Well, we are very much knee-deep in the deployment season.

Rilker has released a lot of the new cruises coming for 2027 and 2028.

And I want to talk about what stands out about this year's deployment as we look forward to the 2027, 2028 year.

And I think it's probably appropriate.

We start with the biggest news, of course, which is that Radiance of the Seas will sail from Tampa.

Just kidding, man. Of course, we're talking Radiance of the Seas will sail from Tampa. Just kidding, man, of course, we're talking about icon of the seas to Galveston, the worst

kept secret in Royal Caribbean in a long time. Royal Caribbean's had some really poorly kept secrets

over the years, and I think icon, or an icon class ship, I should say, sailing out of Galveston has to be probably

one of the worst ones. What I mean by that is it's one of those things that Royal never

officially confirmed, talked about, but they kept alluding to it. So this goes back to when

Royal Caribbean was going to build its new cruise terminal in Galveston, which opened in 2022.

And they specifically said the terminal is big enough to be able to accommodate Oasis and

icon class ships.

Now, from that step point forward, that was when we knew at some point in the future,

there's going to be an icon class ship there.

You also remember that Galveston had evolved a lot over the years. I mean, when I started RealCrainblog.com, Galveston really had, to say they had the B-list ships would be generous. They definitely had like the C-list ships out there, right? It was like the ships that were already out and about for a while, had been there, done that. Basically, they were the ones that would easily be, you know, five, ten years old easily. And they weren't bad ships. It wasn't like, you know, I mean, they did have, you know, vision class ships and whatnot, but, you know, it was like, it was a big deal when Mariner of the Seas was based there. Like, people in Galveston were genuinely excited. I mean, I love Mariners. I'm not poo-pooing Mariner. But I'm saying that was the bar that was set. And then they brought in freedom class ships. I remember when Liberty went there for a long time to replace Mariner. Okay, now we're getting bigger. And then, of course, we had the Oasis class, right? and a lure the Seas was the first one to go in there, and since then we've had Symphony and Harmony.

And basically, once you have that, the question just became, when are they going to put a bigger ship of the icon class ships?

And this is interesting for twofold. One is, okay, the port can accommodate it, but second fold is the role of Galveston in the cruise industry.

And I know we're getting really deep into cruise baseball here.

Like, I mean, if you don't follow the industry that closely, I am sure you are just like, you know, okay, maybe I can listen to like the 80s station instead of listening to this episode because it's getting really deep. But you have to understand this is a significant moment here to have an iconic glass ship coming to Galveston. And Royal did a very poor job of keeping it in a secret. I mean, they kind of do it toning in cheek. I mean, you know, Michael Bailey made a lot of comments over the years. and I actually thought they were going to announce it last year for the 2026-2027s even, but didn't happen.

But we are going to get it in 27 and 28.

And that also coincides, of course, with the eventual opening of Perfrey Day, Mexico, which will happen sometime in late 27.

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