Deployment 2025-26 booking season begins

[Jumping Cruiser]

27 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

For two years we have been warned of the imploding economy in the US except it didn't happen.  Not yet at least. 

 

Perhaps the cruise market won't implode in China just as it hasn't (yet) in the US.  

MSC definitely seems to think Asia is performing well. They have recently announced that they’re adding a 2nd ship in the region from 2024. They’ve got Belissima in Baoshan Wusongkou Cruise Terminal, Shanghai and Splendida in Shenzen/Taiwan depending on season. 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Jumping Cruiser

[Jumping Cruiser]

Le Havre, France - Port Bookings (Correct as of 18/08/23)

An additional call added for Independence OTS in late September.

 

10th May 2025 - Independence OTS

14th July 2025 - Independence OTS

23rd September 2025 - Independence OTS.  *NEW*

10th October 2025 - Independence OTS

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Jumping Cruiser

[Jumping Cruiser]

St Maarten, Caribbean - Port Schedule (Correct as of 18/08/23)

Several additional bookings made throughout the season for Icon. See updated list below:

 

May 2025:

1st May - Vision OTS
1st May - Wonder OTS

5th May - Symphony OTS

5th May - Liberty OTS

6th May - Icon OTS

7th May - Oasis OTS

14th May - Wonder OTS

20th May - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

27th May - Rhapsody OTS

28th May - Wonder OTS

 

June 2025:

2nd June - Liberty OTS

3rd June - Icon OTS

4th June - Oasis OTS

11th June - Rhapsody OTS

12th June - Wonder OTS

18th June - Rhapsody OTS

25th June - Rhapsody OTS

26th June - Wonder OTS

30th June - Liberty OTS

 

July 2025:

1st July - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

3rd July - Oasis OTS

9th July - Rhapsody OTS

15th July - Icon OTS

16th July - Rhapsody OTS

23rd July - Rhapsody OTS

28th July - Liberty OTS

30th July - Oasis OTS

August 2025:

5th August - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

6th August - Rhapsody OTS

7th August - Harmony OTS

13th August - Rhapsody OTS

20th August - Rhapsody OTS

25th August - Liberty OTS

26th August - Icon OTS

27th August - Oasis OTS

28th August - Harmony OTS

 

September 2025:

3rd September - Rhapsody OTS

6th September - Jewel OTS

10th September - Rhapsody OTS

16th September - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

17th September - Rhapsody OTS

18th September - Harmony OTS

24th September - Oasis OTS

 

October 2025:

1st October - Rhapsody OTS

7th October - Icon OTS

8th October - Rhapsody OTS

9th October - Harmony OTS

15th October - Rhapsody OTS

22nd October - Oasis OTS

28th October - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

29th October - Rhapsody OTS

30th October - Harmony OTS

 

November 2025:

9th November - Odyssey OTS

[mac_tlc]

21 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

St Maarten, Caribbean - Port Schedule (Correct as of 18/08/23)

Several additional bookings made throughout the season for Icon. See updated list below:

 

May 2025:

1st May - Vision OTS
1st May - Wonder OTS

5th May - Symphony OTS

5th May - Liberty OTS

6th May - Icon OTS

7th May - Oasis OTS

14th May - Wonder OTS

20th May - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

27th May - Rhapsody OTS

28th May - Wonder OTS

 

June 2025:

2nd June - Liberty OTS

3rd June - Icon OTS

4th June - Oasis OTS

11th June - Rhapsody OTS

12th June - Wonder OTS

18th June - Rhapsody OTS

25th June - Rhapsody OTS

26th June - Wonder OTS

30th June - Liberty OTS

 

July 2025:

1st July - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

3rd July - Oasis OTS

9th July - Rhapsody OTS

15th July - Icon OTS

16th July - Rhapsody OTS

23rd July - Rhapsody OTS

28th July - Liberty OTS

30th July - Oasis OTS

August 2025:

