Royal Caribbean to Homeport Icon of the Seas in Galveston in 2027

Royal Caribbean will move Icon of the Seas to Galveston, Texas, starting in August 2027, expanding its largest-ship deployment beyond its traditional Florida hubs as part of a broader round of U.S. homeport assignments for the 2027-28 season.

The Galveston plan is paired with a separate update for the Mid-Atlantic: Vision of the Seas is scheduled to return to Baltimore for a summer-and-fall run in 2027 after Royal Caribbean previously indicated it would not operate winter 2026-2027 sailings from the port.

Icon of the Seas set to homeport in Galveston starting August 2027

Royal Caribbean said Icon of the Seas will sail from Galveston beginning in August 2027 on six- to eight-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Ports listed for the ship’s new Texas program include Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the company’s private destination in the Bahamas.

The move is notable because it is the first time a ship of Icon of the Seas’ size will be based in Galveston, highlighting Royal Caribbean’s push to grow its presence in Texas.

Royal Caribbean’s Galveston lineup will also include Symphony of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Liberty of the Seas is scheduled to receive an “amplification” in 2026, with new features that Royal Caribbean has said will include a reimagined pool deck with The Lime & Coconut bar, ocean-view casitas, and a Royal Escape Room experience.

Royal Caribbean’s published itineraries for the ship’s Galveston deployment also reference the new Royal Beach Club Cozumel, which is slated to open in late 2026.

Vision of the Seas returning to Baltimore on a May-to-October schedule

For Baltimore, Royal Caribbean’s booking schedule shows Vision of the Seas operating between May and October 2027, shifting the line’s presence there from year-round cruising to a seasonal pattern. The 915-foot ship is listed with at least 20 departures during the May-to-October window.

The seasonal plan follows an earlier Royal Caribbean deployment update in March that indicated the line would no longer offer Baltimore cruises during the winter 2026-2027 period. Vision of the Seas has sailed from Baltimore since 2023, with more than 40 departures per year in prior years, according to details cited by the port and the line’s published schedules.

What Royal Caribbean has said about the winter gap and seasonal strategy

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley addressed Baltimore sailings during a question-and-answer session on the line’s President’s Cruise, describing the approach as a warmer-month operation.

“It’s seasonal. It’s coming back. It’ll be back every summer,” Bayley said.

Bayley tied the shift to winter operating conditions for northeastern ports, saying, “It’s just logistics and reality. Winter products out of northeastern ports just have more challenges.”

He also emphasized the company’s relationship with the region: “We are happy to be operating out of Baltimore. Baltimore is super supportive to Royal Caribbean, and we know there’s a lot of guests in the area who like sailing from there,” Bayley said.

Itinerary details: Bermuda, Bahamas, and Canada and New England sailings

Royal Caribbean’s 2027 Baltimore schedule includes a mix of five- and nine-night voyages. The lineup features Bermuda sailings that include two days in Royal Naval Dockyard, as well as longer itineraries pairing Bermuda with stops in the Bahamas.

The nine-night options include Canada and New England routing with calls such as Boston; Portland, Maine; Saint John (Bay of Fundy); and Halifax, according to the published itineraries.

Where Vision of the Seas is scheduled before returning to Maryland

Before the ship returns to Baltimore for the 2027 season, Royal Caribbean’s published deployment information places Vision of the Seas in other homeports. The ship is scheduled to be based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in late 2026, and Royal Caribbean has previously said the vessel would move to Fort Lauderdale in 2026.

With those moves, the Baltimore market is currently set for a gap in Royal Caribbean sailings from November 2026 through April 2027 before Vision of the Seas returns for summer and fall cruises beginning in May 2027.

Port of Baltimore talks, bridge limits, and why ship size matters

At a Maryland Port Commission meeting, Jonathan Daniels, the Port of Baltimore’s executive director, said discussions about the future of Royal Caribbean cruising from Baltimore were still in progress. Daniels said a long-term deal had not been finalized, adding, “We hope to be able to make some announcements fairly soon.”

Daniels also said the port would pursue options to keep cruise activity steady during any period without a locally homeported Royal Caribbean vessel. “We would do everything we could to fill that gap,” he said.

Ship size is a central factor for Baltimore. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge provides about 185 feet of clearance beneath its roadway, which limits ships that require more than 210 feet of clearance from calling on the port. Daniels said Baltimore can benefit as the industry concentrates newer, larger ships in less restricted markets. “They are cascading the smaller vessels into other ports,” Daniels said. “That’s where we’re able to take advantage.”

The Port of Baltimore reported more than 444,000 passenger embarkations in 2023, the third-highest total in port history and the strongest year since 2012. Baltimore is one of the busiest cruise ports on the East Coast outside Florida, although its navigational constraints limit which vessels can serve the market.

Vision of the Seas is one of two cruise ships that rotate through Baltimore. The other ship, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, is scheduled to remain in Baltimore until 2030 under an agreement reached about a year ago.

How the Baltimore and Galveston moves fit into Royal Caribbean’s wider 2027-28 plan

Royal Caribbean’s 2027-28 deployment lineup spans multiple U.S. homeports, with the company assigning different classes of ships based on demand and port constraints. In the Northeast, Oasis of the Seas is slated to redeploy to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, offering seven-night cruises to the Bahamas beginning in May 2027, while Odyssey of the Seas and Independence of the Seas will also sail from the port with extended Caribbean itineraries.

On the West Coast, Ovation of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas will continue operations from Los Angeles, with Ovation positioned for shorter getaways and Navigator offering seven-night Mexican Riviera voyages. Royal Caribbean has described the overall approach as placing newer, larger ships in high-demand ports, while smaller ships are assigned to markets that cannot accommodate the biggest vessels.

Royal Caribbean’s 2027-28 sailings are already open for booking through the company’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program, with bookings scheduled to open to the general public on Nov. 13, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will Vision of the Seas begin sailing from Baltimore?

Vision of the Seas is scheduled to sail from Baltimore between May and October 2027, with itineraries that include Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Canada and New England.

Why is Royal Caribbean shifting to seasonal service in Baltimore?

Royal Caribbean executives have pointed to the challenges of winter operations from northeastern homeports. Michael Bayley said, “It’s just logistics and reality. Winter products out of northeastern ports just have more challenges,” and described Baltimore as a seasonal operation that will return each summer.

Why can’t larger new cruise ships homeport in Baltimore?

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge provides about 185 feet of clearance beneath its roadway, which limits ships that require more than 210 feet of clearance from calling on the port.

What itineraries will Icon of the Seas offer from Galveston?

Starting in August 2027, Icon of the Seas is scheduled to offer six- to eight-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, with stops including Roatan, Cozumel, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Are 2027-28 cruises available for booking?

Yes. Royal Caribbean’s 2027-28 sailings are already available through the company’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program, and the line has said bookings will open to the general public on Nov. 13, 2025.