing around the Baltic Sea as part of test voyages.

Sea trials in the Baltic waters

The crew of Legend of the Seas currently includes over 2,000 engineers and specialists who will closely monitor the vessel’s performance at sea until the end of April. The ship will cover a total of 2,400 nautical miles, testing maneuverability, engine efficiency, and safety systems, before returning to the Meyer Turku shipyard for final technical adjustments.

Royal Caribbean already operates three Icon-class cruise ships, and in August 2024 it signed an agreement with the Finnish shipyard for three more. Legend of the Seas is the first of them, and its construction progressed at an impressive pace – the structural framework was completed in October 2024, and the giant vessel was launched in September 2025. In the following months, it remained moored at the outfitting quay, where intensive finishing works were carried out, including the installation of interiors, cabins, and public spaces.

In February this year, the traditional coin ceremony took place, during which a coin was placed on the ship’s hull – according to old maritime superstitions, this is meant to bring good luck at sea. The custom is still practiced in shipyards around the world.

Legend of the seas in numbers

The new vessel will be one of the largest cruise ships in the world. Its 365-meter-long deck can accommodate approximately 5,600 guests, with a maximum capacity of up to 7,600 people. They will be attended by 2,300 crew members. The ship’s gross tonnage exceeds 250,000 tons. These parameters are comparable to its sister vessel, Icon of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, currently the largest cruise ship in the world.

Across 18 decks of this new maritime giant, not only passenger cabins have been arranged, but also an extensive entertainment zone styled in a retro theme – it will feature a club inspired by the golden age of Hollywood from the first half of the 20th century, as well as a railway-themed restaurant taking guests on a journey along the Silk Road through historic landmarks of India and China. On board, there will be 40 dining venues, and entertainment will include a theater, swimming pools, water slides, an ice rink, and a ropes course.

Heading for the Caribbean

According to the plan, Legend of the Seas will begin service on July 11 this year, spending the entire summer season cruising the Mediterranean Sea between the ports of Civitavecchia and Barcelona. During the 7-day voyages, the giant cruise ship will call at, among others, Marseille, Naples, and Palma de Mallorca.

After this unusual European adventure for a Caribbean operator, the new vessel will sail to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, where it will offer six- and eight-day cruises across the Caribbean.

It is worth noting that Legend of the Seas, like its sister ships in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). As part of efforts to minimize environmental impact, the vessel has also been equipped with waste heat recovery systems and shore power connectivity.

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main photo: Royal Caribbean International