Royal Caribbean Destination Ports

Royal Caribbean visits over 300 destinations across all seven continents. These are the ports of call where you'll spend hours exploring, from private island paradises to ancient cities. Looking for where to start your cruise? Check out the departure ports on our Planning page.

Search Ports

Private & Exclusive Destinations

Royal Caribbean's crown jewels — private islands and beach clubs designed exclusively for their guests.

Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas)

Royal Caribbean's $250 million private island destination, transformed in 2019.

  • Thrill Waterpark — Daredevil's Peak (135 ft slide), wave pool, kids' areas
  • Oasis Lagoon — Largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, swim-up bar
  • Coco Beach Club — Over-water cabanas, infinity pool, upscale experience
  • Up, Up and Away — Helium balloon 450 ft above island
  • Zip Line — 1,600 ft across the island
  • South Beach — Free beach area, volleyball, floating mats
  • Chill Island — Quieter beach, hammocks, cabana rentals
  • Snorkel Beach — Calm waters, equipment rentals

Note: No tenders required — ships dock directly. Most Oasis and Quantum-class ships visit.

Labadee (Haiti)

Royal Caribbean's original private destination on Haiti's secluded north coast since 1986.

  • Dragon's Breath — World's longest zip line over water (2,600 ft)
  • Dragon's Tail Coaster — Alpine coaster down the mountain
  • Arawak Aqua Park — Floating trampolines, slides in the bay
  • Columbus Cove — Calmer beach, better for families
  • Barefoot Beach — Main beach with chair rentals
  • Nellie's Beach — Exclusive cabanas, butler service
  • Artisan's Market — Local Haitian crafts and art

Tip: Book Dragon's Breath early — it sells out. Labadee is fenced and secure; you won't interact with Haiti beyond.

Royal Beach Club Collection (Coming 2025-2027)

New premium beach club destinations expanding the private experience.

  • Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas) — Opening 2025, partnership with Bahamas government
  • Royal Beach Club Cozumel (Mexico) — Announced for 2026
  • Royal Beach Club Antigua — In development

Beach clubs offer day-pass access with pools, beaches, food & beverage — a hybrid between port call and private island.

Caribbean & Bahamas

Royal Caribbean's bread and butter — year-round sailings from Florida, Texas, and beyond. Ships deployed: Wonder, Utopia, Harmony, Allure, Symphony, Freedom, Liberty, Independence, Mariner, Navigator, Voyager, Grandeur, Vision, Enchantment, Radiance, Brilliance, and more.

Bahamas & Turks/Caicos

  • Nassau — Atlantis day passes, downtown shopping, Junkanoo Beach
  • Freeport/Lucaya — Port Lucaya Marketplace, Garden of the Groves
  • Bimini — Close to Miami, excellent fishing, Resorts World
  • Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos — Pristine beaches, excellent diving, tender port

Florida Keys & Bermuda

Eastern Caribbean

  • St. Thomas, USVI — Charlotte Amalie duty-free shopping, Magens Bay
  • St. John, USVI — Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands National Park
  • St. Croix, USVI — Christiansted, Buck Island snorkeling
  • St. Maarten/St. Martin — Philipsburg (Dutch), Marigot (French), Maho Beach
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico — Old San Juan forts, no passport needed, home port
  • Samaná, Dominican Republic — Whale watching (Jan-Mar), waterfalls, remote beaches
  • Tortola, BVI — The Baths at Virgin Gorda, Cane Garden Bay
  • Virgin Gorda, BVI — The Baths granite boulders
  • St. Kitts — Brimstone Hill Fortress, scenic railway
  • Antigua — Nelson's Dockyard, 365 beaches, Shirley Heights
  • St. Lucia — The Pitons, drive-in volcano, mud baths
  • Barbados — Harrison's Cave, Mount Gay rum, Bridgetown
  • Martinique — French culture, Mount Pelée, rum distilleries
  • Guadeloupe — Butterfly-shaped island, La Soufrière volcano
  • Dominica — Nature isle, waterfalls, Boiling Lake hike

Western Caribbean

Southern Caribbean

Deeper sailings from San Juan or Barbados — typically 7+ nights reaching the ABC islands and South America.

