Just when it looked like all the North American cruises in 2027-2028 were released, Royal Caribbean has added more.

The cruise line quietly updated its deployment schedule to add a new batch of sailings that will come out in early 2026.

Referred to as "Remaining Caribbean", Royal Caribbean will add new sailings on an undisclosed list of ships during the week of February 9, 2026.

The deployment schedule was updated recently with the new plan.

Royal Caribbean hasn't yet updated the deployment schedule to indicate when cruises to Australia, China, or Singapore will be released for 2027-2028.

What you can expect in this deployment

While Royal Caribbean doesn't comment on what ships and itineraries will be posted in any deployment, I think it's safe to assume we can expect this one will fill in some gaps.

With the other deployments in 2027-2028 already announced, there are a few "gaps" in the schedule that do not account for where a ship will be until April 2028.

For example, Vision of the Seas' sailings are only bookable through late October 2027.  Vision is homeported in Baltimore and then there's nothing else scheduled for that ship.

Likewise, Jewel of the Seas posted schedule ends on November 5, 2027 with a sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

Symphony of the Seas has no cruises past January 2028, leaving a three month gap in her schedule. Symphony's 10 year anniversary is coming up in 2028, so it's likely a routine maintenance visit is likely.

Icon 4 is also missing from the schedule

Another notable missing deployment are the new Icon 4 sailings.

Royal Caribbean previously confirmed it will build a fourth Icon Class ship, but has not revealed its name, homeport, or where it will sail.

Historically, Royal Caribbean releases sailings on a brand new ship in its own release cycle.  New ships enjoy so much interest that it can stand alone when they are ready to open the sailings for booking.

However, it's entirely possible Icon 4 could be rolled into this "Remaining Caribbean" deployment.

The rumor mill is heating up with possibilities

If you're ready to go knee-deep into the "what if's" of Royal Caribbean, there are lots of rumors swirling about where ships might end up.

Please remember these are unconfirmed rumors that have not been confirmed or announced by Royal Caribbean.

Most people expect Icon 4 to be homeported in Miami because there is no other Icon Class ship based there for the 2027-2028 season.

Miami is typically reserved for Royal Caribbean's flagship (or at least one of them) and right now it's just Allure of the Seas homeporting in PortMiami.

An even juicier rumor began floating around the last few days of an Oasis Class ship being moved to Asia.

According to an admin on the Royal Caribbean Cruises Singapore Homeport Facebook group, Spectrum of the Seas will be moved away from China and back to Singapore.

The rumor says Spectrum will be replaced in China by Wonder of the Seas.  

This would be the first time an Oasis Class ship has been based outside of North America or Europe. Wonder of the Seas was originally planned to be based in China before her debut, but those plans were cancelled due to the global cruise industry shutdown of 2020.

Given the recent change in sailings to Japan due to geopolitical issues, these plans may or may not end up happening.

Here are all the new cruises released so far in 2027-2028

In case you missed any of it, Royal Caribbean has published new cruises to book in 2027-2028 around Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.

Here is a look at each of the deployments we have:

• Alaska
• Europe
• 7-night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Northeast, California & Texas
• Seasonal Caribbean

All of these deployments are open for booking immediately.

Royal Caribbean just revealed its next batch of Caribbean cruises in 2027 and 2028. 

As part of the cruise line's scheduled deployment release, Royal Caribbean's seasonal Caribbean sailings are now available for booking. 

13 ships based out of Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Panama are part of this week's release, including Allure of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. 

Here's a breakdown of what's new and what's on the horizon. 

Legend of the Seas will return to Fort Lauderdale in 2027

After Legend's second seasonal European deployment, the third Icon Class ship will return to Fort Lauderdale for a winter stint, sailing on 6- and 8-night getaways to the Southern and Western Caribbean. 

You can book cruises to places like the cruise line's award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas; Cozumel, Mexico (the soon-to-be-home for the Royal Beach Club Cozumel), Willemstad, Curaçao; Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic, and more. 

Highlights of Legend's onboard experience include 28 dining options, all-new entertainment headlined by Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and more. 

