Royal Caribbean has massive plans for 2026, a few of which can essentially form the way forward for the cruise business.
Royal Caribbean is within the midst of a constructing spree, with new ships and land locations opening, and 2026 needs to be a catalyst for shifting these plans ahead.
Approaching the heels of launching Star of the Seas and its first seashore membership that may have opened in December 2025, we have already got massive issues to sit up for within the new 12 months.
Listed below are 5 massive modifications that we find out about already for Royal Caribbean in 2026 that try to be monitoring now.
Legend of the Seas launches
We’ll get a model new Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2026 when Legend of the Seas joins the fleet.
The third Icon Class ship may have its first crusing July 11, 2026, and sail within the Mediterranean for the summer season.
Then Legend strikes throughout the Atlantic to name Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) residence for the winter, with the primary North American crusing November ninth.
A model new cruise ship is all the time a giant deal as a result of it not solely provides a brand new choice, however comes with new modifications and improvements.
In case you’re looking for a 2026 cruise, it is exhausting to miss a brand new ship as a result of it is the most recent and biggest.
Royal Caribbean will characteristic numerous new choices:
Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility” musicalRoyal Railway Legend StationHollywoodland Supper ClubReimagined SurfsideNew Aquadome Market choices
Count on quite a lot of fanfare for the launch.
New seashore membership opens in Cozumel, Mexico
The second Royal Seaside Membership is about to open within the second half of 2026.
The primary will open on the very finish of 2025 in Nassau, Bahamas, however then work will shift to get the Royal Seaside Membership Cozumel open in December 2026.
Cozumel’s seashore membership is all about offering the perfect day within the seashore or pool, with a lot of solar, meals, and tradition too. There are two heated swimming pools, plus a superb seashore.
All Royal Seaside Golf equipment have an additional price to go to them. Consider it like a shore tour that is constructed and run by Royal Caribbean.
Positioned about 10 minutes away from the place cruise ships dock in Cozumel, you can entry it by bus, taxi and water transportation as nicely.
There might be a pool with a swim-up bar, together with a aspect that is toes within the sand that stretches over to the seashore.
Full particulars have not been launched but, however the cruise line is adamant it will ship the perfect seashore day.
Three cruise ships will get main upgrades
Royal Caribbean is reinvesting in its fleet by giving three ships the Royal Amplified remedy.
In early 2026, these vessels will exit of service for a few month to get upgraded:
This implies there might be eating places, actions, suites, and even new suites on every ship. The aim is to carry every of them as much as the usual set by newer ships.
The rationale to be excited for these modifications is it can really improve these ships. As newer ships come out, it will probably really feel like older ships fall behind. However amplification work, like this, could make a giant distinction.
A return to Labadee?
We’re crossing our fingers that Royal Caribbean ships will have the ability to return to Labadee once more in 2026.
The cruise line halted all visits to its non-public seashore spot in Haiti since April 2025, and it cancelled future stops till no less than Might 2026.
The difficulty is the civil unrest that is been plaguing the nation, and the cruise line feels it is best to skip visits till the state of affairs improves.
The change was made “in an abundance of warning” in keeping with the cruise line, however there is no indication if visits will resume.
Whereas this is not the primary time Labadee has been shut down as a result of issues within the nation, it’s the longest period of repeatedly skipping visits.
When you’ve got a cruise booked that’s scheduled to go to Labadee, I’d warning there’s an opportunity your cease may very well be cancelled. Cruises that beforehand included Labadee have been re-rerouted to locations like Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Cozumel.
Nonetheless, I am hopeful we’ll see ships going again someday in 2026.
A brand new homeport in SoCal
There might be a brand new homeport in California when Royal Caribbean begins crusing from San Diego.
Starting in October 2026, Serenade of the Seas will provide a wide range of sailings right down to Ensenada, Mexico and the Mexican Riviera. Serenade may also go to La Paz, a brand new cease for the road.
Up till now, Royal Caribbean has solely used Los Angeles (San Pedro) as its homeport in California.
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