Royal Caribbean outlines 2028 Caribbean deployment across 11 cruise ships
Royal Caribbean has announced its summer 2028 Caribbean deployment programme, assigning 11 cruise ships to itineraries operating from ports in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the northeastern United States.
The programme, covering April through October 2028, includes four Icon Class vessels and the planned deployment of Symphony of the Seas following an upcoming refurbishment. The announcement provides details of the cruise line’s regional fleet deployment and scheduled itineraries for the 2028 summer season.
The four Icon Class ships — Hero of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas — will operate from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Galveston, respectively.
The deployment reflects Royal Caribbean’s continued concentration of its largest cruise vessels in the Caribbean, with itineraries serving destinations across the eastern, western and southern parts of the region.
Four Icon Class ships assigned to Caribbean operations
Hero of the Seas, the fourth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class series, is scheduled to operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami beginning in April 2028.
Legend of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale on six- and eight-night itineraries, while Star of the Seas will operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean services from Port Canaveral.
Icon of the Seas will be based in Galveston, Texas, offering six- and eight-night Western Caribbean cruises. Its itineraries will include destinations such as Cozumel in Mexico and Roatán in Honduras.
Together, the four vessels will serve several of Royal Caribbean’s principal Caribbean departure markets, providing a range of itinerary lengths and regional connections.
The programme also includes calls at Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, alongside established Caribbean cruise ports.
Symphony of the Seas scheduled for 2028 upgrade
Royal Caribbean also confirmed plans to introduce an upgraded Symphony of the Seas during 2028.
The Oasis Class vessel is scheduled to operate six- and eight-night Caribbean itineraries from Miami following the planned enhancement programme.
The company has not yet disclosed the scope of the upgrade, its investment value, the shipyard involved or the schedule for the refurbishment work.
The deployment plan also includes Harmony of the Seas, which will operate seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral, and Brilliance of the Seas, assigned to six- and seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Tampa.
These assignments will complement the company’s Icon Class operations across Florida’s major cruise gateways.
Caribbean programme extends to Puerto Rico and the US Northeast
Outside Florida and Texas, Royal Caribbean has allocated Enchantment of the Seas to seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The company’s northeastern US deployment will include Vision of the Seas from Baltimore, offering itineraries ranging from five to nine nights.
Independence of the Seas will operate from Cape Liberty in spring 2028, with voyages covering Canada, New England, Bermuda and the Eastern Caribbean.
Oasis of the Seas will also depart from Cape Liberty, offering seven-night Caribbean cruises, including visits to The Bahamas.
The programme covers 11 vessels across multiple departure ports, providing a combination of established cruise services and the latest Icon Class capacity.
Bookings for the announced itineraries opened on 5 November 2026.
The latest deployment announcement establishes Royal Caribbean’s planned Caribbean fleet distribution for summer 2028, while further technical and operational details concerning the Symphony of the Seas refurbishment are expected to be announced separately.
