Royal Caribbean news worth knowing, with the context behind the headlines. From the publisher of The Cruise Insider guides.
October 18, 2026
Royal Caribbean has rerouted Oasis of the Seas' October 18 seven-night sailing from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, canceling Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau as an East Coast storm makes the Bahamas run unsafe.
October 18, 2026
Royal Caribbean says guests on the October 25 Odyssey of the Seas and October 31 Explorer of the Seas transatlantic sailings should expect boarding in Europe to take 90 minutes or more as the EU's new biometric Entry/Exit System requires face-to-face fingerprint and facial scans for every passenger.
October 17, 2026
Vision of the Seas traded its Bermuda call for an overnight in Saint John, New Brunswick, where guests cannot disembark, after a storm system made the Bermuda route unsafe. Affected guests receive onboard credit based on stateroom type.
October 17, 2026
Royal Caribbean confirmed Freedom of the Seas will sail a second straight summer from Southampton in 2028, May through October, with short breaks to nine-nighters from 460 pounds per person. General bookings opened October 15, 2026.
October 16, 2026
Hurricane Simon has pulled a second ship into its wake off Mexico's Pacific coast: Carnival Panorama cancelled its Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan calls, joining Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas on a rewritten Mexican Riviera itinerary.
October 15, 2026
Royal Caribbean is sailing Europe year-round for the first time: Rhapsody of the Seas pairs summer Turkey-and-Egypt sailings with winter cruises to the Canary Islands, Morocco and Portugal in 2028-29.
October 14, 2026
Thailand's tourism authority met with Royal Caribbean Group last week to push for more port calls, floating new cruise routes around Phuket and Laem Chabang.
October 13, 2026
Hurricane Simon forced Voyager of the Seas to drop Puerto Vallarta, so the ship returns to Cabo San Lucas today for a second full-day call. Guests get $50 to $250 onboard credit per stateroom.
October 12, 2026
January sailings are down to $748 on average from $846 last year, with Caribbean capacity up 11.5 percent. Winter 2027 is shaping up as a buyer's market.
October 12, 2026
Asked during a Q&A on the President's Cruise when Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open, Royal Caribbean president Michael Bayley declined to name a date. The company's website lists December 2026; CEO Jason Liberty told investors to expect early 2028.
October 11, 2026
Royal Caribbean cancelled Navigator of the Seas' 18-night Tokyo-to-Los Angeles sailing on May 12, 2027, extending its Singapore season instead. Booked guests can rebook or take a full refund.
October 11, 2026
Disney Cruise Line handed out plain silicone wristbands for stateroom access on the Disney Treasure sailing from Port Canaveral, skipping Key to the World cards entirely in a limited trial.
October 10, 2026
Jefferies upgraded Royal Caribbean to Buy ahead of October 27 earnings, calling it their best buy in the space. Shares are up 22% since the Sandals deal was announced.