Carnival Tropicale Does 6- and 8-Day Sailings from Galveston

When the Tropicale launches, it will homeport in Galveston, Texas. It’s the second time Carnival has homeported a brand-new ship in Galveston, showing its desire to go after this growing market. The ship will sail mostly 6- and 8-day itineraries from the port.

Those looking for a little variety might be a bit disappointed. The Tropicale will basically have two different itineraries that alternate back and forth.

The 6-Day Western Caribbean itinerary visits Cozumel and Isla Tropicale, Roatan, and includes 3 sea days. Both ports are part of Carnival’s “Paradise Collection” as “Gateway Destinations.” That means they offer increased amenities at the port but don’t include food or ship Wi-Fi like a private island would.

The 8-day itinerary will visit Nassau, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, and Celebration Key, and have 4 sea days. Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key are also in the Paradise Collection, but they’re “Paradise Destinations,” which means they’re more of an extension of the ship, with your ship Wi-Fi working at the destination, complimentary food, and the ability to use your Sail & Sign account to charge drinks or other items you purchase on shore. It should be noted that, unlike its competitors, Carnival doesn’t allow guests to use their Cheers or Bottomless Bubbles drink packages on land.

Tropicale also has two separate 5-day sailings scheduled that visit Cozumel and Progreso, and one 4-day sailing that visits Cozumel only.

What Will Tropicale’s Theme Be?

When Carnival announced the sister ship, Festivale, they said the theme would be music. But for Tropicale, it seems like they’re going with “tropical” as the theme. The home page states that the ship will “bring a new twist on the tropics” and “set sail with a tropical flair.” You can see glimpses of this theme in the renders of the 3-story atrium, Grand Central, which has tropical decor.

But then, in its press release, Carnival also says the ship “will also introduce new entertainment experiences and exclusive spaces inspired by the golden era of show business.”

Like all of Carnival’s Excel Class ships, Tropicale will have two unique themed zones with bars and eateries to match, but Carnival hasn’t released those details yet.

Very Similar to Festivale With New Excel Features

Besides those two themed zones, the Tropicale will be nearly identical to its sister ship, the Festivale. That means it will bring a lot of new features that weren’t on the first 3 Excel Class ships, Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee.

The biggest changes are the top-deck attractions. Gone is the BOLT roller coaster, and in its place is “Sunstation Point,” a multi-deck family fun zone that’s open day and night. Here you’ll find Carnival’s largest water park at sea, a Route 66-inspired mini-golf course, an Adventure Trail, and a retro arcade with stunning views.

The Tropicale will also have the new eateries found on Festivale. That includes Uku Lei Lei, which replaces ChiBang! and offers Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences, and Fetaccine, which replaces Cucina del Capitano and blends Greek and Italian flavors.

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Today, Margaritaville at Sea finally revealed the details. The cruise line’s newest and largest ship, Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, will be heading to Galveston.

The move gives Margaritaville at Sea its fourth homeport, joining Palm Beach, Tampa, and Miami, and will significantly expand the cruise line’s presence outside Florida.

Beachcomber Coming to Galveston

Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will begin sailing from Galveston in October 2027, operating weekly Friday departures from Cruise Terminal 28.

The ship will be the newest addition to the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. It will first debut from Miami on January 9, 2027, before eventually making its way to Texas.

Like Margaritaville at Sea’s other ships, Beachcomber isn’t a new build. The ship currently sails as Costa Fortuna and will undergo a massive renovation before joining Margaritaville at Sea.

For cruisers familiar with Carnival Cruise Line, the ship should feel somewhat familiar. Costa Fortuna is a Destiny Class ship with a very similar design to Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance, including a massive eight-story central atrium with glass elevators. But after the renovation, the onboard experience will be completely Margaritaville.

At up to 3,450 guests, Beachcomber will be the largest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet, coming in nearly 20% larger than Islander.

The ship will also introduce more than 15 new venues and experiences.

One of the biggest additions is Same Boat, a new live music venue created in partnership with three-time Grammy Award winner Zac Brown. The venue will feature a rotating lineup of live performers in a space designed specifically around music and the atmosphere of a Nashville-style live music venue.

Up on the pool deck, guests will find what Margaritaville calls the world’s largest 5 o’Clock Somewhere. The massive venue stretches across four levels and stands 50 feet tall, combining the pool, bar, food, live music, and other outdoor spaces into one large complex.

Other additions include the hidden cocktail bar Cowboy in the Jungle, the Dis ‘N Dat Activity Zone with pickleball, basketball, mini golf, and other activities, and the Tropical Twist Waterslide.

The ship will also debut three new production shows, “Friday Night Country,” “Red, White & Margaritaville,” and “Club Fuego.”

New Itineraries for Margaritaville Beachcomber

Beachcomber will sail mostly 7-night itineraries, but the new ship will have some surprising options. These aren’t just cruises to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Roughly one-third of the sailings will visit George Town, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. An itinerary like that has been a relative rarity for cruises leaving from Galveston in the past few years.

25% of the sailings will head to Belize and Progreso, while 18% will visit Belize and Roatán.

There are some unique sailings as well, including 12 that visit Key West. The Key West sailings include three different itineraries that visit ports such as Bimini, Freeport, and Nassau. While these are staples for cruises leaving from Florida, they’re relatively rare for cruisers sailing from Galveston.

The variety is what really stands out. Galveston has no shortage of Western Caribbean cruises, but many ships stick to familiar combinations of Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatán. Beachcomber‘s schedule mixes in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Key West, and several Bahamas ports, giving Texas cruisers some options they don’t see nearly as often.

More Ships Coming?

With Beachcomber coming to Galveston, does that mean Margaritaville is pulling out of Miami? Not quite.

In July 2026, Miami-Dade County approved a new five-year preferential berthing agreement with Margaritaville at Sea. The agreement begins with the cruise line’s first call on January 9, 2027, and runs through April 30, 2031. It also includes two optional five-year extensions.

According to Miami-Dade County, the agreement is expected to account for approximately 1 million passenger movements during its initial five-year term. So, if Beachcomber moves to Galveston in October 2027, Margaritaville doesn’t appear to be done with Miami.

That leaves a couple of possibilities.

One of Margaritaville’s existing ships could eventually move to Miami, although that would mean changing the cruise line’s operations in either Palm Beach or Tampa.

Or Margaritaville could have another ship on the way.

So far, the cruise line hasn’t announced a fourth ship. But its expansion has happened quickly. Margaritaville at Sea launched with just one ship in 2022, added Islander in 2024, and will grow again with Beachcomber in 2027.

With Galveston now joining the mix while Margaritaville also has a long-term agreement with PortMiami, it certainly looks like the cruise line may not be done growing.

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The new promotion gives Crown & Anchor Society members double cruise points on eligible cruises booked between September 9 and September 21, 2026. There are some important restrictions this time around, though, including a maximum cruise length of 9 nights.

Let’s dig into the details.

Royal Caribbean’s Loyalty Program

Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program, called the Crown & Anchor Society, is arguably one of the best loyalty programs in the cruise industry. At the lower levels, the benefits are pretty meager. However, as you move up the ladder, the benefits get much better, including discounted internet packages, free drinks each day, and more.

Normally, Crown & Anchor Society members earn one cruise point for every night they sail. Guests staying in suites or solo cruisers paying the full double-occupancy fare earn additional points.

Royal Caribbean’s program is even better because of its status matching with sister cruise lines Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises. This means that if you reach a certain level with one cruise line, your status carries over to the other brands.

Royal Caribbean also offers Points Choice, which lets cruisers choose which of the three loyalty programs eligible points from a cruise are applied to. However, as with the previous double-points promotion, the bonus points earned through this offer are not eligible for Points Choice.

