Royal Caribbean Unveils 11-Ship Caribbean Deployment for 2028
Hero of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon Class vessel, is scheduled to welcome its first passengers August 1, 2027, before beginning Miami sailings in April 2028.
Royal Caribbean has unveiled an 11-ship Caribbean and Mexico deployment for April through October 2028, with departures from Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Northeast. The season went on sale to Crown & Anchor Society members on November 5, 2026, with general bookings scheduled to open later that afternoon.
The lineup includes four Icon Class ships operating from separate homeports, alongside Symphony of the Seas, which is scheduled to receive Royal Amplified upgrades for the season. Voyages range from four to nine nights, with the Northeast schedule also extending to Bermuda, Canada and New England. The deployment announcement did not include an executive statement.
Four homeports for the Icon Class
Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class vessel, will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami beginning in April. Destinations include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Cozumel, Mexico; and Perfect Day CocoCay in the Bahamas. Its onboard facilities will include nine pools, more than 40 dining and beverage options, and the three-story Ultimate Family Treehouse accommodation.
From Galveston, Icon of the Seas will operate six- and eight-night Western Caribbean cruises calling at Cozumel and Roatan, Honduras, among other destinations.
Star of the Seas will offer seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from Port Canaveral. Its destination lineup includes Samana in the Dominican Republic, San Juan, Charlotte Amalie, Cozumel and CocoCay.
Legend of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale on six- and eight-night itineraries beginning in April, visiting Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic, Oranjestad in Aruba and CocoCay. The ship’s onboard program includes 28 dining options, the Royal Railway–Legend Station dining experience and a production of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Additional Florida departures and private destinations
Symphony of the Seas will join Hero in Miami, offering six- and eight-night Caribbean cruises with calls including Willemstad, Curacao, and Falmouth, Jamaica. The Oasis Class ship’s existing attractions include the Ultimate Abyss dry slide and AquaTheater, alongside more than 20 dining venues.
Harmony of the Seas, following its own amplification, will operate seven-night Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, including visits to CocoCay and Nassau. Its onboard offerings include an updated Caribbean-inspired pool deck and The Lime & Coconut bar.
Brilliance of the Seas completes the Florida deployment with six- and seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa beginning in April. Calls include Belize City, with access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and Grand Cayman, where excursions include Stingray City.
In Nassau, passengers can purchase day passes to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which offers beaches, pools, swim-up bars and Bahamian cuisine. At CocoCay, options include Thrill Waterpark, the adults-only Hideaway Beach and Coco Beach Club.
San Juan and Northeast itineraries
Enchantment of the Seas will operate seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan. The port lineup includes Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; Castries, St. Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; and Bridgetown, Barbados.
From Baltimore, Vision of the Seas will offer five- to nine-night voyages to Bermuda and Southern Caribbean destinations, including Fort-de-France, Martinique, and Antigua. Bermuda excursions include Horseshoe Bay Beach and the Crystal Caves.
Cape Liberty will host two ships. Independence of the Seas will offer four- to nine-night spring cruises across Canada, New England, Bermuda and the Eastern Caribbean, including Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Oasis of the Seas will operate seven-night Caribbean sailings calling at CocoCay and Nassau.
Ahead of the summer deployment, Hero is scheduled to welcome its first passengers on August 1, 2027. Royal Caribbean will detail the new experiences planned for Symphony’s amplification at a later date.
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