Massive Royal Caribbean ships have been unable to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, for months due to ongoing improvements to the pier infrastructure. Most recently, more sailings aboard Icon of the Seas have replaced their visits to San Juan with other Caribbean ports. 

The new string of changes affects cruises through July 2025. Guests booked on the May 3, June 7, June 21, and July 19 sailings received an email indicating they're no longer scheduled to call at San Juan. 

"Before your vacation begins, we wanted to inform you about some changes to our itinerary. Due to ongoing improvements to the pier infrastructure in San Juan, the port operators have advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit," the email begins. 

Three out of four of the voyages will now call at Ponce, Puerto Rico, while the July 19 voyage is skipping Puerto Rico entirely and heading to Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. 

The email continues, "We'll now enjoy a visit to Philipsburg, St. Maarten on Day 4. We'll still visit Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, now on Day 5 instead of Day 4. Thank you for your understanding - it's exciting to share this new destination with you."

Instead of nixing Puerto Rico from the itinerary completely, the May 3, June 7, and June 21 voyages will visit Ponce instead of San Juan. 

"Ponce has a captivating history as Puerto Rico's second-largest city is full of laid-back vibes and nostalgic charm. Enjoy a stroll through Plaza de las Delicias or unwind like a true Ponceño along La Guancha boardwalk," reads the email sent to booked passengers. 

"Want to dine like a local? Set your sights on cocina criolla, a blend of Spanish, Taino, American and African flavors - be sure to try Puerto Rico's national dish, mofongo (fried [plantains] mashed with garlic and olive oil). Finish the day with a scoop of hand-churned, tropical-flavored, ice cream at King's Cream, open since 1964. Whatever you choose to do on your adventure, you're sure to have a memorable time."

Guests with pre-paid shore excursions in San Juan will receive an automatic refund to their original form of payment. No other compensation is being provided. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship: Review, Photos

Symphony of the Seas changes

Passengers aboard Symphony of the Seas' April 6, 2025, cruise were also notified that they'll be skipping San Juan. 

"We’ll still visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, as originally planned. You’ll now get to explore the beautiful, Labadee, Haiti and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. [And] We’re dialing up the fun by adding an extra port to your itinerary! We’ll now visit Nassau, Bahamas on Day 3 of our sailing," reads the email. 

The original 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise was scheduled to call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, San Juan, and St. Maarten, respectively. This means that other than CocoCay, the entire itinerary has been updated. 

Ongoing issues docking in San Juan

Oasis and Icon Class ships have not visited San Juan since November 2024 because of ongoing construction with Pier 3-West. 

The issue hasn't impacted all ships, as San Juan has more than one pier for cruises. For example, Adventure of the Seas, an older Royal Caribbean ship measuring 137,276 gross registered tons (GRT), successfully docked in San Juan on Tuesday, February 24, 2025. 

In comparison, Icon of the Seas comes in at 248,663 GRT. Because of her size, Icon—and other Oasis Class ships—can only dock at Pier 3-West. 

According to Cruise Mapper, Scarlet Lady, Sun Princess, Marella Discovery, and Viking Sea also arrived in San Juan on Tuesday, Feb. 25 without issue. 

Large cruise ships, such as Symphony of the Seas, have been diverted from San Juan to alternative ports, including Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Nassau, leading to dismay from guests. 

"These are major downgrades of ports…both Falmouth and Nassau suck and I tried to avoid them when initially booking the cruise," wrote one disappointed passenger on Reddit.

In January, local media outlet El Vocero reported that the Coast Guard was making progress in its repair efforts and claimed the pier could be fixed by late January. This, however, did not come to fruition. 

The issue began in April 2024 when MSC Meraviglia collided with the pier and caused "catastrophic damage." San Juan Cruise Port recently filed a lawsuit against MSC, as well as its insurers, to recover some of the costs associated with the damages and repairs, as reported by The Street. 

MSC is being accused of negligence for operating MSC Meraviglia with excessive speed and failure to follow proper docking procedures, including not using the available tug assistance or successfully aligning the vessel with the mooring dolphin. 

A dolphin is a group of pilings that serve as a protective hardpoint along a dock and help secure a cruise ship to the pier. 

The ongoing repairs are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, and the work is managed by the Puerto Rican authorities and is subject to Coast Guard approval. 

The Instagram-famous Captain Kate McCue is bidding a fond farewell to Celebrity Cruises. 

Captain Kate shared the news on her Instagram on Monday, February 24. 