Earn Double Points Through September 21

Want to increase your Crown & Anchor status even faster? Royal Caribbean is bringing its double-points promotion back for a second time this year.

Crown & Anchor Society members who make a new booking between September 9 and September 21, 2026, can earn double points on eligible cruises departing between October 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027.

Unlike the previous promotion, only cruises of 9 nights or less qualify.

That means guests staying in a standard cabin will receive two points for every night they sail. Guests staying in a suite will earn four points per night.

Under the rules this time, solo cruisers will only receive one extra point on top of what would normally get (double points). Still, a solo cruiser in a suite on a 7-night sailing could walk away with 35 Crown & Anchor points from a single cruise.

Previous Double Points Bookings Don’t Count Toward the Limit

Like the July promotion, Crown & Anchor members can only use the offer on up to two cruises.

There is one important clarification in the terms and conditions this time around, though. Cruises booked during previous Double Points promotions do not count toward the new two-cruise limit.

So, if you took full advantage of Royal Caribbean’s July promotion and booked two qualifying cruises, you can still book another two cruises under this new offer.

For frequent Royal Caribbean cruisers trying to move up a loyalty tier, that makes this promotion considerably more useful.

Double Points Important Terms and Conditions

There are quite a few restrictions to keep in mind with this promotion.

• New bookings must be made between September 9 and September 21, 2026.
• Eligible cruises must depart between October 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027.
• Cruises must be 9 nights or less.
• Guests can book a maximum of two cruises with this Double Points offer.
• Cruises booked during previous Double Points promotions do not count toward the two-cruise limit.
• The offer can be combined with BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, Free 3rd & 4th Guests, promotional onboard credit, NextCruise offers, instant savings, Crown & Anchor discounts, Shareholder Benefits, and select restricted discounts.
• The promotion cannot be combined with complimentary cruises, employee cruises, casino offers, Seminar at Sea rates, or travel agent reduced rates.
• The offer is not applicable to Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee.
• Changing the ship or sail date or repricing will remove the Double Points offer from the reservation.
• At least one original guest name must remain on the reservation throughout the life of the booking.
• A valid Crown & Anchor Society membership number must be included on the reservation.
• Bonus points earned through this promotion are not eligible for Points Choice.

Royal Caribbean says the points will be applied within 30 days after the cruise concludes.

My Take: Royal Caribbean Really Wants Bookings This Winter

When Royal Caribbean brought back Double Points in July, it was noteworthy because the cruise line hadn’t offered a promotion like this since the pandemic. Now, less than two months later, it’s back again.

This version is a little more restrictive. The booking window is longer, but cruises are limited to 9 nights or less and must sail between October 2026 and April 2027.

On the other hand, Royal Caribbean specifically allowing members who used the previous promotion to book another two Double Points cruises makes the offer particularly attractive for loyal cruisers.

If you were already considering a Royal Caribbean cruise this winter or spring, there’s really no downside to earning twice the points for a cruise you were going to book anyway.

And if you’re a solo cruiser, especially one booking a suite, earning as many as five Crown & Anchor points per night can make a pretty significant dent in the climb toward your next loyalty tier.

For everyone else, loyalty status probably shouldn’t be the reason you book a cruise. But if the itinerary, ship, and price already work for you, the extra points are a very nice bonus.

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Captain’s Club members who book select cruises between September 8 and September 21, 2026, can earn double Club Points on eligible sailings. The offer covers Caribbean cruises through spring 2027, along with select sailings on Celebrity Infinity.

For cruisers who are close to reaching the next Captain’s Club tier, or who typically book higher-category cabins, the promotion could add up quickly.

Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club Loyalty Program

Celebrity’s loyalty program, the Captain’s Club, rewards cruisers with points based on the type of cabin they book and the number of nights they sail.

Those points help guests move through Celebrity’s Captain’s Club tiers, which start with Classic and progress through Select, Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith.

The program has become even more useful thanks to Royal Caribbean Group’s Loyalty Status Match program. Captain’s Club members can receive corresponding status with sister brands Royal Caribbean and Silversea.

Celebrity also participates in Points Choice, which lets guests sailing on one Royal Caribbean Group brand choose to apply the points earned from that cruise toward another participating loyalty program.

One important exception applies, though. Bonus points earned through this double points offer cannot be transferred using Points Choice.

Earn Double Captain’s Club Points Through September 21

If you want to take advantage of this double points offer, you’ll have to book an eligible cruise between September 8 and September 21, 2026.

To qualify, the cruise must be:

• A Caribbean sailing departing between October 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027
• A Celebrity Infinity sailing departing between November 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027

You can use this promotion on up to two cruises. If you book more than two qualifying cruises, Celebrity will apply the double points to the two cruises with the earliest departure dates.

Solo Cruisers Get an Even Better Deal

The promotion gets even more interesting for solo cruisers. Guests traveling alone and paying the full cabin fare normally receive an additional set of Club Points. Under this promotion, that bonus is added to the double points offer, meaning qualifying solo cruisers can earn 3x the normal Club Points.

For example, a solo guest staying in a Veranda stateroom would normally earn 3 points per night. With the promotion and the solo bonus, that increases to 9 points per night.

On a 7-night cruise, that would mean earning 63 Club Points instead of the standard 21.

Double Points Important Terms and Conditions

There are a few important restrictions to keep in mind:

• The cruise must be newly booked between September 8 and September 21, 2026.
• The offer can be used on a maximum of two qualifying cruises per Captain’s Club member.
• A valid Captain’s Club number must be attached to the reservation.
• Bonus points will be added within 30 days after the cruise is completed, as long as the booking has been paid in full.
• Points are based on the original stateroom category purchased.
• Upgrades, including MoveUp upgrades, do not receive additional points based on the upgraded cabin category.
• Solo travelers paying the full fare can earn a total of 3x Club Points.
• Transatlantic and Transpacific sailings are excluded.
• Bonus points earned through the promotion cannot be transferred to Royal Caribbean or Silversea through Points Choice.
• Submitting a Points Choice transfer request will forfeit the promotional bonus points.

The double points promotion can also be combined with many of Celebrity’s normal sales and discounts, including BOGO75, free third and fourth guest offers, Instant Savings, onboard credit sales, Captain’s Club discounts, shareholder benefits, and qualifying future cruise certificate bookings.

My Take: A Nice Bonus If You Were Already Planning a Celebrity Cruise

Like Royal Caribbean’s double points promotion earlier this summer, I wouldn’t book a cruise solely to chase loyalty points. But if you were already considering a Caribbean cruise with Celebrity this winter, this promotion could make the decision a little easier.

It is particularly valuable if you’re close to reaching the next Captain’s Club tier. Because Celebrity awards more points for higher cabin categories, someone staying in AquaClass or The Retreat can rack up a significant number of extra points during a single cruise.

Solo cruisers get an especially good deal with 3x points.

It is also interesting to see Celebrity launch this promotion less than two months after Royal Caribbean offered a similar double points deal. Royal Caribbean’s offer covered bookings made for just 11 days in July, while Celebrity is giving guests two weeks to book.

Whether these promotions are simply a new way for Royal Caribbean Group to encourage loyalty or an indication that the company wants to stimulate bookings during certain periods remains to be seen.

Either way, if you already have your eye on an eligible Celebrity cruise and Captain’s Club status matters to you, this is a promotion worth considering.

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Since it was hard to find a lot of information about these sailings, I’m going to give you a play-by-play of my experience on this amazing vacation.

