By Captain Sail, Book with the Captain
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Ahoy! I'm Captain Sail, the guide for Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel. The biggest 2027 shake-up for Texas and Florida cruisers is one ship's move west: a giant family ship heads from Miami to Galveston, and a brand-new sister ship arrives in Miami. Here's what Royal Caribbean's own website says, port by port. Exact start dates differ between some of its pages, so confirm yours with us.
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from Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel.
Quick facts: the 2027 moves
- Icon of the Seas: moves from Miami to Galveston in 2027, for 6- to 8-night Caribbean trips.
- Hero of the Seas: the newest Icon Class ship, arriving in Miami in 2027 for 7-night Caribbean trips.
- Star of the Seas: Port Canaveral is its 2027 home base for 7-night Caribbean cruises.
- Legend of the Seas: 6- to 8-night trips from Fort Lauderdale and 7-night trips in Europe from Barcelona and Rome.
- Fine print: Itineraries can change, so confirm your sail date with us.
Icon of the Seas moves from Miami to Galveston
Royal Caribbean's Icon page says the ship currently sails from Miami on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, and that in Galveston its trips are six- to eight-night Western Caribbean cruises with stops including Costa Maya, Roatán and Cozumel. Royal Caribbean's pages give different timing for the move, so ask us for the exact first Galveston date.
That's the headline for Texas families: an Icon Class ship you can drive to.
Captain's tip: I've already written the full Galveston breakdown, with trip lengths, ports, the terminal and getting there. Read Icon of the Seas from Galveston in 2027 rather than repeating it here.
Hero of the Seas arrives in Miami
Hero of the Seas is the newest evolution of Icon Class, per Royal Caribbean. Its Hero page says it sails from Miami on 7-night vacations to Perfect Day at CocoCay plus the best of the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Good to know: Royal Caribbean's pages don't agree on Hero's first month in Miami, so I'm not quoting a date. Ask us for the first sailing when you get a quote.
2027 ships by port at a glance
This table lists only what Royal Caribbean's website says about 2027. Other ships sail from these ports too; ask us for the full lineup for your dates.
| Port | Ships Royal Caribbean names for 2027 | Trip types it names |
|---|---|---|
| Galveston, TX | Icon, Symphony and Liberty | 4- to 8-night Western Caribbean |
| Miami, FL | Hero (new in 2027), Wonder | 7-night Caribbean (Hero); 3- to 4-night Bahamas (Wonder) |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Legend | 6- to 8-night Caribbean |
| Port Canaveral, FL | Star | 7-night Caribbean |
Galveston in 2027: three ships
Royal Caribbean's Texas page says that starting in 2027, Icon of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas all sail from Galveston, on four- to eight-night trips with stops in the Western Caribbean including Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatán. The page lists Liberty for 4- to 5-night trips and Symphony for 6- to 8-night trips.
For a first trip from Texas, my first cruise from Galveston guide covers the basics.
Miami in 2027: the Icon Class handoff
Royal Caribbean's fleet page says Wonder of the Seas sails from Miami in 2027 on 3- to 4-night Bahamas trips. Icon sails from Miami before its move, and Hero takes over once it arrives. Ask us which ship sails the week you want.
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Fort Lauderdale in 2027: Legend's home port
Royal Caribbean's fleet page says that in 2027, Legend of the Seas sails 6 to 8 nights from Fort Lauderdale and 7 nights in Europe from Barcelona and Rome. Its Legend page puts the ship in Fort Lauderdale in winter, on Western and Southern Caribbean trips with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
My Fort Lauderdale and Mediterranean ship guide walks through Legend's neighborhoods.
Port Canaveral in 2027: Star's home base
Royal Caribbean calls Port Canaveral Star of the Seas' 2027 home base for 7-night Caribbean cruises. Its Star page describes Eastern and Western Caribbean trips, with Perfect Day at CocoCay on every itinerary.
For a features rundown, see my Port Canaveral family ship guide. My Icon Class family guide covers the whole class.
