The Keona Experience

Updated proposal · 2028 Caribbean sailings

North America STC 81 Set

Seven updated selections, with a focus on newer ships, passenger capacity and a comfortable experience for first-time cruisers.

What we heard from your planning committee

🌙

7 nights

Keep the original 7-night preference; 8-night alternatives are marked.

📅

Oct 14–21, 2028

October remains the target; the Celebrity alternative is in November.

🏝️

4+ exciting stops

Interesting destinations such as Aruba and Mexico; fewer stops are marked.

🚢

Built in 2026 or later

No more than 2 years old in 2028; a spring 2027 launch is preferred.

👯

No more than 5,500 guests

A more intimate experience is important, especially for first-time cruisers.

✨

Willing to wait for Celebrity

Celebrity stays under consideration alongside the updated selections.

These are the updated selections supplied for discussion, not a list of ships that all meet the new brief. Norwegian Aura (Option 4) is the closest match on the published figures; the other options have age, capacity, duration or stop-count exceptions. A lower passenger count does not necessarily mean a small ship.

Options at a glance

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

#ShipLineDatesDepartsNightsStopsShip agePassengersFit / exceptionsInteriorOceanviewBalcony
1Star of the SeasRoyal CaribbeanOct 15 – 22Port Canaveral, FL743 yrs 5,610double occupancyBuilt before 2026 · Over 5,500 passengers$2,526.14$2,904.14$3,102.14
2Legend of the SeasRoyal CaribbeanOct 14 – 22Fort Lauderdale, FL842 yrs 5,610double occupancyOver 5,500 passengers · 8 nights, not 7$3,374.78$3,914.78$4,413.78
3Hero of the SeasRoyal CaribbeanOct 14 – 21Miami, FL731 yr 5,654double occupancyOver 5,500 passengers · Fewer than 4 stops$3,195.90$3,675.90$4,114.90
4Norwegian AuraNorwegianOct 14 – 21Miami, FL741 yr 3,840double occupancyClosest published match$2,548.00$2,948.00$3,448.00
5MSC World AmericaMSC CruisesOct 14 – 21Miami, FL733 yrs 6,762maximumBuilt before 2026 · Over 5,500 passengers · Fewer than 4 stops$1,800.00$2,180.00$2,420.00
6MSC World AtlanticMSC CruisesOct 14 – 21Port Canaveral, FL741 yr 6,764maximumOver 5,500 passengers$1,784.00$2,144.00$2,344.00
7Celebrity XcelCelebrity CruisesNov 18 – 26Fort Lauderdale, FL833 yrs 3,260double occupancyBuilt before 2026 · 8 nights, not 7 · Fewer than 4 stops · Outside October window$2,620.78$2,980.78$3,394.78

Passenger figures use the published basis shown: double occupancy (two guests per cabin) or maximum occupancy. They are not equivalent, and actual onboard numbers vary. Confirm maximum occupancy before choosing a ship if 5,500 is a firm ceiling. Age uses build year; planned launches and capacities may change. Amber marks capacity or stop-count exceptions.

The sailings

Option1

Royal Caribbean

Star of the Seas

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

Ship built / planned
2025
Ship age in 2028
3 years
Passenger capacity
5,610 · double occupancy
Launch / debut
August 2025
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
4 port stops

Exceptions to your brief

Built before 2026 · Over 5,500 passengers

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,526.14
Oceanview$2,904.14
Balcony$3,102.14

Itinerary

  1. Sun Oct 15Port Canaveral, Florida
  2. Mon Oct 16Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
  3. Tue Oct 17At Sea
  4. Wed Oct 18Costa Maya, Mexico
  5. Thu Oct 19Roatán, Honduras
  6. Fri Oct 20Cozumel, Mexico
  7. Sat Oct 21At Sea
  8. Sun Oct 22Port Canaveral, Florida
Option2

Royal Caribbean

Legend of the Seas

8 Nights · Southern Caribbean · Oct 14 – 22, 2028 · Round-trip Fort Lauderdale, FL

Ship built / planned
2026
Ship age in 2028
2 years
Passenger capacity
5,610 · double occupancy
Launch / debut
July 2026
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
4 port stops

Exceptions to your brief

Over 5,500 passengers · 8 nights, not 7

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$3,374.78
Oceanview$3,914.78
Balcony$4,413.78

Itinerary

  1. Sat Oct 14Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  2. Sun Oct 15At Sea
  3. Mon Oct 16At Sea
  4. Tue Oct 17Oranjestad, Aruba
  5. Wed Oct 18Willemstad, Curaçao
  6. Thu Oct 19Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic
  7. Fri Oct 20At Sea
  8. Sat Oct 21Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
  9. Sun Oct 22Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Option3

Royal Caribbean

Hero of the Seas

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

Ship built / planned
2027
Ship age in 2028
1 year
Passenger capacity
5,654 · double occupancy
Launch / debut
August 2027 (planned)
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
✦ New ship3 port stops

Exceptions to your brief

Over 5,500 passengers · Fewer than 4 stops

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$3,195.90
Oceanview$3,675.90
Balcony$4,114.90

Itinerary

  1. Sat Oct 14Miami, Florida
  2. Sun Oct 15At Sea
  3. Mon Oct 16At Sea
  4. Tue Oct 17Philipsburg, St. Maarten
  5. Wed Oct 18Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
  6. Thu Oct 19At Sea
  7. Fri Oct 20Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
  8. Sat Oct 21Miami, Florida
Option4

Norwegian

Norwegian Aura

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

Ship built / planned
2027
Ship age in 2028
1 year
Passenger capacity
3,840 · double occupancy
Launch / debut
May 2027 (planned)
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
✦ New ship4 port stops

Closest published match

Meets the age, published double-occupancy capacity, 7-night and 4-stop criteria. Planned spring 2027 debut. Maximum passenger capacity still needs confirmation against the 5,500 ceiling.

