Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean added La Romana, Dominican Republic, to the July 18, 2026 Rhapsody of the Seas sailing.
- Guests will visit an extra destination but lose the itinerary’s only sea day.
- The cruise line’s website shows the July 4, 2026, sailing also added La Romana.
Royal Caribbean has expanded two more Rhapsody of the Seas itineraries for 2026, continuing a trend that is turning several Southern Caribbean sailings into cruises with no sea days at all.
The cruise line has added a stop in La Romana, Dominican Republic, to both its July 4 and July 18, 2026 departures from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Located on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, the port serves as a gateway to attractions including Saona Island, Bayahibe beaches, and the Casa de Campo resort area.
The changes replace what had previously been a scheduled sea day on each sailing, creating itineraries with a port call scheduled every day of the voyage.
Guests booked on the July 18 departure were notified of the adjustment in an email from Royal Caribbean, which cited final port arrangements and operational details as the reason for the update.
“As a result of a recent review, your July 18, 2026, sailing has been updated with an additional port to explore!” the notification from Royal Caribbean said. “To enhance your experience, we’ve added a new port of call! We’ll now visit La Romana, Dominican Republic on Day 7 instead of a sea day.”
According to the revised schedule, Rhapsody of the Seas will arrive in La Romana at 9:00 a.m. and depart at 5:00 p.m., giving guests eight hours ashore before the ship returns to San Juan the following day.
The July 18 sailing already included visits to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Frederiksted, St. Croix; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; and Roseau, Dominica.
Royal Caribbean’s website also reflects a similar update for the July 4 departure. That sailing includes calls in Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; and Frederiksted, St. Croix, before the newly added stop in La Romana.
In both cases, the cruise line expanded the itinerary without removing any existing destinations for the vessel carrying up to 4,198 guests at double capacity.
Royal Caribbean told guests that the revised itineraries would be updated in the cruise line’s My Royal Cruise app, allowing guests to book excursions for the new port call.
It also apologized for any inconvenience the change may have caused.
July 4 Sailing Also Changed
The July 4 and 18 sailings are a growing number of Rhapsody of the Seas voyages to receive an additional port call in La Romana.
Cruise Hive previously reported that the 78,878-gross-ton ship added La Romana to both the April 25 and May 2, 2026, departures from San Juan. Those changes similarly converted a scheduled sea day into an additional port visit, creating itineraries with daily stops throughout the voyage.
While the added port call gives guests another destination to explore, it eliminates the sea day, which typically provides passengers with time to enjoy onboard amenities, relax by the pool, dine in specialty restaurants, and take a break from daily port visits.
With the July 4 and July 18 departures now revised, the cruise line may be intentionally expanding Southern Caribbean sailings and prioritizing destination-focused itineraries aboard the Vision-class ship.