"Today, I saw farewell to Celebrity," she begins, "I've spent the last 22 years on 11 ships in the Royal Caribbean Group, from 2nd Officer to Captain. I have seen some of the most beautiful places, met inspiring and wonderful people, and had opportunities to live my 12-year-old dream out loud!"

In 2003, Captain Kate began working for Royal Caribbean Group as 2nd Officer onboard Nordic Empress. Then, she became a 1st Officer on Brilliance, Mariner, and Independence of the Seas, according to her LinkedIn. 

However, she rose to prominence when she became the Captain of the Celebrity Summit at 37 years old in 2015. It was the first time an American woman had been named Captain of a mega cruise ship, and she has been with Celebrity Cruises ever since. 

Throughout her time as a Captain, she gained notoriety online. As of February 2025, she has over 4.6 million combined followers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where she gives glimpses into the daily life of a cruise ship Captain. 

For example, she gave behind-the-scenes footage of the Celebrity Beyond's development during the ship's construction, as well as filmed a video showing what her living quarters looked like. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an average cruise ship cabin! 

She also used her platform to help cruisers understand the not-so-fun parts of being a Captain, such as making the disappointing decision to cancel ports of call due to weather.  

Captain Kate was also famous for her sphynx cat who lived with her onboard while at sea. Unfortunately, the 8-year-old Bug Naked passed away from complications following a routine dental surgery the day after Christmas. 

Celebrity Cruises' social media team shared a heartfelt comment on Captain Kate's post: "The journey we have shared together has been absolutely amazing. You brought passion and heart to everything you did, inspiring so many along the way, and leaving a lasting mark on our industry. We wish you fair winds and following seas, always. 💙 ⚓️"

Other users took to the comments to wish Captain Kate the best in her future endeavors. 

"Captain you’re gonna be so missed! You’re such an inspiration and I hope our paths will cross again❤️ Wishing you all the best!!" wrote bettinald. 

meredithreese added, "@captainkatemccue you are just an absolute gem of a human. So grateful our souls crossed!! Wishing you blessings and amazing energy on your continued journeys!! 🩵🩵🩵"

"Captain, you are such an inspiration to us all and easily one of the most impressive humans we’ve ever met," said cruisewithjj. 

"We will all miss you but are also so grateful for the times we had sailing the seas together under your leadership, witty humor, and genuine kindness for us all. ❤️"

She's not retiring 

Per Captain Kate's Instagram post, she isn't ready for life on land. 

"You might be wondering why I am leaving," she continues, "Simply put, life has an incredible way of reminding us what's important and changing up priorities. I've recently had some big life changes, and this just happens to be one of those."

"Are my sailing days over? Absolutely not. I've got too much salt in my veins to leave the sea behind."

Though she doesn't disclose what her next steps are, she could be transitioning to a new company. 

Her deep love for the ocean suggests that, while her time with Celebrity Cruises has come to an end, her journey at sea is far from over. 

Captain Kate longed for life at sea from a young age

She dreamed of being a Cruise Director after her first cruise at 12 years old. Her father supported her aspirations but also encouraged her to dream bigger. 

After graduating from California State University's Maritime Academy with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, she moved to Hawaii and worked as a general deckhand on a catamaran. She finally got a job onboard a cruise ship with Disney Cruise Line in 2002 aboard the Disney Magic. 

In 2003, she was offered a job for Royal Caribbean, a company she stayed with until 2015. She worked as a 2nd Officer, traveling the world and visiting Asia, Alaska, Australia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. 

Read more: Take a look inside a cruise ship captain's living quarters

While working with Royal Caribbean, she obtained her Chief Mate and Master's License in 2009 from the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, which gave her the necessary qualifications to take command of a vessel. 

She then became a Chief Officer for Royal Caribbean, working aboard ships like Mariner of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. 

A few years later, she was asked to apply to Celebrity Cruises, a sister brand to Royal Caribbean owned by Royal Caribbean Group, by then-President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and accepted the position of cruise ship Captain in 2015. 

She started on Celebrity Summit, one of the line's smallest ships that debuted in 2001, and remained there until 2018 when she became the commanding officer aboard the Celebrity Equinox. 

Captain Kate moved to Celebrity Edge in 2019, where she became the first female Captain to command one of the line’s newest and most innovative ships. 

She ended her time with Celebrity Cruises as the Captain of Celebrity Beyond, a mega-ship measuring 140,600 gross registered tons and 1,073 feet long. 

Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is known for its crystal-clear waters, making it the perfect destination for beach and water activities. 

Among the most popular on the island is snorkeling. Whether you're a skilled snorkeler or trying it for the first time, CocoCay's calm waters are perfect for exploring the underwater world. 

