Royal Caribbean Amplification schedule: Which ships have been upgraded

The Royal Amplification program was designed to give new life to Royal Caribbean's older cruise ships. 

When the Royal Amplification program was initially announced in 2018, 10 ships were scheduled to receive updates over the course of 4 years; however, the initiative came to a halt during the pandemic as a result of the worldwide port and shipyard closures.

Before getting postponed, 6 ships were successfully amplified, including Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas. 

For years, loyal Royal Caribbean fans had been left wondering when the program would be restarted, as ships like Allure of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas fell short compared to their upgraded counterparts. 

Thankfully, Royal Caribbean has officially restarted the Royal Amplification program. The long-anticipated upgrades are in full swing and resumed with Allure of the Seas in early 2025.

Curious about which ships have been amplified and which are on the docket? You're in the right place. 

Independence of the Seas (2018)

Independence of the Seas was the first ship to undergo Royal Amplification, re-entering service with her new upgrades in May 2018. The revitalization cost over $100 million and added a slew of new experiences to the Freedom Class ship, including:

• A SkyPad (a virtual reality trampoline, which has since been closed)
• Perfect Storm water slides
• Re-designed pool deck
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Splashaway Bay
• "Battle for Planet Z" glow-in-the-dark laser tag
• New escape room
• Panoramic Oceanview staterooms
• Sugar Beach candy shop
• Improved ice rink
• Fish & Ships
• New lounges

Mariner of the Seas (2018)

Royal Caribbean invested $120 million into the refurbishment of Mariner of the Seas, and the results made it one of the favorite ships of Royal Caribbean Blog founder Matt Hochberg. Mariner's Royal Amplification finished in June 2018 and added new ways to drink, play, and dine, such as:

• Perfect Storm racer water slides
• A SkyPad (a virtual reality trampoline, which has since been closed)
• "Battle for Planet Z" laser tag
• Royal Escape Room: The Observatorium
• The Bamboo Room (the cruise line's first-ever Polynesian-inspired, tiki-chic bar)
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Jamie’s Italian
• Izumi Hibachi and Sushi
• FlowRider surf simulator

Navigator of the Seas (Feb 2019)

The third ship to be royally amplified was Navigator of the Seas. She sailed into Miami, Florida, in February 2019 with $115 million of next-level features, including:

• The Blaster (Royal Caribbean's first aqua coaster)
• Riptide water slide
• Caribbean resort-style poolscape with a small kids' splash pad
• Johnny Rockets Express
• El Loco Fresh
• The Lime and Coconut
• Royal Escape Room: The Observatorium
• To Dry For stand-alone blow-dry bar
• Hooked Seafood
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• The Bamboo Room
• FlowRider surf simulator
• Rock climbing wall
• Redesigned Adventure Ocean with dedicated teen spaces

Voyager of the Seas (Oct 2019)

Voyager of the Seas wasn't the first Voyager Class ship to undergo a Royal Amplification. However, she was the first to debut in Asia following the upgrades. After a 41-day, $97 million transformation, Voyager arrived in Singapore in October 2019, ready to offer guests new staterooms, attractions, and more.

• Perfect Storm three-story water slides
• "Battle for Planet Z" laser tag
• Reinvigorated Vitality Spa and Fitness Center
• Redesigned kid and teen spaces

Oasis of the Seas (Nov 2019)

Costing $165 million, Oasis of the Seas' amplification was one of the cruise line's most expensive to date. The ship received everything from the Perfect Storm water slides and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide to new dining venues like Portside BBQ.

• The Ultimate Abyss
• Perfect Storm water slides
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• Splashaway Bay
• The Lime and Coconut
• Portside BBQ
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Bionic Bar
• El Loco Fresh
• Sugar Beach
• Spotlight Karaoke
• Music Hall
• Aqua80
• One Sky
• All-new Adventure Ocean
• Social298 for teens
• "Clash for the Crystal City" laser tag
• Royal Escape Room – Mission Control: Apollo 18

Freedom of the Seas (2020)

Freedom of the Seas might not be the newest ship in the fleet, but she holds a special place for Royal Caribbean Blog writer Elizabeth, who took her first-ever Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Freedom in 2009. 11 years later, Freedom of the Seas received a $116 million transformation in 2020 — and was the last ship to be amplified before the cruise industry came to a screeching halt. 