5th August - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

6th August - Rhapsody OTS

7th August - Harmony OTS

13th August - Rhapsody OTS

20th August - Rhapsody OTS

25th August - Liberty OTS

26th August - Icon OTS

27th August - Oasis OTS

28th August - Harmony OTS

 

September 2025:

3rd September - Rhapsody OTS

6th September - Jewel OTS

10th September - Rhapsody OTS

16th September - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

17th September - Rhapsody OTS

18th September - Harmony OTS

24th September - Oasis OTS

 

October 2025:

1st October - Rhapsody OTS

7th October - Icon OTS

8th October - Rhapsody OTS

9th October - Harmony OTS

15th October - Rhapsody OTS

22nd October - Oasis OTS

28th October - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

29th October - Rhapsody OTS

30th October - Harmony OTS

 

November 2025:

9th November - Odyssey OTS

Thanks again for your hard work. I’m trying to figure out what O-class ship may be coming to Bayonne in summer 2025. Assuming that Allure heads to Europe for its check-up, and assuming that the above schedule is actual ships and not placeholders, the only possibility would be Symphony —— heading north around May 8th or so. 
 

Unless they would consider doing longer summer itineraries on Oasis , but I really doubt that. 
 

I love trying to put the puzzle pieces together. 
 

mac_tlc

[springaussie]

8 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

So I presume Spectrum would be going back to Singapore in that scenario.

I personally don’t think Royal will be successful in Shanghai,the economy is imploding.

 

Chilli  my view is Singapore is the “As Required Port” for Spectrum for the middle of 2024. 
I am certain the Deployment Team has a list of cruises somewhere in the Miami Office as a plan B for Spectrum.

 

[Dazza55]

43 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

Le Havre, France - Port Bookings (Correct as of 18/08/23)

An additional call added for Independence OTS in late September.

 

10th May 2025 - Independence OTS

14th July 2025 - Independence OTS

23rd September 2025 - Independence OTS.  *NEW*

10th October 2025 - Independence OTS

 

So this looks like it could be based in Southampton? 

[Chiliburn]

13 minutes ago, springaussie said:

Chilli  my view is Singapore is the “As Required Port” for Spectrum for the middle of 2024. 
I am certain the Deployment Team has a list of cruises somewhere in the Miami Office as a plan B for Spectrum.

 

It would be interesting to know how Spectrum is selling in Shanghai.

If it does do well ,it’s strange they would replace it with an older westernised ship like Quantum. 

[Polition67]

46 minutes ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

 

St Maarten, Caribbean - Port Schedule (Correct as of 18/08/23)

Several additional bookings made throughout the season for Icon. See updated list below:

 

May 2025:

1st May - Vision OTS
1st May - Wonder OTS

5th May - Symphony OTS

5th May - Liberty OTS

6th May - Icon OTS

7th May - Oasis OTS

14th May - Wonder OTS

20th May - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

27th May - Rhapsody OTS

28th May - Wonder OTS

 

June 2025:

2nd June - Liberty OTS

3rd June - Icon OTS

4th June - Oasis OTS

11th June - Rhapsody OTS

12th June - Wonder OTS

18th June - Rhapsody OTS

25th June - Rhapsody OTS

26th June - Wonder OTS

30th June - Liberty OTS

 

July 2025:

1st July - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

3rd July - Oasis OTS

9th July - Rhapsody OTS

15th July - Icon OTS

16th July - Rhapsody OTS

23rd July - Rhapsody OTS

28th July - Liberty OTS

30th July - Oasis OTS

August 2025:

5th August - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

6th August - Rhapsody OTS

7th August - Harmony OTS

13th August - Rhapsody OTS

20th August - Rhapsody OTS

25th August - Liberty OTS

26th August - Icon OTS

27th August - Oasis OTS

28th August - Harmony OTS

 

September 2025:

3rd September - Rhapsody OTS

6th September - Jewel OTS

10th September - Rhapsody OTS

16th September - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

17th September - Rhapsody OTS

18th September - Harmony OTS

24th September - Oasis OTS

 

October 2025:

1st October - Rhapsody OTS

7th October - Icon OTS

8th October - Rhapsody OTS

9th October - Harmony OTS

15th October - Rhapsody OTS

22nd October - Oasis OTS

28th October - Icon OTS.  *NEW*

29th October - Rhapsody OTS

30th October - Harmony OTS

 

November 2025:

9th November - Odyssey OTS

Wonder seems to fall off in June, where do we things she’s heading 🧐

[twangster]

52 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

It would be interesting to know how Spectrum is selling in Shanghai.

