icon of the seas

World's largest cruise ship to set sail from Galveston in 2027

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, is coming to Galveston to embark on dozens of coastal getaways during the 2027-2028 travel season.

The Icon will offer three dozen six-to-eight-day cruises to popular destinations like Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Vacationers who travel to Cozumel also get to visit the new Royal Beach Club Cozumel, which is scheduled to open in 2026.

The gigantic 1,196-foot-long ship boasts a capacity for 7,600 passengers, and features eight themed "neighborhoods" to offer curated experiences for travelers of all ages. Couples who want to relax and connect with nature will enjoy the "Central Park" neighborhood that features an open-air garden with thousands of live plants, while families with young children can take advantage of "Surfside Neighborhood's" splash zones and kid-friendly activities.

"From thrills like Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, to unmatched chill across seven pools on board and more than 40 places to dine and drink, families are in for a combination of the best of every vacation with experiences for all ages," a press release says.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas cruise ship Category 6 is the largest waterpark at sea, according to Royal Caribbean.Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

The first expedition setting sail from Galveston in 2027 is a six-night "Western Caribbean" cruise departing on August 16. The trip includes one day each in Puerto Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel before finally returning to Galveston on August 22.

Travelers who want to spend as much time at sea as possible can book an eight-day "Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean" cruise, which will stop in Cozumel, Puerto Costa Maya, then the Bahaman private island.

Here is the full schedule of Icon of the Seas cruises departing from Galveston that are available to book in 2027:

August 16-22 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
August 22-28 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
August 28-September 5, 2027 – 8 Night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean Cruise
September 5-11 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
September 11-19 – 8 Night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean Cruise
September 19-25 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
September 25-October 3 – 8 Night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean Cruise
October 3-9 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
October 9-17 – 8 Night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean Cruise
October 17-23 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
October 23-31 – 8 Night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean Cruise
October 31-November 6 – 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
November 6-14 – 8 Night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Caribbean Cruise
November 14-21 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
November 21-28 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
November 28-December 5 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
December 5-12 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
December 12-19 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
December 19-26 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
December 26-January 2, 2028 – 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Seven-night Western Caribbean cruises are scheduled to depart from Galveston beginning January 2, 2028. These trips will take place weekly, departing on a Sunday and arriving back in Galveston on the following Sunday through April 23, 2028.

Icon of the Seas cruises departing from Galveston (starting at $988 per person for a six-night vacation) can be booked on the Royal Caribbean website.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas cruise ship

Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.

More cruise news
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas announcement is the second major Texas cruise news of November: MSC Cruises' MSC Seascape launched its inaugural voyage from a new $156 million Galveston terminal on Sunday, November 9.

As previously reported in CultureMap, the ship's voyages feature a unique upgrade option, called the MSC Yacht Club, which offers guests a 32,000-square-foot private "ship-within-a-ship" experience complete with a dedicated pool, restaurant, lounge, plus butler service, an on-ship concierge, and much more.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise line. Departures from Galveston can now be booked through the website.

a major award

Art-filled boutique hotel in the Heights earns coveted Michelin Key

Photo by Julie Soefer

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A boutique hotel in the Heights is one seven Texas properties to earn a coveted Michelin Key. The Hotel Daphne, a Bunkhouse property that opened in 2025, joins these other Texas stays on the list:

Four Seasons Hotel Austin
The Frances Modern Inn (Austin)
Hotel 1928 (Waco)
Missing Hotel (Marble Falls)
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas (Las Colinas)
Sophie’s Gasthaus (New Braunfels)

In its entry on the Michelin website, the Guide’s inspectors hail the five-story, 49-room property, which is also home to Hypsi, an Italian restaurant led by Houston chef Terrence Gallivan, and Bar Daphne, an art-filled cocktail bar. The hotel's walls are adorned with more than 160 pieces from the Ackerley Family Collection, which focuses on works created by living Texas artists.

A bohemian Bunkhouse hideaway and One-Key in Houston’s The Heights, with 49 rooms, a library, and a restaurant serving house-made pasta. Select suites come with a balcony; unexpected details include stitched floral headboards and funky soap dishes. A lobby shop sells locally produced jewelry and home décor.

“Being awarded a Michelin Key is a testament to our wonderful team and all the hard work they have put in to make Daphne what it is,” owner Ben Ackerly tells CultureMap. “The Heights community has been great in how well we’ve been received, and now that is being recognized on a broader scale with this accolade.”

Announced Friday, September 18, Michelin added 65 properties in America to its list of Key-worth stays, bringing the overall total to more than 350 hotels nationwide. Hotel Daphne is the fifth Houston hotel to earn One Key status, joining The Post Oak Hotel, Hotel ZaZa Houston (Museum District), Hotel ZaZa Memorial City, and the Hotel Saint Augustine, a Bunkhouse property in Montrose. The Carr Mansion in Galveston also holds one Michelin Key.

Similar to the famous Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants, hotels may receive one, two, or three keys, which is defined as follows:

One Michelin Key for hotels that offer "very special" stays with service that "provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments."
Two Michelin Keys for "exceptional stays" where memorable guest experiences are "always guaranteed" with a special emphasis on the hotel's design or architecture.
Three Michelin Keys for hotels that provide "extraordinary stays" for "the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance."

No properties in Texas hold three Michelin Keys. The state’s only two key properties are the Commodore Perry Estate (Austin), the Bowie House (Fort Worth), and Hotel Emma (San Antonio).

hotels hotel daphne awards michelin keys the-heights