November 5, 2026 — Royal Caribbean International has opened its summer 2028 lineup of Caribbean, Bermuda and Canada/New England vacations. Eleven ships will sail from April through October 2028 from homeports in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the Northeast, including four Icon Class ships from Florida and Texas.
What was announced
The Miami-based line, part of Royal Caribbean Group, released the summer 2028 program on November 5. Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members got first access on Royal Caribbean’s website, with general sales opening later the same afternoon. The line described it as “its boldest lineup of Caribbean and Mexico vacations yet.”
Summer 2028 ships and homeports
| Ship | Homeport | Length | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero of the Seas | Miami | 7 nights (from April 2028) | Eastern and Western Caribbean: Perfect Day CocoCay, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Cozumel |
| Symphony of the Seas | Miami | 6 and 8 nights | Curaçao, Falmouth (Jamaica); new “amplified” features in 2028, details TBA |
| Legend of the Seas | Fort Lauderdale | 6 and 8 nights (from April 2028) | Perfect Day CocoCay, Cabo Rojo (Dominican Republic), Aruba |
| Star of the Seas | Port Canaveral (Orlando) | 7 nights | Western and Eastern Caribbean: CocoCay, Samaná, San Juan, St. Thomas, Cozumel |
| Harmony of the Seas | Port Canaveral (Orlando) | 7 nights | CocoCay, Nassau and other Caribbean stops |
| Brilliance of the Seas | Tampa | 6 and 7 nights (from April 2028) | Western Caribbean: Belize City, Grand Cayman |
| Icon of the Seas | Galveston | 6 and 8 nights | Western Caribbean: Cozumel, Roatán |
| Enchantment of the Seas | San Juan | 7 nights | Southern Caribbean: Tortola, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Dominica, Barbados |
| Vision of the Seas | Baltimore | 5 to 9 nights | Bermuda, Martinique, Antigua |
| Independence of the Seas | Cape Liberty (New Jersey) | 4 to 9 nights (spring 2028) | Canada, New England, Bermuda, Eastern Caribbean incl. Puerto Plata |
| Oasis of the Seas | Cape Liberty (New Jersey) | 7 nights | Caribbean: CocoCay, Nassau |
Exact sailing dates for each ship beyond the April–October season were not listed in the announcement (TBA). Hero of the Seas is described as the line’s newest Icon Class ship; the release’s photo caption says it arrives in Miami in August 2027. Royal Caribbean said what is new on Symphony of the Seas will be revealed at a later date.
What it means for airline travelers
- Lots of airport choices. The homeports line up with big airports: Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO) for Port Canaveral, Tampa (TPA), Houston (IAH or HOU) for Galveston, San Juan (SJU), Baltimore (BWI) and Newark (EWR) for Cape Liberty. Pick the homeport where your airline has the most daily flights.
- Fly in a day early. Summer is peak season for Florida and Northeast flights, so standby seats can be tight. Arriving the day before sailing protects you from a missed ship.
- Galveston needs ground time. Galveston is roughly an hour or more by road from the Houston airports, so plan the transfer, especially if you might roll to a later flight.
- Short sailings help. The 4- to 6-night options fit around short days off and limited pass windows.
- Rates. The announcement did not mention any travel-industry or interline rates for these sailings.
Sources
- PR Newswire (Royal Caribbean International), “Royal Caribbean Announces Summer 2028 Caribbean Lineup Across Four Icon Class Ships and Newly Amplified Vacations” — prnewswire.com
- StockTitan, “Royal Caribbean Announces Summer 2028 Caribbean Lineup Across Four Icon Class Ships and Newly Amplified Vacations” — stocktitan.net
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