Royal Caribbean’s Legend to Drydock in Spain Ahead of Maiden Voyage

Royal Caribbean’s Legend to Drydock in Spain Ahead of Maiden Voyage

Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Seas is scheduled to drydock in Cadiz ahead of its maiden voyage, according to reports by Spanish media.

Recently delivered by the Meyer Turku shipyard, the LNG-powered vessel is scheduled to welcome its first guests at the Italian port of Civitavecchia on July 4, 2026.

According to a report by Diario de Cadiz, the Legend is scheduled to arrive at the Navantia shipyard on June 22, 2026.

The 250,800-ton vessel will reportedly enter the facility’s Dique 4 to undergo final adjustments over the course of five days.

The local news source said that Navantia workers will prepare the gardens and green areas of Legend’s Central Park.

In late 2023, the Spanish shipyard installed over 10,000 natural plants aboard the Icon of the Seas.

The drydock will also include other technical work, Diario de Cadiz said, as well as be the location for various inspections and provisioning.

As part of its inaugural season, the Legend of the Seas is scheduled to offer a series of seven-night cruises to the Western Mediterranean.

The itineraries feature visits to destinations in Spain, France and Italy, including Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseille and La Spezia.

Following a repositioning voyage to Florida, the Icon-class ship will kick off a series of cruises from Port Everglades.

As part of its 2027-28 winter season, the Legend will operate six- to eight-night itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

After the delivery of the 5,610-passenger ship, Royal Caribbean’s orderbook now has seven vessels, including the Hero of the Seas.

Set to enter service in 2027, the fourth Icon-class ship will offer seven-night cruises to the Caribbean sailing from PortMiami.

According to data from Cruise Industry News’ global cruise ship orderbook, six other vessels are scheduled to enter service through 2031.

Legend of the Seas Delivered to Royal Caribbean Ahead of July Debut

Legend of the Seas Delivered to Royal Caribbean Ahead of July Debut

Royal Caribbean has welcomed the Legend of the Seas, its third Icon-class ship, to its fleet.

Following nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, and sea trials that started in April, the ship is ready to make its European debut in July 2026, the cruise line said in a statement.

More than 1,200 crew members and partners gathered for a ceremony led by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm.

The event marked the transfer of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku.

“Today’s delivery of Legend of the Seas marks another important milestone in our ambition to continuously redefine the vacation experience. This new ship reflects the strength of the vacation ecosystem we are building – combining industry-leading ships, innovative technology, and exceptional experiences for our guests,” noted Liberty.

“It is an achievement only possible through the extraordinary partnership and expertise of Meyer Turku and the thousands of talented people whose creativity and commitment continue to help us design the future of vacations.”

The ship is scheduled to travel from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, soon, for finishing touches by Royal Caribbean.

After that, it will operate seven-night Western Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, this summer, as part of its inaugural season.

In November, the ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to deliver six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean cruises.

The delivery is part of the company’s long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku, securing shipbuilding capacity through 2036.

Under it, the shipyard will build the Icon 5, to be delivered in 2028, as well as the sixth and seventh Icon Class ships, coming in 2029 and 2030, respectively.

“Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship built at our shipyard, and constructing the series has enabled us to develop our production processes in a systematic way. We have built on the experience gained from the previous vessels and further improved efficiency with the customer and our extensive partner network,” added Lindholm.

“The ship is an exceptional project in terms of both scale and technical complexity, requiring strong expertise and seamless collaboration across the entire maritime cluster. At the same time, Legend of the Seas moves shipbuilding towards more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions.”

The Legend will be the company’s fourth ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) as it continues on its journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

Three Royal Caribbean Ships in Drydock at Same Time

Three Royal Caribbean Ships in Drydock at Same Time

Three ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet are currently undergoing drydocks in Europe and Asia.

While two vessels are also getting significant updates as part of the company’s Royal Amplified refit program, a third is undergoing routine maintenance.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Ovation of the Seas was the first of the brand’s vessels to enter drydock recently.

The Quantum-class ship is currently in Singapore to undergo major refurbishment work that includes a series of enhancements and updates.

The project is highlighted by the expansion of the ship’s Casino Royale, as well as the introduction of new dining venues and features.

Other changes coming to the 2016-built vessel include the addition of 40 new staterooms, which will take over areas that were previously occupied by public and technical rooms.

The Ovation is scheduled to welcome guests back on April 17, 2026, kicking off a repositioning voyage to North America.

As part of the Royal Amplified program, the Harmony of the Seas is also getting updates at a shipyard in Spain.

The Oasis-class ship arrived at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz in early April for a refurbishment that will see the addition of the fleet’s largest casino.

Other changes include the addition of new specialty restaurants, as well as a refreshed solarium and pool deck.

The 227,625-ton vessel is scheduled to resume service on May 21, 2026, ahead of a spring season in the Mediterranean.

After crossing the Atlantic in March, the Odyssey of the Seas became the latest Royal Caribbean ship to enter drydock.

The 2021-built vessel is presently at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard to undergo routine maintenance.

Set to spend the summer sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, the ship welcomes guests back on April 16, 2026.

As part of the Royal Amplified program, a fourth ship, the Liberty of the Seas, is scheduled to enter drydock later this month.