We now know when Royal Caribbean will open up the first set of new 2026-2027 bookings.
The cruise line posted the dates the public can begin booking new cruises beyond what's currently available.
As is the case once again, Royal Caribbean will releases the new sailings in two parts: in the fall and again in the spring.
The good news is the first deployments will come out a bit earlier than usual, beginning in October.
Week of October 21, 2024
- Region: Alaska
- Sailing Time Frame: April – October 2026
Week of October 28, 2024
- Region: Europe
- Sailing Time Frame: April – October 2026
Week of November 11, 2024
- Region: Summer & Yearlong Caribbean
- Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027
Week of November 18, 2024
- Region: Northeast
- Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027
Week of January 27, 2025
- Region: Europe Cont.
- Sailing Time Frame: TBD
Week of February 17, 2025
- Region: Short Caribbean & West Coast
- Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027
Week of February 24, 2025
- Region: Seasonal Caribbean
- Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027
Week of March 31, 2025
- Region: Australia
- Sailing Time Frame: October 2026 – April 2027
TBD
- Region: China & Singapore
- Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027
All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
If you need help translating Royal Caribbean's code for each region, here's what you need to know.
- Yearlong Caribbean: Cruise ships that are deployed all year to the Caribbean. Does not include ships that visit the Caribbean part of the year
- Northeast: Cruises that begin from New York, Baltimore, or Boston
- Europe Cont: Expect the European cruises to come in two batches. No word on which ones will be in which batch.
- Seasonal Caribbean: Cruises that go to the Caribbean (but not from a Northeast port) that sail just part of the year.
What is a deployment schedule?
The deployment schedule is the plan for when Royal Caribbean will open select sailings for sale.
There is no indication of which day in the given week the new sailings will go on sale. It could happen any day in that week.
Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.
When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.
What should you do now to be ready to book a 2026 or 2027 cruise?
If you are in the market for a cruise during one of these new deployments, you will want to keep an eye out for once cruises go on sale.
Royal Caribbean typically allows Crown and Anchor Society members a 24 hour head start on the general public, but since anyone can sign up for Crown and Anchor Society, there is no excuse for waiting.
Talk with your travel agent in the days leading up to the new deployments coming online so you can jump on specific bookings and book them.
One of the best strategies for the lowest prices is to book a cruise as soon as it goes on sale. Hard-to-find staterooms are also available during this period, so now is the time to lock in a studio room or a suite.
Planning on booking a cruise in 2026-2027? These stories will help:
