Royal Caribbean International’s decision to revive the historic name Legend of the Seas for its third Icon class ship has generated intense interest among cruise watchers and future guests alike.
The newbuild, currently under construction at Meyer Turku in Finland, is on track to become one of the largest and most technically advanced cruise ships ever put to sea.
At the same time, the original 1995-built Legend of the Seas continues in service as Marella Discovery 2, sailing a busy schedule for British line Marella Cruises.
This dual identity creates a unique moment in cruise history, as one legendary name bridges two very different eras of ship design and deployment.
From Classic Cruiser To Next-generation Giant: The Name “Legend of the Seas”
The name Legend of the Seas carries significant heritage for Royal Caribbean. The original Legend, launched in the mid-1990s, helped pioneer the modern global cruise deployment model, traveling extensively across Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas.
Now, three decades later, the company has chosen to bring the name back for an entirely new Icon class vessel due to launch in 2026, underscoring both nostalgia and ambition.
This creates a rare situation in cruising. For a period, the name is strongly associated with a beloved mid-size classic ship still operating as Marella Discovery 2, while also representing a cutting-edge megaship that will become a flagship for Royal Caribbean’s next phase of growth.
Understanding this context helps travelers make sense of the many headlines, renderings and itineraries currently appearing under the same storied name.
The Original Legend of the Seas: A 1990s Trailblazer
The first Legend of the Seas was built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, launched on 5 September 1994 and entered service in 1995 as the lead ship of Royal Caribbean’s Vision class.
Designed at around 70,000 gross tons with capacity for roughly 2,000 passengers, she embodied the cruise industry’s shift toward larger, more amenity-rich vessels without sacrificing mid-size intimacy.
During a 19-year career with Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas was frequently described as one of the line’s most traveled ships. She cycled through deployments in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Alaska, the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central America and the Middle East, giving her an unusually global résumé for a single vessel.
Her onboard features, including an early-generation rock-climbing wall, atrium-centered public spaces, mini-golf course and multi-level show lounge, prefigured larger concepts later expanded on Oasis and Icon class ships.
Transition To Marella Discovery 2
On 2 June 2016, Royal Caribbean confirmed the sale of Legend of the Seas to the UK-based Thomson Cruises, now known as Marella Cruises. The ship completed her final Royal Caribbean voyage on 26 March 2017, then transferred to her new operator.
She entered service for the British market in May 2017 under the name TUI Discovery 2 and was later rebranded Marella Discovery 2 after the cruise line changed identity.
Under Marella, the vessel has been tailored for the UK source market, with British-style entertainment, pub-inspired venues and an emphasis on fly-cruise packages from regional UK airports.
Despite refits and brand changes, her core layout remains recognizable: an atrium, two main pools, a theater, multiple dining options and family-friendly outdoor spaces on a compact but full-featured platform.
The New Legend of the Seas: Third Icon Class Ship
The newbuilding now known as Legend of the Seas is a different ship entirely, sharing only the name. She is the third in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, following Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
The vessel was ordered from Meyer Turku in Finland, with steel cutting for the third Icon-class unit commencing in January 2024. Legend of the Seas is scheduled to debut in July 2026, joining her sisters as a flagship of the company’s new generation of LNG-powered megaships.
Royal Caribbean has positioned the new Legend as an evolution of the Icon template, blending record-breaking scale with family-focused neighborhood concepts, large-scale water attractions and significant advances in energy efficiency.
For guests familiar with the original 1990s ship, the contrast could hardly be greater: where the first Legend emphasized glassy elegance and mid-size intimacy, the new one is conceived as a floating city designed for more than 5,600 guests at double occupancy and up to roughly 7,600 at maximum capacity.
Construction Milestones At Meyer Turku Shipyard
The construction of the new Legend of the Seas at Meyer Turku is being closely followed by both industry analysts and cruise enthusiasts.
The yard has become a major hub for building some of the world’s largest cruise ships, and Icon class projects are central to that strategy. Each phase of Legend’s assembly marks a tangible step toward her introduction to service in 2026.
