Meyer Turku has floated out Royal Caribbean International’s latest Icon-class vessel, Legend of the Seas, marking a critical milestone for Europe’s largest cruise ship under construction. The 250 000-GT behemoth, scheduled for Mediterranean service in July 2026, now enters outfitting.
Economic footprint: The project supports around 3 000 direct shipyard jobs and another 7 000 in Finland’s maritime supply chain, from cabin fabrication in Rauma to LNG-fuel systems in Pori. For global mobility professionals, Turku’s orderbook means ongoing demand for short-term technical specialists—including welders, naval architects and HVAC engineers—who require Schengen work permits and housing near the yard.
For HR teams coordinating those permits, VisaHQ’s Finland desk offers a one-stop online platform that expedites Schengen work-permit filings, arranges biometric appointments and tracks renewals—cutting lead times and paperwork for critical path workers. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/finland/
![Royal Caribbean’s mega-ship ‘Legend of the Seas’ floats out at Meyer Turku yard]()
Passenger-mobility relevance: Once in service, Legend of the Seas will offer conference facilities for up to 1 000 delegates, creating new options for offshore corporate events. Finnish ports also expect a knock-on; test runs will call at Helsinki and Mariehamn, giving local tour providers extra traffic.
ESG features: The ship will debut ‘Category 3’ methanol-ready engines and a waste-heat recovery loop engineered in Finland, aligning with IMO 2050 targets and enhancing the country’s reputation in green maritime tech.
Outlook: Meyer Turku’s CEO signalled confidence in securing two additional large-ship contracts by year-end, which would lock in specialist labour demand—and associated global mobility needs—through 2030.
Economic footprint: The project supports around 3 000 direct shipyard jobs and another 7 000 in Finland’s maritime supply chain, from cabin fabrication in Rauma to LNG-fuel systems in Pori. For global mobility professionals, Turku’s orderbook means ongoing demand for short-term technical specialists—including welders, naval architects and HVAC engineers—who require Schengen work permits and housing near the yard.
For HR teams coordinating those permits, VisaHQ’s Finland desk offers a one-stop online platform that expedites Schengen work-permit filings, arranges biometric appointments and tracks renewals—cutting lead times and paperwork for critical path workers. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/finland/
Passenger-mobility relevance: Once in service, Legend of the Seas will offer conference facilities for up to 1 000 delegates, creating new options for offshore corporate events. Finnish ports also expect a knock-on; test runs will call at Helsinki and Mariehamn, giving local tour providers extra traffic.
ESG features: The ship will debut ‘Category 3’ methanol-ready engines and a waste-heat recovery loop engineered in Finland, aligning with IMO 2050 targets and enhancing the country’s reputation in green maritime tech.
Outlook: Meyer Turku’s CEO signalled confidence in securing two additional large-ship contracts by year-end, which would lock in specialist labour demand—and associated global mobility needs—through 2030.
