MS Rhapsody of the Seas
A Vision-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Rhapsody of the Seas is a Vision-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International, a cruise brand within Royal Caribbean Group. Built and delivered in 1997, the vessel was designed as a mid-sized ship combining ocean voyages with a broad selection of onboard dining, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation options. Its scale places it between smaller, more destination-focused ships and the very large resort-style vessels that later became common in the cruise industry. The ship has served a highly international itinerary network during its operating life. For its first several years it sailed from Galveston, Texas, establishing a U.S. Gulf Coast presence. In 2007 it undertook a major repositioning voyage through the South Pacific to Australia, where it remained for part of the season before moving into Asian markets. During that period, cruises operated from ports including Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Busan. It later returned to the United States for Alaska sailings from Seattle, followed by seasonal deployments from Sydney and other Australian ports. Rhapsody of the Seas continued to shift between regional markets as Royal Caribbean adjusted its fleet deployment. It operated its final Australian season in the 2014–2015 winter before repositioning to Europe and beginning Mediterranean cruises from Rome in April 2015. In the following winter it sailed from São Paulo, Brazil. After the 2016 European summer, it moved to Tampa for Western Caribbean itineraries, then spent the 2017 summer season sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on voyages to the Bahamas and Canada/New England before returning to Tampa. The vessel received a substantial dry-dock refurbishment in March 2012. The project reportedly added cabins, an outdoor movie screen near the pool, new dining venues, and a nursery. A further retrofit was completed in December 2016, although public reference material does not specify its scope or cost. Routine maintenance and cosmetic and technology upgrades were undertaken during a Cádiz, Spain, dry dock in late 2019 without a major reconfiguration. The ship's public history also includes several serious incidents, including passenger disappearances, a reported sexual assault involving a crew member, overboard deaths, weather-related damage, and a COVID-19 exposure report during the 2020 suspension of cruising. These events form part of the vessel's documented operational record but do not define its core commercial proposition. In October 2023, the ship was chartered by the United States government to help evacuate U.S. citizens and their family members from Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza war. Rhapsody of the Seas therefore represents both a commercial cruise product and, on occasion, a government-chartered maritime transport asset.
History
Rhapsody of the Seas was built as a Vision-class cruise ship for Royal Caribbean International and entered service in 1997. The Vision class emphasized a relatively intimate shipboard experience while retaining the entertainment, dining, and recreational features associated with mainstream international cruising. As a mid-sized vessel, Rhapsody could be deployed across a broad range of ports and seasonal markets. For approximately six years after entering service, the ship sailed from Galveston, Texas. In autumn 2007 it began a world repositioning voyage through the South Pacific to Australia. It spent two months in Australia and then expanded into Asian operations, offering cruises from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Busan. For summer 2008, the ship moved to Seattle for Alaska cruises before returning to Sydney for the 2008–2009 Australian winter season. The ship's international deployment continued over the following years. Its last Australian season took place in winter 2014–2015. In April 2015 it repositioned to Europe and operated from Rome, serving Mediterranean destinations. During the 2015–2016 winter it was based in São Paulo, Brazil. After its 2016 summer season, it moved to Tampa for Western Caribbean cruises. It then spent the summer of 2017 operating from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, with itineraries to the Bahamas and Canada/New England, before returning to Tampa. Rhapsody of the Seas underwent a major dry-dock refurbishment in March 2012 at a reported cost of US$54 million. The work added passenger cabins, an outdoor movie screen near the pool, new dining spaces, and a nursery. Another retrofit was completed in December 2016, but the available reference material does not identify its cost or detailed scope. In late 2019, a dry dock in Cádiz, Spain, provided routine maintenance, cosmetic work, and technology upgrades rather than a major redesign. The vessel has also been associated with several notable incidents. In 1998, passenger Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared while the ship was near Curaçao, and the case remained unresolved. A 2010 report concerned the alleged rape of a teenage passenger by a crew member. Other incidents included a passenger fatality after going overboard in 2013, structural and cabin damage caused by a rogue wave in 2016, and severe listing during high winds later that year. In 2019, a crew member died after going overboard in Dubrovnik; the company's description of the death as suicide was disputed by the family. The ship's operating history intersected with the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, when the CDC reported a positive test within 14 days of a passenger's disembarkation and the wider cruise sector faced a U.S. no-sail order. In October 2023, Rhapsody of the Seas was used for a non-standard public-service role when it was chartered by U.S. authorities to evacuate American citizens and their families from Israel. This episode demonstrated the operational flexibility of a large passenger vessel beyond conventional vacation cruising.
- 2023
Chartered for Israel evacuation
[1]U.S. authorities charter the ship to evacuate American citizens and their families from Israel.
- 2019
Receives Cádiz maintenance dry dock
[1]Routine maintenance, cosmetic improvements, and technology upgrades are completed in Cádiz, Spain.
- 2017
Operates from Cape Liberty
[1]The ship serves the Bahamas and Canada/New England from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, before returning to Tampa.
- 2016
Completes a further retrofit
[1]A retrofit is completed in December, though the available source does not provide detailed specifications.