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,548.00
Oceanview$2,948.00
Balcony$3,448.00

Itinerary

  1. Sat Oct 14Miami, Florida
  2. Sun Oct 15At Sea
  3. Mon Oct 16Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  4. Tue Oct 17St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
  5. Wed Oct 18Tortola, British Virgin Islands
  6. Thu Oct 19At Sea
  7. Fri Oct 20Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
  8. Sat Oct 21Miami, Florida
Option5

MSC Cruises

MSC World America

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

Ship built / planned
2025
Ship age in 2028
3 years
Passenger capacity
6,762 · maximum
Launch / debut
April 2025
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
3 port stops

Exceptions to your brief

Built before 2026 · Over 5,500 passengers · Fewer than 4 stops

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,800.00
Oceanview$2,180.00
Balcony$2,420.00

Itinerary

  1. Day 1Miami, Florida
  2. Day 2At Sea
  3. Day 3Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  4. Day 4San Juan, Puerto Rico
  5. Days 5–6At Sea
  6. Day 7Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
  7. Day 8Miami, Florida
Option6

MSC Cruises

MSC World Atlantic

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

Ship built / planned
2027
Ship age in 2028
1 year
Passenger capacity
6,764 · maximum
Launch / debut
Winter 2027 (planned)
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
✦ New ship4 port stops

Exceptions to your brief

Over 5,500 passengers

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$1,784.00
Oceanview$2,144.00
Balcony$2,344.00

Itinerary

  1. Day 1Port Canaveral, Florida
  2. Day 2Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
  3. Day 3At Sea
  4. Day 4Costa Maya, Mexico
  5. Day 5Cozumel, Mexico
  6. Day 6At Sea
  7. Day 7Nassau, Bahamas
  8. Day 8Port Canaveral, Florida
Option7

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Xcel

8 Nights · Southern Caribbean · Nov 18 – 26, 2028 · Round-trip Fort Lauderdale, FL

Ship built / planned
2025
Ship age in 2028
3 years
Passenger capacity
3,260 · double occupancy
Launch / debut
November 2025
Refurbished
No refurbishment reported
3 port stops

Exceptions to your brief

Built before 2026 · 8 nights, not 7 · Fewer than 4 stops · Outside October window

Ship capacity source

Total per room · 2 guests

Interior$2,620.78
Oceanview$2,980.78
Balcony$3,394.78

Later-date Celebrity alternative from the updated brief; not an October sailing. Veranda is shown as Balcony.

Itinerary

  1. Sat Nov 18Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  2. Sun Nov 19At Sea
  3. Mon Nov 20At Sea
  4. Tue Nov 21Willemstad, Curaçao
  5. Wed Nov 22Oranjestad, Aruba
  6. Thu Nov 23Kralendijk, Bonaire
  7. Fri Nov 24At Sea
  8. Sat Nov 25At Sea
  9. Sun Nov 26Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Norwegian & Celebrity: where things stand

Norwegian

Aura is retained for its 7-night October itinerary and four stops. Its published 3,840-guest figure is double occupancy, not a verified maximum. It is Norwegian’s largest ship, so it should not be described as a small ship.

Per the updated brief, Aqua was excluded for its 3- and 4-night Bahamas sailings, and Luna for its 5-night Bermuda sailing with one destination. Luna’s screenshot remains supporting research, not a numbered selection.

Aura’s planned May 2027 debut

Celebrity — still under consideration

The supplied Xcel alternative sails November 18–26, 2028, for 8 nights with 3 port stops. Built in 2025, it does not meet the 2026-or-later rule. The brief identifies this as its earliest U.S. departure in fall 2028; that availability remains to be confirmed.

Compass is a 2027 European river ship, not a Caribbean ocean-cruise alternative. Seeker is also a river ship. The brief lists Seeker and Xcite as awaiting sailings; no qualifying October Caribbean option is confirmed here. We can keep Celebrity under consideration as schedules become available.

Celebrity Compass river-ship context

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
Aura: outdoor Ocean Heights activity complex, bars & lounges, Great Stirrup Cay

MSC Cruises

European-style, stylish and international

Best for
Value-focused groups comfortable with very large ships
Dining
Buffet & main dining included; Italian-inspired cuisine
Drinks
Drink packages sold separately
Standouts
World-class mega-ships, private island Ocean Cay, Yacht Club option

Celebrity Cruises

Premium, design-led cruising with a relaxed atmosphere

Best for
Groups prioritizing dining and a more relaxed onboard experience
Dining
Main restaurants included; specialty dining costs extra
Drinks
Drink packages available; inclusions depend on the fare selected
Standouts
Edge Series design, adults-only Solarium and varied dining venues

Good to know for your decision

  • 🌀 October and November fall within 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, 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.