North America STC 81 Set — 2028 Cruise Options

What we heard from your planning committee

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7 nights

Every option is 7 nights, with one 6-night alternative.

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Oct 14–21, 2028

All sailings depart Oct 14 or 15, 2028.

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4+ exciting stops

Mexico, Honduras, Belize, the Eastern Caribbean & private islands.

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Norwegian, Celebrity or similar

Norwegian plus Royal Caribbean (Celebrity's sister line) and MSC.

Note: Celebrity Cruises sailings in this window were left out primarily because of pricing — those options run significantly higher than the other cruise lines, up to 3x more. We included Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's sister brand, along with other well-regarded lines. Options with fewer than 4 port stops are clearly marked so you can weigh them.

Options at a glance

Total per room for two guests, including all listed fees.

#	Ship	Line	Dates	Departs	Stops	Ship age	Interior	Oceanview	Balcony
1	Brilliance of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	Oct 14 – 21	Tampa, FL	3	26 yrs ⚓	$1,394.00	$1,556.00	$2,582.00
2	Enchantment of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	Oct 14 – 21	San Juan, PR	5	31 yrs ⚓	$1,574.00	$1,736.00	N/A
3	Harmony of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	Oct 14 – 21	Port Canaveral, FL	3	12 yrs	$2,056.90	$2,254.90	$2,290.90
4	Icon of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	Oct 15 – 22	Galveston, TX	3	4 yrs	$2,185.14	$2,525.14	$2,525.14
5	Star of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	Oct 15 – 22	Port Canaveral, FL	4	3 yrs	$2,526.14	$2,904.14	$3,102.14
6	Symphony of the Seas	Royal Caribbean	Oct 15 – 21	Miami, FL	3	10 yrs	$1,774.64	$2,152.64	$1,972.64
7	Norwegian Prima	Norwegian	Oct 14 – 21	Galveston, TX	4	6 yrs	$2,028.00	$2,428.00	$2,628.00
8	Norwegian Aura	Norwegian	Oct 14 – 21	Miami, FL	4	1 yr	$2,548.00	$2,948.00	$3,448.00
9	MSC Seascape	MSC Cruises	Oct 15 – 22	Galveston, TX	3	6 yrs	$1,360.00	$1,680.00	$1,840.00
10	MSC World America	MSC Cruises	Oct 14 – 21	Miami, FL	3	3 yrs	$1,800.00	$2,180.00	$2,420.00
11	MSC World Atlantic	MSC Cruises	Oct 14 – 21	Port Canaveral, FL	4	1 yr	$1,784.00	$2,144.00	$2,344.00

⚓ = ship more than 12 years old in 2028. Stops shown in amber are fewer than the requested 4.

The sailings

Option1

Royal Caribbean

Brilliance of the Seas

7 Nights · Western Caribbean · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Tampa, FL

Ship built: 2002
Ship age in 2028: 26 years
Refurbished: 2013 (revitalization)

⚓ Older ship (12+ yrs)3 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,394.00

Oceanview$1,556.00

Balcony$2,582.00

Itinerary

Sat Oct 14Tampa, Florida
Sun Oct 15At Sea
Mon Oct 16Cozumel, Mexico
Tue Oct 17Costa Maya, Mexico
Wed Oct 18At Sea
Thu Oct 19Key West, Florida
Fri Oct 20At Sea
Sat Oct 21Tampa, Florida

Option2

Royal Caribbean

Enchantment of the Seas

7 Nights · Southern Caribbean · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip San Juan, PR

Ship built: 1997
Ship age in 2028: 31 years
Refurbished: Lengthened 2005; refreshed 2017

⚓ Older ship (12+ yrs)5 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,574.00

Oceanview$1,736.00

BalconyNot available

Balcony rooms not available on this sailing.

Itinerary

Sat Oct 14San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sun Oct 15Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Mon Oct 16Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tue Oct 17St. John's, Antigua
Wed Oct 18Basseterre, St. Kitts
Thu Oct 19St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Fri Oct 20At Sea
Sat Oct 21San Juan, Puerto Rico

Option3

Royal Caribbean

Harmony of the Seas

7 Nights · Eastern Caribbean · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Port Canaveral, FL

Ship built: 2016
Ship age in 2028: 12 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

3 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,056.90

Oceanview$2,254.90

Balcony$2,290.90

Itinerary

Sat Oct 14Port Canaveral, Florida
Sun Oct 15At Sea
Mon Oct 16At Sea
Tue Oct 17Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Wed Oct 18San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thu Oct 19At Sea
Fri Oct 20Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
Sat Oct 21Port Canaveral, Florida

Option4

Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas

7 Nights · Western Caribbean · Oct 15 – 22, 2028 · Round-trip Galveston, TX

Ship built: 2024
Ship age in 2028: 4 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

3 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,185.14

Oceanview$2,525.14

Balcony$2,525.14

Itinerary

Sun Oct 15Galveston, Texas
Mon Oct 16At Sea
Tue Oct 17Cozumel, Mexico
Wed Oct 18Roatán, Honduras
Thu Oct 19Costa Maya, Mexico
Fri Oct 20At Sea
Sat Oct 21At Sea
Sun Oct 22Galveston, Texas

Option5

Royal Caribbean

Star of the Seas

7 Nights · Western Caribbean · Oct 15 – 22, 2028 · Round-trip Port Canaveral, FL

Ship built: 2025
Ship age in 2028: 3 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

4 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,526.14

Oceanview$2,904.14

Balcony$3,102.14

Itinerary

Sun Oct 15Port Canaveral, Florida
Mon Oct 16Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
Tue Oct 17At Sea
Wed Oct 18Costa Maya, Mexico
Thu Oct 19Roatán, Honduras
Fri Oct 20Cozumel, Mexico
Sat Oct 21At Sea
Sun Oct 22Port Canaveral, Florida

Option6

Royal Caribbean

Symphony of the Seas

6 Nights · Eastern Caribbean · Oct 15 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Miami, FL

Ship built: 2018
Ship age in 2028: 10 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

3 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,774.64

Oceanview$2,152.64

Balcony$1,972.64

6-night sailing — one night shorter than requested.

