Cruise Royal Caribbean in 2026–2027: which ship and route to pick

Royal Caribbean at a glance

Fleet

30 ships in seven classes; Hero of the Seas (Icon class) is due in 2027, with more Icon- and Oasis-class ships ordered through 2030

Price tier

Mainstream, usually above Carnival and MSC for the same length of trip

Ship size

About 2,000 to 5,700 guests at double occupancy

Main regions

Bahamas and Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Bermuda and Canada, Mexico, Asia and Australia

Included

Main dining room, Windjammer buffet, some casual venues, shows and most activities

Parent company

Royal Caribbean Group, which also owns Celebrity Cruises and Silversea

Legend of the Seas entered service in July 2026. Next come Hero of the Seas in 2027, a seventh Oasis-class ship and a fifth Icon-class ship in 2028, and Icon-class ships six and seven in 2029 and 2030.

The Royal Caribbean fleet by class and size

Royal Caribbean’s classes are the best shortcut to what a cruise will feel like. Icon and Oasis are floating resorts; Quantum is big but more indoor; Freedom and Voyager are older big ships with the classic Royal Promenade; Radiance and Vision are mid-size ships with more glass and fewer crowds. Largest first; guest counts are at double occupancy.

Icon class

• Legend of the SeasIcon class, 2026, about 5,600 guestsThe newest Icon-class ship: a Mediterranean debut in July 2026, then Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale from November 2026.
  From $67 per personChecked September 2026
• Star of the SeasIcon class, 2025, about 5,600 guestsIcon of the Seas’ sister, sailing seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral. Pick it for the biggest water park at sea.
• Icon of the SeasIcon class, 2024, about 5,600 guestsThe ship that started the class: a family-focused resort with a dedicated toddler and kids zone. Sails from Miami, moving to Galveston in August 2027.

The fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, debuts in August 2027 with seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, all calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It is on sale now, but we’ll add it to the fleet list once it enters service.

Oasis class

• Utopia of the SeasOasis class, 2024, about 5,700 guestsBuilt for three- and four-night Bahamas trips: the biggest ship doing short cruises.
• Wonder of the SeasOasis class, 2022, about 5,700 guestsThe second-newest Oasis ship, after Utopia, and the first with the Suite Neighborhood.
• Symphony of the SeasOasis class, 2018, about 5,500 guestsLaser tag, slides and all seven neighborhoods at a lower fare than Wonder. Moves to Galveston from April 2027.
• Harmony of the SeasOasis class, 2016, about 5,500 guestsThe full Oasis-class layout, often at a lower fare than Wonder or Utopia.
• Allure of the SeasOasis class, 2010, about 5,500 guestsRefurbished in 2025 with the Ultimate Abyss slide; often the cheapest way onto an Oasis-class ship.
• Oasis of the SeasOasis class, 2009, about 5,600 guestsThe original. Sails from Cape Liberty near New York in summer, including from May 2027, and from Florida the rest of the year.

Quantum class

• Odyssey of the SeasQuantum Ultra, 2021, about 4,300 guestsNewest Quantum ship; SeaPlex, bumper cars and the North Star viewing capsule. Sails from Cape Liberty.
• Spectrum of the SeasQuantum Ultra, 2019, about 4,250 guestsBased in Asia; sails from Hong Kong and Shanghai in 2026–27.
• Ovation of the SeasQuantum class, 2016, about 4,200 guestsShort getaways from Los Angeles; has also sailed Alaska, with the North Star for glacier views.
• Anthem of the SeasQuantum class, 2015, about 4,200 guestsIndoor-heavy design that copes well with cooler weather; sails Alaska from Seattle and Hawaii voyages.
• Quantum of the SeasQuantum class, 2014, about 4,200 guestsThe class leader, often in Alaska from Seattle or in Australia.

