Freedom of the Seas to Replace Mariner in Southampton

Royal Caribbean International has confirmed that Freedom of the Seas will take over from Mariner of the Seas for the 2027 summer season sailing out of Southampton, England.

As previously reported, Freedom of the Seas was expected to be reassigned after its original deployment plans were canceled. The 3,960-passenger ship, which entered service in 2006, is slightly larger than the Mariner and will now serve the UK market.

According to communications sent to booked guests, Freedom of the Seas will operate from Southampton on the same scheduled dates originally planned for Mariner of the Seas. However, some itineraries have been revised, with certain ports of call modified or removed.

From May through October 2027, the ship will offer a range of cruises to destinations across Northern and Western Europe.

“As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process, which sometimes requires flexibility due to scheduling, port agreements or operational needs, the Mariner of the Seas will be redeployed for our summer 2027 season,” Royal Caribbean in its statement.

“We know how much effort goes into planning your vacation and apologize for the inconvenience,” the company added.

Passengers impacted by the change have been given several options:

Transfer their booking to another Royal Caribbean sailing, with change fees waived, though fare differences may apply
Cancel their reservation for a full refund
Remain on the updated sailing and be automatically reassigned to a comparable stateroom on Freedom of the Seas

While Royal Caribbean has not officially announced a full replacement deployment for Mariner of the Seas, the ship is currently scheduled to reposition to the Mediterranean ahead of the 2027 summer season.

The 17-night transatlantic voyage will depart from New Orleans on April 24, 2027, and includes stops in Morocco and Spain, such as Casablanca, Tangier, and Málaga, before arriving in Barcelona.