Working your way down a travel bucket list? We’ve got more to add to it: Royal Caribbean has a full lineup of 2017-2018 itineraries, many of them featuring new destinations and excursions that make for unforgettable vacations. Here are six to start with…out of hundreds. Get to reading below—then get to planning.
1. Caribbean Escapes
Diverting from the typical Caribbean tour, Adventure of the Seas will sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to some of the most enchanting Southern Caribbean locations this year, like the vibrant Dutch island of Curacao and the volcanic peaks of St. Kitts.
Departing from Galveston, Texas, Liberty of the Seas will head to the Western Caribbean for week-long trips where you can explore jungle ruins in Belize City and Cozumel, Mexico, or explore the thriving coral reef off the Honduran island of Roatan.
2. Alaska: Cooler Than Ever
This year we’ll help you explore even more of the Great Frontier, one of the best travel destinations for 2017, with two new options for wilderness adventure on 12-night cruisetours (an in-depth exploration of your destination, before or after your cruise). In addition to your sailing, these cruisetours offer added experiences like staying in an exclusive Kantishna backcountry lodge overlooking a river bend within Denali National Park, hiking up the Exit Glacier, and kayaking or biking around Eklunta Lake.
Explorer of the Seas will sail round-trip from Seattle, and Radiance of the Seas will sail from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seward, Alaska and vice versa this year.
3. Romantic European Summers
When you think of romantic vacations, more than one European country likely comes to mind. This summer, you can visit some of the most sought-after destinations on board Freedom of the Seas, which tours the Western Mediterranean on 10-night sailings; and Brilliance of the Seas, which sails to eight European destinations on a 12-night trip.
Both ships depart from Barcelona before heading out to historic city centers like Rome, palm tree-lined coasts of the likes of Nice and Naples (all featuring their own lineup of shore excursions like touring the once-buried city of Pompeii), as well as Spain’s ornate Palma De Mallorca—all in one trip.
4. From Stonehenge To Spanish Pyramids
History buffs can hop on board Independence of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas to sail the Mediterranean for seven to 14 nights—leaving from Southampton, England and stopping in the Spanish Canary Islands as well as other islands, like Madeira, Portugal.
While in Southampton, it’s easy to book an excursion to the sacred Stonehenge site before setting sail. While in the Canary Islands, you can trace the footprints of the adventurer Thor Heyerdahl to nearby ancient pyramids of unknown origin or explore an otherworldly volcanic crater that’s been filled by underground seawater.
5. Fjords And More
Departing from the colorful coast of Copenhagen, Denmark, Serenade of the Seas will take you on a culture-rich adventure through Norway and the steep narrow inlets and high cliffs that line the coast. Stops along the way highlight the medieval architecture of cities like Bergen, a port dating to 1070.
You can dive into even more of Scandinavia on Vision of the Seas, which includes visits to the Swedish capital of Stockholm, the architectural grandeur of St. Petersburg, and the Finnish capital of Helsinki, where you can tour the popular Lutheran Cathedral by land and sea, or sample Finnish vodka from a glass carved from a block of ice.
Inspired? Explore our full roster of cruise itineraries here.
