Royal Caribbean revealed its 2028–29 Europe cruise schedule featuring seven ships operating itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Canary Islands. The season introduces year-round Europe service aboard Rhapsody of the Seas, marking a significant expansion in offerings.
Rhapsody of the Seas Year-Round Itineraries
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail seven- to 12-night routes from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona, and Lisbon throughout the year. Summer sailings from May to October 2028 include seven-night trips with overnight stays in Egypt or Turkey, with ports like Alexandria and Istanbul. Starting November 2028, the ship shifts to nine- to 12-night cruises covering the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta,
and Greece. New destinations include Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canaries, Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco, plus first visits in over a decade to Heraklion, Greece, and Cagliari, Sardinia.
Return to Northern Europe and Booking Details
Royal Caribbean will resume calls to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, with itineraries ranging from three to 12 nights. Jewels of the Seas will operate seven- to 11-night cruises between May and August 2028 from these ports, traveling throughout the Baltic Sea to cities such as Helsinki, Visby (Sweden), Gdansk (Poland), and Klaipeda (Lithuania). General bookings opened October 15, 2026, following early access for Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society
loyalty members.
Excursions and Shore Experiences
Passengers on select Greek Isles itineraries can book the Ultimate Santorini Day, a full-day excursion visiting Oia and Fira with access to Royal Beach Club Santorini. The club features local Santorini cuisine and an open-air market offering products from local businesses including Nomikos Estate (produce), Canava Lyngos (spirits), and Santo Wines. Multiple ships operating Greek itineraries, including Rhapsody, Explorer, Liberty, and Odyssey of the Seas, provide options for extended evening stays in Santorini to enhance onshore experience.
Other Ship Deployments and Onboard Features
Explorer of the Seas will conduct seven-night Mediterranean cruises from Ravenna, Italy, to the Greek Isles and Croatia between May and
October 2028. These include later stays in Santorini and calls at Kotor, Montenegro, featuring hiking in Lovcen National Park and exploring Old Town. Freedom of the Seas will sail three- to nine-night Northern and Southern Europe itineraries from Southampton, England, from May to October, calling at Norwegian fjords, Copenhagen, Bruges (Zeebrugge), Bilbao, Paris (Le Havre), and Lisbon.
Liberty of the Seas operates seven- and eight-night Mediterranean itineraries from May to October 2028, including Provence, Sicily, Cagliari, and the Greek Isles, with late departures in Santorini. Mariner of the Seas returns to the Mediterranean with seven-night sailings from April to October
2028 to Palma de Mallorca, Porto (Leixoes), and Dubrovnik. Odyssey of the Seas sails seven-night Greek Isle cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) to destinations including Ephesus and Mykonos from April to October 2028, also featuring extended Santorini evenings.
Ship-specific onboard amenities include Rhapsody’s outdoor pool, Solarium, Izumi and Chops Grille dining; Explorer’s FlowRider surf simulator and water slides; Freedom’s laser tag and waterslides; Jewel’s rock-climbing wall and Broadway-style shows; Liberty’s Lime & Coconut bar and Royal Escape Room; Mariner’s Jamie’s Italian restaurant; and Odyssey’s RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and North Star observation capsule.
Passenger Impact and Itinerary Flexibility
The 2028–29 season’s year-round service on Rhapsody
of the Seas offers travelers flexible options for cruising Europe in all seasons. Longer voyages with overnight port stays in cities like Alexandria and Istanbul allow deeper cultural exploration. The enhanced shore excursions on Santorini and extended evening departures give passengers improved opportunities to experience local destinations beyond brief daytime visits.