• Perfect Storm water slides
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• Splashaway Bay
• The Lime and Coconut
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• "Clash for the Crystal City" laser tag
• 360-degree transformation of Adventure Ocean
• Social033 for teens

Allure of the Seas (2025)

Allure of the Seas was scheduled to receive major renovations in 2020. However, her Royal Amplification process was indefinitely postponed due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic. She finally received her long-awaited transformation in early 2025 before returning to sail in Europe for the first time in a decade. 

• Perfect Storm water slides
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• Splashaway Bay
• The Ultimate Abyss
• Royal Escape Room – Apollo 18: Lunar Landing
• Glow-in-the-dark laser tag
• The Lime and Coconut
• El Loco Fresh
• Pesky Parrot tiki bar
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar
• Adventure Ocean refresh
• Social298 for teens
• Over 100 new cabins, including the Ultimate Panoramic Suites
• Aqua80Too

Ovation of the Seas (Planned 2026)

In June 2025, Royal Caribbean announced plans to continue upgrading older ships, starting with Ovation of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas. Ovation of the Seas is the first on the schedule. She will be out of service from March 15 until May 1. Upon Ovation's return to service, guests can expect the following changes:

• Expanded casino
• Sound Cellar (upper level of the former Music Hall)
• Starbucks
• Pesky Parrot tiki bar
• Izumi Hibachi
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
• New staterooms, including the Ultimate Family Suite

Harmony of the Seas (Planned 2026)

Royal Caribbean plans to amplify its largest ship ever, Harmony of the Seas, between April 1 and May 21, 2025. Following Oasis and Allure of the Seas, she's the third Oasis Class ship to be royally amplified. As one of the largest ships in the fleet, Harmony of the Seas already boasts impressive features; however, there are a lot of exciting changes coming to the 9-year-old vessel, including:

• The largest Casino Royale in Royal Caribbean's fleet
• Pesky Parrot tiki bar
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• The Lime & Coconut
• Refreshed adults-only Solarium
• El Loco Fresh
• Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade
• Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse
• New staterooms, including the Ultimate Panoramic Suites and Ultimate Family Suite

Liberty of the Seas (Planned 2026)

Liberty of the Seas is also getting her much-needed Royal Amplification next year. Currently, she's the only Freedom Class ship that has yet to undergo the transformation, and fans have been vocal about how dated she feels. Liberty of the Seas will be out of service from April 19 until May 29. Afterwards, she will offer a series of European cruises to showcase her new amenities.

• Expanded casino
• Izumi Hibachi
• Starbucks
• Royal Escape Room
• Caribbean resort-style pool deck
• The Lime and Coconut
• El Loco Fresh
• New staterooms

Explorer of the Seas (indefinitely postponed)

Two ships that were supposed to undergo the Royal Amplification process, Explorer of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas, have been indefinitely postponed.

Explorer was on the docket to receive over $100 million in upgrades in 2020, such as The Lime and Coconut, revamped Adventure Ocean, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, and more. 

Royal Caribbean hasn't provided any official updates on when (or if) Explorer's amplification will be rescheduled. It will likely be a while, though, as Explorer of the Seas underwent a dry dock in 2023 that added the Perfect Storm water slides. 

Adventure of the Seas (indefinitely postponed)

Adventure of the Seas' Royal Amplification in 2021 was also canceled. Like with Explorer, Royal Caribbean hasn't publicly announced plans to upgrade the 24-year-old ship. 

She's not totally out-of-date, though. In 2016, the Perfect Storm water slides were added to Adventure's aft. Likewise, Adventure of the Seas also features Izumi Sushi (not Hibachi) in the Royal Promenade.