Celebrity Flora Galapagos Cruise Tour – Day 0 Overview

• Picking the Right Tour Operator for the Galapagos
• Celebrity Cruises 10-Day Tour Cruise
• About Me
• Arrival in Quito
• First Impressions of Quito
• Checking Into the JW Marriott Quito
• Exploring La Carolina Park and Quito Botanical Gardens
• Trying Some Local Food
• A Quick Stop at the Mall
• JW Marriott Pool
• Dinner at JW Marriott

Picking the Right Tour Operator for the Galapagos

There are several options for picking a tour operator if you want to visit the Galapagos. You can fly to Baltra and do it yourself. But that usually means taking a speedboat back and forth to the individual islands each day. A cruise provides a much more immersive experience where you stay on the ship, and it goes between the islands, with it never docking in between.

While there are a few cruise tours out there, I chose to go with Celebrity, mainly because I’ve had great cruises with them in the past and the experience looked amazing in the videos and brochures. I loved their Edge Class of ships, and their dedicated ship for the Galapagos uses the same design language. I also had the benefit that it would count towards Celebrity’s loyalty program, or in my case, I could use Points Choice and reassign them to Royal Caribbean, where I have higher status.

Celebrity also has one of the largest ships operating in the Galapagos, holding 100 people (the most the National Park will allow). Some other options are ships that hold around 15 or 50 people, but in this case, I wanted a larger ship. Because Galapagos cruises tour tend to skew to older clientele, having more people onboard meant a better chance of having some more active people on board with us (more people means more diversity of guests).

Celebrity Cruises 10-Day Tour Cruise

Celebrity’s Galapagos expeditions have a few different options.

Your first choice if you want to go on the Inner Loop or Outer Loop sailing. Both sailings are 7 days, but they differ in the islands they visit. The biggest difference between the two is the types of animals you might see. But, for me, I didn’t find a difference that would sway one way or the other; it was more about a time that worked for me.

Once you pick your cruise, you can extend it with a Cruise Tour. A 10-day option includes 2 hotel nights in Quito before the cruise, an extensive city tour the day before the cruise, and 1 hotel night in Quito after the cruise before flying home. The 11-day option adds an extra day at the tail end, during which you can pick your own excursion for the last day. They also offer an option to combine it with a trip to Machu Picchu, extending it to 16 days.

With the cruise tour options, Celebrity takes care of almost everything. They pick you up at the airport in Quito, check you into the hotel, handle all the paperwork and requirements you need to enter the Galapagos, and put you on a private charter flight from Quito to Baltra to start your cruise. They take care of everything, every step of the way. If you book the 7-day version, you need to figure out how to get to Baltra yourself for the cruise departure. And while it’s not impossible, it is much more of a hassle according to those I spoke to.

For this vacation, we did the 10-day version of the Outer Loop cruise. I booked it only 92 days before it left because other vacation plans fell through. That meant I didn’t have a ton of time to figure out all the logistics; going with the cruise tour meant Celebrity would just take care of everything for me.

About Me

Before I got into the meat of the article, I wanted to briefly explain who I am so you can understand where I’m coming from for this article. In all my research before this cruise, I had trouble really understanding where people were coming from when they gave feedback. If they said the hikes were hard, would I agree? If they thought the food was amazing, what were they comparing it to?

So for my background, I’m in my 40s, and this was my 18th cruise. I’m from the Northeast in the U.S., and I first cruised in 2004 and have cruised with almost all the main North American brands. I’m a pretty low-maintenance cruiser. I usually book a standard balcony cabin (or interior if I’m trying to save cost). I rarely purchase specialty dining, and while I do enjoy food, I usually find the main dining rooms on most sailings meet my needs.

When it comes to excursions, every once in a while I might book a beach visit, but more often I prefer ones that explore local culture, nature, or wildlife. Excursions that let me see unique places in nature are some of my favorites. I have no problem with cruise line excursions, but I’m also just as likely to book something and explore on my own.

This just gives you a lens through which I saw this sailing.

Arrival in Quito

Finding direct flights from the NY/NJ area to Quito was a struggle, and the only one was a red-eye landing at 6 AM Quito time. We booked Avianca, an airline I’d never heard of before, but soon learned it was a budget airline from Colombia; similar to Spirit Airlines or Frontier in the USA. Because of that, legroom was very tight.

The plane only had 28-29″ between rows (United and American average 30″ while Delta is 31″). On this plane, upgrading to plus didn’t get you any more space. The only options with more legroom were exit rows, but you had to speak fluent English to sit in those seats. Thankfully, the plane was clean, and service was great. Like other budget airlines, the seats reduce the padding (in order to save fuel costs), so I purchased this inflatable pillow that really helped (see it on Amazon).

The flight was uneventful; just 6 hours, not much more than a flight to the West Coast from JFK airport in NYC. We arrived at 6 AM, and I was pretty worn down. I have a terrible time sleeping on planes, so I got maybe 20 minutes of sleep on the flight, meaning I’d been up for nearly 24 hours at that point.

We deplaned and went through passport control, a simple process that took about 25 minutes due to the queue. Then we grabbed our bags and went through a customs X-ray scanner. Once we exited the customs area, we immediately saw a well-dressed gentleman in a tailored navy jacket holding a Celebrity sign.  

The host, Pablo, greeted us by name and took us to meet two other people who had also just arrived. Then we took a short walk outside to the arrivals lane to meet our shuttle.

Tip: We booked our flights through Celebrity so they already had our flight information. If you book your own flights and are on the 10- or 11-day cruise tour packages, you’ll receive an email a month or so before the cruise to input all your information so they can pick you up.

As we stepped outside, I was surprised by how cold it was. This was the beginning of August, and it was only 43 degrees at 6:45 AM. I regretted not having a light jacket or sweatshirt with me (they were in my luggage). The air was crisp and fresh, which helped wake me up a bit as I looked out at the towering mountains and volcanoes around us.

A 12-person shuttle pulled up and the four of us plus Pablo got into the van. The seats that were much more comfortable than the discount seats on the Avianca flight. Once the driver turned on the heater, I was so much more comfortable.

With that, we were on our way to the JW Marriott in Quito, Ecuador, the official hotel of the cruise-tour version of the sailing. It was a 50-minute drive to the hotel. Along the way, Pablo explained in detail what we could expect for the next two days in Quito. For the first day (Friday), we had the day to ourselves, with no official tours, meetings, or meals scheduled.

The very first thing he did was explain possible altitude sickness. Quito is the highest capital in the world, and at 9,350 feet in elevation, it’s nearly double that of Denver, Colorado. To combat that, his main tip was to stay hydrated, take it easy, and avoid alcohol while you acclimate. He gave us a big bottle of water to get us started. Thankfully, while I felt some minor effects (it could also have been from not getting enough sleep), the altitude didn’t impact me too much or affect my time in Quito.

Along the drive, Pablo shared tons of details about Quito and Ecuador: the history, the culture, and the people. I didn’t know much about Ecuador or Quito going in, so it was interesting to learn all about it.

First Impressions of Quito

He also shared some information about the safety in Quito, which I had read about a lot in my research before the cruise. Overall, the biggest danger in Quito is pickpockets, much like you’d experience in other touristy cities around the globe. Because the area the hotel was in had a bunch of tourist hotels, he cautioned us to be alert if walking around, as it could be a target for pickpockets. The risk was much lower in busier areas populated by locals.

For those who didn’t feel comfortable walking, he said the hotel could arrange a driver if you wanted to visit places, and they could wait for you and bring you back if you wanted. Since it would be arranged through the hotel, it could be paid by credit card or even charged to your room. Quito also uses Uber, which was safe. He did say not to use local taxis as they can scam you.

