--- title: Royal Caribbean Sets First Year-Round Europe Season for 2028-29 description: The line’s first year-round Europe programme in 2028-2029 brings summer Mediterranean routes, winter Canary Islands voyages and returning European ports --- [S.W. Black Travel Blog](https://blog.swblack.com.au) # [Royal Caribbean Sets First Year-Round Europe Season for 2028-29](https://blog.swblack.com.au/royal-caribbean-sets-first-year-round-europe-season-for-2028-29) Written by [S.W. Black Travel](https://blog.swblack.com.au/author/s-w-black-travel) | 15 October 2026, 2:45:00 am Z [Royal Caribbean](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/) will operate its first year-round European season in 2028-2029, with Rhapsody of the Seas extending the line’s European programme across summer and winter. The ship will sail from Athens, Barcelona, and Lisbon, pairing warmer-season routes in the eastern Mediterranean with winter journeys to the Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco, and other destinations.   The schedule ranges from [**seven-night summer getaways**](https://royalcaribbeangrouppresscenter.com/news/royal-caribbean-unveils-more-ways-to-explore-europe-in-2028-29-with-new-year-round-season) to nine- to 12-night winter voyages. Overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul, the new Royal Beach Club Santorini, and returning calls at Heraklion and Cagliari add further variety across the programme. ## Rhapsody of the Seas Anchors the Full-Year Programme Rhapsody of the Seas will lead the line’s first continuous European schedule across summer and winter. The programme begins with seven- to 12-night holidays from Athens, Barcelona, and Lisbon, with the itinerary focus changing as the seasons progress. [Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-ships/rhapsody-of-the-seas?ecid=pr_int_pblc_r_wb_3338) ### Summer Focuses on Turkey, Egypt, and Greece From May to October 2028, Rhapsody of the Seas will operate seven-night voyages centred on Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. The programme includes overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul, giving guests extended time in both destinations. Greece also features the new **Royal Beach Club Santorini**. This adds another named experience to a summer programme already built around eastern Mediterranean destinations and overnight port stays. The seven-night format keeps the warmer-season offering distinct from the longer voyages scheduled later in the year. ### Overnight Calls Add More Time in Port Alexandria and Istanbul both feature as overnight stops during the summer programme. Keeping the ship in port overnight extends the visit beyond a standard daytime call and creates a different pace for guests spending time ashore. Alexandria also appears among the options later in the season, with another overnight stay included in the announced programme. Istanbul forms part of the seven-night summer schedule. Together, these overnight calls are among the clearest itinerary features of the 2028 warmer-season deployment. ### Three Cities Serve as Departure Points Athens, Barcelona, and Lisbon are all named as departure points for Rhapsody of the Seas. The ship will operate seven- to 12-night holidays from these three cities as part of the new European schedule. The three homeports support a programme stretching across the eastern Mediterranean, western Europe, Atlantic islands, and North Africa. Travellers comparing departures will therefore need to look closely at both sailing length and route. The departure city is one of the first practical differences across the season ## Winter Shifts Towards Atlantic Islands and North Africa From November 2028, Rhapsody of the Seas moves into nine- to 12-night voyages. The winter programme spans the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece, while Madeira is also named among the new winter destinations. [Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-ships/rhapsody-of-the-seas?ecid=pr_int_pblc_r_wb_3338) ### The Canary Islands Lead the Winter Offering The Canary Islands form a major part of the winter schedule. Tenerife and Gran Canaria both appear in the announced programme, with specific natural attractions highlighted for each island. Guests will have the opportunity to visit **Tenerife’s natural saltwater pools** and **Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas Dunes**. These calls place island landscapes alongside the wider mix of European and North African destinations. The nine- to 12-night voyage lengths also separate the winter schedule from the seven-night summer getaways. ### Morocco Adds Casablanca and Tangier Casablanca and Tangier feature in the winter programme, bringing Morocco into the 2028-2029 destination mix. Their inclusion sits alongside calls across Portugal, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece. The North African ports give the winter schedule a different geographic profile from the summer focus on Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. Madeira adds another Atlantic island component to the broader season. Travellers choosing winter dates will therefore see a route mix built across several regions rather than one concentrated part of the Mediterranean. ### Alexandria Remains Part of the Later Season Alexandria also appears in the later programme, with an overnight stay among the announced itinerary options. This keeps Egypt within the season after its role in the May to October schedule. The return to Alexandria creates continuity between the summer and winter portions of the deployment. At the same time, the surrounding destination list expands to include Atlantic islands, Morocco, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece. The result is a broader winter route pattern around one of the season’s recurring overnight ports. ## The Wider Season Restores Several European Calls The 2028-2029 programme extends beyond Rhapsody of the Seas. Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas will support the line’s return to Copenhagen and Stockholm, while Heraklion and Cagliari also return after an absence of more than a decade. [Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-ships/rhapsody-of-the-seas?ecid=pr_int_pblc_r_wb_3338) ### Copenhagen Returns to the European Programme Copenhagen is back in the line’s European deployment, with Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas named as part of the return to Copenhagen and Stockholm. This adds northern Europe to a season otherwise led by Rhapsody’s southern and winter programme. The announcement places Copenhagen alongside Stockholm as a returning destination. Detailed voyage patterns for Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas are not included in the supplied programme. Their presence still broadens the geographic spread of the 2028-2029 season. ### Stockholm Rejoins the Schedule Stockholm also returns within the wider European deployment. Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas are the two ships associated with the return to Copenhagen and Stockholm. This northern Europe component sits alongside Rhapsody’s year-round programme from Athens, Barcelona, and Lisbon. It gives the overall season another regional dimension beyond the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Madeira, and Morocco. Travellers interested in northern Europe, therefore, have additional ships to consider within the same 2028-2029 programme. ### Heraklion and Cagliari Return After More Than a Decade The season also marks the line’s return to **Heraklion and Cagliari** for the first time in more than a decade. Both destinations add returning calls to an already expanded European schedule. Their reappearance gives the programme another point of difference beyond the move into year-round operations. Copenhagen and Stockholm return through Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas, while Heraklion and Cagliari rejoin the destination list after a long absence. These additions broaden the range of ports across the overall season. If you are considering a European cruise in 2028-2029, our[**Cruise Finder**](https://cruisefinder.swblack.com.au/)helps you compare sailings by departure city, voyage length, and destination mix. The difference between seven-night summer itineraries and nine- to 12-night winter voyages is especially useful when narrowing your options. Rhapsody of the Seas anchors the full-year programme, while Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas add northern Europe to the wider deployment. Cruise Finder gives you a practical starting point for comparing those options alongside your preferred travel dates. ## Plan Your 2028-2029 Europe Cruise Around the Season The 2028-2029 programme gives travellers a full calendar of European options, from summer voyages in Turkey, Egypt, and Greece to winter itineraries across the Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco, and other parts of the Mediterranean. Overnight port stays, returning destinations, and a wider three-ship European presence give the season several distinct itinerary styles. If you want help comparing departure ports, voyage lengths, overnight stays, or seasonal destination mixes,[**speak with the S.W. Black Travel team**](https://www.swblack.com.au/contact-us/) for practical guidance on choosing the European itinerary suited to your plans.   [View full post](https://blog.swblack.com.au/royal-caribbean-sets-first-year-round-europe-season-for-2028-29) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "S.W. 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