- 2015
Repositions to the Mediterranean
[1]The ship ends its final Australian season and moves to Europe for cruises departing from Rome.
- 2012
US$54 million dry-dock refurbishment
[1]A major refit adds cabins, a poolside outdoor cinema screen, dining areas, and a nursery.
- 2008
Begins Alaska season from Seattle
[1]The ship operates summer Alaska cruises from Seattle before returning to Sydney for the following winter season.
- 2007
Repositions to Australia and Asia
[1]After years sailing from Galveston, the ship travels through the South Pacific to Australia and subsequently begins Asian departures from several major ports.
- 1997
Enters service
[1]The Vision-class Rhapsody of the Seas is built and enters service for Royal Caribbean International.
Products and positioning
A mid-sized, internationally deployed cruise ship offering a balance of onboard amenities, seasonal itineraries, and access to ports that may be less practical for the largest cruise vessels.
Passenger cruising · 1997
Cruise vacations
Rhapsody of the Seas sells access to multi-day cruise vacations combining transportation between ports with accommodation, meals, entertainment, recreation, and shore excursions. Its mid-sized Vision-class format supports a varied itinerary schedule while offering onboard facilities such as dining venues, pool areas, entertainment spaces, and family-oriented services.
Cruise routes · 1997
Regional cruise itineraries
Over its operating life, the ship has served numerous regional programs, including Western Caribbean, Bahamas, Canada/New England, Alaska, Mediterranean, Australian, South Pacific, Asian, and Brazilian itineraries. These programs have changed according to season, port availability, and Royal Caribbean's fleet deployment strategy.
Chartered passenger transport · 2023
Government-chartered evacuation transport
In October 2023, the vessel was chartered by U.S. authorities to transport American citizens and their families out of Israel. This was a public-service and emergency-transport deployment rather than a conventional retail cruise offering.
Controversies
2019
Disputed account of crew member's death
After a crew member died overboard in Dubrovnik, Royal Caribbean described the death as suicide, while the family disputed that characterization.
2010
Reported sexual assault involving crew member
A teenage passenger reported being raped by a crew member during an Australia–New Zealand cruise.
1998
Unresolved passenger disappearance
Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared from the ship near Curaçao. The case remained unresolved after investigations did not establish whether she fell overboard or left voluntarily.
Brand decisions
2023
Emergency government charterOtherBackground
The outbreak of the Gaza war created a need to evacuate U.S. citizens and their families from Israel.
Action taken
The U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassy in Israel chartered the ship for evacuation transport.
Aftermath
The vessel temporarily operated in an emergency transport role rather than as a standard vacation cruise ship.
2016
Further retrofitStrategyBackground
The vessel received another update after its earlier major refurbishment.
Action taken
A retrofit was completed in December 2016, although the available reference does not specify its cost or detailed work scope.
Aftermath
Rhapsody of the Seas continued its seasonal deployment, including later service from Tampa and Cape Liberty.
2012
Major onboard product refurbishmentStrategyBackground
Royal Caribbean sought to refresh the ship's guest proposition and extend the usefulness of an older Vision-class vessel.
Action taken
The company carried out a reported US$54 million dry-dock refit, adding cabins, dining areas, a nursery, and an outdoor movie screen.
Aftermath
The ship continued operating across international markets with an expanded and updated onboard offering.
Dry-dock refurbishment cost. US$54 million (March 2012)
Recent events
- 2025
Passenger goes overboard during Puerto Rico call[1]
Other · Regulation
A passenger reportedly went overboard while the ship was docked in Puerto Rico. The account linked the event to gambling losses and an alleged failure to declare cash exceeding the U.S. reporting threshold; the passenger was later arrested.
- 2023
Ship chartered to evacuate U.S. citizens from Israel[1]
Other
The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Israel chartered Rhapsody of the Seas to evacuate U.S. citizens and their families from Israel after the outbreak of the Gaza war.
- 2020
COVID-19 case reported after passenger disembarkation[1]
Regulation · Other
During the cruise industry's COVID-19 suspension, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that at least one person tested positive within 14 days after disembarking from the ship following a voyage the previous month.
- 2016
Rogue wave damages passenger cabins[1]
Other
A rogue wave struck the ship while it was sailing toward Santorini on 25 April. Windows in six passenger cabins were broken and some lower-deck staterooms were partially flooded. No serious injuries were reported, and the voyage continued.
- 2016
Strong winds cause severe listing and fixture damage[1]
Other
On 19 September, strong winds caused the vessel to list severely. Reports described broken windows in the Viking Crown Lounge and damage to other onboard fixtures. The cruise line reported no injuries and the ship continued to Santorini.
- 2013
Passenger dies after going overboard near New Caledonia[1]
Other
An Australian passenger went overboard during a round-trip cruise to New Caledonia. A search operation later recovered the passenger's body.
- 1998
Passenger disappears during voyage near Curaçao[1]
Other
Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared from the ship on 24 March 1998 while it was near Curaçao. Investigators did not establish that she had fallen overboard or voluntarily left, and she was not located.
Sources1 sources
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