Royal Caribbean has big plans for 2026, some of which will fundamentally shape the future of the cruise industry.
Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a building spree, with new ships and land destinations opening, and 2026 should be a catalyst for moving those plans forward.
Coming on the heels of launching Star of the Seas and its first beach club that will have opened in December 2025, we already have big things to look forward to in the new year.
Here are five big changes that we know about already for Royal Caribbean in 2026 that you should be tracking now.
Legend of the Seas launches
We will get a brand new Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2026 when Legend of the Seas joins the fleet.
The third Icon Class ship will have its first sailing July 11, 2026, and sail in the Mediterranean for the summer.
Then Legend moves across the Atlantic to call Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) home for the winter, with the first North American sailing November 9th.
A brand new cruise ship is always a big deal because it not only adds a new option, but comes with new changes and innovations.
If you're shopping for a 2026 cruise, it's hard to overlook a new ship because it's the latest and greatest.
Royal Caribbean will feature a number of new offerings:
- Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" musical
- Royal Railway Legend Station
- Hollywoodland Supper Club
- Reimagined Surfside
- New Aquadome Market options
Expect a lot of fanfare for the launch.
New beach club opens in Cozumel, Mexico
The second Royal Beach Club is set to open in the second half of 2026.
The first will open at the very end of 2025 in Nassau, Bahamas, but then work will shift to get the Royal Beach Club Cozumel open in December 2026.
Cozumel's beach club is all about providing the best day in the beach or pool, with lots of sun, food, and culture too. There are two heated pools, plus a fabulous beach.
All Royal Beach Clubs have an extra cost to go to them. Think of it like a shore excursion that's built and run by Royal Caribbean.
Located about 10 minutes away from where cruise ships dock in Cozumel, you'll be able to access it by bus, taxi and water transportation as well.
There will be a pool with a swim-up bar, along with a side that's toes in the sand that stretches over to the beach.
Full details haven't been released yet, but the cruise line is adamant this will deliver the best beach day.
Three cruise ships will get major upgrades
Royal Caribbean is reinvesting in its fleet by giving three ships the Royal Amplified treatment.
In early 2026, these vessels will go out of service for about a month to get upgraded:
This means there will be restaurants, activities, suites, and even new suites on each ship. The purpose is to bring each of them up to the standard set by newer ships.
The reason to be excited for these changes is it will truly enhance these ships. As newer ships come out, it can feel like older ships fall behind. But amplification work, like this, can make a big difference.
A return to Labadee?
We're crossing our fingers that Royal Caribbean ships will be able to return to Labadee again in 2026.
The cruise line halted all visits to its private beach spot in Haiti since April 2025, and it cancelled future stops until at least May 2026.
The issue is the civil unrest that's been plaguing the country, and the cruise line feels it's best to skip visits until the situation improves.
The change was made "in an abundance of caution" according to the cruise line, but there's no indication if visits will resume.
While this isn't the first time Labadee has been shut down due to problems in the country, it is the longest duration of continuously skipping visits.
If you have a cruise booked that is scheduled to visit Labadee, I would caution there's a chance your stop could be cancelled. Cruises that previously included Labadee have been re-rerouted to places like Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Cozumel.
However, I'm hopeful we'll see ships going back sometime in 2026.
A new homeport in SoCal
There will be a new homeport in California when Royal Caribbean starts sailing from San Diego.
Beginning in October 2026, Serenade of the Seas will offer a variety of sailings down to Ensenada, Mexico and the Mexican Riviera. Serenade will also visit La Paz, a new stop for the line.
Up until now, Royal Caribbean has only used Los Angeles (San Pedro) as its homeport in California.
