Royal Caribbean International

North American cruise line Royal Caribbean International has an impressive history and global reputation.

The cruise line is famed for its fleet of mega-ships, which consist of Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and more.

Each ship is full to the brim of thrills and entertainment, with the cruise line continuing to innovate.

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Southampton

Imagine setting sail from Southampton on a grand world cruise, a journey that promises unparalleled adventure and relaxation across the globe. As your ship departs, you'll feel the excitement of exploring distant shores and experiencing diverse cultures. Each day brings new horizons, from the bustling markets of Asia to the serene beauty of the South Pacific islands. Onboard, enjoy world-class dining, entertainment, and amenities that cater to your every need, ensuring your journey is as comfortable as it is captivating. A world cruise from Southampton isn't just a holiday; it's a collection of life-changing experiences wrapped into one magnificent voyage

Day 2

At sea

Day 3

Bilbao

Bilbao, once an industrial heartland, has transformed into a hub of modern architecture and art, exemplified by the iconic Guggenheim Museum. The climate here is temperate and inviting, with mild temperatures that make year-round visits pleasant. Cruise lines such as Norwegian and Holland America offer excursions that allow travelers to explore not just the famous museum, but also lesser-known areas like the historic Casco Viejo, or Old Quarter, providing a more rounded glimpse into Bilbao's rejuvenation and traditions. Interestingly, Bilbao is also known for its unique linguistic contribution, being a stronghold of the Basque language, which predates most European languages and adds a layer of mystique to this vibrant city.

Day 4

At sea

Day 5

Lisbon

In the annals of maritime lore, Lisbon stands as a testament to resilience, having weathered centuries of conquest and exploration. Its labyrinthine streets whisper tales of Moorish conquests and Age of Discovery triumphs, each cobblestone a silent witness to the city's rich past. Beneath the warm Mediterranean sun, Lisbon exudes an undeniable charm, drawing travelers seeking an authentic escape from the beaten path. From its vibrant neighborhoods to its serene waterfront, Lisbon offers a glimpse into Portugal's soul, where fado music reverberates through alfresco cafes, and the aroma of freshly baked pasts de nata fills the air, tempting even the most seasoned voyagers.

Day 6

Vigo

Day 7

At sea

Day 8

Southampton

Day 1

Southampton

Day 2

At sea

Day 3

Bilbao

Day 4

At sea

Day 5

Lisbon

Day 6

Vigo

Day 7

At sea

Day 8

Southampton

4635

Passengers

1365

Crew

2006

Launched

2011

Last refit

156271t

Tonnage

339m

Length

56m

Width

22kts

Speed

Decks

USD

Currency

Freedom of the Seas

The Amplified Freedom of the Seas® is as wow-worthy as the destinations it sails to.

Customer reviews

Reviews

WOW WOW WOW

The most incredible cruise. Made memories to last a lifetime. Absolutely magnificent.

Royal Caribbean International Explorer of the Seas

Reviews

Brilliant service & food

A fantastic short break away, the staff and service was excellent. Food was lovely!! Really surprised me how nice it all was. Only downside was the boat and rooms etc were looking a little bit tired. Needs a revamp. Other than that it was great! My husband is Coeliac and everyone was helpful and he didn’t have any bad experiences!

Royal Caribbean International Independence Of The Seas

Reviews

A lovely cruise

Our cruise was from Shanghai, China to Japan. It was a big cruise ship with many passengers. Everything was good, the only issue I had was that we had to get to entertainment events early to get a good seat. The food was great on all levels, fine Dinning and the main Buffet. The restaurant, Windjammer, had a great variety of food on offer. A great trip. I enjoyed the cruise but I was disappointed that we only had a few hours in Port to visit the area in Japan. This has made me want to go back to Japan for a longer stay. A very pleasant and enjoyable trip.

