Meyer Turku has started the first main engine on Legend of the Seas, an LNG-powered cruise ship under construction for Royal Caribbean, the Finnish shipyard has announced.

The vessel is equipped with six main engines, all of which are expected to be operational in early 2026. The engines are Wärtsilä's next-generation, two-stage turbocharged units with a combined output exceeding 85 megawatts.

According to Meyer Turku, the new generation of engines provides lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption compared to the previous generation.

The vessel incorporates waste heat recovery systems that collect heat from both the cooling water and motor oil generated by the engines. The recovered heat will be reused in various areas of the ship, including the laundry facilities.

The Legend of the Seas was launched into the water for the first time at Meyer Turku's facilities on August 29. It is the third in Royal Caribbean's Icon class series.

The first vessel in the series, Icon of the Seas, entered service in January 2024, followed by Star of the Seas in August 2025.

The fourth Icon ship, for which construction began on September 8, will be powered by six Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines capable of running on LNG as the primary fuel, with distillate as backup. It is expected to be delivered in 2027.

Meyer Turku, part of the German Meyer Werft group, specialises in building large cruise vessels and has constructed ships for various cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and TUI Cruises.