By Melissa Alvarado Sierra | Published on December 23, 2025
Adventure has arrived! 2026 cruises are now available for booking. Whether you dream of trekking across the glaciers of Alaska, riding waves in Hawaii, island-hopping across the Caribbean or exploring ancient capitals throughout Europe, Royal Caribbean® takes you to the world’s top destinations. And in 2026, you can get to know the latest ships in the fleet, the luxurious Legend of the Seas℠, Star of the Seas℠ and Allure of the Seas®. New destinations include:
This year, you can max out memories like never before on seven-night adventures to wow-worthy islands in the eastern and western Caribbean, including stops at the private island destination Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, on every sailing. On board, you can enjoy all the best food and beverages, or endless diversions in the ships' entertainment venues, restaurants and bars. Here are some highlights of the best cruises in 2026. Don’t wait. Start planning your vacation early and score some big travel savings.
Key Takeaways: Cruises in 2026
When it comes to exploring Alaska’s untamed beauty, nobody does it as well as Royal Caribbean. The fleet's biggest and boldest Quantum Class ships are well equipped to take you deep into the Last Frontier. Each of these vessels is loaded with innovative feats like simulated skydiving and the soaring North Star® observation capsule that offers 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. That’s not all, though. Voyager of the Seas® is sailing to Alaska for the first time in 2026.
All these ships offer plenty of views through floor-to-ceiling windows, ocean-facing glass elevators and more as you sail through Alaska’s breathtaking fjords. With stops in scenic Skagway, culture-rich Ketchikan and vibrant Juneau — not to mention more opportunities to see glaciers from your cruise and up close on hikes — each itinerary offers endless fun beneath the midnight sun..
It’s no secret that Royal Caribbean offers epic Caribbean cruises. And each year, it finds new ways to raise the bar. True to form, 2026 will be the boldest year yet for island hopping, with eight world-class ships sailing to the top-rated shores of the eastern, western and southern Caribbean — like Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba and the award-winning private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean will continue to serve up family fun throughout the eastern and western Caribbean on 7-night cruises out of Miami. You can visit San Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic from Florida, with guaranteed stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay on every short Caribbean sailing.
Pro tip: A dining package is a great idea on this voyage, so you can try the whole slate of restaurants on board during your week in paradise.
The 2026 cruise season will also offer lots of opportunities to maximize your weekends, with plenty of 3- and 4-night Caribbean getaways from Florida and Galveston. Choose between a slew of thrill-filled ships sailing from Florida and Texas.
No matter which ship you sail on, each of these itineraries lets you fit plenty of thrills — or time to chill — into just a few days, with stops at fan-favorite destinations like Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya and the award-winning private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. Plus, you’ll be able to take your relaxation to the max at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island and Royal Beach Club Cozumel, both opening soon..
You won’t believe where adventure can take you when you sail from Northeast ports during the best season yet for Royal Caribbean. Or tour the tropics on sun-drenched sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay, picture-perfect beaches in The Bahamas, and exotic southern Caribbean isles like Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Lucia.
You're invited to bolder than ever before in Bermuda, with overnight stays and an incredible itinerary that stops at iconic eastern Caribbean ports, including St. Maarten and Puerto Rico. Or you can bask in the beauty of the Great White North with summer and fall getaways to New England and Canada’s wild, windswept shores. Sail from Cape Liberty, Boston or Baltimore.
Set sail from Los Angeles for a weekend of adventure. You can enjoy short sailings to Ensenada, Mexico — or go all in on 6-night sailings to Cabo and Ensenada with overnights in Cabo.
You can soak up Old World charm on Catalina Island, stop in historic Mazatlán and pretty Puerto Vallarta— and unwind on Cabo’s world-famous beaches. Do it all in just a few days on a short 3- or 4-night getaway, or wander further on a 7-night adventure with stops in historic Mazatlán and pretty Puerto Vallarta. Whether you choose to level up your weekend or spend a full week exploring the Mexican Riviera, get ready to make memories.
You have the opportunity to see more wondrous shores across Europe in summer 2026. With multiple home ports and ships sailing to 50+ awe-inspiring destinations, there’s always something — and somewhere — new to discover with Royal Caribbean.
What's there to do? Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, climb the winding stairs of the Sagrada Familia and discover colorful seaside villages on getaways to France, Spain and Italy. Roam along the colossal columns of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece or visit Royal Beach Club Santorini for chills and thrills. Marvel at the majesty of fjord-filled Norway and catch an unforgettable solar eclipse on this 9-night sailing out of England. Uncover some of the most historic shores on the planet on an epic journey with the cruise line voted Best Overall by Travel Weekly readers.
Get ready for a season of new discoveries from New Zealand to New Caledonia in 2026. Sailing from Brisbane unlocks the best of the South Pacific and also displays the Queensland coast with stops in exciting ports like Cairns, Airlie Beach and Willis Island. You could also choose getaways to New Zealand’s sprawling vineyards and majestic fjords and stops in Vanuatu. Or set your sights on Tasmania with sun-soaked escapes from Sydney, Australia. If you want to wander even further, opt for a one-way transpacific trek between Australia and Hawaii. You’ll stop at exotic destinations like Moorea and Tahiti as you chart a course for beautiful Oahu.
If Asia is on your bucket list, head to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Penang or Phuket for an unbelievable vacation sampling of what the Far East has to offer.
The best time to take a cruise vacation depends on a few factors, and it differs for every destination. For example, the Caribbean is beautiful year-round in terms of weather, so you can go whenever you want, or wait for quieter months for the region, like September and October. Those months are also slower for Alaska cruises, so the question is whether you like your ports bustling or a little more relaxed.
If you're thinking about Europe, May and June are shoulder season — a time between peak summer crowds and the quiet of the winter. So by picking between winter, summer or something in between, you can set your ideal European cruise experience. The one thing you can be sure of is a luxurious experience, both on board the ship and on meticulously planned shore expeditions.
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