Mariner of the Seas to sail from The Big Easy

Following Mariner's European deployment, she will move to New Orleans, Louisiana, for the 2027-2028 winter and spring seasons. The 6- to 9-night adventures will call at a variety of ports, including Belize City, Roatán, and Cozumel. 

New Orleans is a great pre- or post-cruise destination. From the historic French Quarter to the lively Bourbon Street and famous Creole cuisine, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy your time in NOLA. 

Grandeur of the Seas to sail from Puerto Rico and Latin America

From May to December 2027, Grandeur of the Seas will be based out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. As such, she will offer port-intensive Southern Caribbean cruises to hot spots like Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; and more.

In December, she'll sail from Colón, Panama, and Cartagena, Colombia, to the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. These cruises present a unique opportunity to call at some of the Caribbean's most sought-after destinations, while also highlighting vibrant local cultures. 

Allure of the Seas will call two South Florida ports home

The recently amplified Allure of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, starting in May 2027 before moving to Miami in November. 

While in Fort Lauderdale, Allure's line-up will consist of 6- and 8-night voyages to the Western and Southern Caribbean. Ports of call include Perfect Day at CocoCay; Willemstad, Curacao; Falmouth, Jamaica; and more.

After she moves to Miami, she'll offer weeklong cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Oasis of the Seas will take Allure's spot in Fort Lauderdale, offering short cruises to The Bahamas

Fort Lauderdale won't be without an Oasis Class ship for long — after Allure moves to Miami, her spot will be taken by Oasis of the Seas. 

Starting in November 2027, Oasis will offer a series of 3- and 4-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. 

Freedom of the Seas will offer a range of different itineraries 

Freedom of the Seas is a fan favorite — and for good reason. The OG Freedom Class ship offers a good mix of value and amenities. In short, she's a great pick for budget-conscious travelers who don't want to sacrifice adrenaline-pumping activities, comfort, and entertainment. 

Starting April 2027, Freedom of the Seas will sail from Miami, Florida, on 4-, 5-, 7-, and 9-night cruises around the Caribbean. 

Destinations vary but include Curaçao, Aruba, Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau, and more.

Independence of the Seas will also sail from Miami

Independence will join Freedom of the Seas in Miami, Florida, in November 2027. During the winter and spring, the ship will offer 4- to 8-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

The getaways will take guests to visit iconic landmarks like Blackbeard’s Castle in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, admire vibrant sea life in Grand Cayman, and soak in the Caribbean sun at the all-new Royal Beach Club Cozumel. 

Adventure of the Seas will spend the summer and winter in Port Canaveral

Adventure of the Seas will begin offering cruises from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, in April 2027. Travelers can look forward to a variety of itineraries, including 4-, 5, and 9-night voyages. 

According to the cruise line, Adventure's itineraries are perfect for beach lovers, as the ship will visit destinations like Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau (for the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island), and Cozumel (for the Royal Beach Club Cozumel). 

Another Voyager Class ship will sail from Florida

Explorer of the Seas will join Oasis of the Seas in Fort Lauderdale in November 2027. 

Unlike the Oasis Class ship, however, Explorer won't offer any short cruises. Instead, vacationers can pick from 6- to 8-night adventures to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Ports include Perfect Day at CocoCay; Falmouth, Jamaica; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and more. 

Enchantment of the Seas will sail from Tampa

Enchantment might not be the flashiest ship in the fleet, but there's a lot to love about the classic charm of Vision Class ships. 

Starting in April 2027, Enchantment will set sail on a variety of sun-soaked 5- and 7-night Western Caribbean cruises, visiting destinations like Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

In November, she'll move to offering shorter 4- and 5-night cruises, also to the Western Caribbean. 

Guests can embark on weeklong cruises aboard Brilliance of the Seas

Starting in November 2027, Brilliance of the Seas will offer 7-night cruises from Tampa, Florida.

The Western Caribbean cruises will call at popular ports including Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and more.

Rhapsody of the Seas will be based out of San Juan

Guests can sail to idyllic destinations aboard Rhapsody of the Seas during the ship's winter 2027 deployment. 

The 6- to 8-night getaways will call at various ports, including St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Johns, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; and Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis. 

Jewel of the Seas to offer short cruises from Fort Lauderdale in 2027

Finally, from April to November 2027, Jewel of the Seas will offer 3- and 4-night voyages from Port Everglades to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau. 

