- Strategic Ship Redeployment: For the 2026-2027 season, Jewel of the Seas will replace Grandeur of the Seas on itineraries departing from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.
- Complimentary Passenger Upgrades: Many guests originally booked on the smaller Grandeur of the Seas are receiving free upgrades to longer sailings on the newer, larger ship.
- Increased Caribbean Capacity: The ship swap allows Royal Caribbean to strategically increase its passenger capacity for Western Caribbean cruises originating from Florida.
- Support for Future Growth: This move helps prepare for the launch of major new Royal Caribbean destinations in Mexico, including Royal Beach Club Cozumel and Perfect Day Mexico.
In an exciting development for travelers, Royal Caribbean has announced a strategic ship deployment swap that provides a wonderful, unexpected gift for many of its passengers. For the 2026-2027 season, the cruise line is redeploying two of its vessels, leading to significant upgrades for guests booked on certain itineraries out of Florida.
The newer and slightly larger Jewel of the Seas will now take over the sailings previously scheduled for the Grandeur of the Seas from the popular ports of Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. As a result of this change, some passengers who had booked shorter voyages on the Grandeur are being offered the chance to move to a longer seven-night cruise on the more modern Jewel of the Seas at no additional cost. This move reflects a positive outcome for many vacationers looking forward to their trip.
This thoughtful redeployment is part of Royal Caribbean’s larger vision for the future. By placing a ship with higher capacity in Florida, the company is preparing for the launch of its ambitious new destinations in Mexico. These future projects include the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel, set to open in 2026, and the expansive Perfect Day Mexico resort destination at Costa Maya, planned for 2027, which promises to be a major attraction in the region.