Key milestones, from steel cutting to float-out, demonstrate not only the scale of the ship itself but also the complexity of fitting advanced propulsion systems, extensive hotel infrastructure and elaborate open-deck attractions into a single cohesive vessel.
Steel Cutting And Keel Laying
Legend of the Seas officially entered the construction phase when the first steel was cut in January 2024 at Meyer Turku. Steel cutting ceremonies are largely symbolic but mark the moment a conceptual design begins to take physical shape in the form of individual sections and blocks.
For an Icon class ship, hundreds of prefabricated blocks must be built, outfitted and then assembled like a three-dimensional puzzle.
The project reached another key milestone when the keel was laid on 7 October 2024. In modern shipbuilding, “keel laying” usually involves lowering a large prefabricated block into the building dock, after which the ship is formally recognized on the yard’s orderbook.
From this point, assembly accelerates as additional blocks are craned into position and joined, gradually forming the full hull and superstructure.
Float-out And Initial Sea Preparation
The float-out, or launch, is the first time a new cruise ship touches water. For Legend of the Seas, this critical step took place in early September 2025 at Meyer Turku.
During the operation, the dry dock was slowly flooded with tens of millions of gallons of water until the hull lifted free and the ship could be maneuvered to an outfitting pier.
Once at the outfitting berth, teams shifted focus from heavy structural work to the detailed tasks that give a cruise ship its character. This includes installing cabin furnishings, finalizing restaurants and lounges, wiring audiovisual systems, and completing the expansive open-deck features such as pools, water slides and adventure attractions.
Technical work continues in parallel, from calibrating navigation systems and propulsion machinery to integrating environmental technologies.
Fire Incident And Construction Timeline
In December 2025, local and trade reports noted a fire incident in an engine room space onboard the under-construction Legend of the Seas.
Prompt response by yard and ship personnel limited the damage, and both shipyard officials and Royal Caribbean sources indicated that the event was not expected to materially affect the overall delivery schedule.
Such incidents, while rare, highlight the complexity of building a ship of this scale, with extensive electrical systems, modular cabling, and fuel-handling infrastructure being installed simultaneously.
Investigations and remedial work are typically conducted rapidly to keep the project on track for sea trials and handover.
Technical Profile: Size, Power And Onboard Features
Legend of the Seas belongs to a generation of megaships that redefines guest capacity, environmental performance and onboard amenities.
Though final interior details will continue to be refined in the lead-up to launch, Royal Caribbean and shipyard disclosures already paint a clear picture of a vessel designed as both engineering showcase and all-in-one family resort.
The ship’s scale alone places it at or near the top of the global cruise market in terms of tonnage and passenger capacity, while LNG propulsion and advanced energy systems position it for increasingly stringent environmental expectations in Europe, North America and beyond.
Dimensions And Passenger Capacity
Early technical profiles place Legend of the Seas at around 365 to 370 meters in length, with a beam of approximately 65 meters and about 20 decks, of which 18 are expected to be accessible to guests.
Her gross tonnage is anticipated to exceed 250,000, edging past Icon of the Seas and placing her among the largest cruise ships ever built.
Capacity figures released so far indicate space for roughly 5,600 guests at double occupancy, with an absolute maximum around 7,600 passengers when all berths are filled.
This scale will be supported by a crew complement in the range of 2,300 to 2,400, reflecting the staffing required to operate extensive dining, entertainment, housekeeping and technical functions around the clock.
Propulsion, Fuel And Environmental Technology
Like her Icon-class sisters, Legend of the Seas is designed around liquefied natural gas (LNG) as her primary fuel, with multiple dual-fuel engines capable of switching between LNG and low-sulfur marine distillate as needed.
LNG offers clear advantages in reducing sulfur oxide and particulate emissions, while also cutting nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide relative to traditional heavy fuel oil.