These cruises are perfect for travelers looking to enjoy a quick Caribbean getaway without committing to a full week at sea. Plus, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be open by then, so guests can enjoy two days ashore at private destinations in The Bahamas. 

More deployments coming soon

Royal Caribbean will continue releasing new sailings soon. The next round of Caribbean deployments is scheduled for the week of February 9, 2026. 

We're still missing the cruise line's October 2027 - April 2027 deployments in Australia, China, and Singapore. However, as of December 9, Royal Caribbean hasn't given an estimated date for when these will be shared. 

For now, here's what's open for booking: 

• NOW OPEN: Alaska (May 2027-Sept. 2027)
• NOW OPEN: Europe (April 2027-Oct. 2027)
• NOW OPEN: 7-night & short Caribbean (March 2027-April 2028)
• NOW OPEN: Northeast, California, & Texas (April 2027-April 2028)
• NOW OPEN: Seasonal Caribbean (April 2027-April 2028)

Royal Caribbean pushed back one of its planned deployments a little later.

An updated deployment schedule was posted today and it means a longer wait for the Seasonal Caribbean itineraries

The change came right after releasing the 2027 Alaska cruises, as originally scheduled.

Unfortunately, Seasonal Caribbean cruises were pushed back until the week of December 8. Previously, they were supposed to be released sometime during the week of November 17. 

Seasonal Caribbean cruises refer to sailings on ships that aren't stationed in the Caribbean year-round. For example, during the summer, the vessel could offer European cruises before moving to Florida for the winter. 

They did not make any other changes to the scheduled releases of new 7-night & short Caribbean year-round itineraries, or Northeast, California, and Texas cruises. 

Moreover, Royal Caribbean has yet to reveal when it will open new Australia, China, and Singapore cruises from Oct. 2027 to April 2028 for booking. 

The first batch of new 2027-2028 sailings was already released 

On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean opened its 2027 Alaskan cruises for booking, officially kickstarting the fall deployment schedule. 

The grand reveal was exciting, too. Four ships will sail to Alaska in 2027, including two Quantum Class ships. These vessels are the third-largest class in the fleet, and they're barely a decade old. 

European cruises are expected sometime next week, likely Oct. 28, 29, or 30.

However, if you want to book a cruise earlier in the year, you are in luck. Royal Caribbean's early 2027 sailings are already available for booking. 

This means that if you want to start planning a winter or early spring getaway, you can go ahead and secure your spot. 

Two ships will likely be purposefully omitted from the deployment schedule 

If you're hoping to book an inaugural cruise on Icon 4 or Oasis 7, the deployment schedule will likely be disappointing. 

Historically, Royal Caribbean doesn't include brand-new ships as part of its regular deployments. Instead, they have their own special releases. 

If, for instance, Icon 4 were to begin its career in Europe (as will Legend of the Seas in 2026), you should not expect it to be part of the European release next week. 

As of Oct. 2025, we have very few details about the ships. For example, we don't know the names of either vessels or where they will initially sail from. 

That said, construction is underway. Icon 4's keel was laid on Sept. 8, while Oasis 7's steel-cutting ceremony was held on Oct. 23.

What now?

Waiting for new deployments is frustrating, especially if you're someone who likes to plan in advance. There are, however, some things you can do in the meantime you keep you busy. 

Let your travel agent know what kinds of sailings interest you, your availability, and what cabin category you'd like to book. 

That way, once the new sailings are released, they can secure your spot as soon as possible. This is especially important for cruisers who want a suite, as the number of suites on each ship is limited.

Booking ahead is one of the easiest ways to save money on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Generally speaking, cruise prices are at their lowest when the itineraries are first released. Following the basic principles of supply and demand, they get more expensive as cabins get booked up. 

That said, there are always outliers, and if you notice that your cruise fare has decreased after booking (before final payment), you can call Royal Caribbean (or notify your travel agent, who will call RC on your behalf) to request a price match. 

If you're ready to book a summer 2027 cruise or a cruise into early 2028, we now know when you'll be able to do that.

Royal Caribbean has shared the dates it will put new sailings on sale that go beyond the current set of sailings.

