Royal Caribbean plans year-round European cruises for 2028-2029
Rhapsody of the Seas is scheduled to lead the program, alongside seasonal deployments by three other ships in 2028.
Royal Caribbean International plans to begin year-round European cruises in the 2028-2029 season, with Rhapsody of the Seas scheduled to offer voyages lasting seven to 12 nights from Athens, Barcelona and Lisbon.
From May through October 2028, Rhapsody is planned to operate seven-night Turkey and Egypt itineraries. Some sailings will include overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul. Beginning in November 2028, the ship is scheduled for winter cruises of nine to 12 nights covering destinations in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and Greece. The deployment is also planned to mark Royal Caribbean’s first return to Heraklion and Cagliari in almost a decade.
Explorer of the Seas is scheduled to sail seven-night Mediterranean cruises from Ravenna between May and October 2028, including destinations in the Greek Isles and Croatia.
During the same period, Freedom of the Seas is planned to offer cruises of three to nine nights across Northern and Southern Europe from the United Kingdom. Jewel of the Seas is expected to operate Baltic cruises lasting seven to 11 nights from Copenhagen between May and August 2028.
