Vacations for the Whole Family: Nine Ships to Sail to More Than 25 Countries in the Mediterranean,
Vacations for the Whole Family: Nine Ships to Sail to More Than 25 Countries in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Holy Land
MIAMI, Jan. 6, 2022 – Royal Caribbean International revealed the 2023 European summer lineup of nine award-winning ships that will visit landmark destinations in more than 25 countries, from the Amalfi Coast to the Holy Land, plus the Adriatic islands of Croatia, British Isles, Canary Islands and Greek Isles. Beginning in May 2023, vacationers of all ages can experience the region’s timeless beauty on a variety of cruises that range from five to 12 nights and visit iconic locales, from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Tel Aviv, Israel, and everything in between.
The cruise line’s new summer 2023 Europe cruises are now open.
Travellers with their sights on Europe can choose from 35 unique itineraries and a diverse set of ships, a matchup that makes for memories galore. Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas in Rome, following up its 2021 debut, and Anthem of the Seas in Southampton, England, are two returning favourites set to offer the whole family a combination of signature features and standout experiences. Highlights include Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and bumper cars in SeaPlex, the largest indoor and outdoor activity complex at sea, North Star – the highest viewing deck on a cruise ship – and the gravity-defying skydiving simulator, RipCord by iFly. From Rome and Barcelona, Spain, Oasis Class ship Symphony of the Seas will bring all types of vacationers together with thrilling experiences across seven distinct neighbourhoods only found on Royal Caribbean, like the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; famed Broadway shows and original productions across ice, water, stage and air; and more than 20 different restaurants, bars and lounges.
Itinerary Highlights
- Odyssey of the Seas – Cruising from Rome
Headlining the European summer lineup is one of Royal Caribbean’s newest additions, Odyssey, returning for an encore after its first summer in the region in 2022. Vacationers have a choice of 7- to 9-night cruises from Rome to Naples, Italy; the idyllic Greek Isles and Turkey, as well as 12-night Holy Land sailings to the historic, bustling cities of Limassol, Cyprus; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; and Jerusalem, Israel. From the iconic whitewashed homes of Santorini, Greece, to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a world from centuries past is within reach.
- Symphony of the Seas – Cruising from: Barcelona and Rome
One of Time’s World’s Greatest Places in 2018 and Royal Caribbean’s renowned Oasis Class ships, Symphony heads to the Western Mediterranean. Travellers can set course on 7-night cruise, from Barcelona or Rome, to bucket list destinations like Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and Provence, France. Whether exploring 14th-century castles and cathedrals in Mallorca or marveling at the Duomo in Florence, Italy, travellers can expect days filled with rich culture and history.
- Serenade of the Seas – Cruising from Barcelona
Serenade will call the warm shores of Barcelona home and sail 8-night itineraries to the Western Mediterranean, 12-night cruises to the Greek Isles and 5-night sailings to Italy and France. Beaches and beats await in Ibiza, Spain, home to a legendary electronic music scene, while the Cote d’Azur offers a glamorous getaway in iconic Cannes, France.
- Explorer of the Seas – Cruising from Venice (Ravenna), Italy
New to Ravenna, Italy, Explorer will explore the Aegean Sea and visit Olympia, Greece – the birthplace of the Olympic Games – for the first time, among a series of picturesque destinations. The 7-night cruises will sail to the Greek Isles and beyond to Adriatic and Mediterranean gems such as Kotor, Montenegro, and Chania, Crete.
- Brilliance of the Seas – Cruising from: Rome and Venice (Ravenna), Athens, Greece; and Barcelona
Sailing open-jaw itineraries from Italy, Greece and Spain, Brilliance will offer vacationers a choice of four epic European cities to start and complete their adventures in the Western Mediterranean, Greek Isles and Adriatic Sea. The 7-night cruises will sail from Rome to Athens, Greece; Athens to Venice; Venice to Barcelona; and Barcelona to Rome. Bucket list-worthy sites like the Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and Praetorian Palace in Koper, Slovenia – a new destination for Brilliance – are just a few of the top spots awaiting travellers.
- Rhapsody of the Seas – Cruising from Haifa, Israel, and Limassol, Cyprus
Rhapsody will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to sail from Limassol and Haifa, Israel, all in one season. The new summer combination consists of 7-night sailings to ports of call in Turkey, Israel and Greece, including first-time destinations for the cruise line, like Skiathos and Thessaloniki, Greece. Starting in September, the ship will take off on short 4- and 5-night getaways from Haifa and visit Cyprus and the Greek Isles.
- Anthem of the Seas – Cruising from Southampton, England
A returning favorite, Anthem will call Southampton, England, home for the third consecutive year. Adventure seekers can have their choice of 7-night adventures to Spain and France, or the Norwegian Fjords. They can visit destinations new to Anthem, including Maloy and Haugesund, Norway, and Cork, Ireland. Longer, 11- and 12-night vacations will go further to places such as Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; and the Canary Islands. Between sampling lutefisk in Stavanger, Norway, and shopping for locally made goods in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, there are culture-rich experiences and outdoor explorations in store.
- Voyager of the Seas – Cruising from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden
Voyager returns to Northern Europe, sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, to offer a mix of 7- to 11-night itineraries around Scandinavian countries, Estonia and Russia. There will be stunning sites to behold, like the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the Suomenlinna fortress in Helsinki, Finland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s most popular landmarks. Guests looking for a longer vacation can cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, toCopenhagen on a 14-night sailing that features an overnight in Bermuda and visits to St. Thomas, France and Belgium.
- Jewel of the Seas – Cruising from Amsterdam, the Netherlands
All summer, Jewel will cruise roundtrip from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, welcoming travellers on 12-night sailings to the Arctic Circle, the British Isles, Iceland and Ireland. Picturesque destinations, including the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik and the White Cliffs of Dover in England, will be just a night’s rest away.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous travellers. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 19 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.