Typically, Royal Caribbean puts out new sailings to book at two periods of the year, and it appears they'll stick to the same schedule.

The first batch of new sailings will open up in October, meaning we are just weeks away.

Week of October 20, 2025

• Region: Alaska
• Sailing Time Frame: May 2027 – September 2027

Week of October 27, 2025

• Region: Europe
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – October 2027

Week of November 3, 2025

• Region: 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Sailing Time Frame: March 2027 – April 2028 

Week of November 10, 2025

• Region: Northeast, California & Texas
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

Week of November 17, 2025

• Region: Seasonal Caribbean
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Australia
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: China
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Singapore
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

To better explain some of the terminology, here's what you need to know:

• 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round: Cruise ships that are deployed all year to the Caribbean.
  • Does not include ships that visit the Caribbean part of the year
• Seasonal Caribbean: Ships that split their time in the Caribbean. Usually they're in the Caribbean for winter, then Europe in summer.
• Northeast: Cruises that begin from New York, Baltimore, or Boston

It's also important to know Icon 4 will not be part of this deployment release. New cruise ships will open their sailings for booking on a different schedule.

What to know about the deployment schedule

Today's announcement is Royal Caribbean's best estimate when new sailings will be available to book.

It's important to note the new bookings are available to book at some point in that week, but not necessarily on that Monday.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

Recommendations for how to prepare for new deployments

The deployment schedule is a good warning to start thinking about new cruises you might be interested in booking.

One of the best ways to get the lowest price on a cruise is to book as soon as the new sailings first go on sale.  So it's a good idea to have a plan of which itineraries you'd be interested in potentially booking.

Moreover, if you're interested in a stateroom category that usually sells out, booking early has another advantage.

Once you have an idea of which sailings you're interested in, I'd reach out to a travel agent to coordinate plans.

It's common for the new sailings to be loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, and sometimes it may become available to book in the backend system before the public website.  This is one of the many ways a good travel agent can make your life easier.

Royal Caribbean is going to offer a one-of-a-kind cruise it never usually has.

Typical Royal Caribbean cruises are on right around 7-nights, with longer sailings getting up to two weeks.

However, the cruise line is going to step out of its usual assortment of cruises with an epic, 25-night repositioning cruise aboard Quantum of the Seas.

Sailing from Los Angeles to Brisbane, this isn't your typical cruise. Royal Caribbean sees it as a bucket-list adventure as it combines coastlines, tropical islands, and two continents.

Quantum of the Seas will depart Los Angeles and then visit Catalina Island, California, before making their way to Hawaii. Even better? The itinerary includes an overnight stop in Oahu (Honolulu). 

From there, Quantum will continue its journey across the Pacific Ocean, calling at Raiatea, French Polynesia; Papeete, Tahiti; and Moorea, French Polynesia before finally arriving at her new home — Brisbane. 

This is all part of Australia's new 2026-2027 deployment  that was released today.

Two Quantum Class ships — Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas — sail from Australia, offering guests the opportunity to explore stunning destinations while experiencing the familiar Royal Caribbean standard of service and innovation. 

Itineraries will depart from Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, and sail to Australia, New Zealand, and the sun-soaked South Pacific islands.

Quantum will sail from Brisbane, while Anthem's seasonal homeport will be Sydney

Quantum Class ships aren't new to the South Pacific. As such, it's not a surprise that Royal Caribbean is doubling down with two of its most popular vessels for the 2026-2027 season. 

These ships are some of the most innovative at sea, offering skydiving simulators, robot bars, multi-purpose indoor spaces, enclosed observation capsules, and more. 

While the ships themselves are destinations, they're even more special when combined with a bucket-list-worthy itinerary. 

Read more: I tried my first Australia cruise: here are 7 things that surprised me

Another noteworthy itinerary is Anthem of the Seas' 18-night cruise from Oahu (Honolulu) to Sydney. Many of the ports are the same as Quantum's lengthier Transpacific cruise, making it an appealing option for those who may not have nearly a month to spare on a cruise. 