Freedom and Voyager classes

• Independence of the SeasFreedom class, 2008, about 3,900 guestsRefitted with more slides; sails Bermuda, Canada and New England trips from Cape Liberty.
• Liberty of the SeasFreedom class, 2007, about 3,800 guestsBig-ship features without Oasis-class crowds.
• Freedom of the SeasFreedom class, 2006, about 3,900 guestsShort Bahamas trips with a CocoCay day.
• Navigator of the SeasVoyager class, 2002, about 3,400 guestsA long-time Los Angeles ship; based in Singapore from October 2026 to October 2027, then back to Los Angeles for Mexican Riviera cruises.
• Mariner of the SeasVoyager class, 2003, about 3,300 guestsRefitted for short Bahamas cruises.
• Adventure of the SeasVoyager class, 2001, about 3,100 guestsOften on Southern Caribbean and Bahamas routes.
• Explorer of the SeasVoyager class, 2000, about 3,300 guestsAn older big ship; choose it for price and route.
• Voyager of the SeasVoyager class, 1999, about 3,600 guestsThe first ship with the Royal Promenade and an ice rink; Alaska from Seattle in summer, Mexico from Los Angeles in winter 2026–27.

Radiance and Vision classes (mid-size)

• Jewel of the SeasRadiance class, 2004, about 2,200 guestsLots of glass and a calmer feel; good for Europe and scenic routes.
• Serenade of the SeasRadiance class, 2003, about 2,100 guestsRan Royal Caribbean’s round-the-world Ultimate World Cruise in 2023–24; now sails Alaska from Vancouver.
• Brilliance of the SeasRadiance class, 2002, about 2,100 guestsA mid-size ship for port-heavy routes.
• Radiance of the SeasRadiance class, 2001, about 2,100 guestsHas sailed Alaska for years; big windows for scenery.
• Vision of the SeasVision class, 1998, about 2,000 guestsSmall and older; Royal’s Baltimore ship for Bermuda, the Bahamas and Canada.
• Enchantment of the SeasVision class, 1997, about 2,300 guestsShort cruises at low fares.
• Rhapsody of the SeasVision class, 1997, about 2,000 guestsMid-size and often on longer Caribbean or Europe routes.
• Grandeur of the SeasVision class, 1996, about 2,000 guestsThe oldest and smallest ship in the fleet; still scheduled through 2027, but check it is sailing for Royal on your dates.

Where Royal Caribbean sails by season

• All year, Bahamas and Caribbean: most sailings leave from Florida (Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa) and Galveston, and nearly all Bahamas and many Caribbean routes call at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Bahamas cruises also run from New York (Cape Liberty in Bayonne), on Oasis of the Seas in summer and Odyssey of the Seas in winter, and from Baltimore on Vision of the Seas, which sails there year-round.
• Western vs Southern Caribbean: Western routes visit Mexico, Honduras (including Roatan) and Belize; Southern routes, many from San Juan, visit the ABC islands and the Eastern Caribbean.
• May to September, Alaska: seven-night round trips from Seattle (Anthem, Quantum and Voyager of the Seas) and from Vancouver (Serenade of the Seas), plus one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward. See our best cruise lines for Alaska.
• Mexico: short trips to Ensenada and longer Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles: Voyager and Ovation of the Seas in winter 2026–27, Ovation and Navigator of the Seas in 2027–28.
• Summer and fall, Bermuda and Canada: from Cape Liberty (Independence of the Seas) and Baltimore (Vision of the Seas), including fall-foliage trips to New England and the Maritimes. Royal Caribbean’s announced Northeast programs for 2026–27 and 2027–28 are based at Cape Liberty and Baltimore, not Boston, which appears as a port of call on some Canada and New England routes.
• April to October, Mediterranean and Northern Europe: from Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Southampton and others.
• Hawaii: a short spring and fall season on Anthem of the Seas, including cruises from Honolulu and voyages between Vancouver and Hawaii. It is not a year-round program.

Destination guides for these regions: the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and New England, Europe, Greece, Northern Europe.

What’s included and what’s extra

Included: the main dining room, the Windjammer buffet, some casual spots, shows (including ice shows and aqua shows on the ships that have them), and most activities: pools, slides, surfing simulators and climbing walls.

Extra: specialty restaurants, drinks packages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, some attractions (such as the Crown’s Edge ropes course on Icon-class ships), and the paid areas at CocoCay such as Thrill Waterpark and the Coco Beach Club.

