Royal Caribbean’s 2016-2017 European and Alaskan Itineraries

Royal Caribbean International has announced some details of its 2016-2017 itineraries for Europe and Alaska. There’s some pretty neat stuff here, including the first Voyager-Class vessels to Alaska, and a summer season for what will be the world’s largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas. According to the press release:

New Oasis-class Vacations from Barcelona

After its delivery in April 2016, the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, will homeport at Barcelona and sail a round-trip, seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary. Vacationers also can embark Harmony of the Seas at Rome (Civitavecchia), but guests must sail round-trip for seven nights. Brilliance of the Seas also will alternate 12-night Italian Mediterranean and Greek & Italian Mediterranean cruises. (Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

British and Scandinavian Cruises

The U.K. welcomes back Independence of the Seasin summer 2016. The ship will sail mostly 10- to 14-night Mediterranean or Canary Island cruises from Southampton, while Navigator of the Seas will offer British vacationers a wide range of new six- to 14-night Norwegian Fjords, Baltic, Mediterranean or Canary Island itineraries. Serenade of the Seas will sail seven-night Norwegian Fjords and seven- to 13-night Scandinavia and Russia itineraries, round-trip from Copenhagen, Denmark, in early summer and August, and from Stockholm, Sweden, in June and July.

Italy and Greece Adventures from Venice and Rome

Jewel of the Seas will alternate brand new 10-night Greece & Adriatic and 11-night Greece, Turkey & Croatia itineraries from Venice, while Vision of the Seas will alternate seven-night Greek Isles and Greek Isles & Turkey cruises. Jewel of the Seas will double the cruise line’s capacity at this unique, iconic and most desirable world-class city. Rhapsody of the Seas will homeport at Rome (Civitavecchia) and sail nine-night Greek Isles cruises in early summer and autumn months. From late June through August, the ship will alternate seven-night Greek Isles and Greek & Turkey cruises.

Royal Caribbean’s 27th Alaska Season

Explorer of the Seas will be unmatched in onboard amenities when the ship debuts in Alaskan waters. Guests on the ship’s seven-night round-trip itineraries from Seattle, Wash., will sail up Tracy Arm Fjords for an incomparable view of Sawyer Glacier. In September, the ship will sail three Pacific Coastal cruises, seven nights in duration, which feature an overnight in San Francisco, Calif. For its part, Radiance of the Seaswill alternate seven-night northbound and southbound Alaska cruises between Vancouver, B.C., and Seward. On these itineraries, guests will venture into Disenchantment Bay for a close-up view of Hubbard Glacier.

I’m strongly considering the Pacific Coast cruise from Seattle aboard Explorer of the Seas. Love the overnight in San Francisco! The 13-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise sounds awesome too! Booking for these itineraries opens March 19th (Harmony – April 2). Royal Caribbean is also featuring a new buy one get one offer (BOGO50) for the new itineraries. Check out the details at royalcaribbean.com/BOGO50.

-MJ, March 13, 2015