As one of the most common activities, it's not unusual to find fellow cruisers posting advice online, so future guests can learn from their experiences. 

Reddit user greenbananas1200 did just that, sharing invaluable snorkeling tips to the r/royalcaribbean Reddit thread. 

They begin the post by saying, "We went to cococay yesterday and went snorkeling! I did a lot of research before to be prepared and wanted to share some advice we learned."

If you're planning to snorkel at Perfect Day at CocoCay, taking a few tips from seasoned snorkelers can help you make the most of your adventure, and greenbananas1200's post is filled with helpful advice!

Bring your own equipment 

Purchasing your own snorkel gear is more cost-effective in the long run. 

"The snorkel-at-your-leisure excursion is essentially just the equipment rental. We bought snorkel gear at home and brought it (only the mask because we couldn't fit the flippers in our carry-ons). It is worthwhile - I paid only $30 CAD for my set, while rentals were around $40 USD," says greenbananas1200. 

According to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, the "CocoCay All-Day Snorkeling at Your Leisure" excursion costs $39.58 for an upcoming cruise on Icon of the Seas, with an onboard price of $53.90. 

As greenbananas1200 explained, the excursion isn't an actual tour. Rather, it's just rental equipment for the day. In other words, you won't be guided through the Bahamian waters by an expert! 

Though you could pay $40 for the snorkel gear, it's easy to find equipment on Amazon for less. Plus, you can use it throughout your cruise. 

So, for instance, if you're in CocoCay one day and Nassau the next, you can easily take a cab to a local beach and snorkel without needing to rent more gear or purchase an excursion. You can even store it in your garage for your next tropical getaway. 

ZEEPORTE had an affordable equipment set for just $38.99 that includes a snorkel mask, fins, silicon breathing tube with a dry snorkel top, and a mesh carry bag, making it easy to get your gear from your cruise ship cabin to the beach. 

It also comes in various colors, including lavender, dark blue, grey, red, and yellow. 

Please note that we have linked an Amazon item above, which contains an affiliate link. The affiliate link does not cost you anything extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link.

Wake up early

"We were in line to be the first ones off the ship. I would HIGHLY recommend [it]!" stated greenbananas1200, "There are some mixed reviews on the snorkelling at cococay so I was expecting to only see some tan-coloured fish."

However, because they started their day bright and early, they experienced snorkeling at its best. 

greenbananas1200 continues, "Instead we saw many interesting fish (including one with a long spike on its nose), a small stingray, a large ~5ft spotted eagle ray, a ~3ft fish/shark-looking thing. We saw way more in...cococay than the 2-stop snorkel excursion in Nassau that we paid $90 USD pp for."

CocoCay offers plenty of other activities to enjoy the island's beauty even if you aren't snorkeling, and getting off the ship early is one of the best ways to maximize your time ashore. 

For example, by mid-afternoon, many complimentary chairs and loungers on the beach will have been taken, and the island can feel a bit more crowded. By arriving early, you can snag your ideal spot and relax in peace. 

Read more: I went to CocoCay for the first time, and here's what I'd do differently

Claim a locker

While the ship is never far, you want to take certain essentials ashore, including medication, sunscreen, and flip-flops. However, you may not want to lug everything around all day. Enter CocoCay's complimentary lockers. 

"When you get on cococay, claim a locker," advises greenbananas1200, "They are free but first-come-first-served so get one first that you can use throughout the day to store your gear." 

The lockers are scattered throughout the island and won't cost you anything. To use a locker, you will set a pin that will allow you to open and close it as many times as you need throughout the day. They do fill up early, so don't wait to claim one! 

Snorkel at Chill Island

Perfect Day at CocoCay offers a variety of beaches, including the adults-only Hideaway Beach and the family-friendly South Beach. 

If you're unsure which one to choose, greenbananas1200 suggests heading to Chill Island: "We saw the cool larger animals under the floating platforms/rafts (there are 3-4 of them), so I would recommend looking near those. But be careful, it was actually really scary!"

Chill Island is easy to find. After disembarking the ship and walking onto the island, head straight until you see Captain Jack's. Then, take a left and continue over the bridge. 

Not only is Chill Island great for snorkeling but it's also conveniently located near the Chill Grill, so you won't have to venture far for lunch. It's also where you will find the CocoCay Island Market, perfect for stocking up on last-minute souvenirs. 

A passenger injured during a jet ski excursion at Royal Caribbean's private island has filed a lawsuit seeking damages of more than $5 million. 

Jessica Haro was sailing aboard Icon of the Seas when she participated in a beginner-level jet ski excursion at Perfect Day at CocoCay on December 20, 2024, the last day of the 7-night cruise, reported Cruise Hive. 

