November 6, 2026
Legend of the Seas Diverts for Coast Guard Airlift, Still Due Saturday at 5 a.m.
Legend of the Seas diverted toward Puerto Rico on Wednesday night so the U.S. Coast Guard could airlift a passenger needing emergency medical care. The ship is back on course and still scheduled to reach Fort Lauderdale on Saturday at 5 a.m.
Legend of the Seas diverted toward Puerto Rico on Wednesday night after a passenger experienced a medical emergency during the ship's first transatlantic crossing. The captain announced the emergency on Wednesday evening, and the ship changed course to move within range of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
The helicopter met the ship shortly after sunrise on Thursday morning. Legend of the Seas has no helipad, so a Coast Guard service member was lowered onto the bow and the passenger was lifted off in a basket, then flown ashore for further medical care. The passenger's identity and condition have not been publicly confirmed.
What it means for your sailing: Royal Caribbean has announced no delay to Legend's first U.S. arrival, and the ship is sailing at 22 knots toward Port Everglades, still scheduled to arrive Saturday, November 7, at 5 a.m. The three-night CocoCay getaway departing November 8, the naming ceremony on November 11, and the official inaugural sailing that evening are all still on as planned. Guests booked on those sailings do not need to change anything, and anyone on the transatlantic crossing disembarks in Fort Lauderdale as scheduled.
