Royal Caribbean Sends 7 Ships To Europe For Its First All-Year Season

Key Aspects:

• Royal Caribbean has announced its first year-round European cruise season, beginning in 2028 aboard Rhapsody of the Seas.
• Seven ships will operate European itineraries, with destinations throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Canary Islands.
• The cruise line will open bookings for the 2028-29 season to the general public on October 15, 2026, following early access for Crown & Anchor Society members.

European cruise fans are getting a huge expansion of options from Royal Caribbean in 2028. The cruise line has announced it will offer year-round European sailings for the first time during its 2028-29 season.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the first part of Royal Caribbean’s 2028 European deployment would be released during the week of October 12. Today’s announcement follows through on that schedule.

Royal Caribbean will open general bookings for the new season on October 15, 2026. Crown & Anchor Society members are getting a head start, with bookings for the loyalty program members open now.

Rhapsody of the Seas will begin its deployment in May 2028, sailing from Piraeus, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Through October 2028, the 2,040-guest ship will offer 7-night itineraries featuring Turkey and Egypt, including overnight stays in Istanbul and Alexandria, or Greece. 

Some visits to Greece will include extended stops in Santorini as well as visits to Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Royal Beach Club Santorini. The cruise line’s first European beach club destination was previously announced in October 2025.

Then, in November, the ship will shift to 9- to 12-night cruises visiting the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece. Rhapsody of the Seas’ deployment also sees Royal Caribbean return to Heraklion, Greece and Cagliari, Italy for the first time after more than a decade.

Six Additional Ships to Sail Europe 

Six more ships from Royal Caribbean’s fleet will also cruise Europe during the season. Explorer of the Seas will offer 7-night sailings from Ravenna, visiting the Greek Isles and Croatia from May to October 2028. Select voyages aboard the 3,286-guest ship will also visit Kotor, Montenegro.

Freedom of the Seas will depart from Southampton from May to October with 3- to 9-night sailings. These voyages offer scenic cruising through the Norwegian fjords as well as visits to Copenhagen, Zeebrugge, Bilbao, Le Havre, and Lisbon.

Liberty of the Seas will offer 7- to 8-night cruises from Barcelona, Piraeus, and Civitavecchia. It will visit the Greek Isles, Marseille, Sicily, and Cagliari from May to October 2028. This marks the first time that the Freedom Class sisters, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will be in Europe at the same time.

Departing from Copenhagen and Stockholm from May to August 2028, Jewel of the Seas will sail 7- to 11-night itineraries. The 2,191-guest ship will visit destinations such as Helsinki, Visby, Gdynia (Gdansk), and Klaipeda.

Mariner of the Seas, meanwhile, will also depart from Barcelona and Piraeus, as well as Lisbon and Ravenna. The 3,344-guest ship will sail 7-night voyages visiting Palma de Mallorca, Porto, and Dubrovnik. 

Finally, the 4,198-guest Odyssey of the Seas will sail from Civitavecchia from April to October 2028. The ship will offer 7-night itineraries visiting the Greek Isles, Ephesus, and Mykonos.

Notably absent from the schedule are any Oasis Class ships or Legend of the Seas. Oasis Class vessels have been sailing in Europe for over a decade, while Legend of the Seas made its European debut in 2026 and is set to return in 2027.

It was previously announced that the first part of the 2028-29 European deployment would be released this week. However, Royal Caribbean has not confirmed if or when additional European deployments will be revealed.