Haro joined 12 other passengers and two guides for the excursion. However, things took a turn for the worse during the activity. 

She claimed she suffered four spinal fractures and extensive internal injuries after being hit by one of the guides at high speed. According to Haro, some injuries are permanent and require extra medical expenses. 

Because of the extent of her injuries, Haro and her attorney, Justin Shapiro of Lessfield & Partners in Miami, filed a federal lawsuit against Royal Caribbean on February 10, 2025. 

“In the course of the jet ski tour, Royal Caribbean’s tour guide, who was hired to protect Ms. Haro, suddenly and recklessly crashed his jet ski into the rear of Ms. Haro’s jet ski at a high rate of speed while trying to pass her," reads the suit.

“The tour guide ultimately drove his jet ski over the top of Ms. Haro’s jet ski, causing a violent impact with Ms. Haro’s body."

The suit further reveals that Haro didn't have much experience operating a personal watercraft. 

However, she "...decided to book the guided jet ski excursion based on [Royal Caribbean’s] effort in marketing the excursion as being ideal for novice operators and that no experience operating a personal watercraft was necessary.”

Jet skiing is a popular activity in the Bahamas

Royal Caribbean offers jet ski tours at its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Since it is a private destination, there are no third-party operators to go through. 

According to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, the "Wave Jet Guided Tour" is a one-hour and fifteen-minute excursion where guests can ride alone or with a passenger. 

Each Seadoo can accommodate up to two passengers with a maximum combined weight of 375 lbs. The minimum age to drive a jet ski is 16, while passengers must be at least 10 years old.

"Beginners welcome - experienced guides will provide instructions and safety briefs to prepare you and your driver for the action," reads the tour's description. 

The excursion's details also warn guests not to consume alcohol before the tour, and passengers "with cardiac conditions, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, other heart or respiratory conditions, or any other medical condition must take particular caution when selecting an activity with snorkeling/swimming elements since such water activities could be subject to adverse sea conditions such as high winds, waves, and sea current."

It's not recommended for pregnant guests, either. 

All passengers who willingly decide to book and participate in Royal Caribbean's jet ski excursion must wear life jackets and complete liability waivers releasing the company and its employees from actions “arising from any accident [or] injury” concerning the “rental, participation, use, or operation of” a jet ski."

Not the first jet ski incident at CocoCay

Years before CocoCay became Perfect Day at CocoCay, a passenger sailing on the now-scrapped Monarch of the Seas was also injured while jet skiing at the private island. 

In 2013, claimant Linda Arnold filed a suit and a complaint for damages, alleging that Royal Caribbean was liable for the injuries she suffered during a jet-ski collision while visiting the island in 2011. 

Arnold and her boyfriend, Glynn Daniels, began to slow down on their jet ski after catching up to the ski ahead of theirs. However, Arnold and Daneisl were struck by a jet ski operated by another passenger, and Arnold suffered injuries as a result of the accident. 

Royal Caribbean sought to limit its liability due to the liability waiver; however, a United States District judge ruled the waiver was void due to provisions that limited liability for personal injuries caused by negligence.

Royal Caribbean is ready to resume opening up new cruises to book in 2026-2027 in just a few days.

Cruisers can book new California sailings earlier thanks to Royal Caribbean's latest deployment schedule change. 

Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule refers to when the cruise line will open new sailings for booking. Each release is tied to a specific region, such as Short Caribbean, Europe, and California. 

California cruises from April 2026 to April 2027 will be announced during the week of February 10. However, the launch of new European cruises has been delayed to sometime during the week of February 17.

Last week, Royal Caribbean offered a preview of what's to come, including Serenade of the Seas departing from San Diego. Based on these test load sailings, here's what we can likely expect.  Keep in mind the exact line-up might differ, but this is our best guess.

The test load itinerary departs from San Diego on March 28, 2027, and stops in La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada, Mexico. 

Other sailings expected to debut include Voyager of the Seas, which will replace Navigator of the Seas. The Ports America Los Angeles website schedule shows Voyager arriving in California on October 5, 2026, with Navigator disappearing from the schedule in November. 

A test load itinerary revealed that Voyager of the Seas will offer an 8-night cruise from Los Angeles on November 5, 2026, with an overnight stay in Cabo. 

The California deployment will also unveil Royal Caribbean's plans for Quantum and Ovation of the Seas, both of which will debut in California in 2025.

