Royal Caribbean is introducing year-round European sailings for the first time, with bookings for the 2028-29 season opening today (15 October).
The line has announced its expanded and ‘boldest-ever’ Europe 2028-29 programme covering seven ships.
The programme features itineraries of three to 12 nights, with winter sailings to the Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco, and summer cruises across the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Scandinavia and the Baltic.
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona and Lisbon, offering seven to 12-night itineraries. From May to October 2028, seven-night cruises will visit Greece, Turkiye and Egypt, including overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul and possible excursions to the Royal Beach Club Santorini.
From November 2028, the ship will operate nine to 12-night sailings to the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta and Greece. The programme sees Royal Caribbean return to Heraklion in Greece, and Cagliari in Sardinia for the first time in more than 10 years.
Also in the programme, Explorer of the Seas will sail seven-night Mediterranean itineraries from Ravenna (Venice) between May and October 2028, visiting the Greek Islands and Croatia. Selected sailings will include later stays in Santorini and visits to Kotor, Montenegro.
Freedom of the Seas will operate three to nine-night cruises from Southampton between May and October 2028, covering destinations including the Norwegian fjords, Copenhagen, Bruges, Bilbao, Paris (Le Havre) and Lisbon.
Jewel of the Seas will return to Copenhagen, Stockholm and the Baltics from May to August 2028, operating seven to 11-night itineraries to destinations including Helsinki, Visby in Sweden, Gdansk in Poland and Klaipeda in Lithuania.
Following renovation in May this year, Liberty of the Seas will offer seven and eight-night cruises from Barcelona, Athens (Piraeus) and Rome (Civitavecchia) between May and October 2028. Itineraries will cover the Greek Islands and Mediterranean destinations including Provence, Sicily and Cagliari.
Mariner of the Seas will return to the Mediterranean with seven-night itineraries from Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens (Piraeus) and Ravenna (Venice), visiting destinations including Palma de Mallorca, Porto and Dubrovnik.
Odyssey of the Seas will sail seven-night Greek Isles itineraries from Rome (Civitavecchia) between April and October 2028, including destinations such as Ephesus in Turkey and Mykonos in Greece.
