The 2027 Royal Caribbean President's Cruise is Heading to the Greek Isles
The annual President's Cruise is the highlight of the year for the most dedicated Royal Caribbean cruisers. It is a week filled with exclusive events and high energy. You get a ship full of people who share a serious passion for vacationing. The 2027 edition of this massive loyalty celebration is officially crossing the pond to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
What Changed
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that the upcoming 2027 week long President's Cruise will take place on the Odyssey of the Seas. It will be setting sail on September 19, 2027. The 7 night itinerary will depart from Rome and visit the Greek Isles and Southern Italy. This is a major shift from the usual Caribbean based loyalty sailings.
The Odyssey of the Seas is a fantastic Quantum Ultra class ship. She is a massive destination level ship, but at a capacity of around 4,200 passengers, she is quite a bit smaller than the massive Oasis or Icon class ships. Taking a ship of this size and filling it with the most loyal Crown & Anchor members will be incredible. Putting all of that in the Mediterranean is going to create a truly unique atmosphere.
What It Means For You
Your logistics just became much more complicated if you want to be part of this sailing. A European itinerary means you are no longer just looking at a quick domestic flight down to Florida. You have to factor in transatlantic airfare, which has remained pretty steep. You also have to consider the physical toll of long travel days.
A President’s Cruise gets completely taken over by Crown & Anchor loyalists. You can expect surprise events and exclusive Q&A sessions with executives like CEO Michael Bayley. You will see a level of onboard energy that simply does not happen on a standard European itinerary. You will have to balance that onboard excitement with the reality of European port days though. Stops in places like Santorini and Naples are often exhausting and walking heavy excursions. Make sure your walking shoes have plenty of tread left.
Chief Matt's Take
You might be strategically using your limited vacation days away from the office. You might be a retiree with all the time in the world. Either way, you have to protect your investment by planning ahead.
I have an absolute golden rule for European cruises. Do not fly in on the day of the cruise. Honestly, avoid flying in just one day before if you can help it. Give yourself at least two full days in Rome before you board the Odyssey of the Seas. Transatlantic flights are infamous for delays. Getting there early gives your body a fighting chance against jet lag, which is even more important.
The President's Cruise is packed with exclusive evening events and late night parties. You are going to sleep right through the perks you traveled all that way to enjoy if you board the ship exhausted. Fly in early so you can get some rest and get the maximum value out of this unique trip.
If you are planning an upcoming cruise, check out our full deck tour of the Ovation of the Seas over on the Ports and Pensions YouTube channel. It is a Quantum class sister ship to Odyssey and shares a nearly identical layout, so the tour will show you exactly what to expect. Subscribe so you do not miss our next video.