Prices for Quantum's Transpacific journey start at a staggering $2,292 per person. However, this breaks down to less than $90 per night when sailing in a windowless interior stateroom. Comparatively, Anthem's 18-night cruise starts at $1,896 per person, or roughly $105 per night. 

Of course, those looking to cruise to Australia and beyond will be more interested in the coastal and island-focused sailings from Sydney and Brisbane. 

Sample itineraries include:

• 11-night New Zealand cruise on Anthem of the Seas: Departs Feb. 1, 2027
• 9-night South Pacific cruise on Anthem of the Seas: Multiple departures
• 8-night South Pacific cruise on Quantum of the Seas: Multiple departures
• 8-night Queensland cruise on Anthem of the Seas: Departs Jan 24, 2027
• 4-night Airlie Beach cruise on Quantum of the Seas: Multiple departures 

The new Australia cruises are open for booking now 

Royal Caribbean's 2026-2027 Australia deployment is open for booking. You can either book directly through the cruise line's website or contact your travel agent for assistance. 

Waiting on one more deployment

Royal Caribbean is set to release its October 2026 - March 2027 sailings from Singapore sometime the week of May 12, 2025. 

This is the last deployment for the 2026 - 2027 schedule. 

Royal Caribbean is ready to resume opening up new cruises to book in 2026-2027 in just a few days.

Cruisers can book new California sailings earlier thanks to Royal Caribbean's latest deployment schedule change. 

Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule refers to when the cruise line will open new sailings for booking. Each release is tied to a specific region, such as Short Caribbean, Europe, and California. 

California cruises from April 2026 to April 2027 will be announced during the week of February 10. However, the launch of new European cruises has been delayed to sometime during the week of February 17.

Last week, Royal Caribbean offered a preview of what's to come, including Serenade of the Seas departing from San Diego. Based on these test load sailings, here's what we can likely expect.  Keep in mind the exact line-up might differ, but this is our best guess.

The test load itinerary departs from San Diego on March 28, 2027, and stops in La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada, Mexico. 

Other sailings expected to debut include Voyager of the Seas, which will replace Navigator of the Seas. The Ports America Los Angeles website schedule shows Voyager arriving in California on October 5, 2026, with Navigator disappearing from the schedule in November. 

A test load itinerary revealed that Voyager of the Seas will offer an 8-night cruise from Los Angeles on November 5, 2026, with an overnight stay in Cabo. 

The California deployment will also unveil Royal Caribbean's plans for Quantum and Ovation of the Seas, both of which will debut in California in 2025.

The Quantum Class ships are larger than Navigator and Voyager of the Seas. Plus, they offer more modern amenities, including the North Star observation capsule, a skydiving simulator, and an enclosed SeaPlex, which features activities like bumper cars and roller skating.

Like with Voyager, the Ports America Los Angeles schedule shows Oviation on the manifest through December 2026. 

However, effective October 2026, it's hinted that Royal Caribbean will relocate Quantum of the Seas, leaving Ovation as the sole Quantum Class ship offering cruises from California. 

Royal Caribbean returned to Los Angeles after a decade-long break

The company's re-entry into the California market was successful. Executives confirmed that Navigator of the Seas' cruises have performed "exceptionally well." 

As such, Royal Caribbean is strengthening its presence on the West Coast by adding another departure port in California and introducing new ships sailing from Los Angeles.

The latest deployment changes

Royal Caribbean revised its deployment schedule at the end of January, placing new Australia cruises on hold. They eventually updated the schedule to give Australia cruises a new date. Now, they'll be released during the week of June 2. 

Another change affected the Seasonal Caribbean cruises, which were delayed from the week of February 24 to March 3. They were initially slated to launch around Feb. 17.

The newest update swapped Europe 2.0 and California cruises. 

What about Icon 3?

There hasn't been any published news about the third Icon Class ship, which is set to debut in 2026. 

However, Royal Caribbean typically doesn't include new ships as part of its regular deployment schedule. Instead, they usually have their own release. 

So, don't bank on the unnamed ship's release being part of the Europe 2.0, Short Caribbean, or Seasonal Caribbean launches. 

Royal Caribbean will likely release the ship's name and homeport, along with a special date exclusive to the new ship's bookings, separately.

Royal Caribbean has pushed back once again its plans to release new cruises in 2026-2027.