The Quantum Class ships are larger than Navigator and Voyager of the Seas. Plus, they offer more modern amenities, including the North Star observation capsule, a skydiving simulator, and an enclosed SeaPlex, which features activities like bumper cars and roller skating.

Like with Voyager, the Ports America Los Angeles schedule shows Oviation on the manifest through December 2026. 

However, effective October 2026, it's hinted that Royal Caribbean will relocate Quantum of the Seas, leaving Ovation as the sole Quantum Class ship offering cruises from California. 

Royal Caribbean returned to Los Angeles after a decade-long break

The company's re-entry into the California market was successful. Executives confirmed that Navigator of the Seas' cruises have performed "exceptionally well." 

As such, Royal Caribbean is strengthening its presence on the West Coast by adding another departure port in California and introducing new ships sailing from Los Angeles.

The latest deployment changes

Royal Caribbean revised its deployment schedule at the end of January, placing new Australia cruises on hold. They eventually updated the schedule to give Australia cruises a new date. Now, they'll be released during the week of June 2. 

Another change affected the Seasonal Caribbean cruises, which were delayed from the week of February 24 to March 3. They were initially slated to launch around Feb. 17.

The newest update swapped Europe 2.0 and California cruises. 

What about Icon 3?

There hasn't been any published news about the third Icon Class ship, which is set to debut in 2026. 

However, Royal Caribbean typically doesn't include new ships as part of its regular deployment schedule. Instead, they usually have their own release. 

So, don't bank on the unnamed ship's release being part of the Europe 2.0, Short Caribbean, or Seasonal Caribbean launches. 

Royal Caribbean will likely release the ship's name and homeport, along with a special date exclusive to the new ship's bookings, separately.

Norwegian Cruise Line is betting big with its new mega-ship orders. 

The cruise line plans to debut its largest ship class in 2030. Weighing around 226,000 gross registered tons (GRT) with a passenger and crew capacity of more than 8,300, they'll join MSC Cruises in competing with Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Class ships. 

MSC launched its first World Class ship in 2022 and a second, World America, will enter service in Florida in April, sailing from the line's brand-new Miami terminal. 

The four new Norwegian ships will be built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. According to Reuters, a source close to the matter said the order was worth over $9 billion. The first of the four ships will be delivered in 2030, with the others in 2032, 2034, and 2036.

Fincantieri is responsible for some of Norwegian's newest builds, including Norwegian Aqua, which is slated to enter service in March. While Norwegian's Prima Class ships aren't the line's largest, they are NCL's most innovative. Norwegian Aqua, for example, will feature the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world's first hybrid rollercoaster-waterslide at sea. 

Currently, Norwegian's largest cruise ship is Norwegian Encore. The 6-year-old ship measures 169,116 GRT, is 1,094 feet long, and can hold 3,998 passengers at double occupancy. Norwegian Encore's gross tonnage makes her slightly larger than Quantum of the Seas, which comes in at 168,666 GRT. Quantum, however, is longer, stretching 1,141 feet.

Norwegian's ambitious mega-ship plans reveal that the line is stepping up its game to compete with the giants of the industry, and they aren't the only ones. 

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Carnival Cruise Line also announced a new order for mega-ships

Carnival's three new vessels will measure around 230,000 GRT and have more than 3,000 cabins onboard, which is more than any other cruise ship at sea, surpassing even Icon of the Seas which has 2,805 staterooms. 

They will be the largest ships ever built by Fincantieri. The first is expected to be delivered in 2029, with the other two joining the fleet in 2031 and 2033. 

Carnival's largest ship, Carnival Jubilee, comes in around 183,000 GRT and is the line's third Excel Class ship. The Excel Class revolutionized Carnival's offerings, setting a new standard with innovative features an onboard rollercoaster, modern cabins, and more dining options than ever before. 

Still, they're a far cry from Royal Caribbean's mega-ships.

Royal Caribbean is known for having the largest cruise ships in the world

It's a title they've kept in the brand since Freedom of the Seas' launch in 2006. Less than four years later, Royal Caribbean redefined cruising with the launch of Oasis of the Seas in 2009. 

It was the first time a cruise ship measured over 200,000 GRT and introduced several innovative features like multiple FlowRiders, a zip-line, and a huge AquaTheater, setting a new standard for the cruise industry.

While Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships kept the cruise line in the news for over a decade, they once again shook up the game with Icon of the Seas in 2024. That's not all, either. Royal Caribbean is growing the Icon Class with Star of the Seas in 2025 and another ship in 2026. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean CEO explains why mega cruise ships are so popular 15 years after their inception

Royal Caribbean could be adding a new California homeport to its plans. 