  • Aruba — Eagle Beach, Natural Pool, consistent weather
  • Curaçao — Colorful Willemstad (UNESCO), Hato Caves
  • Bonaire — World-class diving/snorkeling, flamingo sanctuary
  • Grenada — Spice island, Grand Anse Beach, nutmeg tours
  • Trinidad — Pitch Lake, Port of Spain, Carnival culture
  • Tobago — Pigeon Point, rainforest, quieter sibling
  • Cartagena, Colombia — Walled city (UNESCO), vibrant culture
  • Santa Marta, Colombia — Gateway to Tayrona Park
  • Kralendijk, Bonaire — Shore diving capital

Panama Canal & Central America

Deployment note: Utopia of the Seas (2024) joins Wonder in Port Canaveral. Freedom, Liberty, Independence rotate Galveston/Port Canaveral. Grandeur operates shorter Bahamas runs from Baltimore.

Alaska

May through September season. Ships deployed: Ovation of the Seas (Seattle), Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas (Vancouver), Serenade of the Seas (Vancouver/Seward), Brilliance of the Seas.

Primary Ports

  • Juneau — State capital, Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching. No roads in/out.
  • Ketchikan — "Salmon Capital," totem poles, Creek Street. Rainiest Alaska city.
  • Skagway — Gold Rush history, White Pass & Yukon Railway, walkable town.
  • Sitka — Russian heritage, Raptor Center, less crowded feel.
  • Victoria, BC — Butchart Gardens, afternoon tea, British charm.
  • Icy Strait Point — Hoonah village, world's largest zip line (ZipRider), whale watching.
  • Haines — Eagles, bears, less crowded alternative to Skagway.

Turnaround Ports (Embark/Debark)

Scenic Cruising (No Dock)

  • Glacier Bay — National Park, rangers board ship, Margerie Glacier calving
  • Hubbard Glacier — Largest tidewater glacier in North America, spectacular calving
  • Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm — Twin Sawyer glaciers, steep fjord walls, icebergs
  • Inside Passage — Protected waterway, wildlife spotting, forest scenery

Cruisetour Extensions

Royal Caribbean offers land packages before/after Alaska sailings:

  • Denali National Park — Mt. Denali (20,310 ft), wildlife tours
  • Fairbanks — Gold panning, pipeline viewing, northern lights (shoulder season)
  • Anchorage — Urban Alaska, museums, wildlife center, glacier day trips

Tip: Book excursions early — helicopter glacier landings and bear viewing sell out months ahead. Ovation offers the newest ship experience from Seattle.

Canada & New England

Fall foliage season (September–October) is prime time. Ships deployed: Serenade of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas from Cape Liberty/Boston/Quebec.

New England Ports

  • Boston, Massachusetts — Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, home port
  • Bar Harbor, Maine — Acadia National Park, lobster, tender port
  • Portland, Maine — Foodie scene, lighthouses, Old Port district
  • Newport, Rhode Island — Gilded Age mansions, sailing heritage
  • Cape Cod (Provincetown) — Pilgrim Monument, whale watching
  • Martha's Vineyard — Gingerbread cottages, tender port

Canadian Maritimes

St. Lawrence River

  • Quebec City — Château Frontenac, Old Quebec (UNESCO), French Canada
  • Montreal — Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, bagels vs. NYC
  • Saguenay — Fjord scenery, whale watching

Tip: Fall foliage peaks mid-September in Quebec, early October in New England. Pack layers — temperatures can vary 30°F between ports.

Hawaii

Royal Caribbean visits Hawaii on longer Pacific voyages and repositioning cruises — typically 14–18 nights from the West Coast. Not to be confused with NCL's inter-island Hawaii cruises.

Major Ports

Note: Jones Act requires foreign-flagged ships to visit a non-US port (like Ensenada) on round-trip voyages from the mainland. Most Hawaii cruises are one-way repositioning sailings.

Mexican Riviera

Pacific coast cruises primarily from Los Angeles. Ships deployed seasonally: Navigator of the Seas operates year-round from LA with some Mexican Riviera sailings.

  • Cabo San Lucas — El Arco rock formation, tender port, beach clubs, whale watching
  • Puerto Vallarta — Malecón boardwalk, old town, zip lines, Marietas Islands
  • Mazatlán — Historic centro, cliff divers, Golden Zone beaches
  • Ensenada — Wine country (Valle de Guadalupe), La Bufadora blowhole

Deployment note: Mexican Riviera sailings are often 3–5 night "short getaways" from LA. Panama Canal repositioning cruises may also call at Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas.

