Key Aspects:
- Legend of the Seas has begun sea trials in Finland, testing propulsion, maneuverability, and onboard systems.
- More than 2,000 people are onboard the vessel for her first 10 days at sea.
- The ship will sail roughly 2,400 nautical miles before returning to the shipyard for final preparations.
Royal Caribbean’s next giant cruise ship has officially left the shipyard for its first tests at sea.
Legend of the Seas, the cruise line’s third Icon Class vessel, began sea trials on April 19, 2026, in the Baltic Sea after departing from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The tests mark one of the final phases of construction before the ship is delivered and begins carrying passengers in summer 2026.
“The vessel departed the shipyard on Sunday evening, marking the start of an approximately week-long testing phase at sea,” announced Meyer Turku. “Smooth sailing and fair winds for the journey ahead!”
During the trials, more than 2,000 engineers, technicians, and specialists are onboard to evaluate how the ship performs under real operating conditions.
The testing program will last about 10 days and will examine everything from maneuverability in open water to engine performance and safety systems.
“Over the next 10 days, Legend will push her engines to the limit – think doing donuts and hitting max speed,” Royal Caribbean said. “This marks one of the last few major milestones ahead of Legend’s debut in July.”
Over the course of the tests, Legend of the Seas is expected to sail roughly 2,400 nautical miles before returning to Turku to complete interior work and final preparations ahead of delivery.
Like its sister ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, the vessel will feature multiple themed areas designed to organize the massive ship into smaller districts, along with dozens of dining venues, bars, and entertainment options.
After entering service on July 4, 2026, the ship will spend its inaugural season sailing in Europe before relocating to Florida in November 2026. From Fort Lauderdale, it is expected to operate 6-night Western Caribbean cruises and 8-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
Those voyages will include stops at several ports across the Caribbean as well as visits to the cruise line’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.
From Steel Cutting to Sea Trials
The new vessel represents the latest step in Royal Caribbean’s effort to build the largest cruise ships in the world.
Legend of the Seas is being built in the same shipyard that constructed the earlier Icon Class ships. Construction began with the first steel cutting in January 2024, followed by the keel laying later that year, a traditional step that marks the formal start of a ship’s assembly.
In August 2025, the ship was floated out of dry dock for the first time and moved to the outfitting pier, where interior spaces, cabins, and public areas were installed. It’s last key milestone took place in February 2026, when Legend of the Seas had her coin ceremony.
When completed, the ship will measure about 250,800 gross tons and stretch roughly 1,198 feet long. At double occupancy, it will carry abut 5,610 passengers, with a maximum capacity of roughly 7,600 guests, supported by more than 2,300 crew members.
That scale places the ship among the largest cruise vessels ever built following the debut of Icon of the Seas in 2024 and Star of the Seas in 2025.