Beyond fuel choice, the ship incorporates a suite of environmental technologies aimed at driving down overall emissions and resource consumption. These include:
- Advanced waste heat recovery systems designed to reclaim energy from engine exhaust for hotel and propulsion needs
- Shore power capability, allowing the vessel to plug into local electrical grids in compatible ports and shut down engines while alongside
- Onboard wastewater treatment systems engineered to meet or exceed the strictest discharge regulations
- Hull, propeller and air lubrication refinements intended to reduce hydrodynamic drag and improve fuel efficiency
Together, these systems align with Royal Caribbean Group’s wider objective of achieving net-zero emissions for a new generation of ships by the mid-2030s, a goal that will likely require not only highly efficient hardware but also operational measures and future fuel developments.
Neighborhoods, Waterpark And Casino Royale
Onboard, Legend of the Seas is expected to follow and expand the “neighborhood” concept pioneered on Oasis and Icon class, dividing the ship into distinct themed zones that concentrate dining, entertainment and relaxation venues.
Renderings and preliminary descriptions reference a combination of open-air pool decks, promenade-style interior streets, and climate-controlled domes that host entertainment spectaculars.
A signature element will be a large-scale waterpark with multiple record-chasing slides, echoing and evolving the Category 6 waterpark concept seen on Icon of the Seas.
Elevated adventure attractions, such as a ropes-and-skywalk hybrid experience similar to Crown’s Edge, are also anticipated, targeting thrill-seekers and multigenerational family groups.
One of the most talked-about features is Casino Royale, a large, multi-level gaming venue positioned as a centerpiece of the nighttime economy onboard. Plans call for a two-story layout separating table games from slots and combining gaming with a sports bar atmosphere.
While many guests welcome the enhanced casino offer, pre-launch commentary has noted concerns about smoke management and the balance between gaming space and open-deck relaxation zones.
Launch Timeline, Inaugural Season And Future Sailings
Legend of the Seas is set to follow a now-familiar pattern for Royal Caribbean flagships: a debut in European waters followed by a repositioning to the Caribbean for the winter season.
For prospective guests, understanding the rollout timeline is essential for planning, as inaugural voyages, naming ceremonies and repositioning cruises often sell out quickly and command premium pricing.
The ship’s first official passenger voyages are currently targeted for July 2026, subject to successful completion of sea trials, regulatory approvals and final outfitting.
Sea Trials And Delivery
After outfitting is substantially complete at Meyer Turku, Legend of the Seas will undertake a series of sea trials in the Baltic Sea.
These typically occur several months before the first passenger voyage and test everything from maneuverability and top speed to noise, vibration and safety systems.
Following successful trials, the ship will be formally handed over from the yard to Royal Caribbean. Delivery is presently expected in mid-2026, leaving time for a final provisioning, crew familiarization and media or trade preview events before guests arrive for revenue cruises.
Western Mediterranean Inaugural Season
Royal Caribbean has announced that Legend of the Seas will spend her inaugural season sailing in the Western Mediterranean during summer 2026.
Early itinerary outlines suggest weeklong cruises from major Mediterranean homeports, with calls at marquee destinations such as Barcelona, Civitavecchia for Rome, and key islands or coastal cities in Spain, France and Italy.
These itineraries are designed to introduce the new ship to European guests and to the global market of cruise travelers willing to fly in for a high-profile debut experience.
The Mediterranean deployment also reflects Royal Caribbean’s growing commitment to basing its newest hardware in European waters for at least part of the year, complementing its traditional Caribbean focus.
Fort Lauderdale And Caribbean Deployment
After wrapping up the summer Mediterranean program, Legend of the Seas will reposition across the Atlantic in late 2026.
Once in North America, she is slated to operate primarily from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving the Western Caribbean. Planned itineraries are expected to range from six to eight nights and to include a mix of popular island ports and Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, subject to regional security assessments and port capacity.
This Caribbean deployment cements Legend of the Seas as a core player in Royal Caribbean’s year-round Americas strategy.
