Royal Caribbean is going to offer more cruise ships, from more cruise ports on the West Coast of the United States.
The cruise line released new sailings from California that includes a shakeup of its lineup, along with a new homeport.
Beginning in October 2026, Royal Caribbean will homeport a ship in San Diego.
Serenade of the Seas will offer a variety of sailings from San Diego down to Ensenada, Mexico and the Mexican Riviera.
Other than a repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal, Royal Caribbean has not used San Diego as a homeport for a long time. This marks an expansion for the cruise line to a second homeport in California.
Two other Royal Caribbean ships will call California home as well in the 2026-2027 cruise season.
Voyager of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas will be based out of Los Angeles (San Pedro), and also offer cruises to the Mexican Riviera.
For the first time since 2021, Navigator of the Seas will not sail from LA, and instead, Voyager will take her place.
Navigator is headed to Asia for her regular maintenance work, and then is rumored to be sailing from Australia.
Voyager of the Seas will offer a mix of 3- to 7-night cruises from Los Angeles to destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, and Mazatlan.
Ovation of the Seas will mirror what Voyager has, and be a second ship based from LA.
Ovation is even bigger than Voyager, and is best known for its entertainment and dining choices onboard.
Quantum Class ships also offer more modern amenities, including the North Star observation pod, a skydiving simulator, and an enclosed SeaPlex, which features activities like bumper cars and roller skating.
The new sailings are available to book immediately.
Best things to try on Mexican Riviera cruise
The West Coast of Mexico is unlike so much of the rest of Mexico, especially if you're only used to Cozumel.
The Mexican Riviera extends south from California, and is best known for its rich cultural and culinary choices, beautiful beaches, and scuba diving.
Here's what you could try in each of the ports.
Ensenada
Ensenada is located quite close to the United States, and while it's not the most popular port in Mexico, there's more to do here if you look past the tourist bars.
It's home to a natural wonder, La Bufadora, which is a natural geyser that you can see and hear.
There's also many wineries in the area that are highly regarded.
And yes, there's a big party scene here, so if that's your thing, try Hussong's Cantina. It's famous for being where the margarita was invented, and is the oldest and best known cantina in Baja California, Mexico.
Catalina Island
An island retreat across from Los Angeles, Catalina Island is the perfect spot to enjoy shopping and dining.
The most popular activity is to rent a golf cart and explore the island on your own.
Cabo San Lucas
There's so much to try in Cabo, especially if you book a cruise that overnights here.
Whale watching is popular to spot migrating humpback whales between December and April.
Swimming and golf are popular too, along with a visit to Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila bar.
Mazatlan
The "old town" of Mazatlan is the most famous spot in this city, which has a number of historic sites from the cities origins.
If history isn't your thing, there's plenty of beaches to enjoy as well. You can walk down the 10-mile long seaside promenade and enjoy the ocean and nearby shops or restaurants.
Puerto Vallarta
Known for its culinary delights as well as colonial history, Puerto Vallarta is where so many Americans living on the West Coast vacation because its beaches and offerings are so good.
You could go to El Centro and explore arguably the best food in Mexico, or head to one of the many beach resorts with a day pass.
More cruises to be announced in coming weeks
Royal Caribbean is on the precipice of releasing many more cruises.
Following the newly released California cruises, we can expect a steady stream of new releases as follows:
- Week of February 17, 2025: Europe 2.0
- Week of February 24, 2025: Short Caribbean
- Week of March 3, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean
- Week of March 10, 2025: China
- Week of March 17, 2025: Singapore
- Week of June 2, 2025: Australia
Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean has changed its deployment schedule quite a few times already, so this schedule is subject to change.
