Royal Caribbean opened bookings for summer 2028 Caribbean cruises on 11 ships, including all four Icon Class ships. Here is where each ship sails and what is new.
Royal Caribbean fans can now plan a summer 2028 Caribbean vacation.
The cruise line released its summer 2028 Caribbean and Mexico lineup on Thursday, Nov. 5, Cruise Hive reports. Sailings run from April through October 2028 on 11 ships.
Four of those ships are from Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest group, the Icon Class.
Which Icon Class ships sail in summer 2028?
All four of them, according to Cruise Hive:
Hero of the Seas: Sails from Miami on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean trips. Stops include St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island.
Legend of the Seas: Sails from Fort Lauderdale starting in April on six- and eight-night trips. Stops include Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic, Aruba and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Star of the Seas: Sails from Port Canaveral on seven-night trips. Stops include Samana, San Juan, St. Thomas, Cozumel and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Icon of the Seas: Sails from Galveston, Texas, on six- and eight-night Western Caribbean trips to Roatan and Cozumel.
Hero of the Seas is the fourth Icon Class ship and is set to debut in 2027.
What other ships are in the 2028 lineup?
Seven more ships round out the summer schedule, Cruise Hive reports:
Symphony of the Seas: Six- and eight-night trips from Miami, with stops in Curacao and Jamaica.
Harmony of the Seas: Seven-night trips from Port Canaveral, including Nassau.
Brilliance of the Seas: Six- and seven-night trips from Tampa to Belize and Grand Cayman.
Enchantment of the Seas: Seven-night Southern Caribbean trips from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Vision of the Seas: Five- to nine-night trips from Baltimore to Bermuda and the Southern Caribbean.
Oasis of the Seas: Seven-night Caribbean trips from Cape Liberty, New Jersey.
Independence of the Seas: Four- to nine-night trips from Cape Liberty to Canada, New England, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
What is new on Symphony of the Seas?
Royal Caribbean says Symphony of the Seas will get all-new “amplified” experiences in 2028, according to the cruise line’s announcement.
The cruise line has not said what those upgrades will be yet. More details are expected later, Cruise Hive reports.
“Amplified” is Royal Caribbean’s name for big makeovers that add new attractions, restaurants and features to older ships. Harmony of the Seas finished its own five-week amplification in May 2026.
Can you visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island?
Harmony of the Seas guests can. The ship’s Nassau stops let guests buy access to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Royal Caribbean’s beach club in the Bahamas, Cruise Hive reports.
Which ships stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay?
Four ships in the summer 2028 lineup include Perfect Day at CocoCay, according to Cruise Hive: Hero, Legend, Star and Oasis of the Seas.
The private island in the Bahamas has water slides, pools, beaches and the Thrill Waterpark.
When can you book Royal Caribbean’s summer 2028 cruises?
Now. Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members got first access on the morning of Nov. 5. Bookings opened to everyone later that afternoon, Cruise Hive reports.
Popular sailings on the newest ships, especially during school breaks, tend to fill quickly.
How big are Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships?
They are among the largest cruise ships in the world.
Icon of the Seas debuted in January 2024 as the world’s biggest cruise ship. Star of the Seas followed in 2025, and Legend of the Seas joined the fleet in 2026.
The ships are built for families, with huge water parks, multiple pools, and neighborhoods aimed at young kids, teens and adults.
Should you book a 2028 cruise this early?
Booking early gives you the widest choice of cabins and dates, especially on the newest ships. It also gives you more time to pay off your trip.
The downside is that prices and promotions can change. Some cruisers book early and then watch for price drops before final payment is due.
Which Royal Caribbean ship would you pick for summer 2028? Tell us where you would sail.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Cruise Hive (Nov. 5, 2026), the full summer 2028 lineup, ships, ports and booking dates
Royal Caribbean (Nov. 5, 2026), the announcement and Symphony of the Seas upgrades
CruiseMapper (Nov. 7, 2026), the summer 2028 schedule
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