Royal Caribbean UK Sailings in 2019

Royal Caribbean International love grabbing the headlines big time. Not only are they about to launch the largest ship in the world – Symphony of the Seas, the company have just released details of their 2019 sailing schedule from Southampton – and as you might expect, it’s a bumper one.

What the company boldly claims as the UK’s favourite ship - Independence of the Seas - will continue to call Southampton her home for the 2019 season following her return to the UK this May after a multi-million pound makeover. The news means UK holidaymakers can enjoy this extraordinary 3,634-passenger ship that has five grades of large family-focused accommodations over and above standard triples and quads. New thrilling features include: Sky Pad - a brand new virtual reality, bungee trampoline experience that transports guests to another time and planet via a virtual reality headset; interactive waterpark - Splashaway Bay - which will be bigger and better than ever before; Puzzle Break, an all-new Escape Room; and an incredible glow-in-the-dark Laser Tag arena.

The newly revamped Independence of the Seas will sail to Ibiza in August and September 2019 for the first time in four years. As well as the medieval walls of Ibiza Town, the White Island is home to lively beaches, traditional villages and natural beauty found in quiet coves, coastal trails and tranquil woodlands. The ship’s Western Mediterranean itineraries will also call at Florence, Italy and Naples during select summer months. In Naples, guests can explore the Royal Palace, San Carlo Opera House and Duomo - the city’s Cathedral, while Florence is packed with breathtaking Renaissance treasures that are the envy of the art world.

So popular are the summer-long series of cruises that Explorer of the Seas will also return to the UK in 2019. This 3,284-passenger ship will give guests a chance to visit a contrasting variety of destinations around Europe. A real gem is the 14-night ‘Scandinavia and Russia’ cruise which visits Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg (two-day stay), Helsinki, Stockholm, Skagen and Stavanger. Another treat is the 14-night ‘Italian Mediterranean’ cruise calling at Gibraltar, Nice, La Spezia (for Florence and Pisa), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples, Cagliari (Sardinia), and Cádiz.

For those with less time on their hands, Explorer of the Seas will be undertaking an 8-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ cruise heading to Bergen, Flam, Geiranger, Alesund and Stavanger. If you’re dipping your toes into cruising for the first time then the 3-night ‘Royal Sampler’ cruise to Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and Cherbourg is ideal. For details of the cornucopia of ports that you can visit aboard a Royal Caribbean ship in 2019 call our experts on 0808 256 6742.