Checking Into the JW Marriott Quito

We arrived at the JW Marriott around 8 AM. Quito is huge (25 miles long), so you can’t say it’s in the heart of the city, but it is nestled in the Iñaquito neighborhood, near the city’s financial district. It’s a very industrial-looking part of the city, not particularly different from any other business district in a metropolitan area. It’s next to a McDonald’s and across from a car rental place; not the most picturesque of neighborhoods.

As we arrived, two impeccably dressed doormen welcomed us and then grabbed our bags from the van while Pedro showed us into the lobby. I was immediately impressed by the open and airy feeling of the hotel lobby. It was constructed almost like a greenhouse, with huge glass panels forming the walls and ceiling and trees living inside. The city’s industrial feel seemed to melt away as we entered this little private resort paradise.

Tip: For those worried about traveling abroad and not knowing the language well, everyone at the JW Marriott spoke very good English and made you feel right at home.

Pablo told us to check in but warned that rooms might not be ready this early, as the hotel was fully booked. The desk attendant checked us in and said if we wanted, we could check in early for $45. Otherwise, we’d have to wait until 1 PM for a room (which is still earlier than the 3 PM they usually publish). Because I desperately needed some sleep, I opted for the early check-in, which also got us an upgrade to an “executive suite,” although I’m not sure what that actually meant.

Once we got our room keys, Pablo gave us Celebrity backpacks and metal water bottles that were labeled with our cabin numbers. We’d use both of these a lot on the trip. He suggested not drinking the water in Quito to avoid stomach troubles, so the hotel provided two large bottles of filtered water in the room, and the lobby also had a refill station.

Pablo also pointed out Celebrity’s dedicated hospitality desk that we could stop by if we had any trouble. Other cruise lines were also in the lobby with their own desks as well, so this hotel must be the base of operations for quite a few tours each week.

Tip: all the backpacks look alike, and when they’re piled on the beach in the Galapagos, it can take awhile to find yours. Consider bringing a ribbon or unique identifier; I used these bright green luggage tags from Amazon.

We headed up to our room, and the bellman brought out bags a few minutes later.

The room itself was spacious and well-appointed. Rich brown wood floors and expansive windows let in lots of natural light gave the room a very homey but still distinctly vacation-like feeling. This room had a view of the beautiful pool located behind the hotel.

For a city hotel, the size of the room was quite large, with plenty of space and a really big bathroom. The hotel had a good number of outlets (they use standard US outlets) as well as a min-fridge and coffee maker.

Exploring La Carolina Park and Quito Botanical Gardens

After a quick 2-hour nap to recharge, we decided to explore the city a bit. Celebrity’s cruise-tour package included a fairly comprehensive Quito tour on Day 1, so there wasn’t a ton that was on our list to do in Quito. One thing we had on our list to kill time was their botanical garden located in La Carolina Park.

The park was located a short 20-minute walk from the JW Marriott. It didn’t feel unsafe while we were walking, and the path from the hotel to the park was a designated walking lane that felt safe, at least in bright daylight.

Quito Botanical Gardens was in the middle of the park, and signage was a bit lacking, so we had to wander a bit to find it. Once we found the entrance, we headed to the ticket booth, but figuring out the cost was a bit confusing. General admission to the garden was just $6 per person, but they also offered a limited-time dinosaur-themed exhibition for an additional fee.

Tip: Ecuador uses the US dollar, so there’s no need to change money. Make sure to bring a lot of smaller bills like 5’s and 10’s; things are relatively inexpensive in Ecuador, so if you bought a $1 soda and gave them a $20, it could be hard for them to make change.

The Botanical Garden was a good size, with paths all leading through different areas. Staff greeted us upon entry and gave us a large, laminated map to navigate the space. She also gave us some “tips,” but I only understood about 25% of them because my high school Spanish classes were only minimally helpful 20+ years later.

The garden was well-maintained and had a lot of local species. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right season to see everything blooming, but there was still lots of plants. About half the signs were in English and Spanish, which made it easy to fully understand what we were seeing. For the remaining signs, I used Google Translate, which did a great job.

Some of my favorite sections in the garden were a room with carnivorous plants, a well-designed cactus garden with massive cacti, and a whole bonsai section.

Overall, we spent about an hour in the garden. It was a worthwhile little side trip and got us up, moving, and acclimated to the altitude.

Trying Some Local Food

We exited the garden and walked around the park a bit. On the path right next to the park stood a bunch of food stalls manned by locals, so we grabbed a quick lunch there.

We tried some delicious ice cream that was $1 a scoop. Ecuadorian ice cream is much more fruit-focused than what you’d see in the US. It was more like sorbet, but still had dairy in it. The flavors were incredibly fresh and used way less sugar than you’d expect, providing a really refreshing dessert.

We walked farther into the park, where I saw more food stalls offering lunch options. For some of the meats, I couldn’t understand what they were, and Google Translate wasn’t processing them properly. I’m guessing that meant the food was more local names than generic types of meat. I was a bit cautious because I didn’t want to accidentally order guinea pig (an option in South America) or another meat I didn’t know what it was.

I ended up finding a special French Fry place where you could get fries with fried eggs or chopped meat on them. I ended up getting French Fries topped with a fried chicken breast. The chicken was really moist and flavorful; it must have been marinated in something, but I couldn’t place it. The shopkeeper suggested I try the guava ketchup,, which was sweeter than our ketchup; it was closer to a sweet-and-sour sauce at a Chinese take-out restaurant. For $2, it was really tasty and impressive.

While I understand and speak some Spanish, I’m far from fluent, but everyone we interacted with at the shops was very friendly and helpful. Even if they didn’t speak English, they were understanding and didn’t give dirty looks when we encountered a language barrier. I always appreciate that. I don’t expect people to know English at all; after all, I’m in their country, but I appreciate when locals have some grace when I butcher the language goes a long way.

For example, at one point I was trying to get a Diet Coke. I asked “Tienes Coke Light?” which is what they call Diet Coke in Mexico. Apparently, they don’t call it that in Ecuador. So I tried saying “Coke Zero,” which is apparently much more popular everywhere else in the world. That didn’t work either. Thankfully, another cashier saw me struggling and said: “Coca sin azucar” (Coke without sugar), and the problem was solved.

A Quick Stop at the Mall

After lunch, we headed to a mall located right next door to the park, Mall El Jardin. It was just like a mall as you’d typically find in the U.S. (well, until they all go out of business), with some familiar chain stores and some local ones as well.

If you were in Quito and realized you forgot something, there was a large pharmacy and a chain grocery store in this mall. I always like going into a local store to see what kind of foods they have and what they offer. Sometimes you’ll find unique fruits, snacks, or desserts that we don’t have at home (also, they make cheap gifts for those at home).

Because we were going to the Galapagos next, which had very strict restrictions on what we could bring, we opted not to stock up on much. We did find some unique craft beers for just $4.

JW Marriott Pool

We got back to the hotel around 2 PM and decided to try out the pool. The JW Marriott’s pool is quite large with a waterfall in the center, a hot tub, and lounge chairs all around. The bar wasn’t staffed at this point, but you could use a QR code to order drinks or light food bites, and someone would bring it out.

It was only 70 degrees and breezy, so a bit too cold for reading a book in a chair. The pool was heated, but only minimally. When the sun went behind a cloud, it became too cold to be in the water. We only spent about 45 minutes in the pool, but it was refreshing.

Dinner at JW Marriott

The JW Marriott has a few onsite dining options if you don’t want to leave the hotel. Fogo de Chão is a Brazilian steakhouse with all-you-can-eat meat, and Kaori is Japanese sushi. There’s an executive buffet downstairs called Botanical Garden, and Raíces, an Ecuadorian restaurant. All the places were probably average prices for what I’d see at home in the NY area, but since things are cheaper in Ecuador, they could be considered pricey dinner options.

