Royal Caribbean’s Newest Giant Is Arriving Ten Days Early

Royal Caribbean says construction of its next Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, is running ahead of schedule, so the vessel will welcome its first guests on August 1, 2027, rather than the previously announced August 11. The fourth ship in the class is being built at the Meyer Turku yard in Finland and will carry 5,610 passengers.

Two new sailings fill the opening. The first is a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale on August 1, 2027, with a stop at Perfect Day CocoCay; full itinerary details are still to come. A three-night trip to CocoCay and the Bahamas from Port Everglades follows on August 8. Bookings opened on October 7.

Guests already booked on the old August 11 sailing will be contacted with options, including moving to one of the new departures or keeping their current booking. The cruise line has not said how many people that affects, so anyone with a reservation should watch for the notice.

After its debut weeks, Hero of the Seas is slated to settle into year-round weeklong cruises from PortMiami, taking over from Icon of the Seas in South Florida. Destinations on that rotation include Mexico, the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Honduras.

Sources: Cruise Industry News