Royal Caribbean has celebrated a landmark week for its fleet expansion, reaching two significant milestones in the construction of future cruise ships. The cruise line has officially taken delivery of Legend of the Seas, the third vessel in its groundbreaking Icon Class, while also marking the start of physical assembly for its next Oasis-class ship, currently known as Oasis 7.
The developments underline Royal Caribbean’s ambitious growth plans, with multiple new ships already under construction and several more scheduled to join the fleet through the end of the decade.
Legend Of The Seas Delivered Ahead Of Summer Debut
Hundreds gathered at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on 10th June 2026 as Royal Caribbean formally took ownership of Legend of the Seas during a delivery ceremony attended by more than 1,200 guests, crew members, executives and shipbuilding partners.
The handover took place inside the ship’s AquaDome, one of the defining features of the Icon Class, and was led by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm.
“We’re incredibly proud to introduce Legend of the Seas to vacationers and continue the legacy of the revolutionary Icon Class,
“This wouldn’t be possible without the many talented individuals that came together to deliver what is truly the ultimate family vacation, and we look forward to making Legend’s debut this summer a legendary one.”
Michael Bayley
The ceremony brings to a close a construction process that began with the ship’s steel-cutting ceremony in January 2024. While the vessel has now officially entered Royal Caribbean’s fleet, work is not yet complete. The ship will sail to Cadiz, Spain, where final finishing touches will be completed before entering service.
At 248,663 gross tons and measuring 1,196 feet in length, Legend of the Seas is the third ship in the Icon Class, following Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
The ship will feature 28 dining venues, including the Hollywoodland Supper Club, seven pools and water experiences, a production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Crown’s Edge skywalk and zipline attraction, and the three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse accommodation.
Legend also becomes the fourth Royal Caribbean ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the third Icon-class vessel built by Meyer Turku.
Her inaugural voyage is scheduled for 4th July 2026, several weeks earlier than the originally announced debut date of 2nd August. The seven-night Western Mediterranean sailing will depart from Civitavecchia near Rome and call at Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and La Spezia.
The ship will spend the summer and autumn operating Mediterranean itineraries before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale on 25th October 2026 for her first Caribbean season. Winter cruises will range from six to eight nights and include calls to destinations such as Willemstad, Curaçao, Falmouth and Labadee, with every itinerary also visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Oasis 7 Begins Taking Shape In France
Just one day after taking delivery of Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean celebrated another important construction milestone as assembly officially began on the seventh Oasis-class ship at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The keel-laying ceremony, held on 11th June 2026, brought together Royal Caribbean executives, shipyard officials and construction teams as the first steel block was lowered into the dry dock.
As part of a long-standing maritime tradition, newly minted euro and dollar coins were sealed beneath the first block to bring good fortune to the ship, its future crew and passengers.
“The first block of Oasis 7 has been set in the dry dock by the TGP, in the presence of Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique teams – as Oasis 7’s assembly officially begins,” the shipyard shared on Facebook. “A milestone moment. Congratulations to all teams involved!”
The vessel, currently known by its project designation B35 and commonly referred to as Oasis 7, is expected to enter service in 2028. At approximately 236,900 gross tons, the ship will become the seventh member of the hugely successful Oasis Class.
Construction first began in October 2025 with a steel-cutting ceremony. With the keel now laid, assembly work will accelerate as the ship’s blocks are joined together to create the vessel’s more than 15 decks, signature neighbourhoods, AquaTheater and extensive dining and entertainment venues.
Royal Caribbean has not yet revealed the ship’s official name or specific onboard features. However, it is expected to build upon the design of sister ships Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.
The decision to build a seventh Oasis-class vessel surprised many industry observers when it was announced in 2024, particularly as Royal Caribbean was already investing heavily in its newer Icon Class. The move highlighted the continuing popularity of Oasis-class ships, which remain among the largest and most successful cruise vessels ever built.
Oasis 7 is expected to closely follow Utopia of the Seas, the newest ship in the class and the first specifically designed for short three- and four-night cruise holidays.
More Ships Still To Come
Royal Caribbean’s newbuild pipeline remains one of the most ambitious in the cruise industry. Meyer Turku is already constructing Hero of the Seas, scheduled to debut in 2027 as the fourth Icon-class ship.
Beyond that, three additional Icon-class vessels are planned for delivery in 2028, 2029 and 2030, ensuring Royal Caribbean’s rapid fleet expansion continues well into the next decade. And there’s also the upcoming Discovery Class, too…
With one new flagship now delivered and another major vessel beginning to take shape, the cruise line’s future fleet is becoming increasingly clear as it prepares for another wave of growth.
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