Royal Caribbean released a new deployment of cruise ships, but the biggest takeaway is what didn't get announced.
Royal Caribbean released its year-round 7-night Caribbean and short Caribbean sailings on Tuesday. There isn't much that's new or different than what we've seen in the past. Sure, there's a return to a port in the Dominican Republic, but most of what's been revealed is similar to where ships have sailed in past years.
A total of five ships had their 2027-2028 plans confirmed, including the biggest ship in the world, Star of the Seas.
It's clear cruisers are paying more attention to what didn't get announced yet than what actually did.
Where is Icon of the Seas going?
After reading through the latest deployment, Icon of the Seas isn't included with the deployment. That signals for the first time ever, Icon of the Seas will not be based in Miami.
Icon of the Seas first started sailing from PortMiami in January 2024 and instantly captured the attention of vacationers who recognized how impressive it is.
While sister ship Star of the Seas will remain in Port Canaveral, Icon's 2027-2028 plans haven't been shared.
If Las Vegas took bets on Royal Caribbean ship deployments, the safest bet is for it to move to Texas.
For years, Royal Caribbean has strongly hinted it would bring an Icon Class ship to Galveston.
Earlier this summer, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told a theater full of travel agents to expect it.
A travel agent specifically asked, "when will an Icon class ship be arriving in Galveston, Texas."
Mr. Bayley quickly answered, "We're not going to answer that question. But I can tell you it's coming, baby."
He has hinted at bringing an Icon Class ship before that as well, having pointed out the new cruise terminal in Galveston was built to handle a ship of that size and it's not by coincidence.
Additional circumstantial evidence is the fact all of Royal Caribbean's press materials for Perfect Day Mexico clearly show an Icon Class ship docked there.
To be fair, Icon of the Seas could be headed somewhere else other than Texas. China has always been big target for Royal Caribbean, and New York is the biggest media market out there.
Missing ships in South Florida
If we're assuming Icon of the Seas will not be sailing from Florida, there are two holes in the deployment plan for 2027-2028 right in the heart of the capital of cruising.
As of now, Royal Caribbean doesn't have a ship offering 7-night Caribbean cruises from Miami. This is arguably the flagship cruise route for the line's best ship.
Wonder of the Seas will sail 3- and 4-night cruises from Miami, but with Icon of the Seas seemingly moving away, that leaves nothing else in Miami for now.
Likewise, there are no ships confirmed to be sailing from Fort Lauderdale.
Port Everglades isn't as popular a homeport for Royal Caribbean as it once was, but it's quite possible we'll see ships based there once the Seasonal Caribbean deployment gets announced.
As an example, Legend of the Seas will be in Europe for the summer season of 2027. It's quite likely she will return to Port Everglades in the fall, just as is the plan for winter 2026-2027.
Where will Icon 4 go?
Royal Caribbean's fourth Icon Class ship will enter service sometime in 2027, and that's a wildcard in the deployment plans.
We don't yet know the ship's name or where it will be based, but with Icon out of Miami, one could assume Icon 4 would take over that homeport.
Looking back at past ships that have debuted, often Royal Caribbean will move a brand new ship into a port to replace a slightly older ship.
As with all new ships, the cruise line typically doesn't include a new ship with the general deployment. Instead, new ships usually get their own announcement for where and when it will sail.
More ships are also unaccounted for
Cruisers are also curious where a few other big ships will end up based from.
Symphony, Allure, Odyssey, and Oasis of the Seas are notably absent from the deployment plans.
Answers should be coming in the next few weeks
We will get answers in the next two weeks when the final deployments for North America are posted.
The deployment schedule has cruises from Baltimore, Bayonne, Galveston, and Los Angeles being released next week.
The week after that, we get the "seasonal Caribbean" release, which are for ships that spend just the winter months in the Caribbean after a summer in Europe or elsewhere.
Each year's deployment schedule is like "musical chairs", where we have to wait until the end to see where everything ends up.
