Mariner of the Seas to Sail from New Orleans in Winter 2026

Royal Caribbean International has announced that the Mariner of theSeas will homeport in New Orleans for the 2026-27 winter cruise season.

Repositioning from Galveston, the Voyager-class ship is set to arrive in Louisiana in early November to begin a schedule of Western Caribbean sailings.

The deployment includes a series of seven-night cruises with stops in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands, featuring ports such as Cozumel, George Town, and Falmouth. Departing every Saturday, these itineraries also include three days at sea.

In addition to these sailings, the Mariner of the Seas will operate a special six-night cruise in November, which features visits to Costa Maya, Mexico, and Belize City, Belize.

This deployment marks Royal Caribbean’s return to New Orleans after a one-year hiatus. While the company currently offers cruises from the city on the Brilliance of the Seas, it will not sail from the port during the 2025-26 winter season.

As part of its 2026-27 cruise lineup, Royal Caribbean is emphasizing shorter cruises, with 11 ships offering two- to five-night voyages. The fleet will include four Oasis-class vessels, such as the Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral and the Wonder of the Seas from Miami.

A major highlight of the season is the launch of the Legend of the Seas, the third ship in the company’s Icon Class. Set to debut in mid-2026, this 250,000-ton ship will sail from Fort Lauderdale during the winter, offering six- to eight-night cruises to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

The season will also feature the opening of two new Royal Beach Clubs, currently under development. The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau is scheduled to open in December 2025, while the Royal Beach Club Cozumel will welcome guests in late 2026.