Mega-Ships, Istanbul Sailings, an...
Mega-Ships, Istanbul Sailings, and Hydrogen Cruising
Cruise News by Cruise News
Sep 17, 2026
12:00
Episode notes
Royal Caribbean is pushing for growth in Türkiye as Icon-class hardware reshapes its Mediterranean deployment: Legend of the Seas, at roughly 250,000 gross tons and 5,610 guests at double occupancy, began sailing July 4, 2026 and stays in the Mediterranean for 2027, while Odyssey of the Seas moves to the Eastern Mediterranean and Hero of the Seas debuts from Miami in August 2027. Costa Cruises will homeport the 3,000-guest Costa Pacifica in Istanbul for 28 seven-night sailings starting April 18, 2027, reserving 2,800 cabins for the Turkish market and calling at Izmir, Mykonos, Santorini, Athens and Volos, with Crete and Rhodes replacing Izmir and Volos from late May. And Viking Astrea floated out at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard on September 11, 2026 — 54,300 gross tons, 998 guests in 499 staterooms, and a hybrid diesel and liquefied-hydrogen fuel-c ... 
Keywords
Royal Caribbean
Legend of the Seas
cruise industry
Mediterranean cruises
Costa Cruises
cruise news
Fincantieri
Odyssey of the Seas
Viking
homeport
Istanbul
Galataport
Icon of the Seas
cruise ships
2027 cruises
Turkiye
Costa Pacifica
Viking Astrea
Ancona
hydrogen fuel cells