Travelers who booked cruises aboard Navigator of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas are getting unwelcome news. Royal Caribbean has canceled sailings scheduled for May and November 2027 as both ships move away from Los Angeles. Navigator will now stay in Singapore year-round, while Ovation heads to Brisbane, Australia, as part of the cruise line’s biggest Asia-Pacific season yet. Guests are being offered rebooking options instead.
Why Royal Caribbean Canceled These Sailings
“As we continue planning our Summer 2027 sailings, some itinerary adjustments have been necessary due to scheduling, port agreements, and other operational considerations,” Royal Caribbean told guests booked on Navigator of the Seas’ May 12, 2027, transpacific sailing from Japan to California. A similar notice reached guests on Ovation of the Seas’ November 22, 2027, departure, informing them their Los Angeles cruise would no longer be available.
Rebooking Options and Onboard Credit for Affected Guests
For travelers who had already planned their trips, the cruise line is trying to soften the blow. Passengers can rebook on Voyager of the Seas or Serenade of the Seas at a like-for-like cabin rate, with deposit change fees waived. Royal Caribbean is also offering onboard credit, from $25 to $100 per stateroom depending on cabin type and length, plus up to $400 per person toward transportation costs.
Navigator of the Seas Is Moving to Singapore for a Full Year
Navigator of the Seas debuts in Singapore in October 2026 and will now stay there through October 2027, extending its original deployment into a full year. Guests can book two- to five-night cruises visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, along with a 12-night sailing from Tokyo to Singapore. New Navigator cruises open for booking on August 18, 2026. Afterward, Navigator is expected to return to California.
Ovation of the Seas Heads to Brisbane, Australia
Ovation of the Seas will make Brisbane its home port beginning in November 2027, offering three- to eight-night cruises around Australia, including two four-night sailings to Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays. The ship, amplified earlier in 2026, now features the Splashaway Bay pool deck, private casitas and new dining spots including Izumi Teppanyaki and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. New Ovation cruises also open for booking on August 18, 2026.
Voyager of the Seas Will Call Five Homeports
Royal Caribbean is also moving Voyager of the Seas across five homeports between October 2027 and February 2028: Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The ship starts with seven Brisbane sailings, then repositions to Sydney for cruises including New Zealand, before heading north for Chinese New Year and cherry blossom season itineraries. Anthem of the Seas will sail from Sydney during the same season.
Why Royal Caribbean Is Betting on Asia-Pacific
The redeployment reflects surging regional demand. The Cruise Lines International Association reported that residents of its 12 principal Asian source markets took 3.08 million cruises in 2025, a 17.1% increase from the prior year, while cruise activity in Southeast Asia generated $10 billion in economic impact in 2024, including $5.6 billion in cruise-linked spending. The Singapore Tourism Board reported more than two million passenger movements and 375 ship calls.
Navigator’s Los Angeles Legacy
Navigator of the Seas returned to Los Angeles in November 2021 after more than a decade away, offering year-round three-, four-, and five-night sailings to Catalina Island and Mexico. The ship already received a $115 million upgrade in 2019, adding The Blaster aqua coaster, the Riptide waterslide, a redesigned pool deck, and new dining and entertainment venues suited to short getaways.
California Still Gets Ships, Just Fewer Guarantees
Royal Caribbean isn’t abandoning the West Coast. The Port of Los Angeles logged a record 241 cruise ship calls and more than 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2025. Serenade of the Seas is scheduled to add another option in San Diego, and Quantum of the Seas, at 168,666 gross tons and up to 4,905 guests, continues offering short Los Angeles sailings on current schedules.
What Comes Next for West Coast Cruisers
Royal Caribbean told affected guests, “We understand that vacations take time and effort, and we apologize for the inconvenience.” Passengers with no suitable alternative to a rebooked cruise can request a full refund of paid fares, including non-refundable deposits. With Navigator due back after its extended Singapore season, California’s Royal Caribbean lineup is leaning toward more seasonal, rotating ship deployments rather than permanent homeports.
