Legendary Crew Member Bridges Cruise Ship Eras

Royal Caribbean is highlighting its crew members as the July 4, 2026 launch of the new Legend of the Seas approaches. Bingo, a Costa Rican housekeeping manager with 35 years of service across the entire Royal Caribbean fleet, is a key part of the startup crew. He previously served on the original Legend of the Seas, a Vision-class ship launched in 1995.

The new Icon-class Legend of the Seas is a vastly different vessel, measuring nearly 250,000 gross tons and accommodating 5,600 passengers, compared to its predecessor. This stark contrast illustrates the evolution of cruise ship design over three decades, from the original ship's modern glass atriums to the new ship's numerous attractions and eight distinct onboard neighborhoods.

Now that Royal Caribbean has taken delivery of the new Legend of the Seas from Meyer Turku in Finland, Bingo and his startup crew are putting the finishing touches on the ship in Cadiz, Spain. This includes preparing all onboard spaces and cabins for the maiden voyage, a seven-night Mediterranean cruise departing from Rome, Italy. Bingo finds each new ship launch an emotional and special experience, marking a new beginning.

Bingo's extensive experience includes being part of over 25 new ship launch startup crews. He noted that only one delivery, Ovation of the Seas, was missed due to two ships launching simultaneously. Despite the many launches, he describes the feeling as always being like a new beginning.