Royal Caribbean Will Stop Treating Europe as a Summer Fling

Royal Caribbean has announced its first year-round European season, starting in 2028 and 2029 and deploying seven ships across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Canary Islands. Crown & Anchor Society members could book first, with general sales opening October 15, 2026.

The lineup is broad. Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Piraeus, Barcelona and Lisbon, offering seven-night Greece, Turkey and Egypt itineraries from May to October 2028 and longer nine- to 12-night trips from November. Explorer of the Seas will run Greek Isles and Croatia cruises from Ravenna, while Freedom of the Seas will sail from Southampton, including Norwegian fjord voyages.

The rest of the fleet fills in the map: Liberty of the Seas from Barcelona, Piraeus and Civitavecchia, Jewel of the Seas from Copenhagen and Stockholm, Mariner of the Seas on seven-night Mediterranean routes, and Odyssey of the Seas on Greek Isles sailings from Civitavecchia. Heraklion and Cagliari are scheduled to return as ports for the first time in over a decade.

Notably, the deployment does not include any Oasis Class ships, and Legend of the Seas is set to return to Europe in 2027. For travelers, a winter option in the region could mean Canary Islands sun when most European itineraries have gone quiet.

Sources: Cruise Hive, ITS Travel Services