Royal Caribbean Cancels 20+ Freedom of the Seas PortMiami Sailings

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled more than 20 Freedom of the Seas cruises that had been scheduled to sail from PortMiami between May and September 2027. The affected itineraries ranged from five to nine nights and were set to visit the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

What’s changing for Freedom of the Seas bookings

The cancelled sailings were part of Freedom of the Seas’ planned summer 2027 schedule out of Miami, including a mix of Bahamas and Caribbean routes. Some of the itineraries were also scheduled to call in the Southern Caribbean and the Dominican Republic.

Royal Caribbean notified impacted guests directly and tied the decision to its broader itinerary planning process. “Sometimes it requires flexibility due to scheduling, port agreements or operational needs,” the company wrote in messages to passengers.

The cruise line also added an apology in its guest communication: “We know how much effort goes into planning your vacation and apologize for the inconvenience.”

Refunds, rebooking, and how Royal Caribbean says it will handle pricing

In guidance shared with affected passengers, Royal Caribbean outlined options to move to another sailing or receive a full refund, along with how it will treat fare differences depending on the replacement itinerary selected.

• Refund or alternate cruise: Guests can rebook onto a similar Caribbean itinerary or request a full refund.
• Same length or longer: If a passenger moves to a cruise that is the same length (or longer), Royal Caribbean said it will protect the original stateroom category price or lower it to the current fare.
• Shorter sailing: If a passenger moves to a shorter cruise, the fare will be adjusted to the current price or prorated for the reduced number of nights, using the lower of the two.
• Difference refunded when applicable: If a guest has paid in full and selects an option that results in a lower fare, Royal Caribbean said it will refund the difference.

How the company described the decision

In a statement provided through The Independent, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said deployment decisions can change as the company reviews fleet needs. “Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements and broader fleet considerations,” the spokesperson said.

The Independent also reported that Freedom of the Seas is expected to be redeployed to Southampton during the same May-to-September 2027 window, though Royal Caribbean’s passenger messaging focused on cancellations and rebooking pathways and did not include public itinerary details for where the ship would operate instead.

Mariner of the Seas returns to service after drydock

Separately, Mariner of the Seas has resumed operations following an extensive drydock period at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport. Returning to its homeport in Galveston, the 2003-built ship sailed on March 17, 2026, on a four-night Western Caribbean itinerary that included Cozumel and two days at sea.

Over the coming months, Mariner of the Seas is scheduled to continue offering short cruises from Texas, with destinations that include Costa Maya alongside Cozumel. The ship’s schedule also includes a one-off 10-night Western Caribbean voyage departing March 31, 2026, with stops in Jamaica, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Belize, and Honduras.

Repositioning plans: New Orleans in 2026, Southampton in 2027

Later in 2026, Mariner of the Seas is set to reposition from Galveston to New Orleans for weeklong Western Caribbean cruises. Those itineraries are slated to include ports such as Cozumel, George Town, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios.

In 2027, the Voyager-class ship is scheduled to return to Europe for the first time in years, operating from Southampton between May and October with itineraries to destinations including Scandinavia, Western Europe, and the North Sea. Cruise Industry News has previously outlined Royal Caribbean’s 2027 Europe plans as including Mariner of the Seas sailing from Southampton on Northern and Western Europe itineraries, alongside reporting that Freedom of the Seas will also be in Southampton during that summer timeframe.

More fleet work underway: Ovation of the Seas enters drydock in Singapore

Royal Caribbean is also moving forward with a major refurbishment of Ovation of the Seas, which recently entered drydock in Singapore as part of the line’s Royal Amplified program. Planned updates include a revamped pool deck, the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, new dining options such as Izumi Teppanyaki, and the addition of 40 extra staterooms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Freedom of the Seas cruises were cancelled?

Royal Caribbean cancelled more than 20 cruises scheduled to depart from PortMiami between May and September 2027. The affected itineraries were five to nine nights long and were set to visit the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

How does Royal Caribbean handle price changes when rebooking?

Royal Caribbean told impacted guests it will protect the original stateroom category price or lower it to the current fare when moving to an equal-length or longer sailing. For shorter replacement cruises, the line said it will adjust the fare to the current price or prorate it for the reduced number of nights, using the lower of the two; if a paid-in-full guest selects an option with a lower fare, Royal Caribbean said it will refund the difference.

What ports will Mariner of the Seas visit on its 10-night Western Caribbean voyage?

The 10-night itinerary departing March 31, 2026, includes stops in Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Honduras.

What new features will Ovation of the Seas have after its refurbishment?

Royal Caribbean’s planned updates include a redesigned pool deck, the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, new dining venues including Izumi Teppanyaki, and 40 additional staterooms.