Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon class ship has arrived in Europe, but is a giant ship the best way to see the Mediterranean?
Experience Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas for the first time
Tour Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, a huge new Icon class with new shows, dining and neighborhoods.
- Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas is the first Icon class ship to sail in Europe.
- Due to the ship’s size, certain ports may require the use of tender boats to disembark passengers.
- The megaship has many attractions on board and is considered ideal for first-time travelers and families visiting Europe.
La Spezia, Italy – After a day of sightseeing Major landmarks of cruise portsIn Italy, I boarded a wagon bound for a different kind of towering structure.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships, towers over the waters off the coast of La Spezia. The ship, which rivals the height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa that we visited earlier in the day, has no historical sites or Renaissance art on board, but it has plenty to offer in its own right.
As Europe’s first Icon class ship, it offers unique views of the Mediterranean Sea. Here’s what it was like sailing through the region on a four-night preview cruise that departed in late June.
Why did Royal Caribbean send an Icon class ship to Europe?
Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty said Europe is an important market for cruise lines, but it’s also a “travel playground.”
“People are eager to come here and immerse themselves in this amazing culture here in different countries in Europe,” he said at an onboard press conference. “And obviously the ability to be able to bring an Icon class (ship) here now that we have more than one or two of them creates tremendous interest and demand and allows us to fulfill our mission.”
Legend is the third ship in this class, following Icon of the Seas, which was launched in 2024, and Star of the Seas, which debuted last year. Royal Caribbean is based in Miami, but the ships themselves come from Europe and were built by Mayer Turku in Finland.
What is it like sailing on a big ship in Europe?
AAA spokesperson Matthew Cox told USA TODAY that the main difference between visiting Europe on ships of different sizes is the area visited. Smaller ships tend to offer more immersive itineraries and can reach destinations that larger ships can’t reach.
“So we’re going to have ships with 2,000 to 3,000 people on board to visit places like Norway. We’re also going to visit places like Scotland and Ireland,” he said. “The large ships, carrying more than 5,000 people, will continue to focus on the Mediterranean, namely the coasts of Spain, France and Italy.”
Ports are not always equally matched either. When I visited La Spezia, passengers sailing on the Legend (which can carry just over 5,600 guests in a two-person capacity) had to take a tender boat to and from shore while another ship, Princess Cruises’ 4,300-passenger Sun Princess, was anchored at the pier.
Royal Caribbean told USA TODAY that La Spezia is “one of several destinations where local port conditions determine how guests disembark.”
“Due to current depth restrictions, Legend of the Seas is operating tender operations, which is a standard and established practice that allows guests to enjoy the destination safely and comfortably,” the cruise line said in an email. It only took about 10 minutes each way to get to the coast. The shuttle bus for the excursion was a short walk from where they dropped us off.
The port wasn’t crowded that morning either and it was easy to get where we wanted to go. Travelers should note that access to tender ports for guests with disabilities may vary. Guests can contact the cruise line to discuss their needs and accommodations.
Royal Caribbean said on its website: “To safely board most tenders, guests must be able to step up and use a foldable manual wheelchair. Additionally, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not permitted to ride on tenders unless a roll-on feature is available.” “For information about the tender roll-on feature, please contact the Guest Relations Desk on board.”
Mr Cox said the giant ship would provide an ideal “entry level” experience for first-time visitors to Europe. “These beautiful and magnificent ships not only have destinations within them, but they also stop at many cities in those areas and have great overland tours that help you experience the culture and bring it back on board,” he said.
Especially suitable for families. The Legend has an entire area that is one of the ship’s eight “neighborhood areas” designed with young children in mind, along with an adults-only Hideaway and Swim & Tonic swim-up bar overlooking the ocean from the stern.
Cox said, “Because the ship is part of the destination, those who want to stay on board and experience more in a particular city can have other members of the family disembark and go into the city, and at the end everyone can come back and share stories over dinner.”
He also said Legend’s myriad amenities could help retain some guests and alleviate the problem as some communities implement new restrictions on ships to discourage overcrowding.
“We are committed to working with the ports and communities we visit and operate to responsibly deliver vacations to our guests,” Royal Caribbean added in an email. “We intentionally partner with each destination we visit to create an experience for every traveler, whether on land or at sea.”
After visiting on the giant ship, guests can always come back for another type of journey. Cox noted that Royal Caribbean guests can apply points to the parent company’s other brands, such as Silversea Cruises, which could offer deeper exploration and lesser-visited ports.
Where in Europe will Legend of the Seas sail?
Legend is currently sailing on a Mediterranean cruise visiting destinations such as Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Marseille, France. such as Naples and Civitavecchia in Italy. The ship will operate there until late October, after which it will be redeployed to the Caribbean.
Liberty added: “Not only are ships being built here, but we source millions of guests a year from these markets, so why not give them the latest and greatest?”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