If it does do well ,it’s strange they would replace it with an older westernised ship like Quantum. 

 

Quantum used to be in China.  The cashiers box in the high rollers casino, a.k.a DL is still there.  Signage still bilingual.  Even the pool deck restaurant was not fully westernized, just a different offering.  That's easy enough to change.  

 

If any ship can be repurposed for China, Quantum can be done over a weekend if not quicker. 

[Chiliburn]

34 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Quantum used to be in China.  The cashiers box in the high rollers casino, a.k.a DL is still there.  Signage still bilingual.  Even the pool deck restaurant was not fully westernized, just a different offering.  That's easy enough to change.  

 

If any ship can be repurposed for China, Quantum can be done over a weekend if not quicker. 

I thought wonder or Utopia would up the ante IF china does take off .

[huntnewt]

6 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

Thanks again for your hard work. I’m trying to figure out what O-class ship may be coming to Bayonne in summer 2025. Assuming that Allure heads to Europe for its check-up, and assuming that the above schedule is actual ships and not placeholders, the only possibility would be Symphony —— heading north around May 8th or so. 
 

Unless they would consider doing longer summer itineraries on Oasis , but I really doubt that. 
 

I love trying to put the puzzle pieces together. 
 

mac_tlc

With that, the question then becomes, what O class will be based in Galveston? I do not imagine an O class (will be Harmony in April 2025) doing cruises to St. Maarten from Galveston. This makes me wonder if Galveston will get Wonder, Utopia, or maybe Icon 2?

[Saab4444]

13 hours ago, Jumping Cruiser said:

MSC definitely seems to think Asia is performing well. They have recently announced that they’re adding a 2nd ship in the region from 2024. They’ve got Belissima in Baoshan Wusongkou Cruise Terminal, Shanghai and Splendida in Shenzen/Taiwan depending on season. 

MSC (and others) also thought and think Northern Europe is performing great but Royal decided differently…

[cublet]

1 hour ago, Saab4444 said:

MSC (and others) also thought and think Northern Europe is performing great but Royal decided differently…

Hello,

 

Looking at 2025 prices, I think that MSC thinks (hopes) Northern Europe is performing something greater than 'great'.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[little britain]

10 hours ago, Dazza55 said:

So this looks like it could be based in Southampton? 

Unfortunately yes

[Jumping Cruiser]

12 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

Thanks again for your hard work. I’m trying to figure out what O-class ship may be coming to Bayonne in summer 2025. Assuming that Allure heads to Europe for its check-up, and assuming that the above schedule is actual ships and not placeholders, the only possibility would be Symphony —— heading north around May 8th or so. 
 

Unless they would consider doing longer summer itineraries on Oasis , but I really doubt that.

There are 2 possibilities, either Symphony or Utopia, providing that the above aren’t just placeholders. The first thing to consider is does Utopia have retractable funnels? Then, with the amount of marketing that Royal have put into Utopia being the ‘Worlds Biggest Weekend’, I would doubt that she would do this for just one year, especially as profit margins will be higher for short sailings. My gut call is that it will be Symphony again for the 2025 Summer season in NJ.

 

5 hours ago, huntnewt said:

With that, the question then becomes, what O class will be based in Galveston? I do not imagine an O class (will be Harmony in April 2025) doing cruises to St. Maarten from Galveston. This makes me wonder if Galveston will get Wonder, Utopia, or maybe Icon 2?

