Royal Caribbean International has cancelled selected 2027 sailings aboard Navigator of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas as the cruise line expands its presence across Asia and Australia.
The changes affect previously scheduled voyages connected with the ships’ planned return to, or operation from, Los Angeles. Royal Caribbean has said that affected guests and travel partners are being contacted directly.
The cruise line has not published a single definitive public list or total covering every cancelled departure. However, guest communications reported publicly confirm that a 12 May 2027 sailing aboard Navigator of the Seas and a 22 November 2027 sailing aboard Ovation of the Seas are among those withdrawn.
Why has Royal Caribbean cancelled the sailings?
The cancellations follow a wider redeployment of Royal Caribbean capacity towards the Asia-Pacific market. In notices sent to affected passengers, the company cited scheduling, port agreements and other operational considerations as reasons for the changes.
Navigator of the Seas had already been scheduled to make its Singapore debut in October 2026. Royal Caribbean has now extended that deployment so the ship remains in Asia through October 2027, rather than returning to North America as early as previously expected.
Ovation of the Seas, meanwhile, will leave its planned Los Angeles programme and begin a new season from Brisbane in November 2027. The two decisions form part of what Royal Caribbean has described as its largest Asia-Pacific deployment to date.
Navigator of the Seas to remain in Asia
The revised programme will keep Navigator of the Seas in the region for approximately a full year. Most of its newly announced voyages will be two- to five-night cruises from Singapore, visiting destinations in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The programme also includes a longer 12-night voyage from Tokyo to Singapore. Royal Caribbean’s original Singapore announcement covered departures between October 2026 and February 2027; the new deployment extends the ship’s presence substantially beyond that initial season.
One confirmed casualty of the change is Navigator of the Seas’ 12 May 2027 transpacific sailing from Japan to California. Passengers booked on that voyage were told that the sailing would no longer be available because the ship was being redeployed.
Ovation of the Seas moves from Los Angeles to Brisbane
Ovation of the Seas will operate three- to eight-night cruises from Brisbane beginning in November 2027. Its new Australian programme includes short Queensland itineraries, with two four-night voyages scheduled to visit Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays.
The move means that West Coast departures previously scheduled for the ship from November 2027 are being cancelled. A notice relating to the 22 November departure confirms that sailing will no longer operate as planned.
The redeployment follows the ship’s 2026 Royal Amplification project, which added and refreshed a range of accommodation, dining and leisure facilities.
What are affected passengers being offered?
The options offered by Royal Caribbean can vary according to the cancelled sailing. Reported guest notices have included the opportunity to transfer to selected alternative cruises, move to another Royal Caribbean departure or cancel for a refund.
For some eligible alternatives, the cruise line has offered to waive non-refundable deposit change fees and move guests into a comparable stateroom at the prevailing fare. Some notices have also included onboard credit and reimbursement of qualifying non-refundable transport change costs.
Passengers should check the communication issued for their own reservation before making new travel arrangements. Rebooking deadlines, eligible replacement cruises, credits and expense allowances are not necessarily identical for every affected departure.
A larger Asia-Pacific deployment
The expansion extends beyond Navigator of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas. Royal Caribbean’s 2027–28 regional programme also includes Anthem of the Seas from Sydney and a varied deployment for Voyager of the Seas spanning Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
For Royal Caribbean, the redeployment adds more short holidays from Singapore, a larger Australian programme and itineraries timed around events including Chinese New Year and Japan’s cherry-blossom season. For passengers booked on the displaced North American sailings, however, the strategic shift means reviewing the alternatives offered and potentially rearranging flights, hotels and other elements of their trip.
What passengers should do next
Guests booked on a 2027 sailing aboard either ship should check their email and Royal Caribbean account, or contact the travel adviser responsible for the booking. Anyone who has not received a notice should avoid assuming that their cruise is cancelled solely because another departure on the same ship has been affected.
Where independent flights, hotels or transfers have already been booked, passengers should retain receipts and cancellation terms until Royal Caribbean confirms what assistance applies to their reservation.