The newest ship in Royal Caribbean’s biggest class just went into service, and it did it on the Fourth of July.
Legend of the Seas ran its maiden voyage on July 4. This is the third Icon-class ship, the same family as Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. Meyer Turku in Finland delivered it back in June, and the ship sailed down to the Mediterranean to start its season. It arrived in Malaga, Spain earlier in the week before the first paying passengers stepped aboard.
Here is what matters for you. The Icon-class ships have been sailing the Caribbean out of Florida. Legend is doing the Mediterranean instead. So if you wanted the biggest, newest Royal Caribbean experience but did not want to fly to Miami, now you have an ocean and a continent’s worth of options. It is LNG-powered, which is Royal Caribbean’s way of saying the ship is a little cleaner than the older ones. That is nice. It also means nothing to your day at the pool.
Meanwhile, Carnival threw a party. Carnival Radiance hosted an America 250 celebration on June 30 at the Port of Long Beach in California. Veterans, local partners, and government folks came aboard to mark the country’s 250th anniversary. It kicked off a whole series of America 250 events Carnival has planned.
This is more marketing than news, and I will be honest about that. But it does tell you something. Expect patriotic theming, special events, and probably some red white and blue drink menus across Carnival’s fleet through this anniversary stretch. If you are sailing Carnival this summer, do not be surprised if your cruise comes with a side of fireworks and a brass band.
Two ships, two coasts, one holiday weekend. One is a genuine new hardware launch you can book. The other is a party with a hashtag. Both are real, and both are happening right now.
If you are trying to figure out whether the brand new Legend of the Seas is worth chasing across the Atlantic, or whether an older and cheaper ship gets you the same vacation, that is exactly the kind of thing I sort out for people. Send me a note. I would rather you ask before you book than after.
Fair winds and following seas,
Captain Steve
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