world’s largest cruise ship delivered in turku

The world’s largest cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, was delivered to Royal Caribbean in Turku on Wednesday, Yle reports.

The 365-metre vessel, part of the Icon class, is a few millimetres longer than its predecessors, confirmed by laser measurement. It can carry up to 7,600 passengers and features the largest pool ever built on a ship.

Meyer Turku shipyard, which built the vessel, has a long-standing partnership with Royal Caribbean. A cooperation agreement signed last autumn secures the yard’s role as a builder for the cruise line until 2036. Four more Icon-class ships are under construction in Turku, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2030.

Each Icon-class ship represents roughly a third of Finland’s annual exports to the US, valued at about €2 billion, according to Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm. The yard is investing €200 million to modernise its facilities and maintain competitiveness, targeting a 4–6% operating margin.

Legend of the Seas will begin Mediterranean cruises before relocating to the Caribbean for the winter season.