The Cruise Insider

October 17, 2026

Freedom of the Seas Returns to Southampton for Summer 2028

Royal Caribbean confirmed Freedom of the Seas will sail a second straight summer from Southampton in 2028, May through October, with short breaks to nine-nighters from 460 pounds per person. General bookings opened October 15, 2026.

Freedom of the Seas

Freedom of the Seas is coming back to the UK. Royal Caribbean confirmed the ship will be based in Southampton from May to October 2028, a second consecutive summer of UK departures. The program runs from short breaks to nine-night voyages across Northern and Southern Europe, with calls at Copenhagen, Zeebrugge for Bruges, Bilbao, Le Havre and Lisbon, plus Norwegian fjords sailings. Advertised fares start at 460 pounds per person, and general bookings opened October 15, 2026 after an early-access period for Crown & Anchor Society members.

The 2028 season extends a Southampton program already scheduled for summer 2027, when Freedom replaces Mariner of the Seas. It also forms part of a seven-ship European program for 2028, the first season in which Freedom and sister ship Liberty of the Seas will both operate in Europe at the same time.

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