Legend of the Seas departed Dubai on March 13 on her final cruise with Royal Caribbean International, marking the end of an illustrious cruising career.
 
The 22-year-old cruise ship is the oldest in the Royal Caribbean International fleet. Launched in 1996, she has sailed more than 600 cruise itineraries without incident and is the most-travelled ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
 
During her career she has been based in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, Caribbean, the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Middle East. No other Royal Caribbean ship has been so widely deployed.
 
Legend will be handed over to TUI Group’s Thomson Cruises subsidiary after her arrival in Barcelona in two weeks.
 
"Since its inaugural sailing, Legend of the Seas has created many wonderful memories for hundreds of thousands of guests, and we expect this successful history to continue as she transitions to Thomson Cruises," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises. "While she will be missed, her transition supports our objective of moderate capacity growth."

Legend of the Seas is scheduled to depart Dubai Cruise Terminal at 8pm, with events planned on-board to mark her last ever sailing under Royal Caribbean colours.
 
“The fact that she is sailing from Dubai on this last ever cruise speaks to the importance of the city as a new global cruise destination,” a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said.
 
Legend of the Seas was in port in Dubai at the same time as her fleet mate and sister ship Vision of the Seas, which is currently homeporting in Dubai for the 2016/17 cruise season. - TradeArabia News Service