October 20, 2026 — Royal Caribbean has updated the schedule for when its 2028–29 cruises go on sale, with most remaining regions now set to open between February and April 2027. The line also confirmed that its 18% service charge on drinks and dining has not changed, after a website error set off rumors of a jump to 20%. Parent company: Royal Caribbean Group.
When 2028–29 sailings open for booking
Royal Caribbean Blog reports the line has issued a revised deployment release schedule. Royal Caribbean notes the dates can still change, and new ships’ sailings are sometimes released separately.
| Release week | Region | Sailing window |
|---|---|---|
| Week of Nov 2, 2026 (unchanged) | Caribbean summer, 7+ nights | TBA |
| Week of Feb 1, 2027 | Europe (part 2) | July–October 2028 |
| Week of Feb 15, 2027 | Short Caribbean (part 1) and West Coast | April 2028–April 2029 |
| Week of Feb 22, 2027 | Caribbean winter, 7+ nights | Winter 2028–29 (exact window TBA) |
| Week of Apr 5, 2027 | Short Caribbean (part 2) | June 2028–April 2029 |
| TBA | Singapore, Australia and China | TBA |
Already on sale: Alaska 2028, with four ships sailing from Seattle and Vancouver and Ovation of the Seas returning to the region, and the first part of Europe 2028, when Rhapsody of the Seas becomes the line’s first ship to sail Europe year-round, with 7- to 11-night cruises from Copenhagen and Stockholm. A fifth Icon-class ship and a seventh Oasis-class ship, both still unnamed, are due for delivery in the second quarter of 2028; their homeports and first sailing dates are TBA.
Service charge stays at 18%
Social media posts, including a TikTok video with more than 61,000 views, claimed Royal Caribbean had quietly raised the service charge on drink packages, specialty dining and similar purchases to 20%. A FAQ on the line’s website briefly listed 20%. A spokesperson told Royal Caribbean Blog the FAQ was wrong and has been corrected, saying gratuities for beverages and dining “remain at 18%.”
- Daily crew gratuity: $18.50 per guest for inside, oceanview and balcony cabins; $21.00 per guest for suites.
- Service charge on beverages and dining: 18%.
What it means for airline travelers
- Summer 2028 Caribbean cruises of 7+ nights open the week of November 2, 2026. Short Caribbean, West Coast and winter Caribbean sailings will not open until February–April 2027, so flight planning for those can wait until the ship and homeport are published.
- Rhapsody of the Seas’ year-round Europe program sails from Copenhagen and Stockholm, both major hub airports with many transatlantic options; plan to arrive at least a day before sailing, especially when flying standby on long-haul routes.
- When budgeting onboard spending, use 18% for the service charge on drinks and dining, not 20%.
- No travel-industry or interline rate changes were mentioned.
Sources
- Royal Caribbean Blog — Royal Caribbean adds new dates for booking 2028 and 2029 cruises
- Royal Caribbean Blog — No, Royal Caribbean hasn’t increased its drink gratuities to 20%
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