Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas Debuts in Europe

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas, the latest vessel in its Icon Class series, is set to debut in Europe this Saturday, marking a new record for the largest cruise ship to launch on the continent. The 20-deck ship will embark on its maiden voyage from Civitavecchia, Italy, sailing to destinations including Marseille, France, and Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, before returning to Civitavecchia. Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the Legend of the Seas measures approximately 248,660 gross tons and is slightly longer than its sister ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

This new vessel continues the trend of increasing ship sizes within Royal Caribbean's Icon Class. The Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, which debuted in Florida, are each about 6% larger than the previous record holder, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. The Legend of the Seas can accommodate a record-breaking 7,600 passengers when all berths are full, and with 2,350 crew members, it can carry nearly 10,000 people on board, a figure unmatched by any other cruise vessel.

Unlike its predecessors which debuted in Florida, the Legend of the Seas will operate in the Mediterranean through late October. Its Mediterranean itineraries, primarily seven nights long, will commence from Civitavecchia, the port serving Rome, and Barcelona. Following its European season, the ship will reposition to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades in Florida. The debut in Europe signifies a significant milestone, as it is the largest cruise vessel ever to launch its operations from the continent.