Test loads for the upcoming West Coast deployment schedule to be released around February 17 reveal that Serenade of the Seas won't offer cruises out of Los Angeles. Instead, the 90,090 gross registered ton (GRT) ship will sail from San Diego, California. 

Royal Caribbean prepares for a new deployment with test loads, where they upload a few select sailings to their website. They aren't bookable, but they give passengers a preview of what to expect. 

Screenshots shared by Southern Dan on Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion board show Serenade offering a 7-night Mexican Riveria cruise on March 28, 2027, from San Diego. 

The test itinerary also reveals that Serenade will call at Laz Paz, Mexico, which is known for beautiful beaches teeming with marine life and a vibrant downtown with a 3-mile-long waterfront promenade.  

Cruises from San Diego aren't necessarily new. Royal Caribbean sometimes begins or ends Panama Canal voyages from the Southern California port. However, Royal doesn't offer regular sailings from San Diego. 

It's more commonly used by lines like Disney, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian.

Other West Coast changes

Voyager of the Seas will supposedly replace Navigator as the year-round ship based in Los Angeles, though Royal Caribbean hasn't made an official announcement yet. 

The Ports America Los Angeles website schedule shows Voyager of the Seas arriving in California on October 5, 2026. 

Test loads seem to confirm Voyager's takeover with an 8-night cruise scheduled on Nov. 5, 2026, including an overnight stay in Cabo. 

Navigator of the Seas is on the schedule through Nov. 5, 2026. After that, the Voyager Class ship disappears from the manifest, whereas Voyager has departures listed through at least December 2026, along with Ovation of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean already announced they're bringing Quantum Class ships to Los Angeles, with Ovation of the Seas offering regular voyages starting in June 2025. Quantum will join Ovation in October 2025. 

These cruise ships are larger than Voyager Class vessels and offer more modern amenities, including an enclosed SeaPlex, North Star observation capsule, and sky diving simulator. Plus, they're designed to operate in warm and cool climates. 

Effective October 2026, however, it appears Royal Caribbean will reduce to just one Quantum Class ship in Los Angeles, phasing out Quantum of the Seas.

Another test itinerary shows Ovation making a short 3-night cruise to Ensenada on October 16, 2026. 

Growing cruise market

After a decade-long hiatus from Los Angeles, Royal Caribbean's re-entry into the California market has proved to be worthwhile, with executives confirming that Navigator has performed "exceptionally well."

The itineraries to popular destinations in the Mexican Riveria have resonated with seasoned cruisers and newcomers who might not be interested in another typical Caribbean or Bahamian voyage. 

Plus, adding newer ships, like Ovation and Quantum of the Seas, will further strengthen Royal Caribbean’s position in the market. 

Upcoming deployments

There's a lot of exciting stuff forthcoming with Royal Caribbean's new deployments in the next few weeks. Already, they've announced their 2026 Alaska cruises, some of their 2026 European voyages, and Summer & Yearlong Caribbean Northeast cruises. 

Here's an updated list of the upcoming deployment schedule:

• Week of February 10: Europe 2.0
• Week of February 17: West Coast
• Week of February 24: Short Caribbean
• Week of March 3: Seasonal Caribbean
• Week of March 10: China
• Week of March 17: Singapore
• Week of June 2: Australia 

A piece of Royal Caribbean's early history is headed to the scrapyard. 

Royal Caribbean's former Song of America, which was once one of the largest cruise ships in the world, was retired in 2023 by Celestyal Cruises.

Song of America entered service for Royal Caribbean in 1982 as the cruise line's fourth ship. She was preceded by Sun Viking, Nordic Prince, and Song of Norway. 

The cruise ship initially offered Caribbean itineraries from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas; however, she later added sailings from New York to Bermuda to expand the ship's appeal to a broader audience.

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

Celestyal Cruises acquired the cruise ship in 2014, though she departed Royal Caribbean's fleet in 1999 after being sold to Sun Cruises. After a five-year stint as the MS Sunbird, she was once again sold in 2004 to Louis Cruises, operating under the name MS Thomson for eight years. 

In 2012, she was renamed Louis Olympia and began offering cruises out of Piraeus (Athens), Greece, before Louis Cruise Lines re-branded to become Celestyal Cruises in 2014.

Celestyal Olympia sailed for Celestyal Cruises for about a decade before Celestyal sold her to a flag of convenience company which renamed her Bella Fortuna. Celestyal replaced the 40+-year-old ship with the former AIDAaura.

Bella Fortuna's name was eventually shortened to Fortu. On January 22, she departed the United Arab Emirates with her status listed as "to be broken up," according to The Maritime Executive. 

