Royal Caribbean will sail Europe every month of the year for the first time in 2028-29, led by Rhapsody of the Seas switching from summer Greek Isles itineraries to winter voyages across the Canary Islands, Morocco and Madeira.
The year-round season spans seven ships across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Canary Islands, with 7- to 12-night itineraries carrying into the colder months rather than wrapping up in October as European cruise seasons traditionally do.
Bookings for the 2028-29 Europe season opened to Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members on 14 October, ahead of the official public on-sale on Thursday 15 October.
From May to October 2028 Rhapsody of the Seas runs 7-night getaways from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona and Lisbon, taking in Greece, Turkey and Egypt with overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul. From November 2028 it switches to 9- to 12-night itineraries through the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta and Greece.
Where the ships are sailing
Winter calls on Rhapsody of the Seas include Tenerife’s natural saltwater pools, Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas Dunes, and the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Tangier. The season also marks Royal Caribbean’s return to Heraklion, Greece, and Cagliari, Sardinia, for the first time in more than a decade.
Six further ships fill out the summer 2028 program. Explorer of the Seas sails 7-night Mediterranean itineraries from Ravenna (Venice) to the Greek Isles and Croatia, every voyage including a late stay in Santorini.
Freedom of the Seas offers 3- to 9-night itineraries from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords, Copenhagen, Bruges (Zeebrugge) and the coastlines of Bilbao, Le Havre and Lisbon.
Jewel of the Seas returns to Copenhagen, Stockholm and the Baltic from May to August 2028 with 7- to 11-night Scandinavian itineraries calling at Helsinki, Visby, Gdansk (Gdynia) and Klaipeda.
Liberty of the Seas runs 7- and 8-night Greek Isles and Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, Athens (Piraeus) and Rome (Civitavecchia). Mariner of the Seas delivers 7-night Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens and Ravenna, while Odyssey of the Seas returns to Rome from April to October 2028 for 7-night Greek Isles adventures.
The Santorini drawcard
Several ships are built around the Ultimate Santorini Day, a full-day excursion pairing Oia and Fira with access to Royal Beach Club Santorini, the line’s first beach club in Europe. The beach club features an open-air market of local businesses, including produce from Nomikos Estate, ouzo and tsikoudia from Canava Lyngos, and wine from Santo Wines.
Select voyages across Rhapsody, Explorer, Liberty and Odyssey include later evening stays, giving guests more time on the island.
Who it suits
Europe is a core outbound market for Australian travellers, and the year-round schedule opens the region to clients who prefer to travel outside the Northern Hemisphere peak. The winter Canary Islands and Morocco itineraries suit Australians chasing warmer weather and shoulder-season pricing, while the long-haul distance makes a 9- to 12-night sailing an easier sell.
Onboard, the fleet carries Royal Caribbean’s activity-led product, from the FlowRider surf simulator and The Perfect Storm waterslides to RipCord by iFLY skydiving and the North Star observation capsule on Odyssey, plus speciality dining including Izumi, Chops Grille and Jamie’s Italian.
Bookings for the Europe 2028-29 season opened to Crown & Anchor Society members on 14 October, with the public on-sale from 15 October. Itineraries and bookings are available at royalcaribbean.com.
KARRYON UNPACKS: A year-round Europe season reshapes the booking conversation: clients no longer have to squeeze a European cruise into the May-to-October window, and the winter Canaries and Morocco sailings give advisors a warm-weather long-haul option when the Mediterranean would normally be closed. With bookings open nearly two years out, it is a long-lead sell, but one that broadens when Australians can go.
