Several changes are coming to Royal Caribbean in 2023, from a new Main Dining Room menu to a Perfect Day at CocoCay expansion. Knowing what’s new with Royal Caribbean can help you book, plan, and enjoy your cruise vacation.
2022 saw several major changes for Royal Caribbean, including the return to service of the entire fleet and launch of Wonder of the Seas.
Every year brings the opportunity for more innovation and new projects, however, and here are 5 changes coming to Royal Caribbean in 2023.
New Main Dining Room menu
One of the biggest changes announced for 2023 is Royal Caribbean’s new Main Dining Room menu, which will be rolled out in January 2023 across the fleet. The menu features dishes from a new cuisine each night while still offering several of the old menu’s most popular dishes.
Royal Caribbean tested a new Main Dining Room menu on Symphony of the Seas in fall 2022, marking the first new dining room menu in over five years for the cruise line. A main reason for the change was the goal of quicker service in the dining room.
Royal Caribbean is hoping to change the average dinner time in the Main Dining Room from 90-120 minutes down to 75 minutes.
The cruise line also feels the new menu will increase quality and consistency of the dishes offered with hotter, fresher, and more consistently plated food.
Adults-only beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay
Hideaway Beach, an adults-only area of Perfect Day at CocoCay, is expected to open in late 2023. The project was originally announced in September 2021.
This complimentary area of Royal Caribbean’s private island is located adjacent to Thrill Waterpark, although not much is known about what the area will entail.
What we do know is that Hideaway Beach will increase the island’s capacity by 3,000 guests and it will be the only adults-only area at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Icon of the Seas to finish construction
While the first revenue sailing of Icon of the Seas is not until January 2024, the ship will finish construction in 2023.
In early December 2022, Icon of the Seas was floated out of Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, marking a new construction phase for the vessel. Construction will continue over the next several months and the ship is expected to have sea trials in May or June of 2023.
Following sea trials, Icon of the Seas will be delivered to Royal Caribbean in the second half of 2023. Delivery marks the shift in ownership from the shipyard to Royal Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean’s first world cruise sets sail
In October 2021, Royal Caribbean announced its first-ever world cruise, a 274-night journey visiting over 150 destinations in 60 countries. The world cruise on Serenade of the Seas sets sail from Miami on December 10, 2023.
From December 10, 2023 to September 10, 2024, Serenade of the Seas will sail around the world in four segments:
- Round the Horn, visiting the Americas and Antarctica
- Wonders of Asia and the Pacific, which includes a transpacific crossing before visiting Oceania and Asia
- Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med, visiting the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic
- Capitals of Culture, traveling to Morocco, northern Europe, and the Arctic before a transatlantic crossing
The world cruise will mark an important milestone for Royal Caribbean and its success could lead the way to more world cruises being offered in the future.
New homeports and destinations for select ships
Harmony of the Seas will sail from Miami in 2023 for the first time since the ship launched in 2017. Taking the space of Symphony of the Seas (who will spend summer 2023 in Europe), Harmony of the Seas will offer 7-night Caribbean cruises from Miami.
Western Caribbean cruises will visit Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Eastern Caribbean itineraries differ, but may visit St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Brilliance of the Seas will sail to Alaska during the summer 2023 season, a first for the ship. She will offer 7-night cruises from Vancouver with ports including Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Icy Strait Point.
What else can we expect from Royal Caribbean in 2023?
It’s likely that we’ll learn more about Utopia of the Seas, the newest Oasis Class ship, at some point in 2023. Utopia of the Seas is currently under construction and set to enter service in spring 2024.
In addition, Royal Caribbean may also announce more information about their port projects in 2023, from Perfect Day at Lelepa in Vanuatu to the Royal Beach Club in Nassau. These projects have been delayed due to the global health crisis but are still being planned.
