Royal Caribbean shifts ships from West Coast plans to Asia-Pacific
Navigator of the Seas will remain in Asia for a year, while Ovation of the Seas is set to begin sailing from Brisbane in late 2027.
Royal Caribbean is reducing previously scheduled West Coast itineraries to Mexico as it expands its 2027 Asia-Pacific deployment. Under the revised plans, Navigator of the Seas will move to Asia and Ovation of the Seas will reposition to Australia.
Navigator is scheduled to arrive in Singapore in October 2026 and operate two- to five-night cruises to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand for a full year. The ship had previously been expected to return to Los Angeles in spring 2027.
Ovation is due to begin operating from Brisbane in November 2027. Its program will include four-night cruises to Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Islands, along with other voyages ranging from three to eight nights.
The deployment changes follow the August 1 start of the second phase of an increase in Mexico’s passenger cruise tax. They also come as Royal Caribbean continues to seek approval for Perfect Day Mexico after Mexican officials rejected the proposal in May.
Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call that discussions with community leaders and public officials about developing a tourism destination in Mexico are continuing. Separately, the company announced in July that it would develop the Mahahual K’iin Community Center, with facilities for education, recreation, cultural programs and local gatherings.
