Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced this week that it will begin offering Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego starting in Oct. 2026. The company's Serenade of the Seas ship will be homeported in San Diego, marking the first time Royal Caribbean has had a ship based in the city since 2010. It is expected to bring more than 200,000 new visitors to San Diego.
The return of a Royal Caribbean ship to San Diego is welcome news for local businesses that depend on tourism, such as Old Town Trolley Tours. The tour company operates several vehicles, including amphibious seal boats and trolleys, that would cater to cruise ship passengers looking to explore the city. "If a ship is visiting San Diego, we have a lot of guests who come off, and they want to see the city and see who we are and what we're all about," an Old Town Trolley Tours representative told reporting partner 10News.
Businesses in Seaport Village are also anticipating an uptick in foot traffic due to the Royal Caribbean cruises. "When there are cruise ships down here, there is a lot of people that come in and out because there's not really a lot of places you can walk to that are easy," said a Seaport Village business owner.
(Photo Getty Images)
Royal Caribbean Cruise ship 'Serenade of the Seas' Photo: AFP via Getty Images