Royal Caribbean International Spectrum of the Seas

Reviews

Panama Canal is a must see cruise

We embarked in San Diego on this 16 nt cruise. Highly recommend sunset balcony to make the most of Panama Canal. Great ports in Columbia and Costa Rica. An older ship in RCL fleet but staff were excellent, plenty to do and never too crowded (other than when transmitting Panama Canal itself). Solarium is a great space on this ship and food was to a high quality. The ship is. It a superliner but absolutely perfect for this amazing itinerary.

Royal Caribbean International Radiance of the Seas

Reviews

Cruise for senior citizens rather than RCL usual fun standards!

Er we’re travelling on Vision of the Seas from Baltimore. Ship is an older and smaller one in the fleet but despite this, cabin was spacious and a real plus was the cleanliness of the ship. Limited facilities so no flow rider or ice rink, not even small crazy golf. Shuffle board (at an angle) was as exciting as it got, with badminton being played in centrum as no sports courts. We were planning on a relaxing break and so lack of sports weren’t too much of a concern, however evening entertainment was a real let down. Shows of poor standard, no musical production, special guest stars were a let down. All of the above was not helped by such an old clientele who typically were on early dinner sitting and in bed by 9:30! Quality of food was typically good and service in restaurant was excellent, but bar waiter service was very slow and could take up to half an hour from ordering a drink to receiving it. I have no issue in sailing on an older ship but sadly this was more of a retirement home at sea - many guests simply stayed on ship to be looked after for months at a time. This is a great facility for some, but needs to be marketed as such. Not up to RCLs usual fun packed high quality offering.

Royal Caribbean International Vision of the Seas

Reviews

Dreadful customer service, never again with Royal Carribean

11 night cruise tokyo to singapore with 5 stops; nagasaki, South Korea, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh and Na Treng. Within a few months of booking they had dropped Na Treng for unconvincing reasons. Then a weather event (not their fault of course) meant we couldn't board the ship until 2 days later than planned so our cruise was now 9 days. Despite having already dropped a port stop, they announced that they would be dropping two further ports to make up time so no stopping at nagasaki and S Korea. Then the day before we were due to stop at Ho Chi Minh, a tannoy announcement that we would instead be stopping at Da Nang. We couldn't research what to do there given the extortionate cost of Internet access. There was a stampede to book trips meaning 2+ hour queues. So we lost 2 days of a cruise, 2 days of a drinks package, 5 stops became 2 of which only one was as advertised, the 2 extra nights we stayed in tokyo cost us dearly as we had to book a hotel room at short notice and to oay for food that would otherwise have been included on the ship, and the trips we had booked with external companies doe ports we didn't stop at were lost at considerable cost. The Royal Caribbean customer service response? Just disgraceful. They refunded part of the hotel cost leaving us significantly out of pocket. The lost trips? Sorry but no refund. The extra food? Nothing. The loss of 2 days of the cruise and the drinks package, they offered an on board credit. I had no reason for a credit as I had nothing I needed to spend on board so wanted a cash refund. Nope, not budging. I have been with RC on several occasions and have now cancelled my crown and anchor membership and will never sail with them again. The measure of a reputable company is how they respond when things go wrong not when things go well and RC showed their true colours. Avoid at all cost

Royal Caribbean International Ovation of the Seas

Reviews

Great family cruise

Lovely family cruise. Very busy as it was the summer holidays. Hot tubs full of kids which was off putting but great to see them enjoying themselves. Food great

Royal Caribbean International Independence Of The Seas

Reviews

Other cruise lines providing better service for same price

We have sailed with RC for over 20 years and was very disappointed to find they had really cut back on their services they provide. No only 1 turn down per day had to ask for double towels rather than be provided, no tissues, stateroom not hoovered daily and balcony not cleaned. Even in the coffee shop always a big que. Entertainment very basic. I think they need to up their game as there is a lot of other companies visiting the same cruise destinations, providing a better service for the same price.

Royal Caribbean International Independence Of The Seas