The world’s largest cruise ship made history in Malaga on Monday night as it embarked on its inaugural voyage from the Costa del Sol.

Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet, departed Malaga Port at around 10.20pm.

The send-off was accompanied by a fireworks display visible across much of the city.

The spectacular vessel kicked off its maiden journey to Rome as it launched its first Mediterranean cruise season.

At around 365 metres long and capable of carrying almost 7,600 passengers at full capacity, Legend of the Seas is the latest ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and is the largest cruise ship to ever sail from Malaga.

The departure marks another milestone for Malaga Port, which has become one of the Mediterranean’s fastest-growing cruise hubs in recent years, attracting an increasing number of the world’s biggest vessels.

Thousands of spectators were expected to line Muelle Uno, La Farola and the city’s beaches to watch the ship leave port under a fireworks display.

The maiden voyage comes as Malaga continues to strengthen its position as one of southern Europe’s leading cruise destinations, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city each year.

However, not everyone was as welcoming of the celebrations.

The announcement of a fireworks display sparked criticism from some residents, who argued the city should move away from noisy pyrotechnics because of their impact on animals, elderly people and those with sensory sensitivities.

One local wrote on X: ‘No to fireworks! It’s shameful that the city council is organising a fireworks display knowing the negative consequences it has for so many people and animals.’

Others questioned whether the money could have been better spent elsewhere, with one resident complaining that while the city enjoys ‘lights and spectacles’, many people are struggling to afford housing and public services remain under pressure.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.