Just two weeks after revising its deployment schedule, the cruise line has done so again and even delayed one deployment until further notice.

The most recent change affects three specific releases: short Caribbean, seasonal Caribbean, and Australia.

Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule is a plan for when it will put new sailings on sale for the first time, with each release tied to a specific region that will take place in 2026 or 2027.

Some new 2026-2027 sailings were announced already in November and December, but there's been a break for Christmas and New Years.

Here's what's changed and what you can expect.

The revised deployment schedule

The new deployment schedule has changes to three regions, with one now paused until a new date can be found.

• Week of February 3, 2025: Singapore
• Week of February 10, 2025: Europe 2.0
• Week of February 17, 2025: West Coast
• Week of February 24, 2025: Short Caribbean
• Week of March 3, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean
• Week of March 10, 2025: China
• TBD: Australia

Revised schedule

First revision

What's changed is short Caribbean has been pushed back to February 24,  and seasonal Caribbean has been pushed back to March 3. 

In addition, Australia has been placed in "TBD" until a new release window can be identified.

Plans to release new Europe, West Coast, China, and Singapore cruises remain unchanged.

Previously released 2026-2027 cruises

Royal Caribbean has released some of its 2026-2027 cruises in fall 2024, and they're available to book immediately.

• Alaska 2026
• Europe 2026
• Summer & Yearlong Caribbean 2026-2027
• Northeast 2026-2027

Expect more changes

As we've seen twice so far, the deployment schedule could be altered again. In fact, it will given the pause on Australia releases.

The release of new sailings is part of the cruise line's annual tradition of systematically putting new cruises on sale in the fall and spring.

It's also important to note that when the schedule says a release will occur during "the week of" a certain date, it could be any day that week and is rarely actually on the exact date.

As an example, when Europe 2.0 comes out during the week of February 10, 2025, it almost certainly will not be available on February 10. Rather, it will be posted at some point during that week.

Usually new sailings start appearing on the website around midnight GMT, and usually fill out the schedule by the next morning.

Icon 3 announcement is still forthcoming

Something else probably not included in this latest revision to the deployment schedule is when we can start booking cruises on Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class cruise ship.

We know Icon 3 will start sailing sometime in 2026, but the cruise line has not revealed where in the world the new ship will sail, or any other details about it.

The reason why I believe Icon 3 is not part of this updated deployment schedule is because Royal Caribbean usually puts sailings on a new ship out for sale on its own. It's kind of like its own launch event.

It's likely where Icon 3 gets inserted has an effect on other ships. Deployments tend to have a domino effect, where one ship gets moved to a new homeport and other ships get shifted around as a result.

Make plans now before the new cruises are released

While we all wait just a little bit longer for these new sailings, you'll want to start planning to get a jump start on it.

One of the best ways to get a lower price on a cruise is to book as early as you can, and the day new cruises go on sale is the perfect time.

I recommend alerting your travel agent to your desire to book a new cruise when these deployments go live. That way, your agent can get a hold of a cabin immediately.

Of course, we don't yet know which ships will sail from which ports or when they will depart, but having a plan in place now ensures you'll get a room booked quicker when they do release.

As an example, if you want to cruise during a major holiday, there's bound to be a weeklong cruise offered that week.  So you could tell your travel agent to book a balcony cabin on whichever ship is sailing from a certain port over a given holiday.

The other really good reason to book something immediately is if you want a suite.

Suites are almost always the first category of stateroom to sell out on any sailing because they are the fewest types of rooms on any ship.

You're going to have to wait a little bit longer for new Royal Caribbean cruises to be released for 2026-2027.

The deployment schedule has been quietly updated this week and the cruise line has added new offerings, while pushing everything back.

The deployment schedule refers to when Royal Caribbean will put new sailings on sale for the first time, and each release is tied to a region of the world for sometime between 2026 and 2027.

Royal Caribbean already released some new cruises in the fall, but took a break over the winter holidays.

Here's when that the new deployment schedule looks like and what to expect.

Updated 2026-2027 deployments

According to the updated schedule that has been distributed to travel agents, there's now a new offering for Singapore that will come first, followed by others a bit delayed.