We planned to have dinner at Raíces to try some local food, but we didn’t think to make a reservation. When we stopped by around 6 PM, they said they were booked until 8:30 PM. Normally that would be fine, but I was still running on too little sleep, so we opted to try another place.

On the website, they list the restaurant downstairs as Kaori, Japanese/sushi, but in reality, it’s “The Exchange,” basically the hotel bar with normal bar foods and then a small sushi counter at one side. The decor was modern, but they didn’t really have regular dinner tables; it was more lounge-style seating. You could tell it was catering to the tourist market with American pop music playing in the background and football on the TVs.

At 6 PM, the place was empty, but it quickly filled up as the night went on. The staff was super friendly, though they got a bit overwhelmed when it got crowded closer to 6:30/7. The food and drinks were reasonably priced: $10 for a cocktail, $7 for a beer, comparable to what we’d see at home (again, it’d usually be cheaper in Ecuador, so we’re paying for convenience).

After that, we turned in early so we’d be ready for the next day, as it’d be a full-day tour followed by a group dinner.

Follow Along on Our Galapagos Adventures

• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Pre-Cruise - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 0 - Quito (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Baltra (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Española Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Floreana Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Isabela Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 5 - Fernandina and Isabela Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 6 - South Plaza and Santa Cruz Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 8 - Baltra and Disembarkation (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 9 - Quito and Home (coming soon)

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While Carnival still has a handful of Princess Cays visits scheduled for 2027, Princess Cruises currently has no visits scheduled after October 2026, raising some questions about the future of the private destination.

What Is Princess Cays?

Princess Cays is a 40-acre private cruise destination on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. Unlike many cruise line private destinations, it’s not actually a private island. Eleuthera is an inhabited island with a local population. It’s also home to Disney Cruise Line’s newest private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, which opened in 2024.

The Princess Cays destination itself is private, though, and is owned by Carnival Corporation for use by its cruise lines, primarily Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Holland America Line.

Princess Cays Replaced With RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay

Last week, notifications started to go out with itinerary updates.

Looking at the current schedule, Coral Princess appears to be the last Princess ship scheduled to visit Princess Cays, with a call on October 30.

In November, six Carnival cruises and one Princess cruise were scheduled to visit Princess Cays. In December, there were another four Carnival cruises and four Princess cruises scheduled.

Those itineraries will now visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Carnival Corporation’s other private destination in The Bahamas. Unlike Princess Cays, Half Moon Cay is truly a private island with no local population. It’s also just undergone a massive expansion.

Carnival Corporation previously announced an estimated $80 million investment in the destination, adding a pier capable of docking two ships, new food and bar facilities, additional beach space, and tram transportation around the island.

Previously just known as Half Moon Cay, the expanded destination is now officially called RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. Before the expansion, most of the developed areas were concentrated on the southern portion of the island. Now, the entire west coast of the island is usable by guests.

At the northern end is the new pier, with two berths that will typically be used by Carnival ships, along with new facilities built as part of the expansion. The southern end contains the original facilities and will typically serve Holland America ships.

So for guests being moved from Princess Cays to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, the change is an upgrade. They’re being moved to a destination where Carnival Corporation has just invested heavily in expanding the facilities and increasing capacity. The pier will make it easier to get on and off the ship, and the beaches have much softer, white sand compared to Princess Cays’ more rocky beach.

Carnival Corporation Is Putting More Focus on Its Paradise Collection

The change also comes as Carnival Corporation is putting much more emphasis on what it calls its Paradise Collection.

Introduced in 2025, the Paradise Collection brings together Carnival Corporation’s exclusive Caribbean destinations. These seven spots are Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale in Roatán, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Grand Turk in Turks & Caicos, Puerta Maya in Cozumel, and Princess Cays.

And these destinations are becoming an increasingly important part of Carnival Corporation’s Caribbean strategy.

The company expects more than 9 million guests to visit Paradise Collection destinations in 2027. It also says 90% of its North American cruise brands’ Caribbean itineraries will visit at least one exclusive destination that year, while roughly half will visit two or more.

Interestingly, Princess Cays is still officially part of the Paradise Collection, even as Princess Cruises itself disappears from the destination’s schedule after October 2026.

What’s the Future for Princess Cays?

Right now, Princess Cruises has no cruises scheduled to visit Princess Cays after October 30, 2026. Carnival still has some sailings with Princess Cays on their itineraries. The first is Carnival Freedom, departing March 27, 2027.

After that, there are some sporadic visits, including Carnival Conquest’s May 31 sailing, Carnival Paradise’s August 30 sailing, and Carnival Valor’s June 12 and August 7 sailings. Of course, those cruises are still months away, so their itineraries could potentially change as well.

So what’s happening with Princess Cays?

Right now, we don’t know. Princess Cruises has traditionally been the primary cruise line visiting the destination, with Carnival Cruise Line also making regular calls. But Princess’ Caribbean deployment is changing. The cruise line currently has no Caribbean sailings scheduled from May through August 2027, instead focusing its ships on other regions during the summer.

That means there would already be significantly less traffic headed to Princess Cays during those months.

At the same time, Carnival Corporation suddenly has much more capacity at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. The new pier can accommodate two ships, and the expanded destination can handle significantly more guests than before. Princess is also beginning to visit Celebration Key, giving the cruise line another Carnival Corporation destination in The Bahamas.

With Carnival Corporation investing heavily in its Paradise Collection and giving its cruise lines more exclusive destinations to choose from, Princess Cays may simply no longer be as essential to its Caribbean strategy as it once was. Or maybe they’ll looking to give it a similar upgrade to increase the strength of their portfolio.

For now, though, Carnival Corporation hasn’t announced any plans to close Princess Cays, and those handful of Carnival visits currently scheduled for 2027 suggest the destination isn’t disappearing entirely.

But with Princess Cruises itself completely absent from the schedule after October, it’s certainly something worth watching.

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Currently, six cruise lines sail out of there, but now we find out that growing cruise line Margaritaville at Sea will also be calling Galveston home in 2027.

Margaritaville at Sea Approved for Sailings From Galveston

Today’s announcement doesn’t come from the cruise line itself, but from the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees. On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved an agreement with Margaritaville at Sea.

The agreement allows the cruise line to operate weekly sailings starting in October 2027. The initial agreement is only for 1 year, but it also includes options for two additional 5-year terms.

The ship will sail from Terminal 28. This terminal used to be used by Royal Caribbean before it created its own dedicated terminal to accommodate its newer, larger ships. Now, Terminal 28 is primarily used by Disney Cruise Line.

According to a statement from Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees, the new sailings will depart on Fridays and include destinations in the Caribbean and Central America. Friday sailings will hopefully prevent additional weekend traffic in the area.

In the press release, Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea, added, “We’re incredibly excited to bring Margaritaville at Sea to Galveston for the first time and introduce our signature blend of fun, escapism and laid-back hospitality to even more guests across Texas and the Central U.S. Galveston is an important and growing cruise gateway, and this agreement represents another significant step in the continued expansion of our brand. We look forward to working with the Port of Galveston to bring the Margaritaville at Sea experience to this market in a whole new way, with itineraries that will feature both new ports of call and longtime favorites.”

No Word on Which Ship Will Be Sailing

The agreement doesn’t say which ship will be sailing from Galveston. Currently, Margaritaville at Sea has 3 ships: Paradise, which sails from Palm Beach, Florida; Islander, which sails from Tampa; and the upcoming Beachcomber, which will sail from Miami in 2027.