Cabins: beyond ordinary inside, ocean-view and balcony cabins, look for “virtual balcony” inside cabins on Quantum- and Icon-class ships, and Central Park or Boardwalk balconies on Oasis- and Icon-class ships, which face inward over the ship’s neighborhoods rather than the sea.

Finding a Royal Caribbean deal

Royal Caribbean runs sales almost constantly, so a “discount” is normal, not special. The cheapest ways onto the line are short Bahamas trips, older Voyager- and Vision-class ships and sailings outside school holidays. Newer ships in summer and at Christmas rarely go cheap. Our last-minute cruise deals page tracks the lines that discount closest to sailing.

Royal Caribbean in 2027

The big changes for 2027 are the first full year of Legend of the Seas, the arrival of Hero of the Seas in Miami in August, and Icon of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas moving to Galveston. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, a paid day-pass beach club in Nassau, opened in December 2025. Perfect Day Mexico, at Costa Maya, is planned to open in late 2027, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel is also in the works. Neither has a firm opening date yet, so don’t book a cruise for either one until it appears on your itinerary.

How Royal Caribbean compares

• Against Carnival: bigger ships and more activities, usually at a higher fare. See our Carnival guide and the coming Royal Caribbean vs Carnival.
• Against Norwegian and MSC: more thrills than NCL, more polish than MSC; see Norwegian and MSC.
• Families: the Icon and Oasis ships lead our best family cruises.
• Overall: where Royal Caribbean lands in our cruise line rankings.

Royal Caribbean sailings and prices

Sample Royal Caribbean sailings. From-prices per person, checked September 2026.

Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
Oct 22, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas	3	3 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise (from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy)	$898	Check price
Oct 25, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas	13	13 Night Spanish Transatlantic Cruise (from Barcelona, Spain)	$1,390	Check price
Oct 30, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Voyager of the Seas	6	6 Night Cabo Overnight & Ensenada (from Los Angeles, California)	$91	Check price
Nov 1, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas	6	6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise (from New Orleans, Louisiana)	$400	Check price
Nov 8, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Enchantment of the Seas	7	7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day (from Tampa, Florida)	$269	Check price
Nov 11, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas	3	3 Nt Legend Naming Cruise To Perfect Day (from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida)	$866	Check price
Nov 15, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Enchantment of the Seas	7	7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise (from Tampa, Florida)	$319	Check price
Nov 15, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Serenade of the Seas	7	7 Night Ensenada, Cabo & La Paz Cruise (from San Diego, California)	$136	Check price
Nov 15, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Independence of the Seas	7	7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day (from Miami, Florida)	$399	Check price
Nov 28, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas	8	8 Nt Southern Caribbean & Perfect Day (from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida)	$1,738	Check price
Nov 29, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Serenade of the Seas	4	4 Night Catalina & Ensenada Cruise (from San Diego, California)	$80	Check price
Dec 3, 2026	Royal Caribbean, Serenade of the Seas	3	3 Night Ensenada Cruise (from San Diego, California)	$67	Check price

Royal Caribbean FAQ

Which Royal Caribbean ship is best?

For families, one of the Icon-class ships (Icon, Star or Legend of the Seas), then the newer Oasis-class ships. For couples who want less bustle, a Quantum- or Radiance-class ship.

Does Royal Caribbean do Alaska cruises?

Yes, every summer, with round trips from Seattle and Vancouver and one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward. In 2026–27 the ships are Anthem, Quantum and Voyager of the Seas from Seattle and Serenade of the Seas from Vancouver.

What is a 7-night Bahamas cruise on Royal Caribbean like?

Usually several sea days, Nassau, a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay and sometimes a Florida port. From New York or Baltimore, expect more sea days because of the distance.

Does Royal Caribbean sail to Hawaii?

Only in short seasons, on Anthem of the Seas in spring and fall, including cruises from Honolulu and longer voyages from Vancouver. For a week in Hawaii at any time of year, Norwegian’s Pride of America is the only year-round option.

Does Royal Caribbean sail the Mediterranean?

Yes, every summer, including on some of its biggest ships, with cruises starting in Barcelona, Rome and other ports.