• Week of February 3, 2025: Singapore
• Week of February 10, 2025: Europe 2.0
• Week of February 17, 2025: Short Caribbean & West Coast
• Week of February 24, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean
• Week of March 10, 2025: China
• Week of March 31, 2025: Australia

Updated schedule

Original deployment schedule

What's different is Singapore is now coming up first. Previously Singapore was listed as "TBD".

"Europe 2.0" refers to a follow-up deployment to the European sailings already released for 2026 that occurred in October.

One other change is the addition of China. Like Singapore, it had a "TBD" distinction, but now is added for early March.

Short Caribbean & West Coast, Seasonal Caribbean, and Australia remain unchanged.

What's been released already for 2026-2027

In case you missed it, there have been some cruises already released and ready to book that came out in the fall.

• Alaska 2026
• Europe 2026
• Summer & Yearlong Caribbean 2026-2027
• Northeast 2026-2027

The deployment schedule could change again

Royal Caribbean systematically puts out new cruise sailings each year, and it usually occurs in the fall and spring.

But this schedule could change again if they need more time to align offerings.

Something else to be aware of is that the releases occur at some point during the week specified. It could be any day of that week and is rarely, if ever, the actual day listed.

Cruise fans will commonly mistake that and assume the new sailings come out on February 10, instead of some day that week.

Something else to be aware of is the sailings get loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, so it's not uncommon to start seeing some sailings pop up on the Royal Caribbean website before others.  Or for travel agents to see new sailings in their backend system before the website.

Often new sailings start appearing on the website around midnight GMT, and usually fill out the schedule by the next morning.

What's missing

If you're thinking big picture, you would remember that in 2026 Royal Caribbean is going to launch a new cruise ship and wonder where that fits into this.

Royal Caribbean's third Icon Class cruise ship will launch sometime in 2026 and her arrival will impact where other ships are sailing from too.

We have very few details about Icon 3. We don't even know the ship's name or where it will sail from.

Formal construction of the ship began in October 2024, and you can't book cruises yet for it.

Historically, Royal Caribbean does not include new ships as part of its regular deployments.  New ships typically have their own deployment release that's independent of the others.

So that means if Icon 3 were to sail in Europe in summer 2026, I would not necessarily expect it to be part of the Europe 2.0 release in February.

What I would expect is a special announcement of Icon 3's name, homeport, and what date the public can start booking sailings.

What you should be doing now while you wait for new deployments

With just a few weeks left until Royal Caribbean releases the rest of its deployments, there are some things you could do now to prepare.

My advice is let your travel agent know what sort of sailings you're interested in and the time frame so they can jump on it when it becomes available.

We don't know which ship will sail from a particular port or dates, but you can make educated guesses and then your agent knows what you're looking for so you can book it quickly.

One of the top reasons to book a cruise as soon as they become available is to get one of the highly desirable cruise cabins that sell out quickly.

Plus, booking a cruise as early as possible is one of the best ways to save money on a cruise. 

In general, cruise prices are lowest when they are first put out and then get more expensive as cabins get booked up.

Planning on booking a cruise in 2026-2027? These stories will help:

• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

We now know when Royal Caribbean will open up the first set of new 2026-2027 bookings.

The cruise line posted the dates the public can begin booking new cruises beyond what's currently available.

As is the case once again, Royal Caribbean will releases the new sailings in two parts: in the fall and again in the spring.

The good news is the first deployments will come out a bit earlier than usual, beginning in October.

Week of October 21, 2024

• Region: Alaska
• Sailing Time Frame: April – October 2026

Week of October 28, 2024

• Region: Europe
• Sailing Time Frame: April – October 2026

Week of November 11, 2024

• Region: Summer & Yearlong Caribbean
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027

Week of November 18, 2024

• Region: Northeast
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027

Week of January 27, 2025

• Region: Europe Cont.
• Sailing Time Frame: TBD

Week of February 17, 2025

• Region: Short Caribbean & West Coast
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027

Week of February 24, 2025

• Region: Seasonal Caribbean
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027

Week of March 31, 2025

• Region: Australia
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2026 – April 2027

TBD

• Region: China & Singapore
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2026 – April 2027

All itineraries are subject to change without notice.

