Port Canaveral-bound Harmony of the Seas among 3 Royal Caribbean ships getting makeovers
Royal Caribbean is giving three of its ships face-lifts with revamped pool decks, new dining options and modernized amenities — including Port Canaveral-bound Harmony of the Seas.
The company’s third Oasis-class ship, which entered service in 2016 and is set to arrive in Florida in August 2026, will feature a new Caribbean-inspired pool deck, a refreshed adults-only solarium, laser tag, arcade upgrades and fresh dining options: The Lime & Coconut, El Loco Fresh and Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse. Upgrade plans also include new ways to stay like the Ultimate Family Suite and an expansion at the largest Casino Royale in the company’s fleet.
Harmony was the first Oasis-class ship to incorporate the 10-story twisting dry slide The Ultimate Abyss. In addition, the ship boasts three high-speed waterslides, a zip line, FlowRider surf simulators and the Bionic Bar with robotic bartenders.
Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas features a 10-story Ultimate Abyss slide. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)
Ovation of the Seas, a Quantum-class ship which entered service in 2016, will receive a refreshed pool deck with private casitas, a new whirlpool, the Pesky Parrot bar and accommodation upgrades such as the Ultimate Family Suite and Panoramic Suite. Liberty of the Seas, a Freedom-class ship that debuted in 2007, will return to service with the Royal Escape Room experience, a reimagined pool deck with more casitas, The Lime & Coconut, a new-to-ship Starbucks and new dining options at El Loco Fresh and Izumi Teppanyaki.
Ovation is set to offer Alaskan cruise itineraries beginning in summer 2026. Liberty sails from Southampton, England, in summer 2026 with cruises to European destinations including Norway, Belgium and Denmark.
The ships are all receiving upgrades as a part of the Royal Amplified program, which takes old favorites and enhances them with modern attractions and dining. Harmony, Ovation and Liberty join seven previously amplified ships: Allure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.
Harmony of the Seas debuted in 2016 sailing out of Port Everglades as the world’s largest cruise ship at the time. In 2019, the ship arrived in Port Canaveral for two years before Wonder of the Seas took over for it in fall 2021. The port has hosted all of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships except for Symphony of the Seas.
Royal has doubled down on parking their largest ships at Port Canaveral since late 2023 with two Oasis-class ships serving short three- and four-night Bahamas cruises as well as the normal seven-night Caribbean sailings.
For now those are done by Utopia of the Seas, which debuted in 2024, and Wonder of the Seas. The latter is set to give way to Royal’s newest ship Star of the Seas, the second of the Icon class, in August.
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