This major cruise line will homeport in San Diego for the first time in 2026
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, world's biggest cruise ship
Here's what guests can expect from Royal Caribbean's highly-anticipated new ship, Icon of the Seas.
Cruise passengers will have more options out of Southern California starting next year.
Royal Caribbean International will homeport a ship in San Diego for the first time. The line's Serenade of the Seas ship will sail from the city beginning in October 2026.
'San Diego is nicknamed 'America's Finest City,' and it sure lives up to the title,' the cruise line said on its website. 'With its breezy, sunny climate and laid-back, beach-town spirit, this West Coast gem beckons with unique experiences.'
Cruise passengers are breaking records: See America's busiest ports
The ship, which can accommodate 2,143 guests at double occupancy, will offer three, four and seven-night sailings to the Mexican Riviera, with stops including Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. The vessel will also visit La Paz, a new stop for the line.
The season's cruises currently start at $467 per person, based on double occupancy, according to Royal Caribbean's website. There will also be a one-off two-night cruise departing Oct. 2, 2026.
The cruises are part of the line's 2026-27 offerings, which will feature a range of itineraries from elsewhere in the state. The line's Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas ships will all sail from Los Angeles visiting destinations like Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan in Mexico, and California's Catalina Island.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Pizza Hut's $2 Tuesday deal will run through August: Here's how you can get it
One of the hottest fast food deals of the summer is sticking around at least until the end of August. Pizza Hut revealed exclusively to USA TODAY its $2 deal on Personal Pan Pizzas on Tuesdays will extend through the month of August, meaning fans will have two more chances to take advantage of the deal. The company started a deal for $2 1-topping Personal Pan Pizzas on July 8 and initially planned to offer it only through July. The deal has been so popular the chain decided to extend it for another month. However, Pizza Hut told USA TODAY there are new updates to the promotion for its final two dates. Customers will now have the ability to order ahead and the purcahse limit has increased from four to six Personal Pan Pizzas per customer. "Daily Hut Hookups have been a huge hit with our guests. We have been blown away by how much fans have embraced $2-Buck Tuesday, and it signifies the love for our iconic Personal Pan Pizza," said Melissa Friebe, Chief Marketing Officer of Pizza Hut U.S., in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Aug. 18. "Pizza lovers can't get enough of it. The excitement every Tuesday has been electric, and we couldn't be happier to see the tradition of this $2 Tuesday offer take off. After August 26, the deal goes back into the vault, so now's the time for guests to enjoy more of what they love before it's gone for the season," Friebe said in the statement. More food news: Chick-fil-A's new fall menu items available now: Here's what they are How to get Pizza Hut's $2 Personal Pan Pizza deal The final two dates the deal will be available are Tuesday, Aug. 19 and Tuesday, Aug. 26, according to Pizza Hut. The deal is good for carryout only – no other purchase necessary – limit of up to six per customer; order in-store or in the Pizza Hut app at participating locations. Extra cheese or additional toppings cost extra. While the offer is available at Pizza Hut locations nationwide, check to make sure your Pizza Hut location is among those participating. Also, the offer is only good while supplies last at the restaurant. On the July 8 launch date, more than 3,100 Pizza Hut restaurants sold out, the company told USA TODAY. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X, and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Chick-fil-A is offering new fall menu items. Where to try them in Indiana
Chick-fil-A fans may see some new items on the menu the next time they stop by to grab a bite to eat. The company announced its limited-time fall menu on Aug. 7 that includes a new sandwich, the chain's first-ever seasonal soda, and two new potato chip varieties, all available beginning Aug. 18. Here's what we know. Check out the list of Indiana Chick-fil-A locations at the bottom of this story. First introduced last spring, Chick-fil-A is bringing back its Cherry Berry drink for a second year, however this time mixed with Sprite. The full lineup for Cherry Berry drinks includes: In addition to the Cherry Berry beverages, Chick-fil-A also announced its Pretzel Cheddar Club Sandwich is launching nationwide due to customer demand after a successful test in Raleigh, North Carolina last spring. The sandwich features a toasted, buttery pretzel bun, lettuce, sliced tomato, cheddar cheese, strips of applewood smoked bacon and a side of Creamy Dijon Mustard sauce. Customers can also choose their preferred filet, meaning the sandwich is available with original, spicy and grilled chicken. Story continues after photo gallery. "We are always looking for ways to surprise our Guests with new and unique menu offerings, and this year's fall lineup presents even more opportunities for Guests to customize and make them their own," said Allison Duncan, director of menu and packaging for Chick-fil-A, in a news release. Chick-fil-A also announced two new potato chip varieties, now offered in a new waffle cut style that closely resembles Chick-fil-A's waffle fries. The chips will be available as a permanent side item or a catering option for any occasion and includes an Original Flavor Waffle Potato Chip option and a Chick-fil-A Sauce Flavored Waffle Potato Chip. Chick-fil-A said the potato chips will also be available to purchase in 7-ounce bags in select retail locations across the Atlantic and Southeast regions later this fall. Traveling around the Hoosier State? There are dozens of Chick-fil-A locations in Indiana, which are listed alphabetically below by city as follows: USA TODAY reporter Gabe Hauari contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cruise line quietly closes a popular loophole that passengers loved to abuse
Too many passengers were exploiting the opportunity. If you were hoping to dodge Royal Caribbean's all-or-nothing drink package rule, you're out of luck. The cruise line just made a major policy change to its popular Deluxe Beverage Package — the unlimited alcohol add-on that many cruisers consider a must-have. Until now, guests who didn't drink could call in and request an exemption, allowing only one adult in a stateroom to purchase the alcohol package while the other opted for a nonalcoholic option. Not anymore. As of August 1, that exception is officially gone. According to a statement obtained by Royal Caribbean blog, 'Royal Caribbean will no longer be able to grant exceptions to our policy that both guests in a stateroom must purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package.' The reason the cruise line cites for the change is abuse of the system. Royal Caribbean explained the change came after a surge in requests for exemptions — many of which led to guests sharing drink benefits with someone who didn't pay for them. 'This change allows us to ensure guests are consuming their beverage package responsibly,' the cruise line said. The now-closed loophole had been a go-to workaround for people who were sober, expecting a baby, or simply not interested in all-you-can-drink perks. But some passengers reportedly used the honor system to skirt the rules and split one package between two adults — something that's always been prohibited. The backlash came fast on message boards and Reddit, where many agreed the change was inevitable. One user wrote, 'Only takes a few to ruin it for everyone.' Others lamented that Royal Caribbean will likely lose beverage package sales from guests unwilling to double up. Still, cruisers looking to skip the alcohol package have a few workarounds. For instance, as the Royal Caribbean Blog notes, each adult can bring one bottle of wine aboard on embarkation day and there's no charge if you drink it in your own state room. As well, Diamond members get four free drinks per day, and Prime status in the Casino Royale program includes unlimited drinks at the casino bar. Some sailings still offer a limited 10-drink card that can be shared. And of course, there's always drinking off the ship, where prices may be lower. But the loophole to the drinks package rule is gone, and if you want the unlimited drink package, your cabinmate has to want it too.