Operating alongside Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, the new Legend will give the company an exceptionally strong lineup of large-capacity ships in close proximity to major U.S. drive-to and fly-to markets.
Marella Discovery 2: The Original Legend’s Continuing Career
While Royal Caribbean prepares to introduce a new Legend of the Seas, the original ship, now sailing as Marella Discovery 2, continues to operate an active program of cruises targeted largely at British holidaymakers. Far from retiring quietly, this 1990s-built vessel remains a key part of Marella Cruises’ fleet, benefiting from consistent demand for mid-size ships with a more traditional feel.
For travelers researching “Legend of the Seas cruises,” it is essential to distinguish between the forthcoming Royal Caribbean megaship and the existing Marella Discovery 2, which still carries the original build name in many technical registries and databases.
Ship Profile And Onboard Atmosphere
Marella Discovery 2 retains the core design features of the original Legend of the Seas: a compact footprint of around 264 meters in length, 11 passenger decks and just under 2,000 guests at full capacity.
For many, this scale strikes a balance between intimacy and amenity, avoiding some of the perceived crowding issues of the latest megaships while offering more features than smaller boutique vessels.
Onboard, guests will find two main swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf, a main show lounge and multiple dining options that blend buffet service, main dining rooms and specialty venues.
The décor reflects a mix of the ship’s original glass-heavy Vision-class styling and subsequent Marella updates, with an emphasis on casual comfort rather than cutting-edge design.
Recent And Upcoming Itineraries
Marella Discovery 2 has spent recent seasons rotating between the Mediterranean, Canaries and Caribbean, often with fly-cruise packages that bundle TUI-operated flights from UK airports to embarkation ports. For winter programs, the ship has been deployed in warm-weather destinations, including the Caribbean and, until recently, selected Asian itineraries.
In 2026 and 2027, Marella’s published schedules indicate that Marella Discovery 2 will continue to alternate between sun-focused itineraries, including “Exotic Islands” Caribbean cruises and Canary Islands programs. Seasonal repositioning voyages are also offered, allowing guests to sample a wider range of ports on longer sailings as the ship moves between regions.
The Role Of Marella Discovery 2 In A Changing Market
As the global cruise market shifts toward larger, more complex megaships, vessels like Marella Discovery 2 occupy an increasingly distinct niche.
They appeal to guests who value a more manageable ship size, simpler onboard navigation and a sociable atmosphere where it remains possible to see familiar faces throughout the voyage.
For Marella, the ship also supports a strategy centered on inclusive pricing, UK-oriented entertainment and strong integration with the wider TUI holiday ecosystem, from hotels to flights.
While the new Legend of the Seas will capture headlines with record-breaking scale, Marella Discovery 2 continues to demonstrate that well-maintained, mid-size ships can retain strong appeal long after their initial launch.
Comparing The Two Legends: What Travelers Need To Know
With media coverage now split between the upcoming Royal Caribbean flagship and the long-serving Marella vessel that began life under the same name, it is understandable that some travelers feel confused.
A clear comparison helps ensure that guests book the ship and experience they actually intend to enjoy.
At the highest level, the two “Legends” differ dramatically in size, operator, onboard style and target audience, even while they share historical roots in the same Royal Caribbean design lineage.
Size, Capacity And Layout
The legacy Legend of the Seas, now Marella Discovery 2, measures roughly 264 meters and carries under 2,000 guests, whereas the new Legend of the Seas stretches about 365 to 370 meters with space for up to approximately 7,600 passengers at full capacity. This means:
- The new Legend will offer several times as many restaurants, bars and activity venues as the original ship
- Guests on the Marella vessel can expect a more compact environment, with shorter walking distances but fewer headline-grabbing attractions
- The megaship’s scale enables one-ship “resort” offerings, while the mid-size vessel often places more emphasis on the destination and ashore experiences
Cabin stock also differs markedly. The Icon-class Legend is expected to feature a wide array of suite neighborhoods, family staterooms and signature accommodations oriented around view-centric locations and integrated neighborhood concepts.
