Royal Caribbean to Deploy Five Ships Year-Round from Florida — as Icon of the Seas Is Rumoured to Move to Galveston in 2027

Royal Caribbean International has announced a major 2027–2028 deployment, with five ships set to sail year-round from Florida — but it’s the future of Icon of the Seas that’s generating the most buzz.

According to several credible industry reports and deployment patterns, the world’s largest cruise ship could reposition from Miami to Galveston, Texas in August 2027, marking a major first for the state and a new milestone for Royal Caribbean.

Big Plans for Florida in 2027

Starting in April 2027, Royal Caribbean will base five ships at Port Canaveral, PortMiami, and Tampa, offering a mix of short Bahamas getaways and longer Caribbean adventures lasting up to eight nights.

The lineup includes:

• Star of the Seas, the newest Icon-class vessel, continuing her 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, including Royal Caribbean’s return to Samaná, Dominican Republic.

• Harmony of the Seas, returning refreshed after a major Royal Amplified refurbishment, offering weeklong cruises to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral.

• Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas, both running short 3- and 4-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

• Radiance of the Seas, homeporting in Tampa for 4- to 8-night Western Caribbean cruises, featuring stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and the upcoming Perfect Day Mexico private destination, opening late 2027.

Icon of the Seas: All Eyes on Galveston

While Royal Caribbean’s Florida deployment is confirmed, industry observers are closely watching Icon of the Seas, which may soon make a dramatic move west.

Based on internal scheduling data and port deployment leaks, Icon is expected to conclude her Miami-based itineraries in August 2027 before embarking on a 9-night repositioning voyage to Galveston, arriving around August 16, 2027.

From there, it’s believed she would begin offering 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries, before settling into a regular schedule of 7-night sailings from November 2027.

If confirmed, this would mark the first time an Icon-class ship homeports in Texas, a significant milestone for the Port of Galveston and the wider Gulf cruise market.

Royal Caribbean has previously confirmed that an Icon-class vessel will be based in Galveston from 2027, though it has not yet publicly stated which ship it will be. With Icon 4 under construction and expected to debut in 2028, many industry watchers believe Icon herself will make the move.

Private Islands and Exclusive Experiences

The 2027–28 deployment will continue Royal Caribbean’s strategy of focusing on private destinations. Guests can look forward to visits to:

• Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas)

• Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (opening December 2025)

• Royal Beach Club Cozumel (opening 2026)

• Perfect Day Mexico (opening 2027)

Bookings for the new itineraries open to the public on November 5, 2025, with early access already available for Crown & Anchor Society members.

A Major Shift in Cruise Power

If the rumours prove true, the move of Icon of the Seas to Galveston will represent one of the biggest shifts in Royal Caribbean’s deployment strategy in years — bringing the world’s largest cruise ship to the heart of the Gulf Coast.

Combined with the new Florida deployments, Royal Caribbean is clearly setting the stage for its most ambitious Caribbean program yet, giving cruisers across the U.S. more options than ever to experience the line’s newest ships and signature private islands.