Dominica Opens Cruise Season With Nearly 270 Calls Forecast
Rhapsody of the Seas has seven additional Dominica visits scheduled through the end of 2026, while Vision of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas will call at Roseau in winter.
Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas opened Dominica’s 2026-27 cruise season on October 8, 2026, docking at the Roseau Cruise Ship Pier. Discover Dominica expects nearly 270 ship calls and more than 475,000 visitors over the season.
The forecast compares with 190 calls and 236,288 cruise passengers in the 2022-23 season, while passenger arrivals reached 306,601 in 2023-24. The new schedule includes repeat Royal Caribbean visits and the debut of MSC World Europa, which will become the largest cruise ship to call at Dominica.
Discover Dominica said it looked forward to welcoming passengers and “creating opportunities across our tourism sector.”
Dominica recorded 375,646 cruise passengers in calendar-year 2025, its highest annual total since 2011. That figure covers a different reporting period from the seasonal forecast.
Rhapsody’s opening voyage
The opening call took place during a seven-night Southern Caribbean voyage sailing roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The itinerary also called at Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands before returning to Puerto Rico on October 10.
Tourism and maritime representatives attended an onboard ceremony during the Roseau visit. Participants included officials from Discover Dominica Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority, along with the ship’s agent. Dominica’s authorities and the ship’s officers exchanged plaques.
Royal Caribbean plans further Roseau calls
Rhapsody of the Seas has seven additional Dominica visits scheduled through the end of 2026. Royal Caribbean will also send Vision of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas to the Roseau Cruise Ship Pier during the winter.
Other operators scheduled to visit the destination include Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Silversea, Marella Cruises, AIDA Cruises, CFC and Windstar.
Larger vessel joins the season’s schedule
MSC World Europa measures 215,863 gross tons and accommodates approximately 5,252 passengers at double occupancy, with a maximum capacity of 6,762.
For its Caribbean deployment, MSC World Europa will take over itineraries originally announced for MSC Seaview.
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