Royal Caribbean Announces 2028 Summer Deployment Plan for 11 Ships

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 5, Royal Caribbean International announced its 2028 summer deployment plan for the Caribbean and Mexico, under which 11 ships will be deployed on the relevant routes, including 4 Icon-class ships. The new season will run from April through October 2028, with ships departing from ports in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the northeastern United States to operate routes in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Bermuda.

In Florida, Royal Caribbean plans to deploy 6 ships. Among them, Hero of the Seas will depart from Miami in April 2028, operating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean routes; Symphony of the Seas will operate 6- and 8-night routes from Miami and is scheduled to complete onboard facility upgrades in 2028. Legend of the Seas will depart from Fort Lauderdale, operating 6- and 8-night routes; Star of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas will depart from Port Canaveral, offering 7-night Caribbean routes; Brilliance of the Seas will depart from Tampa, operating 6- and 7-night Western Caribbean routes.

In Texas, Icon of the Seas will homeport at Galveston, operating 6- and 8-night Western Caribbean routes with calls at destinations including Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatán, Honduras. The four Icon-class ships mentioned above—Hero of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Icon of the Seas—will form an important part of the 2028 summer Caribbean deployment.

The northeastern United States and Puerto Rico will also be included in the new season's deployment. Enchantment of the Seas will depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico, operating 7-night Southern Caribbean routes with calls at the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Dominica, and Barbados. Vision of the Seas will homeport in Baltimore, operating 5- to 9-night routes covering Bermuda and select Southern Caribbean destinations. Independence of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas will depart from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, operating 4- to 9-night and 7-night routes respectively, with destinations including Canada, New England, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

This route adjustment also involves ship facility updates. Symphony of the Seas plans to launch upgraded onboard facilities and services in 2028. Hero of the Seas is scheduled to enter service in August 2027, becoming the fourth Icon-class ship, featuring 9 pools, more than 40 dining options, and multi-level family accommodation facilities.