Florida’s RCI: Grandeur OTS and Jewel OTS Swap Caribbean Routes

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has made a noteworthy adjustment to the itineraries of two of its ships, Grandeur of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas, benefiting several passengers in the process. The company decided to swap the routes between the two vessels, allowing passengers on a scheduled 4-night voyage to upgrade to a 7-night journey on a newer ship without any additional charge.

This strategic move aims to boost capacity for upcoming western Caribbean voyages, aligning with the future openings of Royal Beach Club in Cozumel in 2026 and the Perfect Day Mexico resort in Costa Maya in autumn 2027, which will feature a waterpark, a lengthy lazy river, beach clubs, and more amenities.

The older Grandeur of the Seas has been reassigned from its original Florida ports (Tampa and Fort Lauderdale) to embark on less frequented routes from Colombia and Panama, while the larger Jewel of the Seas will now cover the Florida departures.

Passengers affected by this change could either automatically have their reservations transferred to the newer ship, rebook another cruise without incurring penalties, or receive a full refund. Those who chose to keep their original sailing date on the newer ship benefitted from ensured stateroom category protection, with any fare discrepancies reflected in full refunds if already paid.

A notable outcome of this repositioning was a specific case where a 4-night Bahamas voyage from Fort Lauderdale on May 4, 2026, was seamlessly changed to a new 7-night itinerary from San Juan on Jewel OTS, encompassing stops at Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis, St. John’s in Antigua, Philipsburg in St. Maarten, and Grand Bahama Island—all at no extra cost to passengers.

This redeployment marks Royal Caribbean’s efforts to increase its capacity for the expanding western Caribbean itineraries as it prepares for future resort openings.

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