Mediterranean

April through November season. Ships deployed: Allure of the Seas (Barcelona), Odyssey of the Seas (Rome), Brilliance of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas. History, culture, cuisine — and intense crowds at major sites.

Western Mediterranean

Eastern Mediterranean & Greek Isles

Adriatic & Croatia

Corsica & Monaco

Other Mediterranean

  • Valletta, Malta — Knights of Malta, honey-colored stone, film location
  • Messina, Sicily — Taormina, Mt. Etna, Greek theater
  • Catania, Sicily — Mt. Etna access, baroque architecture
  • Cagliari, Sardinia — Poetto Beach, flamingos
  • Haifa, Israel — Holy Land tours, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv
  • Limassol, Cyprus — Kourion ruins, wine villages
  • Alexandria/Port Said, Egypt — Pyramids, Cairo day trips

Tip: Ship-sponsored excursions guarantee return to ship. Independent touring requires careful timing — traffic in Rome/Florence can be brutal.

Atlantic Europe

Portugal, Spain's Atlantic coast, France's Atlantic/Channel ports, and Low Countries. Often featured on transatlantic and repositioning cruises.

Portugal

  • Lisbon — Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, pastéis de nata, trams
  • Porto — Port wine cellars, Ribeira district, Dom Luís Bridge

Spain Atlantic Coast

  • Vigo — Galician seafood, Cíes Islands, Santiago de Compostela day trip
  • La Coruña — Tower of Hercules, tapas, Atlantic beaches
  • Bilbao — Guggenheim Museum, Basque cuisine, old town
  • Valencia — City of Arts & Sciences, paella birthplace, beaches

France Atlantic & Channel

  • Bordeaux — Wine capital, Port de la Lune (UNESCO), elegant architecture
  • Le Havre — Gateway to Paris (3 hours), Normandy beaches, modern architecture
  • Cherbourg — Normandy, D-Day beaches, Mont Saint-Michel access
  • Honfleur — Picturesque harbor, Normandy charm, artists' town

North Africa Atlantic

Low Countries & English Channel

Transatlantic note: Many repositioning cruises between Med and Caribbean call at Azores, Madeira, or Canary Islands for fuel/provisions.

Northern Europe & Baltic

May through September season. Ships deployed: Anthem of the Seas (Southampton), Jewel of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas. Long summer days mean extended port hours.

Scandinavia & Baltic Capitals

Norwegian Fjords

  • Norwegian Fjords Overview — Comprehensive guide to fjord cruising
  • Bergen, Norway — Gateway to fjords, Bryggen wharf (UNESCO), fish market
  • Geiranger, Norway — UNESCO fjord, Seven Sisters waterfall, tender port
  • Flåm, Norway — Flåm Railway (world's steepest), Aurlandsfjord
  • Ålesund, Norway — Art Nouveau architecture rebuilt after 1904 fire
  • Stavanger, Norway — Old Stavanger, Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) hike
  • Olden/Nordfjord — Briksdal Glacier access
  • Tromsø, Norway — Arctic gateway, Northern Lights (shoulder season)
  • Honningsvåg (North Cape) — Northernmost point in Europe accessible by ship

British Isles

Iceland & North Atlantic

  • Reykjavik, Iceland — Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, whale watching
  • Akureyri, Iceland — Northern capital, Godafoss waterfall, Mývatn
  • Ísafjörður, Iceland — Westfjords, Arctic fox center
  • Tórshavn, Faroe Islands — Grass-roofed houses, dramatic cliffs

Note: St. Petersburg, Russia sailings suspended since 2022. Baltic itineraries now feature more time in Estonia, Latvia, Poland as alternatives.

Asia-Pacific

Growing market with Spectrum of the Seas (Shanghai) and Quantum of the Seas (Singapore). Year-round sailings in Southeast Asia; seasonal in Japan/China.