She's en route to Alang, India, home to the world's largest shipbreaking yard.

Read more: Photos show dismantled cruises in a cruise ship graveyard

When Song of America launched, she was the third-largest passenger vessel at sea

She also featured many firsts for the cruise line, including Royal Caribbean's iconic Viking Crown Lounge which provided 360-degree views around the ship. 

It was also the first time Royal Caribbean had put staterooms toward the front of the ship and public spaces near the aft so that the cabins were further from the ship's noisy engines. 

Plus, Song of America had two swimming pools, which had never been done before on any Royal Caribbean ship! That seems unheard of today with vessels like Icon of the Seas that feature upward of seven pools for guests to enjoy. 

Song of America catapulted Royal Caribbean into a modern era of cruising

“Every innovative maritime feature, every one of ‘tomorrow’s’ cruise concepts, will be part of Song of America today" is what the first preview brochure for Song of America said. 

Following Song of America, Royal Caribbean's committee overseeing the construction of a new ship argued for building a vessel that would push the boundaries even further in terms of size. 

Thus, Sovereign of the Seas was born. With a passenger capacity of over 2,600 guests, she could handle more than double what Song of America could accommodate. 

And as we all know, Royal Caribbean ships have continued to become larger and more innovative. I suppose we should expect nothing less from an industry leader who had big dreams in the 1980s, starting with Song of America. 

Read more: 8 ways Royal Caribbean changed the cruise industry

By 2027, almost every Caribbean cruise will visit one of Royal Caribbean's beach clubs or private islands.

In fact, Royal Caribbean said 90% of Caribbean passengers will visit one of their private destinations in 2027.

The company plans to grow its portfolio of private destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas. The expansion will kick off with the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in December 2025. Additionally, a second private beach club in Cozumel, Mexico, is slated to open sometime in 2026. 

That's not all, either. Last year, Royal Caribbean Group announced Perfect Day Mexico in Costa Maya to compliment the wildly popular Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. 

"With the introduction of Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel in the second half of the year, we continue to differentiate in the Caribbean market with our incredible ships and private destinations driving very strong performance," said Naftali Holtz, Royal Caribbean Group's Chief Financial Officer, during RCG's Q4 earnings call on Tuesday, January 28.

"Over 70% of guests on these itineraries sailing with the Royal Caribbean Brand will visit a private destination this year, and that percentage will increase to 90% in 2027."

Other lines simply can't match Royal Caribbean's private island experience and innovative ships

It's hard to believe that it has been over one year since Icon of the Seas welcomed her first paying guests onboard. That's right: Icon officially set sail on her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024. 

Icon of the Seas redefined the average family cruise with amenities like the Category 6 Waterpark, AquaDome, Surfside Neighborhood, and more. 

Currently, Icon sails exclusively from Miami, Florida, to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay weekly. This means that once the private destinations in Mexico are complete, guests will have three exclusive destinations to choose from on their cruise vacations. 

Star of the Seas will follow in Icon's footsteps, making her debut later this year and further expanding Royal Caribbean's fleet of innovative ships sailing to a range of private islands and beach clubs. 

"The greatest weekend in the history of cruising"

Additionally, Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas takes a unique approach to cruising, offering short voyages on a brand-new ship to Nassau and CocoCay. 

In essence, it's designed to draw in new cruisers by showcasing the best of what Royal Caribbean has to offer, whether immersive dining experiences or the company's private island. 

When the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens in December, Utopia's experience will be even more valuable because guests will finally have a new way to explore Nassau, a less-than-desirable destination that ranks in the bottom 10% of cruise ports. 

"It's going to be a great guest experience. [Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is] also incredibly complimentary with CocoCay because we'll have a lot of short product that goes to Perfect Day on one day, and the next day it'll be in the beach club, so it's like the greatest weekend in the history of cruising," said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley during RCG's Q4 earnings call. 

Celebrity Cruises adding to the hype

Perfect Day at CocoCay's $250 million renovation has proved to be successful. The demand for the private island is so high that RCG began to deploy Celebrity ships to CocoCay. 

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity attract different clientele, with Celebrity focused on providing an upscale experience. In comparison, Royal Caribbean's newest ships are packed with jaw-dropping amenities like FlowRider surf simulators, record-breaking waterparks, and more. 

With Celebrity now calling at CocoCay, guests who want to enjoy the premium experience while also visiting the award-winning private island can do so. 

Tickets for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island go on sale in April

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is one of the most anticipated additions to Royal Caribbean's portfolio. Details about the new experience have been revealed over the past few months; however, during the Q4 earnings call, Bayley said guests can expect tickets to finally go on sale in April. 

