THE world’s biggest cruise ship has officially hit the water for the first time – and it’s a floating city stacked with thrills and luxury.
Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Legend of the Seas made its splash at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on Tuesday.
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Weighing in at more than 250,000 tonnes and stretching a jaw-dropping 365 metres long, the mega ship is now the world’s largest, nudging past her sister, Icon of the Seas.
The float-out ceremony itself took place on August 29, 2025, with speeches from shipyard and Royal Caribbean bosses, a gun salute, and even a playful competition to open the valves that flooded the basin.
After nearly 12 hours of water pouring in, the mammoth liner floated free before gliding to her outfitting dock, where finishing touches continued ahead of her debut.
Inside, the Legend is less ship and more floating metropolis.
Guests will find over 40 places to eat and drink, plus a record-breaking Category 6 waterpark, a skywalk, rope course, thrill rides, and eight sprawling neighbourhoods.
A giant glass-and-steel AquaDome crowns the bow, while the dazzling “Pearl” – a massive art-meets-engineering sphere with thousands of moving tiles – anchors the Royal Promenade.
Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku, said: “Legend of the Seas continues the state-of-the-art Icon Class, which allows the Finnish maritime industry to showcase its unique expertise at its best.
“Alongside its sister ships, Legend of the Seas will also mark an important milestone in increasingly responsible shipbuilding.”
The LNG-powered vessel will also feature fuel cells, shore power connections, and waste heat recovery systems, all part of Royal Caribbean’s mission to launch a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.
Legend will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean, sailing to hotspots in France, Italy and Spain.
She will then cross the Atlantic to debut in the United States before starting Caribbean itineraries for the 2026–27 winter season.
The ship joins sisters Icon of the Seas (delivered November 2023) and Star of the Seas (delivered July 2025), while a fourth Icon-class giant is under construction for 2027.
Royal Caribbean also holds options for a fifth and sixth Icon ship, extending the record-breaking series even further.
The Icon Class has already redefined the cruise industry, pushing the limits of size, sustainability and onboard experiences.
With each new launch, Royal Caribbean has rolled out innovations designed to outdo the last, from engineering feats like the Pearl to entertainment hubs like the AquaDome.
For Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard, the float-out marks another proud milestone.
The yard has become a global centre of cruise shipbuilding, and the Legend project alone has supported thousands of jobs and drawn on an extensive network of partners.
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