Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean officially named Legend of the Seas during a Veterans Day ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on November 11, 2026.
- Retired U.S. Air Force General Lori J. Robinson served as godmother, with the celebration honoring military veterans.
- The third Icon Class ship has begun sailing and will operate six- and eight-night Caribbean itineraries from the Florida port.
On November 11, 2026, Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas was officially named, just over four months after it entered service. The Veterans Day ceremony was held in Fort Lauderdale and attended by Royal Caribbean leadership, crew members, military service members, and other invited guests.
Honoring military veterans, the ceremony also included a color guard, pipe-and-drums procession, and veterans recognition. Other highlights of the celebration included a performance of the U.S. national anthem by U.S. Army veteran and Royal Caribbean vocalist Rechell Sears and a high-dive show in the ship’s Aquatheater.
The ship’s godmother, retired U.S. Air Force General Lori J. Robinson, was the centerpiece of the celebrations. As Cruise Hive reported in September, Royal Caribbean selected Robinson as godmother in recognition of her groundbreaking military career.
Robinson served in the Air Force for 37 years before retiring in 2018. In 2016, she became the first woman to lead a U.S. unified combatant command when she assumed leadership of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD.
Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group Jason Liberty opened the speeches. Liberty took a moment to acknowledge Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley for 45 years of service with the company, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.
Bayley later spoke himself, beginning by thanking military veterans from the United States and around the world. He also recognized Mario “Bingo” Brooks, a housekeeping crew member who has served with the cruise line since the original Legend of the Seas debuted in 1995.
“Today is a celebration of the people who make Legend of the Seas and Royal Caribbean so special, from the dedicated crew members bringing unforgettable vacations to life every day to the veterans whose service and sacrifice we proudly recognize on Veterans Day,” said Bayley.
Gen. Lori J. Robinson closed out the ceremony with a blessing of the ship and its crew, joined on stage by Jason Liberty, Michael Bayley, and the ship’s Captain Sindre Borsheim. This was followed by the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle against the ship’s hull.
Legend of the Seas Begins Caribbean Deployment
While the ceremony marked the formal naming of the ship, the third Icon Class ship has been sailing since July. The ship officially entered service on July 4, 2026, and spent its inaugural season sailing in Europe.
Legend of the Seas arrived in the United States for the first time on November 7, 2026, following a transatlantic repositioning voyage from Barcelona. It then completed a three-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale, which departed on November 8.
Following the naming ceremony, the ship departed on its official Legend Naming Cruise. This three-night voyage features a visit to Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day CocoCay, and a day at sea before returning to Fort Lauderdale on November 14.
The 5,610-guest ship will then begin its regular Caribbean season on November 14. It will offer six-night Western Caribbean sailings to Cozumel and Costa Maya and eight-night Southern Caribbean voyages visiting destinations like Oranjestad and Willemstad, with every sailing visiting Perfect Day CocoCay.