I also doubt that Harmony would travel this far from Galveston, especially as Oasis Class from Galveston has some of the lowest pp prices in the fleet, it just doesn’t seem viable to me. I think it’s important to remember that Harmony was the original placeholder for Icon, could this be the case for Icon 2, especially since bookings don’t appear until August 2025? But would they really have Icon and Icon 2 sailing to the same Caribbean ports? 
 

As you can see, there are many many questions but hopefully the picture will become clearer as more ports release their bookings for this season. 

[Jumping Cruiser]

11 hours ago, twangster said:

 

Quantum used to be in China.  The cashiers box in the high rollers casino, a.k.a DL is still there.  Signage still bilingual.  Even the pool deck restaurant was not fully westernized, just a different offering.  That's easy enough to change.  

 

If any ship can be repurposed for China, Quantum can be done over a weekend if not quicker. 

This was my thinking too! Quantum was the ship home-ported in Asia before Spectrum came on the scene and as a result is already adapted for this market in many different ways. It would make sense for her to do a direct swap with Anthem, when she takes over Australia and Alaska in 2025.

[cublet]

2 hours ago, little britain said:

Unfortunately yes

Hello,

 

They could still surprise us all by basing it in Harwich.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

PS: But I'm not holding my breath.

[Jumping Cruiser]

13 hours ago, Polition67 said:

Wonder seems to fall off in June, where do we things she’s heading 🧐

Potentially just have not completed bookings yet, similar to Icon which has just added some more dates.

[Jumping Cruiser]

31 minutes ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

They could still surprise us all by basing it in Harwich.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

PS: But I'm not holding my breath.

As far as I know, no major cruise lines sail from Harwich anymore, Dover would probably be more likely if anything. But I would probably say there was more chance of them giving everyone on this forum a free cruise on Icon from Southampton, as stupid as that sounds. 😂 

 

I think myself and @little britain would collapse if that actually happened, they would have to carry me on in a stretcher!  😂

Edited August 19, 2023 by Jumping Cruiser

[Dazza55]

1 hour ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

They could still surprise us all by basing it in Harwich.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

PS: But I'm not holding my breath.

Would be nice if Royal did surprise the uk and brought a ship in that know one expected.  But it certainly doesn’t look like it so far😂.  Not sure if Indy on her own would be enough to keep everyone happy?

Indy and one other ship maybe??That might work???

[cruiseboy89130]

31 minutes ago, Dazza55 said:

Indy and one other ship maybe??

No way! Royal is abandoning the British market - they don't want to compete there anymore.

[Dazza55]

40 minutes ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

No way! Royal is abandoning the British market - they don't want to compete there anymore.

You might be right??  Would be incredibly disappointing.😞.  But would not be surprised. I think once 2025 deployment is released that will give us our answer???

[Jumping Cruiser]

2 hours ago, Dazza55 said:

Indy and one other ship maybe?

Only evidence of Independence at the minute, no sign of a second ship for Southampton. 😢

Edited August 19, 2023 by Jumping Cruiser

[cublet]

Hello,

 

I can't remember how long ago but we had the Independence and a Voyager class ship out of Southampton for a season or two.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[Jumping Cruiser]

10 minutes ago, cublet said:

I can't remember how long ago but we had the Independence and a Voyager class ship out of Southampton for a season or two.

 

This is the deployment from Southampton since 2010. Every year that Independence was homeported in UK after 2012 she was accompanied by another ship, usually Voyager Class.

 

2010 - Independence

2011 - Independence

2012 - Independence 

2013 - Independence & Adventure

2014 - Independence & Adventure

2015 - Anthem & Explorer

2016 - Independence & Navigator

2017 - Independence & Navigator

2018 - Independence & Navigator

2019 - Independence & Explorer

2020 - Anthem (Covid - No Sailings)

2021 - Anthem

2022 - Anthem

2023 - Anthem

2024 - Anthem

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Jumping Cruiser