Royal Caribbean expands European cruise programme with year-round sailings
Royal Caribbean has announced its 2028–2029 European cruise programme, introducing year-round operations aboard Rhapsody of the Seas and deploying seven ships across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Canary Islands.
The programme will extend the cruise line’s European operations beyond the traditional summer season, with winter itineraries covering the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. Summer deployments will include the Greek Isles, Scandinavia, the Baltic and several Mediterranean destinations.
The announcement, made on October 14, also confirms Royal Caribbean’s return to Copenhagen and Stockholm, alongside renewed calls at Heraklion in Greece and Cagliari in Sardinia after an absence of more than a decade.
Rhapsody of the Seas introduces year-round European operations
Rhapsody of the Seas will form the centre of the expanded programme, operating itineraries from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona and Lisbon.
Between May and October 2028, the vessel will offer seven-night Mediterranean cruises, including voyages to Greece, Turkey and Egypt. Selected itineraries will feature overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul.
From November 2028, the ship will switch to nine- to 12-night itineraries covering the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta and Greece. Destinations will include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Casablanca and Tangier, with some sailings also featuring overnight calls in Alexandria.
The winter deployment represents a change in Royal Caribbean’s European schedule, allowing the company to maintain cruise operations in the region throughout the year rather than concentrating its programme on the warmer months.
Mediterranean deployments include expanded Greek island itineraries
Several vessels will operate Mediterranean itineraries during the 2028 summer season, with Greek destinations featuring prominently across the programme.
Explorer of the Seas will sail from Ravenna between May and October, offering seven-night voyages to the Greek Isles and Croatia. All itineraries will include extended stays in Santorini, while selected departures will also visit Kotor, Montenegro.
Liberty of the Seas will operate seven- and eight-night cruises from Barcelona, Athens (Piraeus) and Rome (Civitavecchia). Its programme will cover the Greek Isles and other Mediterranean destinations, including Marseille, Palermo and Cagliari.
Mariner of the Seas will return to the Mediterranean with seven-night itineraries departing from Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens and Ravenna. Scheduled destinations include Palma de Mallorca, Porto (Leixões) and Dubrovnik.
Meanwhile, Odyssey of the Seas will operate from Rome between April and October 2028, offering seven-night Greek Isles cruises with calls including Mykonos and destinations associated with Ephesus in Turkey.
Santorini will feature across several of the ships’ itineraries, with extended evening stays and optional visits to Royal Beach Club Santorini. The cruise line is also introducing an excursion combining visits to Oia and Fira with access to the beach club.
Royal Caribbean returns to Copenhagen and Stockholm
Northern Europe will also feature in the 2028 deployment, with Jewel of the Seas returning to Copenhagen, Stockholm and the Baltic region.
Between May and August, the vessel will operate seven- to 11-night cruises from Copenhagen and Stockholm, with scheduled calls including Helsinki, Visby, Gdynia and Klaipėda.
Freedom of the Seas will operate from Southampton between May and October 2028, offering three- to nine-night itineraries across Northern and Southern Europe.
Its destinations will include the Norwegian fjords, Copenhagen, Zeebrugge, Bilbao, Le Havre and Lisbon, providing a combination of Scandinavian, Atlantic and Western European routes.
The two deployments will restore Royal Caribbean’s presence in several Northern European markets while maintaining Southampton as a departure point for shorter and medium-length European cruises.
Bookings open for the 2028–2029 season
Royal Caribbean opened bookings for its Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members ahead of the general sales launch scheduled for October 15, 2026.
The programme includes seven ships operating from multiple European homeports, with the introduction of winter departures aboard Rhapsody of the Seas marking the principal change to the company’s regional deployment.
The new schedule also increases the range of Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries available during 2028, while extending selected cruise operations into the 2028–2029 winter season.