Itinerary

Sun Oct 15Miami, Florida
Mon Oct 16Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
Tue Oct 17At Sea
Wed Oct 18Samaná, Dominican Republic
Thu Oct 19Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Fri Oct 20At Sea
Sat Oct 21Miami, Florida

Option7

Norwegian

Norwegian Prima

7 Nights · Western Caribbean · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Galveston, TX

Ship built: 2022
Ship age in 2028: 6 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

4 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,028.00

Oceanview$2,428.00

Balcony$2,628.00

Itinerary

Sat Oct 14Galveston, Texas
Sun Oct 15At Sea
Mon Oct 16Cozumel, Mexico
Tue Oct 17Roatán, Honduras
Wed Oct 18Harvest Caye, Belize
Thu Oct 19Costa Maya, Mexico
Fri Oct 20At Sea
Sat Oct 21Galveston, Texas

Option8

Norwegian

Norwegian Aura

7 Nights · Eastern Caribbean · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Miami, FL

Ship built: 2027
Ship age in 2028: 1 year
Refurbished: Not applicable

✦ New ship4 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,548.00

Oceanview$2,948.00

Balcony$3,448.00

Itinerary

Sat Oct 14Miami, Florida
Sun Oct 15At Sea
Mon Oct 16Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Tue Oct 17St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Wed Oct 18Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Thu Oct 19At Sea
Fri Oct 20Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Sat Oct 21Miami, Florida

Option9

MSC Cruises

MSC Seascape

7 Nights · Western Caribbean · Oct 15 – 22, 2028 · Round-trip Galveston, TX

Ship built: 2022
Ship age in 2028: 6 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

3 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,360.00

Oceanview$1,680.00

Balcony$1,840.00

Itinerary

Day 1Galveston, Texas
Days 2–3At Sea
Day 4Costa Maya, Mexico
Day 5Roatán, Honduras
Day 6Cozumel, Mexico
Day 7At Sea
Day 8Galveston, Texas

Option10

MSC Cruises

MSC World America

7 Nights · Eastern Caribbean & Bahamas · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Miami, FL

Ship built: 2025
Ship age in 2028: 3 years
Refurbished: Not applicable

3 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,800.00

Oceanview$2,180.00

Balcony$2,420.00

Itinerary

Day 1Miami, Florida
Day 2At Sea
Day 3Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Day 4San Juan, Puerto Rico
Days 5–6At Sea
Day 7Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
Day 8Miami, Florida

Option11

MSC Cruises

MSC World Atlantic

7 Nights · Caribbean & Bahamas · Oct 14 – 21, 2028 · Round-trip Port Canaveral, FL

Ship built: 2027
Ship age in 2028: 1 year
Refurbished: Not applicable

✦ New ship4 port stops

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,784.00

Oceanview$2,144.00

Balcony$2,344.00

Itinerary

Day 1Port Canaveral, Florida
Day 2Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
Day 3At Sea
Day 4Costa Maya, Mexico
Day 5Cozumel, Mexico
Day 6At Sea
Day 7Nassau, Bahamas
Day 8Port Canaveral, Florida

Comparing the cruise lines

Royal Caribbean

High-energy, activity-packed mega-ships

Best for: Groups who want non-stop entertainment and thrills
Dining: Main dining room & buffet included; many specialty restaurants extra
Drinks: Drink packages sold separately
Standouts: Broadway-style shows, water slides, FlowRider, private island CocoCay

Norwegian

Freestyle cruising — relaxed, no set dinner times or formal nights

Best for: Friends who like flexibility and nightlife
Dining: Wide variety of venues; dine when and where you like
Drinks: Promotions often bundle drinks, dining & Wi-Fi (“More at Sea”)
Standouts: Go-karts & racetracks on newer ships, strong bars & lounges, Great Stirrup Cay

MSC Cruises

European-style, stylish and international

Best for: Value-focused groups wanting brand-new ships
Dining: Buffet & main dining included; Italian-inspired cuisine
Drinks: Drink packages sold separately
Standouts: Newest-generation ships, private island Ocean Cay, Yacht Club option

Good to know for your decision

🌀 Mid-October is the tail end of Atlantic hurricane season; travel insurance is strongly recommended.
🛂 A valid passport is required for all guests, even on round-trip U.S. sailings.
💵 Daily gratuities, drink packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and shore excursions are typically extra.
🧳 Plan to arrive in the departure city the day before sailing.
👯 Group bookings can unlock perks such as onboard credit or group amenities once negotiated.
🏝️ Private-island stops (CocoCay, Great Stirrup Cay, Harvest Caye, Ocean Cay) are line-owned beach days.

Important pricing disclaimer

All pricing shown is illustrative only. No group rates have been negotiated at this time. These options are provided to give reviewers an indication of potential sailings and approximate costs.

Totals reflect double occupancy (2 guests per room). Pricing is subject to change, availability, taxes, port fees and government charges until booked.

Itineraries, ports and ship details are subject to change by the cruise line.