Marella Discovery 2, by contrast, offers a more traditional mix of insides, outsides, balconies and a handful of larger suites.
Onboard Atmosphere And Demographic
Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Seas is designed for a broad, international audience, with a strong focus on multigenerational families, groups and experience-driven travelers.
The atmosphere will be high-energy, with large-scale shows, waterparks, nightlife districts and busy pool decks.
Marella Discovery 2 targets a predominantly British market, with familiar brands, pub-style venues, UK-centric entertainment and itineraries sold largely in package form.
The vibe is more relaxed and community-focused, often appealing to couples, friend groups and families seeking a comfortable holiday rather than the very latest thrills.
Booking Considerations And Naming Confusion
For travelers searching online, it is vital to double-check the operator, year of build and ship class when booking a cruise that involves the name Legend of the Seas. Key points include:
- Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas (Icon class) is a newbuild due in 2026, operating mainly from European and U.S. homeports
- Marella Discovery 2 is the original 1990s-built Legend of the Seas operating for Marella Cruises, often from Mediterranean, Caribbean or Canary Islands ports
- Itinerary descriptions, tonnage figures and passenger capacities will immediately clarify which vessel is being referenced
Travel agents and cruise line websites typically handle this distinction clearly, but third-party blogs and deal aggregators sometimes mix terminology or reuse historic photos, so careful reading is advised before final payment.
How The New Legend Fits Into Royal Caribbean’s Broader Strategy
The arrival of the Icon-class Legend of the Seas in 2026 is not an isolated event, but part of Royal Caribbean’s long-term fleet and branding strategy.
The company has invested heavily in a family of megaships that share engineering platforms, neighborhood concepts and environmental technologies while offering enough variation in layout and deployment to keep demand high across multiple regions.
Within this context, Legend of the Seas is expected to play a distinct role, building on lessons from Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas while expanding the company’s capacity in both Europe and the Caribbean.
Extending The Icon Formula
By the time Legend of the Seas enters service, Royal Caribbean will have had several years of operational experience with Icon of the Seas and at least a full year with Star of the Seas.
This allows the company to refine crowd flow, venue mix, entertainment programming and revenue management, then apply those learnings to the third unit.
Legend of the Seas is therefore likely to feature incremental adjustments to deck plans, public room configurations and perhaps even cabin categories, fine-tuning the guest experience.
For example, certain bar concepts, specialty restaurants or family facilities that prove especially successful on Icon may be expanded or repositioned on Legend, while underutilized or problematic spaces may be reworked before the ship ever carries paying guests.
Capacity And Itinerary Flexibility
Adding a third Icon-class ship provides Royal Caribbean with considerable flexibility in how it deploys its largest vessels.
With ships based in both the Caribbean and Europe, the company can respond to seasonal demand patterns, currency shifts and geopolitical events by adjusting homeports and itineraries.
Legend of the Seas, with its initial Western Mediterranean season followed by Caribbean deployment, showcases this flexibility.
Should demand trends change in the late 2020s, the ship could potentially be reassigned to new regions or rotated more frequently between markets, all while offering a consistent onboard product that Royal Caribbean can market globally.
Environmental Signaling And Regulatory Readiness
As environmental regulations tighten worldwide, cruise brands are under pressure to demonstrate real progress in emissions reduction and waste management.
The LNG-powered, technology-heavy Icon class, including Legend of the Seas, acts as a visible statement of intent, signaling to regulators, port authorities and environmentally conscious travelers that the company is investing in cleaner ships.
This signaling has practical as well as reputational value. Ships like Legend of the Seas are better positioned to secure berths in ports with strict air-quality rules, as well as to adapt to potential future requirements around shore power usage, greenhouse gas intensity and maritime emissions reporting.
The Takeaway
The story of Legend of the Seas in 2025 and 2026 is really two intertwined narratives. On one side stands Marella Discovery 2, the original mid-1990s Legend of the Seas that continues to sail successfully for a British-focused brand, offering classic ship proportions and a familiar cruising style.
