Freedom of the Seas to spend 2017 in Europe.

In something of a departure for 2017, Royal Caribbean International will not be featuring one of it's ground breaking, Oasis class vessels sailing on the traditional, seven night summer cruise circuit out of Barcelona. This marks the first time in three seasons that one of these monster ships-currently the largest in the world- have not graced European ports in the high season.

Instead, the Florida based company will send over the Freedom of the Seas for a first ever season of European cruises out of the Spanish port. The first ship of a trio of 154,000 ton sister vessels, Freedom of the Seas has stayed in the Caribbean since her delivery from a Finnish shipyard in 2006.

Does the change matter much? Hardly, since the seven night Mediterranean cruises tend to be very port intensive, and there is little time actually spent cruising at all. And, with more pools, restaurants and entertainment than anybody could possibly take in during a week in any event, Freedom of the Seas still covers every lesiure and comfort base a Royal Caribbean passenger could want.

Freedom of the Seas kicks off her season with an eastbound transatlantic crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona, departing on April 23rd and arriving on May 7th. From there, the seven night cruises begin on a weekly basis.

Each of these takes Freedom of the Seas round trip from Barcelona to Marseille, Villefranche, La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Naples, with a last day spent at sea before returning to Barcelona. Twenty one of these cruises operate in all, punctuated by a one off, ten night round trip sailing on October 5th.

Following this first European deployment, the ship leaves Barcelona on a fourteen night crossing to her winter base back in Fort Lauderdale, arriving in the Florida port on November 5th to begin her Caribbean season.

These summer cruises are a great choice for familes, especially as they cover the traditional school holidays, as well as couples, groups of friends, or anyone celebrating a special anniversary. With flight times from the UK to Barcelona of only around two hours, getting there and back is relatively easy from all over the country as well.

And for anyone wanting the luxury of time to truly relax at sea, both of the fourteen night crossings are real bargains in their own right, offering literally the best of both worlds.