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Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas was voted Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship.
It was the third yr in a row {that a} Royal Caribbean new-build was chosen for the dignity.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Luna got here in second place.
For the third consecutive yr, a Royal Caribbean new-build was named Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship within the Cruise Hive Awards.
Legend of the Seas, the road’s third Icon-class ship that can enter service in July 2026, has received the title within the 2025 competitors with 35.3% of the full vote. The ship is below development on the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.
Sister ship, and first within the class, Icon of the Seas, received the title in 2023 forward of her 2024 launch, and Star of the Seas, second within the class, took it in 2024, prematurely of her debut in 2025.
The Icon-class ships have been wildly well-liked with cruisers, thanks partly to their huge dimension — they weigh in at 250,800 gross tons and have capability for 7,000 company — in addition to revolutionary public areas and facilities.
When she debuts in July 2026, Legend of the Seas will characteristic the well-received Surfside neighborhood designed particularly for household enjoyable, and the Class 6 Waterpark, the cruise trade’s largest waterpark at sea.
Like her sister ships, Legend of the Seas will supply AquaDome, an enormous glass and metal construction that encompasses a waterfall, together with eating venues and the AquaTheater, the place synchronized swimming, diving exhibits, and acrobatic performances are held.
Legend of the Seas will wow company with 28 eating choices, together with some new venues similar to Royal Railway, a multi-course meal served within the setting of a simulated practice journey in Asia and Europe, and the Hollywoodland Supper Membership, a themed expertise evoking the Golden Age of Hollywood.
When she debuts in summer time 2026, Legend of the Seas will sail her 7-night inaugural cruise on July 11 roundtrip from Rome with port calls at Naples, Italy; Barcelona and Palma De Mallorca, Spain; and Marseille, France.
The ship will sail 7-night Western Mediterranean voyages by way of mid-October earlier than repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, the place she is going to sail 6- and 8-night Japanese, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises.
Norwegian Luna Ranks Second in Awards Itemizing
9 cruise ships resulting from launch in 2026 have been included within the Most Anticipated class.
Whereas Legend of the Seas earned a commanding 35% of the full votes within the 2025 Cruise Hive Awards, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Luna got here in at a good second place with simply shy of 20% — 19.4% to be precise.
Learn Additionally: How A lot Is a Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas?
When she debuts on March 10, 2026 in Rome, the three,550-guest ship will turn into the latest Prima Plus-class ship within the fleet. Her maiden voyage will convey the ship to PortMiami, arriving on March 23, 2026 to start a collection of Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.
Disney Cruise Line’s 6,700-guest Disney Journey garnered 16.5% of the vote to return in third. The ship, the biggest within the fleet, will cater to the Asia market and be based mostly in Singapore when she debuts on March 5, 2026.
MSC Cruises’ MSC World Asia acquired 12.8% of the vote for Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship. On account of launch in December 2026, the 6,758-guest ship will sail within the Mediterranean.
The remaining 5 ships within the class included Explora Journeys’ Explora III, which tied with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Status at 4.1%; Viking’s Viking Mira, 4%; Viking’s Viking Libra, 2.6%; and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Circulate, 1.1%
Voting within the 2025 Cruise Hive Awards opened on October 14, 2025 and closed on December 19, 2025. Readers have been invited to vote for his or her favourite ships and facilities in a complete of eight classes. No spam votes, or different suspicious votes of any sort have been counted.
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