Southeast Asia

  • SingaporeGardens by the Bay, hawker centers, Marina Bay Sands, home port
  • Penang, Malaysia — George Town (UNESCO), street food capital
  • Langkawi, Malaysia — Duty-free island, cable car, beaches
  • Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) — Petronas Towers, Batu Caves
  • Phuket, Thailand — Beaches, Phi Phi Islands, Big Buddha
  • Ko Samui, Thailand — Beach resort island, temples
  • Bangkok (Laem Chabang)Grand Palace, temples, 2+ hour transfer
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Nha Trang, Vietnam — Beach resort, Po Nagar Cham towers
  • Halong Bay, Vietnam — Limestone karsts (UNESCO), scenic cruising
  • Bali (Benoa), Indonesia — Temples, rice terraces, Ubud
  • Jakarta, Indonesia — Historic old town, culture

East Asia

  • Hong KongVictoria Peak, Star Ferry, dim sum
  • Shanghai, China — Bund, Yu Garden, Pudong skyline, home port
  • Beijing (Tianjin) — Great Wall, Forbidden City, 2.5-hour transfer
  • Busan, South Korea — Jagalchi Market, Gamcheon Culture Village
  • Incheon (Seoul) — Palaces, DMZ tours, K-culture
  • Jeju Island, Korea — Volcanic island, waterfalls, women divers

Japan

  • Tokyo (Yokohama) — Shibuya, temples, sushi, anime
  • Kobe, Japan — Beef, sake, Arima Onsen
  • Osaka, Japan — Street food, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori
  • Kyoto (via Osaka/Kobe) — Ancient capital, 1000+ temples
  • Nagasaki, Japan — Peace Park, Glover Garden
  • Hakodate, Japan — Night view, morning fish market
  • Okinawa, Japan — Beaches, aquarium, Shuri Castle
  • Kagoshima, Japan — Active Sakurajima volcano
  • Hiroshima (Kure) — Peace Memorial, Miyajima island

Deployment note: Spectrum of the Seas is purpose-built for Chinese market with mahjong rooms, Chinese specialty restaurants. Quantum alternates Singapore/Australia seasonally.

Australia & New Zealand

October through April season (Southern Hemisphere summer). Ships deployed: Ovation of the Seas (Sydney), Quantum of the Seas (seasonal), Radiance of the Seas.

Australia

  • Sydney — Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, home port
  • Melbourne — Laneways, coffee culture, Great Ocean Road
  • Brisbane — Gateway to Gold Coast and Australia Zoo
  • Cairns — Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest
  • Hobart, Tasmania — MONA museum, wilderness, history
  • Adelaide — Wine regions (Barossa, McLaren Vale)
  • Fremantle (Perth) — Historic port, Rottnest Island quokkas
  • Darwin — Kakadu gateway, crocodiles, Top End
  • Airlie Beach — Whitsunday Islands, sailing
  • Port Arthur, Tasmania — Convict settlement, dark history

New Zealand

  • Auckland — City of Sails, Sky Tower, Hobbiton day trip
  • Wellington — Te Papa museum, windy capital, craft beer
  • Christchurch (Lyttelton) — Garden city, rebuild after earthquakes
  • Dunedin — Scottish heritage, albatross colony, Larnach Castle
  • Napier — Art Deco capital, Hawke's Bay wine
  • Tauranga — Mount Maunganui, Hobbiton access
  • Rotorua — Geothermal, Maori culture (via Tauranga)
  • Bay of Islands — Dolphin cruises, Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Scenic Cruising New Zealand

  • Milford Sound — Fiordland's crown jewel, waterfalls, peaks
  • Doubtful Sound — Less visited, deeper, wilder
  • Akaroa — French settlement, Hector's dolphins

Tip: Ovation of the Seas is the largest ship in Australian waters. Book popular excursions (Hobbiton, Great Barrier Reef) well in advance.

South Pacific & Transpacific

Exotic island destinations and bucket-list crossings. Repositioning cruises between Australia and US West Coast transit these islands.

South Pacific Islands

Read our detailed South Pacific Islands guide →

  • Fiji (Suva/Lautoka) — Bula spirit, island-hopping, resorts
  • Bora Bora, French Polynesia — Lagoon perfection, overwater bungalows
  • Papeete, Tahiti — French Polynesia capital, black pearls, market
  • Moorea, French Polynesia — Tahiti's sister island, jaw-dropping beauty
  • Nouméa, New Caledonia — French culture, lagoons (UNESCO)
  • Vanuatu (Port Vila) — Active volcano, culture villages, diving
  • Samoa (Apia) — Polynesian culture, waterfalls
  • Tonga — Whale swimming (seasonal), ancient kingdom

Transpacific Crossings

Repositioning cruises connecting Australia/New Zealand to Hawaii and US West Coast — typically 14–21 nights.

