October 30, 2026 — Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas is crossing the Atlantic to start year-round short cruises from Galveston, Texas, after a European refit and a summer in the U.K. Separately, Royal Caribbean Group’s CEO said guests are spending more onboard than expected.
Liberty of the Seas returns to Texas
The 3,812-passenger ship, built in 2007, completed a Royal Amplified refurbishment in France in May, then sailed a summer program from Southampton. Its 15-night repositioning cruise left Southampton on October 16, calling at Vigo, Lisbon and Funchal before Galveston.
| Period | Deployment |
|---|---|
| On arrival (first sailing date TBA) through April 2028 | Year-round 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston (Cozumel, Costa Maya) |
| August 2027 | 9-night Western Caribbean: Cozumel, Roatán, George Town, Falmouth |
| Summer 2028 | Returns to Europe, sailing from Barcelona, Piraeus and Civitavecchia |
The refit added staterooms, a Starbucks, Izumi Teppanyaki, a larger Casino Royale, an escape room and a refreshed Caribbean-style pool deck.
Onboard spending above plan
Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty said onboard spend has been “much stronger than we thought it was going to be.” He said half of guests are millennials or younger and loyalty members make up 40 percent of guests. The line launched a Status Match program earlier this year.
What it means for travelers
- Short cruises, tight timing. Four- and five-night sailings make good long weekends, but there is little slack. Fly into Houston (IAH or HOU) the day before.
- Allow for the drive. Galveston is a long road transfer from either Houston airport, and Carnival has warned of road work on Harborside Drive near the port into early November.
- Loyalty status: If you hold status with another cruise line, ask Royal Caribbean about its Status Match program before booking.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News — Royal Caribbean’s Liberty Returning to North America After Refit
- Cruise Industry News — Royal Caribbean Onboard Spending Tops Expectations
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