Serenade of the Seas to Make Historic Homeport Debut in San Diego by RCI-Royal Caribbean

For the first time, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) will homeport a cruise ship in San Diego, California, starting October 2026. The Serenade of the Seas will be the ship based in this Southern California port during its inaugural season. It will operate a variety of cruises ranging from 3 to 7 nights to the Mexican Riviera.

This addition enhances options for regional cruisers, providing more opportunities for those on the West Coast who generally face limited choices compared to passengers on the East Coast. The Serenade of the Seas, which launched in 2003, offers an appealing alternative for travelers looking for shorter itineraries departing from San Diego.

Royal Caribbean’s focus during the 2026-2027 season is to increase sailings available to West Coast travelers, making it easier for more people to experience the cruise line’s offerings. The strategic location of San Diego—just 3 miles from a major airport—serves both local residents and international visitors, who can also enjoy the city’s beaches, historic sites like Old Town and the Gaslamp Quarter, and a vibrant culinary scene.

After a season in Alaska from Vancouver, the Serenade of the Seas will be one of five Royal Caribbean vessels operating on the West Coast throughout the summer and winter of 2026-2027. However, it will uniquely sail from San Diego while other ships, including the Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas, will operate from Los Angeles.

Royal Caribbean is actively expanding its West Coast operations. In 2024, they announced relocating the Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas from the Asia-Pacific region to Los Angeles in June and October 2025, respectively. These deployments will mark the first instance of vessels of this size sailing from Los Angeles, with Quantum of the Seas expected to stay at the port through at least summer 2026. The Ovation of the Seas will return for the winter 2026-2027 season after assignments in Asia and Alaska.

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