Royal Caribbean to Open 2028-29 Bookings in September 2026
Inventory may appear gradually during each target week, with shorter Caribbean sailings, Panama Canal transits and repositioning voyages still awaiting dates.
Miami-based Royal Caribbean will begin opening its 2028-2029 deployments for booking during the week of September 28, 2026, starting with the line’s full Alaska season. The first European itineraries will follow during the week of October 12, with seven-night summer Caribbean cruises scheduled for release during the week of November 2.
The calendar covers only three deployment groups, for sailings that remain roughly two years away. Most departures from fall 2028 through winter 2029 are still awaiting release windows.
The first three deployment windows
The Alaska release is expected to encompass Royal Caribbean’s full summer 2028 program in the state. The line’s Alaska seasons generally begin in early May and continue into September.
Royal Caribbean has labeled the October release as the first part of its 2028 European season. It has not specified which ships or European regions will be included.
The November window is limited to seven-night Caribbean cruises operating during summer 2028. Shorter Caribbean itineraries will be released later.
Each date identifies a target week, not a single day when every sailing will become available. Inventory could appear gradually as Royal Caribbean updates its reservation system. Some cruises may become bookable before the main release, while others are added later in the designated week.
Additional regions await dates
The calendar does not yet cover Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Bermuda, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Bahamas, or Canada and New England. Release windows are also pending for shorter Caribbean cruises, Panama Canal transits, repositioning voyages, transatlantic crossings and transpacific sailings. Royal Caribbean has said those deployment announcements are forthcoming but has not provided exact dates.
Ship assignments can change after release
Publishing a deployment does not make its ship assignments permanent. In September 2025, Royal Caribbean changed homeport plans involving four vessels on departures scheduled for 2026 and 2027. Radiance of the Seas exchanged assignments with Rhapsody of the Seas, while Vision of the Seas swapped with Brilliance of the Seas; passengers with affected reservations were contacted about their options.
Individual port calls may also change after booking because of berth availability, weather or technical issues. Changes to dry-dock schedules and homeport construction can result in broader vessel substitutions.
The opening calendar does not assign either Royal Caribbean newbuild expected in 2028: the seventh Oasis-class ship and the fifth Icon-class ship. The line has not confirmed whether either vessel will begin service in Europe.
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