Royal Caribbean has announced its first year-round European cruise season as part of a seven-ship deployment for 2028, which will also see Freedom of the Seas return to Southampton for a programme of cruises departing from the UK.
The expanded European schedule will cover the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords and the Canary Islands, with Rhapsody of the Seas leading the cruise line’s move beyond its traditional seasonal European operations.
For British passengers, the return of Freedom of the Seas to Southampton will be another significant part of the announcement, with cruises ranging from three to nine nights scheduled between May and October 2028.
All seven ships’ newly announced European itineraries are now on sale, with bookings having opened to the general public on 15th October 2026 following an early access period for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members.
The deployment will also see two Freedom Class ships operating in Europe simultaneously for the first time, alongside itineraries visiting destinations across the Greek islands, Italy, Croatia, Turkey and the Baltic region.
Rhapsody Of The Seas To Introduce Year-Round European Cruises
Rhapsody of the Seas will be at the centre of Royal Caribbean’s plans to establish a year-round European cruise programme, beginning its deployment in May 2028.
The 2,040-passenger ship will initially operate seven-night Mediterranean itineraries from Piraeus, the port serving Athens, Barcelona and Lisbon.
Between May and October, the ship will offer a selection of eastern Mediterranean cruises, including itineraries visiting Greece, Turkey and Egypt.
Some voyages will feature overnight stays in Istanbul and Alexandria, allowing passengers additional time to explore both destinations.
Other sailings will concentrate on the Greek islands, with selected itineraries including extended visits to Santorini.
These visits will also provide access to Royal Beach Club Santorini, Royal Caribbean’s first European beach club destination, which was announced in October 2025.
The ship’s deployment will also mark the return of two Mediterranean destinations to Royal Caribbean’s itineraries after more than a decade.
Heraklion, on the Greek island of Crete, and Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia in Italy, will both feature in the programme.
From November 2028, Rhapsody of the Seas will switch to longer voyages lasting between nine and 12 nights.
These cruises will expand its itinerary options to include the Canary Islands, Portugal and Morocco, as well as Cyprus, Malta and Greece.
The introduction of these later departures represents a departure from Royal Caribbean’s usual European schedule, which has historically concentrated on spring, summer and autumn sailings.
While the cruise line has announced its first year-round European season, the initial itinerary information details Rhapsody of the Seas’ deployment through November 2028. The complete winter schedule extending into 2029 has not yet been outlined in the announcement.
Freedom Of The Seas Returns To Southampton In 2028
For UK cruisers, one of the most notable elements of Royal Caribbean’s announcement is the return of Freedom of the Seas to Southampton for the 2028 summer season.
The Freedom Class vessel will operate from the Hampshire port between May and October, offering a range of European itineraries without passengers needing to fly to an overseas departure port.
Cruises will range from three to nine nights, giving passengers a choice of shorter breaks and longer holidays departing directly from the UK.
Among the destinations featured in the programme are the Norwegian fjords, where itineraries will include scenic cruising through Norway’s coastal landscapes.
Other scheduled ports include Copenhagen in Denmark, Zeebrugge in Belgium, Bilbao in Spain, Le Havre in France and Lisbon in Portugal.
The range of destinations will provide Southampton passengers with options covering Northern Europe, Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.
Freedom of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class vessels, a class which also includes Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.
Its deployment to Southampton is particularly notable because Liberty of the Seas will also be operating in Europe during the same season.
According to Royal Caribbean, 2028 will be the first time Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas have both been deployed to Europe simultaneously.
Liberty of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Piraeus and Civitavecchia, the principal cruise port serving Rome, between May and October 2028.
The ship will offer seven- and eight-night Mediterranean itineraries visiting destinations including the Greek islands, Marseille, Sicily and Cagliari.
While Freedom of the Seas will focus on cruises departing from Southampton, its sister ship will concentrate on Mediterranean sailings from mainland European ports.
The simultaneous deployment will give passengers a choice between two ships of the same class operating in different parts of Europe.
Four More Ships Complete Royal Caribbean’s European Line-Up
Beyond Rhapsody of the Seas and the two Freedom Class ships, Royal Caribbean has confirmed another four vessels for its 2028 European programme.
Explorer of the Seas will operate seven-night cruises from Ravenna, Italy, between May and October.
The 3,286-passenger ship will focus on the Greek islands and Croatia, with selected itineraries also visiting Kotor in Montenegro.
Mariner of the Seas will offer a wider selection of departure ports, sailing from Barcelona, Piraeus, Lisbon and Ravenna.
The 3,344-passenger vessel will operate seven-night cruises featuring destinations including Palma de Mallorca in Spain, Porto in Portugal and Dubrovnik in Croatia.
In Northern Europe, Jewel of the Seas will sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm between May and August 2028.
Its itineraries will range from seven to 11 nights, with scheduled visits to Helsinki in Finland, Visby in Sweden, Gdynia in Poland and Klaipeda in Lithuania.
The 2,191-passenger ship will provide Royal Caribbean’s main Baltic-focused offering within the announced deployment.
Odyssey of the Seas will be the largest of the seven vessels included in the European schedule.
The 4,198-passenger Quantum Ultra Class ship will operate seven-night Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia between April and October 2028.
Its itineraries will include the Greek islands, Mykonos and Ephesus in Turkey, typically visited from the port of Kusadasi.
Odyssey of the Seas will also be among the earliest ships to begin its European season, with departures scheduled from April rather than May.
Despite the seven-ship line-up, Royal Caribbean has not included any Oasis Class vessels in the initial announcement.
Ships from the class have regularly operated in Europe for more than a decade, making their absence from the newly revealed schedule noteworthy.
Legend of the Seas is also missing from the 2028 deployment.
The Icon Class ship made its European debut in 2026 and is scheduled to return in 2027, but no European sailings for the vessel have been confirmed as part of this latest release.
Royal Caribbean has not indicated whether further ships or itineraries will be added to its 2028-29 European programme, which may be disappointing news to guests who wish to sail on the biggest ships whilst still remaining in Europe.
For now, the announcement confirms a significant change to the cruise line’s European operations, combining its first planned year-round deployment with the return of Freedom of the Seas to Southampton and an expanded selection of Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries.
All of the newly announced cruises are available to book from 15th October 2026.
Want the best Royal Caribbean deal?
Get the best price and expert help to plan your cruise
