Royal Caribbean shifts strategy as Disney enters key cruise market
Royal Caribbean is making major moves to expand its West Coast cruise offerings from California and avoiding greater competition with Disney Cruise Line in the process.
Ovation of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean's newer and larger Quantum Class ships, will lead Royal Caribbean's West Coast growth. The ship will soon become the first of its kind to sail from Los Angeles as it begins a summer season of Mexico cruises featuring overnights in popular Cabo San Lucas.
Related: Royal Caribbean drops popular port from months of cruises
In October, Ovation of the Seas will reposition to Singapore for a season sailing alongside the brand-new Disney Adventure - Disney Cruise Line's biggest ship yet. The Disney Adventure will become the cruise line's first ship to homeport in Asia when it launches in December.
But instead of returning to Singapore for the 2026-2027 season, Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas will lead an even bigger push for Mexico cruises from Los Angeles, and the cruise line will reduce its capacity in Singapore at the same time.
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Instead of sending Ovation back to Singapore, smaller Navigator of the Seas will deploy there to sail a series of three- to 12-night cruises visiting popular destinations in Southeast and East Asia from October 2026 through February 2027.
Navigator of the Seas accommodates 3,368 passengers, about half as many as Disney Cruise Line's super-sized new Disney Adventure, which will sail three- and four-night itineraries from Singapore with only days at sea.
Related: Royal Caribbean casino players just got a valuable surprise
Much like Royal Caribbean's newest ships, the Disney Adventure is designed to be a vacation destination in itself. It will feature seven themed areas reminiscent of the lands that make up Disney Parks.
Although smaller and older than the Disney Adventure and Ovation of the Seas, which accommodates more than 4,000 passengers, Navigator of the Seas remains a popular ship for families. Highlights of the ship include two waterslides, a FlowRider surf simulator, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, the first blow dry bar at sea, original stage productions, ice skating shows, and more.
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Royal Caribbean has strong ambitions to grow in California, and it chose Ovation of the Seas to lead that charge, swapping the ship's planned 2025 deployment to Tianjin, China for Los Angeles.
In fall 2026, Voyager of the Seas will join Ovation of the Seas in L.A. to sail Mexican Riviera cruises. Voyager will replace Navigator of the Seas in L.A. as Navigator heads to Singapore.
In addition to switching up its Los Angeles-based ships, Royal Caribbean will further expand its footprint on the West Coast by adding San Diego as a new California home port in fall 2026.
Related: Royal Caribbean adds tracking feature to its app
From October 2026 to April 2027, Serenade of the Seas will sail Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego. Itineraries include two-, three- and four-night getaways, as well as longer seven-night cruises visiting popular ports like Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. Several of the seven-night sailings include a visit to La Paz, Mexico, a new port of call for Royal Caribbean.
San Diego is also a seasonal home port for Disney Cruise Line, which offers spring Baja cruises visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada aboard the Disney Wonder.
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