Royal Caribbean European Cruises

Royal Caribbean European cruises explore the full range of destinations the continent offers. From the Western Mediterranean to the Greek Isles, departures from the UK turn long weekends and family summer holidays into memories that’ll last a lifetime.

Why Sail with Royal Caribbean to Europe?

Europe is a continent of short hops between very different places, which is exactly what Royal Caribbean cruises around Europe do best. Guests can visit a Spanish market town, a Norwegian glacier valley, and a Greek island harbour without a single hotel change, and Royal Caribbean’s ships are a destination in their own right for the hours in between.

Whether you’re craving non-stop fun or a quieter sailing, Royal Caribbean’s itineraries are built around the ports rather than the sea, calling somewhere new almost every morning. Guests wake up in Cannes or Kotor rather than mid-ocean, and the evening entertainment programme runs on regardless of how full the day has been. Adventure Ocean serves families well, taking children from six months upward and keeping them entertained while parents are ashore; grandparents travelling with the family will also find the ship easy to move around after a full day of walking

What Are the Best Royal Caribbean European Cruise Destinations?

Europe offers multiple distinct cruising regions, and the right one depends far more on the kind of days guests want ashore than on the length of the voyage. Here are the regions guests can discover with Royal Caribbean European cruises:

Greece and the Greek Isles

Seven-night Greece itineraries are some of the most photographed in the European programme. Santorini brings the caldera villages of Oia and Fira, reached by cable car or the old donkey path, and Rhodes has a walled medieval old town that guests can wander for hours. Athens itself offers a day to explore the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Acropolis Museum.

Norwegian Fjords

Sailing through the Norwegian Fjords, much of the interest happens from the deck as the ship works its way inland along water hemmed by rock. In port, Bergen brings the wooden wharf houses of Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen, while Geiranger sits beneath the Seven Sisters waterfall. Flåm is the starting point for the Flåm Railway up to Myrdal, and Olden gives access to the Briksdal glacier.

P&O Norwegian Fjords Cruises

Northern Europe and the Baltic

Northern Europe suits guests who would rather explore a city than unwind on the beach, and shorter breaks here offer some of the best value in Royal Caribbean’s programme. Zeebrugge’s beautiful canals and Hamburg’s Speicherstadt warehouse district are a joy to explore, while longer routes take you to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Tallinn

Spain and Portugal

The Iberian coast is full of unique ports to enjoy, and all without a flight in sight. Spain’s Vigo and La Coruña open up green, unhurried Galicia, and Leixões is the port for Porto and the terraced vineyards of the Douro, where Portugal’s beauty is on full display.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do Royal Caribbean European cruises depart from?

Southampton is Royal Caribbean's UK homeport, and guests can drive to the quayside and arrange secure port parking as part of the booking. The rest of the European programme is fly-cruise, sailing from Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Athens (Piraeus) and Ravenna for Venice.

When does the European cruise season run, and what is the weather like?

The season opens in early May and closes in late October or November, when ships reposition across the Atlantic for the winter. July and August bring the hottest Mediterranean weather and the longest Norwegian days, with light lasting in the fjords until well past 10 in the evening. May, June, September and October are cooler and easier for walking a full day ashore, though the fjords can be wet in either shoulder month.

Are European itineraries suitable for children?

They are, and school-holiday sailings carry a good number of families. The Adventure Ocean programme takes children from six months upward in age-banded groups and stays open while the adults are ashore. Teens have their own spaces, and the pools, sports courts and evening shows are all suitable for youngsters.

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Choose Last-Minute Fun with a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Whether you’re looking to give the kids a family holiday they will remember forever or trying to book a couples’ getaway that is as romantic as it is thrilling, Royal Caribbean’s last-minute holidays have something for everyone. These itineraries come at incredible prices, meaning guests can set sail on a journey of speedy waterslides and glittering evening entertainment with deals that can’t be beaten.

Last-Minute Cruises