On the other stands the forthcoming Royal Caribbean flagship, a vast Icon-class megaship that will embody the industry’s most ambitious thinking on scale, entertainment and environmental performance.
For travelers, the renewed use of the name Legend of the Seas is both an invitation and a reminder. It invites long-time Royal Caribbean fans to reconnect with a beloved chapter of the company’s history while exploring a radically new onboard experience.
At the same time, it reminds prospective guests to read the fine print when planning a cruise, ensuring that the ship, operator and itinerary match their expectations.
As construction advances in Finland and Marella Discovery 2 continues her itineraries under the sun, the Legend of the Seas name is poised to span more than three decades of cruise evolution.
Whether you are drawn to the nostalgic charm of a classic vessel or the spectacle of a cutting-edge giant, the coming years will offer a rare opportunity to experience how one legendary name can encompass two very different visions of life at sea.
FAQ
Q1: Is the new Legend of the Seas the same ship as the old Legend of the Seas?
The new Legend of the Seas is a completely different vessel from the original ship launched in the 1990s. The original now sails as Marella Discovery 2 for Marella Cruises, while the new Legend is a much larger Icon-class megaship being built for Royal Caribbean with a planned debut in 2026.
Q2: When will the new Legend of the Seas start carrying passengers?
Legend of the Seas is currently scheduled to begin passenger operations in July 2026, following completion of outfitting, sea trials and formal handover from the Meyer Turku shipyard to Royal Caribbean.
Q3: Where will Legend of the Seas sail during its first year?
For summer 2026, Legend of the Seas is set to operate weeklong Western Mediterranean cruises from major European ports. Later in 2026 she is expected to reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to operate Western Caribbean itineraries during the winter season.
Q4: How big is the new Legend of the Seas compared with other cruise ships?
The new Legend of the Seas is projected to exceed 250,000 gross tons and measure roughly 365 to 370 meters in length, placing her among the largest cruise ships in the world, with capacity for around 5,600 guests at double occupancy and up to approximately 7,600 at full capacity.
Q5: What happened to the original Legend of the Seas ship?
The original Legend of the Seas was sold by Royal Caribbean in 2017 to what is now Marella Cruises. After a rebranding process, she entered service as Marella Discovery 2 and continues to sail on itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Canary Islands for the British market.
Q6: Will both ships ever operate under the name Legend of the Seas at the same time?
In operational terms, only the new Icon-class vessel will carry the name Legend of the Seas in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. The original ship retains the name Marella Discovery 2 for Marella Cruises, so there will not be two active cruise ships marketed to guests under the same name at once.
Q7: What type of fuel and environmental technologies does the new Legend of the Seas use?
Legend of the Seas is designed to run primarily on liquefied natural gas and will feature advanced waste heat recovery, shore power connectivity and modern wastewater treatment systems, all aimed at reducing emissions and improving overall environmental performance compared with older designs.
Q8: How can I tell whether I am booking the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas or Marella Discovery 2?
Check the cruise line name, year of build and ship class when booking. Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas is an Icon-class megaship launching in 2026, while Marella Discovery 2 is a mid-1990s-built vessel operated by Marella Cruises. Itinerary descriptions, homeports and passenger capacity figures will also clearly distinguish the two.
Q9: What are some of the headline attractions planned for the new Legend of the Seas?
Headline features are expected to include a large waterpark with multiple record-chasing slides, elevated adventure attractions, themed neighborhoods with numerous bars and restaurants, and an expanded multi-level Casino Royale, along with large-scale production shows and family-oriented entertainment throughout the ship.
Q10: Is Marella Discovery 2 expected to retire once the new Legend of the Seas launches?
There has been no official indication that Marella Discovery 2 will retire in connection with the launch of Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Seas. As of late 2025, Marella continues to schedule the ship on future itineraries, suggesting that both vessels will operate simultaneously under their respective brands for the foreseeable future.