Margaritaville will announce the ship that will be homeported there and its itineraries at a special event in September. Guests who want to be notified immediately can sign up for an email list at MargaritavilleAtSea.com/HelloTexas.

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Disney Wish is Heading to New York For Limited Sailings

The most exciting part of the new schedule is Disney Wish, which will sail from New York City for seven cruises after completing its inaugural season in Europe. The ship is scheduled to arrive in New York in late September 2027, marking Disney Cruise Line’s first sailings from the city since 2023.

Disney used New York as a seasonal homeport fairly regularly before the pandemic, most often with Disney Magic. The cruise line returned in 2022 with Disney Magic, then brought Disney Dream to New York in 2023. Since Disney Dream left in November 2023, Disney has not offered cruises from the city.

The new Disney Wish season will include four to seven-night cruises, with five of the seven sailings visiting Bermuda. Three of those itineraries will spend an extra day there. Disney will also return to New England and Canada’s Atlantic coast for the first time in nearly four years, with Disney Wish visiting Boston, St. John, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia during the fall foliage season.

Wish After New York

Once the New York season ends, Disney Wish will reposition to San Juan on a five-night cruise that also includes a stop in Bermuda. From Puerto Rico, the ship will sail a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise visiting Aruba, St. Maarten, Bonaire, and Dominica. It will then head back to Florida on a four-night cruise from San Juan to Port Canaveral with stops at both Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

After all that moving around, Disney Wish will settle back into Port Canaveral, where it will resume the three and four-night Bahamas cruises it is best known for.

Disney Fantasy Will Spend More Time Away From Port Canaveral

Disney Fantasy is also getting a much more varied schedule than it has traditionally had. The ship will begin the Fall 2027 season sailing from Port Canaveral on four and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean from September through November, but it will not stay there for long.

In December 2027, Disney Fantasy will reposition to San Juan and operate a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Puerto Rico. It will then sail a five-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that ends in Fort Lauderdale, where it will spend the next part of the season operating four to seven-night cruises to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

There is also a first for the ship in this deployment. Disney Fantasy will sail to Bermuda for the first time on an eight-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale. That itinerary will also visit both of Disney Cruise Line’s Bahamian island destinations.

Then, in late April 2028, Disney Fantasy will head back to San Juan for two additional seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises. Those sailings will include ports such as Curaçao, Bonaire, Barbados, and Antigua.

Three Wish Class Ships Will Be Based at Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral will see one of the biggest changes once Disney Wish returns from New York and San Juan. Starting in November 2027, Disney says three Wish Class ships will be based there at the same time: Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.

The new addition is Disney Destiny. The ship will begin Fall 2027 in Fort Lauderdale, continuing to offer three to five-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises, but it will later relocate to Port Canaveral. Once there, Disney Destiny will offer three to seven-night sailings to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean. It will be the first time the ship has homeported at Port Canaveral.

Disney Treasure, meanwhile, is staying where it is. The ship will continue its seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, along with one eight-night Eastern Caribbean sailing and one six-night Bahamas cruise that includes two visits to Disney Castaway Cay.

With Disney Wish also returning to Port Canaveral after its New York and San Juan cruises, Disney will have three of its newest ships based close to Walt Disney World at the same time.

Disney Dream Moves to Fort Lauderdale

Disney Dream will start this deployment at Port Canaveral, where it will operate three and four-night Bahamas cruises. In November 2027, the ship will reposition to Fort Lauderdale and spend the rest of that portion of the season operating three to five-night Bahamas cruises.

Disney is also adding one six-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale with two visits to Disney Castaway Cay, giving guests extra time at Disney’s original private island destination.

Fort Lauderdale is still a relatively new Disney homeport. Disney opened its dedicated terminal at Port Everglades in 2023, initially using Disney Dream there before adding additional ships. By Fall 2027, Fort Lauderdale will again play a major role in Disney’s deployment, with Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Destiny all spending at least part of the season there.

Disney Magic Will Cross the Panama Canal Twice

On the West Coast, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will both begin Fall 2027 sailing from San Diego. The two ships will offer three to seven-night Baja and Mexican Riviera itineraries before Disney Magic heads east.

In November 2027, Disney Magic will depart San Diego on a 14-night eastbound Panama Canal cruise to Galveston. The sailing will include a maiden call at Fuerte Amador, which serves Panama City. Once the ship reaches Texas, it will spend the season sailing four to seven-night cruises from Galveston.

Some of the seven-night Bahamas itineraries from Galveston will visit both Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay. That gives Texas guests a chance to visit both of Disney’s Bahamian destinations on the same cruise, something that is much more common on sailings from Florida.

Then, in March 2028, Disney Magic will make the trip back to California on another 14-night Panama Canal cruise. This time the ship will sail westbound from Galveston to San Diego and make another Disney Cruise Line maiden call, this one in Colón, Panama.

Panama Canal repositioning cruises have long been part of Disney’s seasonal ship movements between Texas and California, but the two new Panama calls add something different to the 2027 and 2028 sailings.

Disney Wonder Stays in San Diego

While Disney Magic crosses the country, Disney Wonder will remain in San Diego for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028. The ship will continue operating three to seven-night cruises that include ports such as Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and Catalina Island.

San Diego has been one of Disney’s most consistent seasonal homeports over the past decade, mostly being serviced by Disney Wonder.

Disney Adventure Continues Sailing From Singapore

Disney Adventure will continue sailing from Singapore, with new three and four-night itineraries announced from September through December 2027. Disney did not provide Spring 2028 details for the ship as part of this announcement.

Disney also included an earlier update for Disney Adventure in the press release. Select sailings between December 31, 2026 and May 2027 will add Langkawi, Malaysia as a new port of call. Currently, the Adventure only sails cruises to nowhere with no stops, so it is a significant change.

Disney Has More Flexibility With a Larger Fleet

The most interesting part of this announcement is not necessarily any one itinerary, but how much Disney is moving its ships around. A few years ago, the cruise line simply did not have enough ships to make these kinds of changes without leaving major gaps somewhere else.

New York is still the biggest headline. Disney Cruise Line has not sailed from the city since 2023, and this time it is returning with Disney Wish, a ship that has spent most of its career operating short Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral. But the broader story is that Disney’s growing fleet is finally giving the cruise line much more freedom to move ships between homeports and offer different itineraries.

Early bookings for select Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members begin August 31, 2026, with general bookings opening September 8.

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Now, we have the new plans, and they show that the changes are much more extensive than Celebrity originally let on.

Some of the changes make a lot of sense. Others come with some pretty big tradeoffs. Here’s an in-depth deck-by-deck look at what’s changing aboard Celebrity Reflection when the renewed ship debuts on March 15, 2027.

Deck 3: Grand Foyer Totally Transforms With Martini Bar Taking Center Stage

Deck 3 will see one of the most noticeable changes on the entire ship. Currently, this space is home to the Grand Foyer, which is used for dancing, movies, and activities throughout the ship, as well as being home to guest services and the Passport Bar.

In July’s press release, Celebrity didn’t reveal a render of this new space, but said, “The Grand Plaza is Celebrity Reflection’s most dramatic new space. The three-story, Edge Series-style venue anchors the ship’s entertainment. A new, centrally located Martini Bar will feature a giant suspended chandelier that commands the room, complete with a chandelier show, as well as live performances and music from day to night.”

Looking at the new deck plans, we see a pretty significant redesign. The Guest Relations desk and Shore Excursions desk are relocated to other parts of the ship, and the Passport Bar is removed. In its place are 17 new ocean-view cabins. The large central staircase will also be removed and moved against the far wall.

