{"id":6670,"date":"2026-05-27T09:13:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisebooking.com\/news\/?p=6670"},"modified":"2026-05-27T09:33:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:33:20","slug":"radiance-of-the-seas-marks-25-years-with-royal-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisebooking.com\/news\/royal-caribbean-international\/radiance-of-the-seas-marks-25-years-with-royal-caribbean","title":{"rendered":"Radiance of the Seas Marks 25 Years with Royal Caribbean"},"content":{"rendered":"

Radiance of the Seas has officially completed 25 years of service with Royal Caribbean International, marking an important milestone in the cruise industry. The popular cruise ship first entered service after embarking on its maiden voyage on April 7, 2001, and continues to operate as part of Royal Caribbean\u2019s active fleet in 2026.<\/p>\n

Built as the lead vessel of the Radiance-class series, the ship introduced advanced design features, spacious public areas, and extensive glass architecture that helped redefine modern cruising during the early 2000s.<\/p>\n

Built by Meyer Werft in Germany<\/h2>\n

The 90,000-ton cruise ship was constructed at the renowned Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. After completing construction in March 2001, the vessel crossed the Atlantic Ocean without passengers on board before arriving in Fort Lauderdale for its official christening ceremony.<\/p>\n

Philanthropist Margot L. Pritzker served as the ship\u2019s godmother during the inauguration event. Following the ceremony, the vessel launched its debut cruise season with itineraries covering Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

The ship was later repositioned to Florida for its maiden winter deployment, where it began offering Caribbean<\/a> and Central America<\/a> cruises.<\/p>\n

Global Deployments Over Two Decades<\/h2>\n

Over the past 25 years, Radiance of the Seas has operated across multiple regions worldwide. The vessel has sailed itineraries throughout Europe, South America, Australia, Alaska, and the Caribbean, giving Royal Caribbean<\/a> flexibility across seasonal cruise markets.<\/p>\n

Its deployment history reflects the growing demand for destination-focused cruises and mid-sized ships capable of visiting a wide range of ports.<\/p>\n

The ship has also undergone multiple refurbishments and modernization projects over the years to maintain guest experience standards and operational efficiency.<\/p>\n

Radiance of the Seas Now Sailing from Tampa<\/h2>\n

After completing its 2025-26 winter season from Fort Lauderdale, the ship began a new year-round deployment from Tampa in April 2026. From its Gulf Coast homeport, the vessel currently operates four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises.<\/p>\n

These itineraries include visits to popular Mexican cruise destinations such as:<\/p>\n