Royal Caribbean Just Announced ‘Legend of the Seas’ – Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Royal Caribbean has officially unveiled its next Icon Class cruise ship, and it’s bringing back a name that longtime fans will recognise—Legend of the Seas. This marks the first time Royal Caribbean has ever reused a ship name, and this new version is set to be a game-changer.

So, what’s the deal with Legend of the Seas? Where will it sail? What’s new on board? And, most importantly—how much is this thing going to cost you? Let’s break it all down.

A Legendary Name Returns – But This Ship Is on a Whole New Level

If you’ve been cruising for a while, you might remember the original Legend of the Seas—a 70,000-ton Vision Class ship that launched back in 1995. That ship was sold in 2017 and now sails as the Marella Discovery.

Fast forward to 2026, and the new Legend of the Seas is coming in at a staggering 250,000 gross tons—more than three times the size of the original. It will hold around 7,000 passengers, making it one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

This is the third Icon Class ship, following Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. But unlike its predecessors, Legend of the Seas is taking a different approach with its itineraries.

Where Will Legend of the Seas Sail?

1. Summer 2026: Western Mediterranean from Barcelona

In a surprising move, Legend of the Seas will debut in Europe—something Royal Caribbean hasn’t done with a brand-new ship in years. From July to November 2026, it will offer 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, hitting ports like:

• Rome (Civitavecchia)
• Naples
• Marseille
• Palma de Mallorca

This is huge news for European cruisers who usually have to wait months (or years) for Royal Caribbean’s newest ships to make their way across the Atlantic.

2. Winter 2026: Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale

Once the European season wraps up, Legend of the Seas will reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From November 2026 onward, it will offer:

• 6-night Western Caribbean cruises
• 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises (including Aruba and Curaçao)

Unlike Icon of the Seas (Miami) and Star of the Seas (Port Canaveral), this ship will be based at Port Everglades, giving South Florida cruisers another homeport option.

What’s New on Board?

While Royal Caribbean hasn’t released full details yet, there are a few things we can expect:

1. Unique Entertainment

Every Icon Class ship has a signature Broadway-style show, and they’ve been stepping things up lately:

• Icon of the Seas has The Wizard of Oz
• Star of the Seas will have Back to the Future: The Musical
• Legend of the Seas? Still a mystery, but it’s expected to be just as big, if not bigger

2. A New Hollywood-Themed Supper Club

Royal Caribbean is known for tweaking its dining experiences on every new ship. This time, they’re introducing a California/Hollywood-themed Supper Club—a high-end dining and entertainment venue.

This follows:

• Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas
• Lincoln Park Supper Club (Chicago-themed) on Star of the Seas

Expect live music, themed cocktails, and a price tag to match.

3. More Restaurant Shake-Ups

• The Pier 7 Surfside restaurant on Star of the Seas is already being replaced before launch, hinting at more tweaks to come.
• Royal Caribbean is expected to introduce new specialty dining on Legend of the Seas.

4. Not the Biggest Ship in the World

Unlike the Oasis Class, where each ship was slightly bigger than the last, Royal Caribbean has confirmed they won’t keep increasing the size of the Icon Class.

That means Legend of the Seas will be around the same size as Icon and Star—still massive, but not setting any new records.

When Can You Book & How Much Will It Cost?

Bookings for Legend of the Seas open February 20th, with Crown & Anchor members getting a 24-hour early access window (which, let’s be real, doesn’t actually mean much—anyone can book early if they know where to look).

But here’s the thing… it won’t be cheap.

If you’ve seen the prices for Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas, you already know that Legend of the Seas won’t be a budget-friendly option. Expect fares well into the thousands per person, especially for early sailings. Like all new Royal Caribbean ships, demand will drive premium pricing—so if you’re hoping to grab a deal, booking early is your best bet.

Money-Saving Tips:

• Book as early as possible to lock in the lowest fares.
• Pay in instalments to spread out the cost.
• Use a travel agent—they often have exclusive group rates that can save you money.
• If you’re in the US, Canada, or Australia, keep an eye on price drops.

If you’re planning to sail on Legend of the Seas, be prepared—this ship is going to be in high demand, and prices will reflect that.

Final Thoughts – Is It Worth Booking?

There’s no doubt that Legend of the Seas will be one of the most exciting cruise launches of 2026. It’s bringing back an iconic name, sailing in Europe from day one, and introducing new entertainment and dining experiences.

But with high prices and limited availability, if you want to be among the first onboard, you’ll need to move fast.

So, what do you think? Are you booking a cruise on Legend of the Seas? Will you sail in Europe or wait for the Caribbean season? Let us know in the comments!

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