MIAMI, Florida – 14 October 2026 – Royal Caribbean has detailed its 2028-29 Europe programme, with seven ships sailing across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Canary Islands and Rhapsody of the Seas operating the line’s first year-round European season.
The programme includes itineraries of three to 12 nights from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona, Lisbon, Ravenna (Venice), Southampton, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Rome (Civitavecchia). Royal Caribbean will also return to Copenhagen and Stockholm, while selected Greek Isles sailings will include later stays in Santorini and access to Royal Beach Club Santorini.
Bookings opened first to Crown & Anchor Society members, with general bookings scheduled to open on 15 October.
Rhapsody introduces year-round European sailings
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona and Lisbon on seven- to 12-night itineraries.
From May to October 2028, the ship will operate seven-night voyages covering destinations in Turkey, Egypt and Greece. Selected sailings will include overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul, while Greek itineraries will offer the Ultimate Santorini Day, combining visits to Oia and Fira with Royal Beach Club Santorini.
From November 2028, Rhapsody will shift to nine- to 12-night itineraries visiting the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta and Greece. Destinations include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Casablanca and Tangier, alongside overnight stays in Alexandria.
The season will also mark Royal Caribbean’s return to Heraklion, Greece, and Cagliari, Sardinia, for the first time in more than a decade.
Six additional ships expand summer Europe programme
Explorer of the Seas will operate seven-night Mediterranean sailings from Ravenna between May and October 2028, visiting the Greek Isles and Croatia. Every sailing will feature later stays in Santorini, with selected itineraries also calling at Kotor, Montenegro.
From Southampton, Freedom of the Seas will offer three- to nine-night voyages between May and October across Northern and Southern Europe. Destinations include the Norwegian fjords, Copenhagen, Bruges (Zeebrugge), Bilbao, Paris (Le Havre) and Lisbon.
Jewel of the Seas will return to Copenhagen, Stockholm and the Baltic from May to August. Its seven- to 11-night itineraries will include Helsinki, Visby, Gdansk (Gdynia) and Klaipeda.
Liberty, Mariner and Odyssey return to Mediterranean
Liberty of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Athens (Piraeus) and Rome (Civitavecchia) between May and October 2028 on seven- and eight-night voyages. Its programme includes the Greek Isles and Mediterranean destinations such as Provence (Marseille), Sicily (Palermo) and Cagliari. Greek itineraries will feature later evening stays in Santorini, with guests able to visit Royal Beach Club Santorini or select excursions to Akrotiri, Fira and Perivolos.
Mariner of the Seas will return to the Mediterranean with seven-night voyages from Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens (Piraeus) and Ravenna. Featured destinations include Palma de Mallorca, Porto (Leixoes) and Dubrovnik.
Odyssey of the Seas will operate seven-night Greek Isles itineraries from Rome (Civitavecchia) from April to October 2028, including calls at Ephesus and Mykonos. Selected voyages will feature extended evenings in Santorini and the option to include Royal Beach Club Santorini as part of the Ultimate Santorini Day.
Santorini programme combines island visits and beach club
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Santorini Day will combine visits to Oia and Fira with access to Royal Beach Club Santorini.
The beach club will include an open-air market featuring a rotating selection of local businesses and products, including produce from Nomikos Estate, spirits from Canava Lyngos and wine from Santo Wines. Selected itineraries with later evening stays will provide additional time on the island.
Across the wider 2028-29 deployment, Royal Caribbean will operate seven ships in Europe, combining year-round sailings aboard Rhapsody of the Seas with summer programmes across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltic.
Source: Official Press Releases from Royal Caribbean Press Centre, 14 October 2026, Miami