"We'll be launching the product into the market, opening for sale in April, so we'll be able to talk about our pricing in about two months time," he remarked. 

Though the pricing hasn't been revealed yet, we do know that the beach club is all-inclusive, meaning that everything from the first water taxi ride to food and drinks is included. Other amenities include at least two food halls, three Snack Shack locations, a zero-entry pool, the world's largest swim-up bar, and plenty of beach space. 

Bailey added, "Our expectation is in the first full year of the operation of the beach club, we'll have approximately 1 million guests going into the beach club for the experience." Compartively, Royal Caribbean expects around 3.5 million passengers to visit CocoCay in 2025. 

Perfect Day Mexico is expected to be a smash hit

Perfect Day Mexico and the Royal Beach Club Cozumel are expected to become a major draw for passengers cruising from Galveston, Texas. 

The combination of easy access and new amenities will expand Royal's presence in the Western Caribbean even further, with Royal Caribbean thinking that the passenger volume will eventually surpass CocoCay! 

"We think that, ultimately, the volume that we will take to Perfect Day Mexico will far exceed what we're taking into CocoCay," said Bayley. 

More sailings through all of February have had their visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico replaced with other plans.

Royal Caribbean canceled another month of visits to Puerto Rico after pier repairs couldn't be completed in January. 

Oasis Class ships haven't called at San Juan since November 2024 because of the ongoing problem with Pier 3-West. Instead, the massive vessels have been routed to other ports. 

Note that the issue hasn't impacted all cruise lines because San Juan has more than one pier for cruise ships. Oasis Class ships are some of the largest in the world, measuring well over 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT). In comparison, Carnival Venezia, which successfully docked in Puerto Rico on Thursday, January 23, comes in at just 135,225 GRT. 

Last week, local media outlet El Vocero reported that the Coast Guard was working on repair efforts, indicating the pier could be fixed and ready to safely welcome guests later in January. The news relieved many who were anxiously awaiting to see whether San Juan would remain on their itineraries. 

However, guests aboard the February 23 cruise on Symphony of the Seas received an email stating they'll skip their scheduled visit to San Juan. 

"Due to ongoing construction at the pier in San Juan, the port authority has advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit," the notice reads.

"You will now get to explore the beautiful Labdadee, Haiti. Although we need to skip our visit to Phillipsburg, St. Maarten, you will get the enjoy the charming Falmouth, Jamaica...Thank you for your understanding. We're excited to share these wonderful destinations with you."

Other impacted voyages include the February 9 and February 16 sailings. 

The February 2 cruise remains unchanged because San Juan isn't on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary. The 7-night cruise is scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. 

Labadee is one of Royal Caribbean's private destinations

Though not a private island like Perfect Day at CocoCay, the remote area is only available to Royal Caribbean guests. The private beach area is walled off on a peninsula in northern Haiti. It is located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Visits were suspended last year due to civil unrest. However, Royal Caribbean resumed sailings to Labadee in October 2024 after a 7-month hiatus and was met with criticism. 

"The high, hill positions would make it easy to fire down on people at Labadee; it would be difficult to defend for Royal’s security forces," commented David on a Royal Caribbean Blog post.

"As far as the problems being only in Port au Prince, that’s what the media is reporting. No one really knows if it is safe in Cap-Haitian. And Cap-Haitien is not that far [from] Labadee, so that = a no-go for me."

Amy added, "There's no way that Royal Caribbean can repel an attack and protect passengers visiting the island or the cruise ship should it happen. People can be kidnapped, [raped, tortured], taken hostage, and killed."

"It's extremely irresponsible for any cruise line to continue to visit Labadee, Haiti falsely thinking for some reason, that Labadee is completely insulated from the extreme violence in the country, just on the other side of the fence!"

Disappointed guests

It's important to be open to change on a cruise vacation. Weather, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen circumstances can disrupt itineraries. That, however, doesn't mean you can't be disappointed. 

"These are major downgrades of ports…both Falmouth and Nassau suck and I tried to avoid them when initially booking the cruise," wrote wormy1996 on Reddit. 

"[I'm] more upset about St. Maarten, not sure why they are skipping it. I like Labadee but Nassau and Falmouth are both terrible options."

AnswerGuy301 added, "'Charming' Falmouth, Jamaica?! Ha! It’s just a mall in the middle of nowhere."

"This happened [to] us on Symphony over New Year’s. Labadee is fine, but yes, the others are major downgrades. Unfortunate, but we still had a great time," said Educational_Sky_1136.