If you need help translating Royal Caribbean's code for each region, here's what you need to know.

• Yearlong Caribbean: Cruise ships that are deployed all year to the Caribbean. Does not include ships that visit the Caribbean part of the year
• Northeast: Cruises that begin from New York, Baltimore, or Boston
• Europe Cont: Expect the European cruises to come in two batches.  No word on which ones will be in which batch.
• Seasonal Caribbean: Cruises that go to the Caribbean (but not from a Northeast port) that sail just part of the year.

What is a deployment schedule?

The deployment schedule is the plan for when Royal Caribbean will open select sailings for sale.

There is no indication of which day in the given week the new sailings will go on sale.  It could happen any day in that week.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

What should you do now to be ready to book a 2026 or 2027 cruise?

If you are in the market for a cruise during one of these new deployments, you will want to keep an eye out for once cruises go on sale.

Royal Caribbean typically allows Crown and Anchor Society members a 24 hour head start on the general public, but since anyone can sign up for Crown and Anchor Society, there is no excuse for waiting.

Talk with your travel agent in the days leading up to the new deployments coming online so you can jump on specific bookings and book them.  

One of the best strategies for the lowest prices is to book a cruise as soon as it goes on sale.  Hard-to-find staterooms are also available during this period, so now is the time to lock in a studio room or a suite.

Planning on booking a cruise in 2026-2027? These stories will help:

• What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?

We now know when Royal Caribbean will open up the first set of new 2025-2026 bookings.

Royal Caribbean has posted most of its new sailings and when they will go on sale.

As per usual for Royal Caribbean, they will post new sailings in the fall and again in the spring.

The deployment schedule will cover Alaska, Europe, Caribbean, and West Coast sailings.

• Week of October 30, 2023: Alaska
• Week of November 6, 2023: Europe
• Week of November 13, 2023: 7-night Caribbean (Phase 1)
• Week of December 4, 2023: 7-night Caribbean (Phase 2)
• Week of February 12, 2024: Short Caribbean, Los Angeles & Northeast 
• Week of February 19, 2024: Long Caribbean

Keep in mind the sailings could be released at any point within that week, and not necessarily on the first day of the listed week.

Australia, China, Singapore and other deployments will be forthcoming at a later date.

This is in addition to the Icon of the Seas sailings already released for 2025-2026.

All itineraries are subject to change without notice.

Rumored Star of the Seas release date

In case you're wondering when Royal Caribbean will open up new bookings for Star of the Seas, there's a rumor of when that might occur.

Star of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class cruise ship.

When a new cruise ship goes on sale, it's not usually included in other deployments. Rather, it gets posted as its own deployment.

A travel agent posted on Cruise Critic's message boards that Star of the Seas will go on sale December 5, 2023. This has not been officially announced or confirmed by Royal Caribbean.

This travel agent also indicated it looks as though Star of the Seas could be homeported from Port Canaveral.

Other rumored deployments posted by the same person include:

• Wonder of the Seas will offer short Caribbean cruises, in addition to Utopia of the Seas
• Alaska's cruise season will have four ships: Grandeur of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas & Anthem of the Seas.
• Anthem of the Seas is listed as well under the "Short Caribbean and Los Angeles" deployment.

Keep in mind none of this has been officially announced by Royal Caribbean.

What is a deployment schedule?

The deployment schedule is the plan for when Royal Caribbean will open select sailings for sale.

There is no indication of which day, just the week the new itineraries will become available to book, but it could be on any day of the noted week.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

What can you do now before the new bookings are posted?

If you are in the market for a cruise during one of these new deployments, you will want to keep an eye out for once cruises go on sale.

Royal Caribbean typically allows Crown and Anchor Society members a 24 hour head start on the general public, but since anyone can sign up for Crown and Anchor Society, there is no excuse for waiting.

Talk with your travel agent in the days leading up to the new deployments coming online so you can jump on specific bookings and book them.  

One of the best strategies for the lowest prices is to book a cruise as soon as it goes on sale.  Hard-to-find staterooms are also available during this period, so now is the time to lock in a studio room or a suite.

Planning on booking a cruise in 2024-2025? These stories will help:

• What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?