Florida’s RCI Announces Route Exchange Between Grandeur OTS and Jewel OTS in the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has recently made an unexpected move by swapping the itineraries of two of its ships, the Grandeur of the Seas and the Jewel of the Seas. This decision reflects an intention to boost passenger capacity for western Caribbean cruises as the company prepares for the upcoming launch of the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel in 2026 and the Perfect Day Mexico resort in Costa Maya in autumn 2027, which will feature a prominent waterpark and other amenities.

Under the new deployment plan, the older Grandeur of the Seas will be moved to less popular departure ports in Colombia and Panama instead of its original routes from Florida’s Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. From May 2, 2026, until April 17, 2027, Grandeur will operate from Cartagena and Colon, while the larger Jewel of the Seas will take over the Florida routes.

This adjustment retains the original itineraries but switches them to the newer ship. Passengers affected by the change were given several options: they could automatically transfer to the same itinerary on the Jewel, rebook for another cruise without fees, or opt for a full refund. Those who chose to keep their sailing date on the new ship were guaranteed stateroom category protection and would receive refunds for any fare differences.

One notable benefit of this repositioning was for a specific 4-night travel plan to the Bahamas that was changed to a 7-night journey from San Juan aboard Jewel. This new itinerary includes stops at several locations such as Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis, St. John’s in Antigua, Philipsburg in St. Maarten, and Grand Bahama Island, all at no extra charge for the passengers affected.

This strategic move by Royal Caribbean is a clear indication of its efforts to enhance its offerings in the western Caribbean ahead of the new resort developments on the horizon.

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