A completely new Martini Bar will sit in the middle of the atrium under a large suspended chandelier. Celebrity says the chandelier will even become part of the entertainment, with light shows and performances throughout the evening, similar to those on the Edge Class of ships.

This should completely change the feel of the space. When I sailed on Celebrity Reflection earlier this year, I found the current atrium beautiful but underutilized. Moving Martini Bar into the center should give it much more energy and make it a true focal point of the ship. But the new floor plan seems to take out the open space and dance floor that were used for activities a lot during my sailing. What space will be used for the Silent Disco, ABBA Party, and activities like archery and street curling?

Deck 4: The Parlor Arrives and the Casino Gets Much Bigger

Deck 4 gets a major reshuffling as well, but we already knew most of these changes from the initial announcement.

The existing Conference Center and Future Cruise Vacations area next to the Entertainment Court will become The Parlor.

The venue first debuted aboard the renewed Celebrity Solstice and is an elevated sports and gaming lounge with large TVs, billiards, darts, hundreds of classic board games, a full-service bar, and food available for an additional cost.

This feels like a particularly good addition to Celebrity Reflection. The existing ship doesn’t have a lot of casual indoor activities during the day, so The Parlor should provide another option beyond trivia, the pool, or sitting around one of the lounges.

The Entertainment Court, an awkward space used for some activities during the sailing and home to a bar, will be transformed into the Boulevard Bar.

Celebrity Central, a space with a small stage for smaller activities, will transform into Boulevard Lounge with better seating and sightlines and new activities like dueling pianos.

Fewer Shops and More Casino

The new deck plans also reveal something Celebrity didn’t highlight in its original announcement. Fortunes Casino is getting significantly larger.

Approximately half of the existing retail area on Deck 4 will become additional casino space. According to the deck plans, it looks like it’ll be used for additional slot machines across the two-story hallway.

We’ve seen Celebrity and sister cruise line Royal Caribbean put an increased focus on casino space in recent years, so it’s not too surprising to see it here.

The Existing Martini Bar Isn’t Actually Going Away

With a new central Martini Bar being installed downstairs on Deck 3, we wondered what would happen to the existing Martini Bar. Well, apparently it isn’t being eliminated. Instead, it becomes The Balcony Martini Bar.

So after the renewal, Celebrity Reflection will essentially have two Martini Bar spaces overlooking the same central atrium. The layout seems to be the same, so hopefully the existing bar will keep its frosted top that many people are fans of.

Deck 5: Guest Relations Moves In and Dining Gets a Major Shakeup

Deck 5 sees a lot of shuffling. The existing Photo Gallery and Art Gallery become the new home for Guest Relations. Shore Excursions moves with it, although the new plans show it as a relatively small desk nearby.

The seating area at the end of World Class Bar next to the retail shops, which wasn’t used once on my sailing on the Reflection, becomes the new home for the Concierge and Captain’s Club desks.

Meanwhile, Future Cruise Vacations moves up from Deck 4 to a new location next to Sushi on Five.

These moves seem mostly useful, freeing up space on busier parts of the ship. Most guests won’t have to visit any of these desks, so putting them in main thoroughfares seemed a bit like a bad design choice.

Michael’s Club Becomes The Retreat Lounge

Mid-ship on Deck 5, Michael’s Club becomes The Retreat Lounge. We already knew this change was coming, but the deck plans show that the lounge remains roughly the same size.

It’s more of a complete redesign and rebranding of the existing space rather than a major expansion.

Qsine Becomes Trattoria Rossa

Next door, Qsine disappears and becomes Trattoria Rossa.

The new Italian specialty restaurant first debuted on the renewed Celebrity Solstice and focuses on Roman-inspired cuisine, with fresh pasta, traditional Italian dishes, and tableside cocktails.

This change wasn’t particularly surprising. Qsine has been slowly disappearing from Celebrity’s fleet, and Trattoria Rossa is one of the signature dining concepts being used for the Renewed program.

Tuscan Grille Gets Cut Roughly in Half, Blu Expands

The biggest dining surprise comes at Tuscan Grille. Celebrity previously announced that Fine Cut Steakhouse would replace it, but the deck plans show that the new restaurant will be dramatically smaller.

The current Tuscan Grille takes up a huge portion of the aft end of Deck 5. After the renewal, roughly half of that space becomes Fine Cut Steakhouse.

The other major beneficiary is Blu, which expands considerably.

Celebrity previously announced it would add more AquaClass cabins to Celebrity Reflection, so the larger restaurant makes sense. More AquaClass guests means more people who need access to their dedicated dining room.

Still, it’s interesting to see just how much smaller the specialty steakhouse will be compared to the existing Tuscan Grille.

Decks 6 – 8: The Hideaway Turns Into Camp at Sea and Art Gallery

This is one of the bigger changes Celebrity didn’t really call attention to. The Reflection has a lot of empty, quiet space near the ship’s elevator atrium. Celebrity will be repurposing that space.

The current kids’ clubs are located high on Deck 15, occupying a large amount of prime top-deck real estate. That’s changing completely.

On Deck 6, the existing Celebrity iLounge becomes part of Camp at Sea. Then on Deck 7, the lower level of The Hideaway becomes even more Camp at Sea space.

With the current Art Gallery on Deck 5 becoming Guest Relations, the art has to go somewhere. Its new home will be Deck 8. The upper portion of The Hideaway becomes the new Art Gallery.

That means The Hideaway disappears completely after the renewal. To be fair, the space was typically underutilized and often a space for teens to congregate anyway.

Deck 9, 10, & 11: Game Room and Library Survive

But don’t worry, Celebrity didn’t get rid of all the quiet places on the ship.

Deck 9 will still be home to the game room, but they’re dropping the branding and simply calling it The Card Room. It makes sense since the new venue, The Parlor, is meant to be a game room.

The two-story Library is also staying, which is quite uncommon; typically, libraries are the first things to go during renovations.

Deck 11: The Relaxation Lounge Becomes Six Cabins

Currently, at the very front of Deck 11, The Relaxation Lounge offers a space for those waiting for spa treatments, with comfy seating and panoramic windows.

That space is going away, and in its place will be six new forward-facing cabins.

Deck 12: Two More Cabins Replace Captain’s Club

The same thing happens on a smaller scale on Deck 12. The existing Captain’s Club area will disappear because that function is moving down to Deck 5.

In its place will be two new interior cabins. That brings the running total of obvious new cabins created from public spaces to 25 so far. And we’re not even close to done.

Deck 14: Tacos del Sol and the First Orange Peel Bar

Things get much more interesting when we reach the pool deck.

The small Sundries Shop between the main pool and the Solarium is replaced by Tacos del Sol. Celebrity describes it as its first dedicated fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant, where you can build your own tacos with a variety of fillings and toppings.

I really like this addition. Celebrity has traditionally been a little behind some competitors when it comes to included casual dining options. Adding Tacos del Sol, along with the other new complimentary venues, gives guests more choices without having to head inside to Oceanview Cafe every time they want something to eat.

Pool Bar Becomes Orange Peel Bar

The existing Pool Bar also gets a makeover as part of the new Celebrity Pool Club. It becomes Orange Peel Bar. If you’ve seen Celebrity’s renderings of the redesigned pool area, you already know what to expect… lots of orange.

The new pool deck uses bright orange accents throughout the space, although the renderings of the bar itself are thankfully a little more subtle.

Deck 15: Adding More Cabins, Lots of Rebranding, and New Restaurants

Celebrity Trades the Kids Area for 26 More Suite Cabins

This might be the biggest functional change revealed by the new deck plans. The basketball court, arcade, and existing kids club areas at the front of Deck 15 are all disappearing.

