Royal Caribbean announced its 2028–29 Europe cruise lineup featuring seven ships operating itineraries across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Canary Islands. This marks the cruise line’s first year-round Europe sailing with Rhapsody of the Seas.
Rhapsody of the Seas Year-Round Europe Deployments
Rhapsody of the Seas will offer seven- to 12-night itineraries departing from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona, and Lisbon throughout 2028 and 2029. Summer 2028 itineraries include overnight port stays in Alexandria, Egypt, and Istanbul, Turkey. Winter 2028–29 cruises will visit the Canary Islands—Tenerife and Gran Canaria—Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece. The deployment includes new calls to Heraklion, Greece, and Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, for the
first time in over a decade.
Multiple itineraries include later evening departures from Santorini, giving guests the option to book the Ultimate Santorini Day excursion. This excursion combines visits to Santorini’s Oia and Fira villages with exclusive access to Royal Beach Club Santorini, which features local cuisine and products from Nomikos Estate, the Canava Lyngos distillery, and Santo Wines.
Deployments of Other Royal Caribbean Ships in Europe
Explorer of the Seas will operate seven-night Mediterranean cruises from Ravenna, Italy, between May and October 2028. Destinations include Greek Isles and Croatia, with optional later stays in Santorini and calls at Kotor, Montenegro.
Freedom of the Seas will sail three-
to nine-night itineraries from Southampton, England, during the same period. Its routes cover Northern and Southern Europe, including the Norwegian fjords, Bruges (Zeebrugge), Bilbao, Paris (Le Havre), and Lisbon.
Jewel of the Seas returns to Copenhagen and Stockholm with seven- to 11-night cruises between May and August 2028. Baltic ports called include Helsinki, Visby, Gdansk (Gdynia), and Klaipeda.
Liberty of the Seas offers seven- and eight-night voyages from May to October 2028 to the Greek Isles, Provence (Marseille), Sicily (Palermo), and Cagliari. The ship features onboard amenities such as the Lime & Coconut bar, Royal Escape Room, and Izumi Teppanyaki
dining.
Mariner of the Seas sails seven-night Mediterranean cruises visiting Palma de Mallorca, Porto (Leixoes), and Dubrovnik in 2028. Onboard experiences include Jamie’s Italian and Izumi dining options.
Odyssey of the Seas will operate seven-night cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) to the Greek Isles from April to October 2028, with port stops including Ephesus, Turkey, and Mykonos, Greece. The ship includes the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, North Star observation capsule, and SeaPlex activity center.
Booking and Traveler Experience
Bookings for the 2028-29 Europe season opened broadly on October 15, 2026, following early access for members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program.
The introduction of year-round sailings provides travelers with greater options across itinerary length and destinations.
Several itineraries feature extended evening departures from Santorini, enhancing guest opportunities to explore the port. The Ultimate Santorini Day excursion remains a highlight, integrating visits to key sites alongside access to the Royal Beach Club Santorini.
New Destinations and Onboard Features
The line’s return to Copenhagen and Stockholm marks renewed access to Northern European ports, while new destination calls in Heraklion and Cagliari broaden Mediterranean options. Onboard features common to these ships include outdoor pools, adults-only solariums, live entertainment, and specialty dining such as Izumi, Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, and
the RipCord by iFLY simulator.
This expanded deployment reflects Royal Caribbean’s response to growing demand for diverse European cruises with a variety of lengths from three to 12 nights, covering popular and emerging destinations in 2028 and 2029.