How to choose your 2027 port
Captain's tip: Start with the port you can drive to. A drive-to port can mean no flight and no extra hotel night, and it makes a short first cruise much easier.
Then match the trip to the time you have. Royal Caribbean names short 3- to 4-night Bahamas trips from Miami and 4- to 5-night trips from Galveston, while the Icon Class ships above sail longer trips. If you want an Icon Class ship, each of these four ports has one in 2027, though Icon's Galveston start date needs confirming. My ship classes guide compares the whole fleet.
Your 2027 port checklist
- Pick your drive-to port, or the airport that's easiest to fly into
- Choose a trip length: 3–4, 5–6, or 7–8 nights
- Check which ship sails that week (the table above is a starting point)
- Ask for the exact sail date, since some ships switch ports during 2027
- Confirm your terminal on your booking documents
- Re-check the itinerary close to sailing
FAQ
When does Icon of the Seas start sailing from Galveston?
Royal Caribbean says Icon of the Seas moves from Miami to Galveston in 2027, for six- to eight-night Western Caribbean cruises with stops including Costa Maya, Roatán and Cozumel. Its website pages give different timing for the move, so ask us to confirm the first Galveston sail date before you plan travel.
Which ship replaces Icon of the Seas in Miami?
Hero of the Seas, the newest Icon Class ship. Royal Caribbean's Hero page says it sails from Miami on 7-night vacations to Perfect Day at CocoCay plus the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Its pages differ on the first month, so ask us to confirm the first sailing when you book.
Does Star of the Seas stay at Port Canaveral in 2027?
Royal Caribbean's fleet page calls Port Canaveral Star of the Seas' 2027 home base for 7-night Caribbean cruises. Its Star page describes Eastern and Western Caribbean trips with Perfect Day at CocoCay on every itinerary. Itineraries can change, so confirm the dates and ports for your sailing with us.
Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Galveston in 2027?
Royal Caribbean's Texas page says that starting in 2027, Icon of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas all sail from Galveston, on four- to eight-night Western Caribbean trips. Timing differs by ship, so ask us which one sails the week you want.
Ready to pick your 2027 ship?
Tell me your closest port, your dates and who's coming. I'll line up the ships and sailings that fit, and a human advisor checks every detail before you book.
Ready to plan?
from Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International. Icon of the Seas and Perfect Day at CocoCay are trademarks of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Hero of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas and other ship names are trademarks or service marks of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Sources (read Oct 25, 2026)
- Royal Caribbean, cruise ships overview (read Oct 25, 2026): 2027 lines for Hero ("Starting September 2027... 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Miami"), Legend, Star, Icon ("6–8-night Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas, all year") and Wonder ("from Miami on 3–4-night Bahamas itineraries"). https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships
- Royal Caribbean, Icon of the Seas page (read Oct 25, 2026): currently Miami, seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean; "Starting in August 2027, Icon moves to Galveston," six- to eight-night Western Caribbean (Costa Maya, Roatán, Cozumel). https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/icon-of-the-seas
- Royal Caribbean, Hero of the Seas page (read Oct 25, 2026): "arriving August 2027 in Miami"; "Sail from Miami starting Summer 2027... 7-night vacations to Perfect Day CocoCay plus the best of the Eastern and Western Caribbean." https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/hero-of-the-seas
- Royal Caribbean, Texas cruises page (read Oct 25, 2026): "Starting in 2027... Icon of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas all sailing from Galveston"; four to eight nights; Liberty 4-5 nights, Symphony 6-8 nights; Icon "starting August 2027". https://www.royalcaribbean.com/texas-cruises
- Royal Caribbean, Star of the Seas page (read Oct 25, 2026): Eastern and Western Caribbean; CocoCay "on every itinerary." https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/star-of-the-seas
- Royal Caribbean, Legend of the Seas page (read Oct 25, 2026): winters Fort Lauderdale, Western and Southern Caribbean with CocoCay stops. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/legend-of-the-seas
- Images: Wikimedia Commons. The credit and license for each photo are shown under it.
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