In their place, Celebrity is adding 26 cabins. Combined with the 17 cabins on Deck 3, six on Deck 11, and two on Deck 12, that’s at least 51 new cabins being created in spaces that aren’t cabins today.

Orange Peel Bar and Grille Takes Over Mast Grill and Mast Bar

The existing Mast Grill becomes Orange Peel Grille, while Mast Bar becomes another Orange Peel Bar.

Celebrity is marketing these spaces together as Orange Peel Bar & Grille, with complimentary casual food like smash burgers alongside citrus-inspired and frozen cocktails.

But there’s one thing I don’t understand. The lower bar on Deck 14 and the upper bar on Deck 15 are both called Orange Peel Bar. They’re on different decks and aren’t connected. Royal Caribbean does the same thing with The Lime & Coconut, where bars spread across different levels can share the exact same name.

I get the branding. But good luck telling your friends, “Meet me at Orange Peel Bar.”

The Porch Becomes Sunset Park Cafe

Moving toward the back of Deck 15, The Porch becomes Sunset Park Cafe. The new complimentary venue will serve casual bistro-style food for breakfast and lunch, including breakfast sandwiches, overnight oats, hot sandwiches, and salads.

Between Sunset Park Cafe, Orange Peel Grille, Tacos del Sol, and Spa Cafe, Celebrity now has four casual included dining options. That should not only give guests more variety, but also help take some pressure off Oceanview Cafe during busy times.

Lawn Club Grill Becomes Bora

Next door, Lawn Club Grill becomes Bora, a Mediterranean-inspired rooftop restaurant that debuted aboard Celebrity Xcel. The restaurant offers both dinner and an elaborate sea day brunch, including its customizable Bloody Mary bar.

It’s a very popular concept on Xcel, but the change makes even more sense when you consider what Celebrity is doing in the rest of the area…because there won’t be a Lawn Club anymore.

The Lawn Club Becomes Sunset Park

The Lawn Club is being completely removed and transformed into Sunset Park. This was one of the changes I was happiest to see when Celebrity first announced the renewal.

When the Solstice Class debuted, having real grass on top of a cruise ship was incredibly unique. But in practice, I found The Lawn Club surprisingly difficult to use. When I sailed on Celebrity Reflection, large sections of the grass were frequently roped off to recover from the hot Caribbean sun. That’s a lot of premium top-deck space dedicated to an area guests sometimes couldn’t even walk on.

Sunset Park should be much more functional. The real grass is replaced with artificial turf, while Celebrity adds more comfortable seating, games, gathering areas, outdoor movies, live music, and other activities.

Expanded Sunset Bar

The existing bocce and lawn bowling area also disappears, allowing Sunset Bar to expand into more of the aft deck. The novelty of real grass at sea will be gone, but this feels like a much better use of the space.

Deck 16: Solstice Deck Becomes The Retreat Sundeck

Finally, Solstice Deck on Deck 16 becomes The Retreat Sundeck. Today, this is an open deck available to everyone and is one of the only quiet, peaceful top-deck spaces available on the Reflection.

After the renewal, it will be exclusively for guests staying in The Retreat, with upgraded seating and an oversized hot tub. With the removal of the basketball court below, they’ve expanded the deck and added extra space for their plush loungers and chairs. It’ll also feature one oversized hot tub.

Along with the transformation of Michael’s Club into The Retreat Lounge, it significantly expands the ship-within-a-ship experience for suite guests.

Of course, it also means one less outdoor deck available to everyone else.

My Take: The Deck Plans Show a Much Bigger Transformation Than We Originally Thought

When Celebrity first announced the renewal of Celebrity Reflection, most of the attention was understandably on the 13 new spaces and experiences. And many of them look like real improvements.

I’m still particularly excited about Sunset Park, the expanded complimentary dining options, The Parlor, and the reworked atrium. They address several of the issues I noticed when I sailed on Celebrity Reflection earlier this year.

But the new deck plans show the other side of the transformation. Celebrity isn’t simply renovating existing spaces. It’s fundamentally changing how a lot of the ship is used.

Passport Bar is gone. The Hideaway is gone. The Relaxation Lounge is gone. The casino gets larger. Tuscan Grille gets much smaller. Camp at Sea moves seven decks lower. An outdoor deck becomes exclusive to suite guests. And at least 51 cabins are being added in spaces that aren’t cabins today. That’s a much bigger transformation than we could see from Celebrity’s original announcement.

When I sailed on Celebrity Reflection in March, I came away impressed with how well the ship had aged. It was already a beautiful and well-maintained ship. But many of the changes made here address the “misses” I experienced while sailing the ship. It’s about taking a ship designed more than a decade ago and changing how it uses its space based on what cruise lines have learned since then.

Some guests will undoubtedly miss a few of the spaces being removed, but overall, many of these changes should make Celebrity Reflection feel much more modern and give guests more things to eat, drink, and do.

I’m very interested to see how it all comes together when the renewed Celebrity Reflection sets sail on March 15, 2027.

Follow Along on our 4 Day Bahamas Sailing on Reflection

• Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Fort Lauderdale
• Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Key West
• Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Sea Day
• 4 Hits and Misses on Celebrity Reflection

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Celebrity has been calling these upgrades “ReNewed,” with $250 million pledged to renovate their 5 Solstice Class ships. These would be significant overhauls that really change the ship.

But now it seems that they’re using the term a bit more liberally. Tucked away in a press release last week, Celebrity mentioned they’ll be “renewing” the Celebrity Beyond, a ship that will be just 5 years old. Let’s look into the changes and see if it’s worthy of the term “ReNewed.”

Celebrity Pool Club

The first change is a transformation of the Resort Deck/main pool area on Deck 14. This change will most likely just be aesthetic. It’ll be transformed into the new Celebrity Pool Club concept that debuted on the Celebrity Xcel. Think more vibrant-looking with pops of orange and more of a “pool club” feel.

Orange Peel Bar & Grille

As part of this transformation, the Pool Bar and Mast Grill will also be transformed. These spaces will get a makeover and become the Orange Peel Bar and Orange Peel Grille. Again, expect lots of oranges, although according to the AI renders, it appears more subtle than the pool deck.

The Orange Peel Grille’s full menu hasn’t been released, but in the press release for the version on Celebrity Reflection, they said they’ll be serving smashburgers, a change from the burgers they currently offer.

Tacos del Sol

Another new addition is an included fast-casual food place called Tacos del Sol. The restaurant will feature a build-your-own taco stand with a range of options. The location of this venue hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Bora Replaces Rooftop Garden Grill

Another change that’s brought over from the Celebrity Xcel is Bora, the al fresco Mediterranean concept. This venue will replace the Rooftop Garden Grill on Deck 15. Known for its sea day brunch with bottomless, customizable Bloody Mary bar and sharing plates for dinner, this restaurant has proven very popular so far.

ReNewed Beyond Will Debut in November 2026

The transformation will happen during the routine 5-year dry dock between Nov. 1 and 18, 2026. Once done, it’ll sail Caribbean cruises out of Florida until 2028, when it returns to Europe for cruises to Norway, Iceland, and Scandinavia.

My Take: More of a Minor Makeover Than a Renewal

Celebrity is really watering down the term “renewal” with the Beyond. They’ve tried to show that a “renewed” ship means it is significantly transformed into the latest and greatest. But in the case of Beyond, most of the changes are just minor makeovers. Swapping out restaurants is pretty common on dry docks, and while we love an additional grab-and-go food option, it’s hardly headline-making (Celebrity must agree; this transformation didn’t even get its own press release). But that’s not saying it’s bad. The Beyond is so new, it doesn’t really need a transformation. But since it’s in dry dock, it makes sense to make some tweaks.

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