Key Aspects:
- Bookings have opened for Icon of the Seas from Galveston beginning in August 2027 with 6-8-night itineraries.
- This will be the first time an Icon-class ship homeports from the Lone Star State.
- For eight months, all three Icon-class ships will homeport from Florida before Icon of the Seas heads to Texas.
Cruise options and guest capacities in Texas are growing by leaps and bounds as more and more ships homeport from the Lone Star State. Now, Royal Caribbean has confirmed that the most iconic ship of all will soon sail from Galveston, as Icon of the Seas will change homeports.
Since her debut in January 2024, Icon of the Seas has called the Sunshine State home, but the sun is setting on her time sailing from PortMiami.
On Saturday, August 7, 2027, Icon of the Seas will bid a fond farewell to Florida as she departs on a 9-night repositioning sailing that will take her to Texas. Along the way, the ship will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Curacao, and Aruba before arriving at her new homeport on August 16.
Undoubtedly, that arrival will be treated with appropriate fanfare as befits a ship sailing into a new homeport. This will also be Icon of the Seas‘ first-ever visit to Texas, so a plaque exchange ceremony and other special events are sure to be on that day’s schedule.
Later that day, Icon of the Seas will welcome her first Galveston guests aboard for a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary with calls to Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel. That maiden voyage from Texas is sure to be equally packed with special events, swag, and treats.
From Texas, the 248,700-gross-ton cruise ship will be offering 6-, 7-, and 8-night itineraries. While the 7-night options are very familiar itineraries for ships based from Texas, the 6-night sailings also visit the same three ports of call (Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel), but with one less day at sea.
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Icon of the Seas‘ 8-night cruises will sail a bit further, also visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas with four total days at sea.
At the moment, there are just six of those 8-night sailings scheduled, departing Texas on August 28, September 11, September 25, October 9, October 23, and November 6, all in 2027.
These longer cruises are sure to be wildly popular with eager guests, as they offer a more unique port than what many travelers are familiar with for Texas sailings. Prices for the longer cruises start at just $1,202 per person for an interior stateroom, making them a spectacular value.
With Icon of the Seas moving to Texas, Galveston is securing its place as a top homeport with many outstanding options for cruisers.
Just days ago, Cruise Terminal 16 opened in Galveston, welcoming MSC Seascape as the first MSC Cruises’ ship to homeport from the Lone Star State.
In 2026, Galveston expects 445 ship calls that will bring nearly two million cruise guests to the port. This will have a fantastic economic impact on the community and will highlight Texas as a truly amazing homeport.
What Will Replace Icon of the Seas in Florida?
That Icon of the Seas will be leaving Miami isn’t a surprise. Ever since it was announced that the third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, would be homeporting from Fort Lauderdale after her premier in the Mediterranean, it was inevitable that one of the Icon-class ships would leave the Sunshine State.
The second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, is currently homeported from Port Canaveral with no plans to leave the central Florida homeport at least through April 2028.
With Port Everglades and PortMiami only 30 miles apart, it makes sense that two Icon-class ships might not be homeported so close together.
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Legend of the Seas will first sail from Fort Lauderdale on November 11, 2026. This means that through the busy winter Caribbean season and into the summer of 2027, all three Icon-class ships will call Florida home, until Icon of the Seas departs in August 2027.
What an opportunity for Royal Caribbean to arrange the most iconic ship meetup of all time with all three sister ships! Or even better, for an eager cruiser to arrange side-to-side-to-side sailings on all three ships. Let’s get planning!
