Royal Caribbean Wipes Summer 2027 Schedule for Freedom of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has officially scrapped more than 20 scheduled voyages for the Freedom of the Seas in the summer of 2027, triggering a wave of rebookings and refunds for thousands of guests.

The cancellations, which hit departures from May through September 2027, are the result of a massive shift in the ship’s home port. Instead of sailing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean from Miami, the vessel is being sent across the Atlantic.

The cruise line confirmed this week that the nearly 4,000 guest ship will be stationed in Southampton, England, for the 2027 season.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Royal Caribbean noted that these changes are a standard part of their “itinerary planning process” which involves regular reviews of fleet demand and capacity. “Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements, and broader fleet considerations. As part of this process, we’ve made the decision to redeploy Freedom of the Seas to Southampton in 2027,” the company stated.

The impacted routes originally included popular short hops and extended stays, ranging from 4-night Bahamian getaways to 9-night deep-Caribbean treks to Aruba and Curaçao. Because the ship is changing regions entirely, all existing reservations for that period were voided to make way for a new European schedule.

To mitigate the fallout, Royal Caribbean is providing several choices for those whose vacations were sunk. Many passengers are being automatically moved to comparable 4-night sailings on the Wonder of the Seas out of Miami.

Alternatively, guests can look into 3 to 5-night options on the Adventure of the Seas or Jewel of the Seas. For travelers who find these alternatives don’t fit their schedule, the cruise line is issuing full refunds for all cruise fares and any prepaid extras.

This reshuffle follows closely on the heels of Carnival Cruise Line’s decision to cancel 11 of its own fall 2026 sailings on the Carnival Firenze. With cruise lines aggressively moving ships to meet global demand, it’s a clear signal to travelers that even a booking made years in advance isn’t always set in stone.