  • Multiple sea days — Perfect for relaxation, enrichment programs
  • Crossing the International Date Line — Skip a day (westbound) or repeat one (eastbound)
  • Often visits: Fiji, French Polynesia, American Samoa, or Hawaii en route

Tip: Transpacific repositioning cruises offer excellent value per night. Pack for varying climates — you'll experience multiple seasons.

South America & Antarctica

November through March season (Southern Hemisphere summer). Ships deployed: Serenade of the Seas, Vision of the Seas for South America circuits.

East Coast South America

West Coast South America & Patagonia

Chilean Fjords (Scenic Cruising)

  • Chilean Fjords — Dramatic scenery comparable to Alaska/Norway
  • Strait of Magellan — Historic passage between Atlantic and Pacific
  • Glacier Alley — Multiple glaciers along Beagle Channel

Antarctica

Royal Caribbean offers expedition-style Antarctic cruises from November through February.

  • Antarctic Peninsula — Icebergs, penguins, seals, whales
  • Drake Passage — Notoriously rough crossing from South America
  • South Shetland Islands — Research stations, wildlife colonies

Note: Antarctica is bucket-list cruising. Ships must navigate pack ice, landings depend on weather. Zodiac excursions common. Bring warm, waterproof layers.

Ultimate World Cruise

Royal Caribbean's 274-night Ultimate World Cruise (2023–2024 on Serenade of the Seas) visited 65 countries, 150 destinations across all seven continents.

Notable Ports of Call

  • Antarctica — Peninsula cruise from Ushuaia
  • Easter Island, Chile — Moai statues, remote Polynesian culture
  • Pitcairn Island — Mutiny on the Bounty descendants
  • Aitutaki, Cook Islands — One of the world's most beautiful lagoons
  • Papua New Guinea — Tribal culture, WWII history
  • Sri Lanka (Colombo) — Ancient temples, wildlife, tea plantations
  • Maldives (Malé) — Overwater paradise, snorkeling
  • Madagascar (Nosy Be) — Lemurs, unique ecosystems
  • Mauritius — Beaches, colonial history, rum
  • Seychelles — Granite islands, giant tortoises
  • Zanzibar, Tanzania — Spice island, Stone Town
  • Cape Town, South Africa — Table Mountain, penguins, wine
  • Namibia (Walvis Bay) — Dunes, desert, wildlife
  • St. Helena — Napoleon's exile, remote Atlantic
  • Canary Islands — Spanish archipelago, volcanic landscapes

Voyage Highlights

  • Duration: 9 months circumnavigating Earth
  • Continents: All seven, including Antarctica
  • Countries: 65 nations
  • Destinations: 150+ ports of call
  • Ship: Serenade of the Seas (Radiance class)

The Ultimate World Cruise sold out in one day. Future world cruises expected — watch for announcements. Segments bookable separately for those who can't do the full voyage.

Embarkation Ports

These are the turnaround ports where cruises begin and end — where you'll board and disembark your ship. For detailed airport info, drive times, and lodging tips, visit our Planning page departure selector.

U.S. East Coast & Gulf

U.S. West Coast

Caribbean Home Ports

Alaska Turnaround Ports

Canada

Europe

Asia

Australia

Tip: Always arrive the day before embarkation when possible. Weather, flight delays, and traffic can turn a same-day arrival into a missed ship.

Additional Port Destinations

Royal Caribbean visits hundreds more ports worldwide. Below are additional destinations organized by region — use the search above to find specific ports quickly.

Additional Caribbean & Latin America Ports

Additional Mediterranean & Europe Ports

Additional Northern Europe & Scandinavia Ports

Additional Asia-Pacific Ports

Additional Australia & New Zealand Ports

Additional South Pacific & Indian Ocean Ports

Additional Africa & Atlantic Islands Ports

Additional Remote & Expedition Ports

What Our Port Guides Include

  • Honest assessments — What to actually expect pier-side
  • Accessibility notes — Mobility considerations, tender situations
  • DIY options — Easy self-guided plans for short stays
  • When to book excursions — Ship vs. independent, and why it matters

Individual port pages with detailed guides are coming. For now, this overview helps you know what to expect.