Freedom of the Seas mega cruise ship to sail from Southampton in 2028 – what to expect on board

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas cruise ship is set to sail from Southampton for a second consecutive summer in 2028.

The cruise line has revealed its European cruise lineup for the 2028 season and confirmed that Freedom of the Seas will be based in Southampton between May and October.

Freedom of the Seas is already scheduled for Southampton departures in summer 2027, replacing Mariner of the Seas following itinerary changes announced by Royal Caribbean earlier this year.

The cruise ship, which was at one point the largest in the world when it launched in 2006, will sail across the Norwegian fjords, the cityscapes of Copenhagen and Bruges, and the coastlines of Bilbao, Spain, Le Havre and Lisbon.

Sailings range from two to nine nights, and prices start from £460 per person.

With a gross tonnage of 156,271 and capacity for up to 4,000 guests, Freedom of the Seas ranks as a mid-sized mega ship.

In comparison, the newly launched Legend of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 250,800 and full capacity of 7,000.

But Freedom of the Seas still packs plenty in on board. Here is what guests can expect.

Bustling bars

Freedom of the Seas has nine bars, serving a range of cocktails, beers, wine and soft drinks.

These include guest favourite Schooners, where you can relax while being entertained by a pianist.

There is also the Playmakers sports bar, an English pub and Lime & Coconut pool bar.

Dining choice

Guests can choose from 10 places to eat across the ship.

Five are complimentary, including the El Loco Mexican buffet, which was added during a revamp of the ship in 2020.

There are also speciality restaurants for an extra charge, such as the Izumi sushi bar and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Onboard entertainment

There is plenty to keep adults and kids entertained in between exploring European ports.

Activities include ice skating, a rock climbing wall, glow in the dark laser tag, the FlowRider surfing simulator and two high-speed racing waterslides, as well as a splash park.

Children can make friends at the Adventure Ocean kids’ club, while tweens and teens can hang out in their own lounge with music, films, gaming consoles and an outdoor patio.

Guests can also enjoy exclusive theatre shows such as Once Upon A Time, which gives fairytales a modern-day twist, and ice skating show FreedomICE.

Beyond Southampton

Seven Royal Caribbean cruise ships will sail around Europe in summer 2028 from ports such as Barcelona, Rome and Athens, around the Med and the Greek islands.

These include Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas.

Plus, Rhapsody of the Seas will be based in Europe throughout the 2028/29 season, with seven to 12-night trips from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona and Lisbon, including stops in Egypt and Istanbul, as well as Santorini for the cruise line’s new Royal Beach Club.

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