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Why should i book a royal caribbean cruise.

If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation, Royal Caribbean cruises are a perfect choice. Royal Caribbean is one of the best cruise lines in the industry, with a successful history of providing excellent service and luxurious experiences. The Royal Caribbean cruise vacations take you to some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating destinations. They’re sure to have features to please everyone in your group.

How to find the best Royal Caribbean cruise deals?

There are many different Royal Caribbean cruise deals to choose from depending on your destination and the experiences you would most like to enjoy. These deals let you include additional features for a lower price to make your vacation even more comfortable. You can find the best deals by searching for your destinations, and filtering by your desired cruise lines. This way only the companies you wish to travel with will appear. You can also sort your results by price and length of time.

How to choose your cruise with Royal Caribbean?

If you want to book aRoyal Caribbean cruise there are plenty of amazing Royal Caribbean cruise deals available. Add your destination, cruise vacation, and number of travelers. Then you can sort your results by price, duration, and departure date. You can also filter by cruise line, cruise ship and cabin type. You’ll find different amenities to suit your vacation needs on each Royal Caribbean cruise. For example, youth programs, fitness facilities, and spa facilities.

What do I need to look out for when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise?

When booking your 2025 Royal Caribbean cruise it’s important to consider a few practical tips. Check what the cost covers, and what you may need to budget for or need insurance for. Think about any amenities or onboard service you’ll require, depending on the length of the Royal Caribbean cruise. For example, youth programs, entertainment, fitness facilities, spa facilities, and room service. Secondly, research the weather conditions for your journey and destination. In some locations, summer and winter weather can vary a lot. Another tip is to go over the ship layout to see where you’d like to pick a cabin. Don’t forget to check visa requirements and any flight logistics.

When is the best time to book a Royal Caribbean cruise?

You can book a Royal Caribbean cruise as early as you like depending on availability. There’s a higher chance of finding cheaper Royal Caribbean cruise prices by booking between 6 months to 12 months in advance. But there are also lots of last-minute cruise deals closer to your preferred departure date, but this will depend on your flexibility.

Are last minute deals available with Royal Caribbean?

Yes, you can find last-minute Royal Caribbean cruises on Expedia. Add your travel dates to the cruise finder and sort your results to find the best price available. Cruise deal discounts are indicated by a green box above the Royal Caribbean cruise price.

How do I book a cruise with Royal Caribbean?

To book a Royal Caribbean cruise on Expedia select your Royal Caribbean destination and filter by cruise line. You can also browse our extensive selection of pre-selected cruise deals and find the perfect cruise for you. Once you have found the one you want, choose your dates and the port of departure. You can also refine your search by cabin experiences, or cruise ship. Each ship will have amenities to suit your needs including room service, spa facilities, and fitness facilities.

Is Royal Caribbean great value for money?

Royal Caribbean cruises are excellent value for money if you're looking for an enjoyable and relaxing cruise vacations. A Royal Caribbean cruise offers a high standard of service, a great selection of dining, modern amenities, friendly staff, and exciting activities. The exceptional quality of the experience is worth the price.

Can I cancel a Royal Caribbean cruise booking?

Yes, you can cancel your Royal Caribbean cruise. We all have unfortunate circumstances where we need to cancel a booking, so Expedia makes it easy to do so. All you have to do is head to your My Trips page on Expedia and click on the cancellation button. Another option is to contact customer service, where you’ll receive help with cancelling. Do make sure that you’re aware of the refund policy that applied to your booking, to see if you’re entitled to a full refund.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Guide

In the last 10 years, Royal has delivered the biggest and most modern ships in the market. From rock-climbing walls, crazy water slides and infinite food selection, Royal Caribbean continues to deliver a vacation of a lifetime.

Stemming from the idea that everybody should cruise, Royal offers cruise activities such as the Flowrider – Surf simulator and Zip-lining for active vacationers, as well as the adults-only Solarium for those who simply want to relax and unwind.

In 2019, Royal Caribbean revamped their private Island, presenting “Perfect Day at CocoCay” as a new port of call in many of their Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. This hidden island features an overwhelming number of activities such as the Daredevil’s Tower Aqua Park, Splash Summit, the Wave Pool and more!

The line also holds the distinction of debuting the Central Park and the Royal Promenade neighborhoods, two distinct areas found in many Royal ships, where guests can find many eateries, shops, bars and live entertainment throughout the day.

Royal Caribbean Articles

HOW TO SPEND THE PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY

Heather McManus - May 2, 2019

Royal Caribbean has taken the private island experience to the next level. Check out all the amplified awesomeness that make this private island a must see port of call.

View Article

YOUR GUIDE TO WHEN CRUISES WILL RESUME SAILING

Expedia - April 16, 2021

Cruise lines continue to adapt their sailing plans to these measures with diligence and enthusiasm and are beginning to announce sailings dates for a return to the sea. Want to be prepared to sail too? Here is everything you need to know about the restart of cruising.

4 REASONS ROYAL CARIBBEAN MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU

Heather Mcmanus - February 2, 2020

The megaship vacation style isn’t necessarily for everyone, but if you’re considering hopping onboard one of Royal Caribbean’s 26 ships, here are four reasons this cruise line could be the right fit for you.

Royal Caribbean Ships

• Anthem of the Seas
• Empress of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Rhapsody of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas

More Cruise Lines to Explore

• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Azamara Club Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruise Lines
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Uniworld River Cruises
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Viking River Cruises

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Fuel supplement may apply. Savings advertised are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings.

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Royal Caribbean

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Royal Caribbean fleet

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RCI (Royal Caribbean International) is a subsidiary company and largest brand of RCG (Royal Caribbean Group, fka RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd). This Norwegian-American corporation is currently ranked the world's second-largest passenger shipping company (after Carnival Corporation /39% market share). However, RCG owns the world's biggest passenger ships . As of 2020, RCG controlled ~24% of the global ship cruising market (fleet passenger capacity), had full ownership of 4 brands (RCI, Celebrity , Silversea , Azamara ), 49% stake in Pullmantur (51% owned by Springwater Capital), 50% stake in TUI Cruises (50% owned by TUI AG), 19% stake in Wamos Air (fka Air Pullmantur).

Company History

RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (royalcaribbeangroup.com / renamed in 2020 from RCCL-"Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd") is based in Miami (Florida USA) and incorporated in Liberia. The company was formed in 1997 when RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line/1968-established) purchased Celebrity Cruises (1988-established). A decision was made to keep the two brands separate. As result, RCCL was re-branded RCI-Royal Caribbean International (RoyalCaribbean.com) and RCCL was founded as the parent company of RCI and Celebrity.

Royal Caribbean Group's current management team is led by Jason Liberty (RCG's Chairman, President, and CEO since January 2022) and includes Palle Laursen (RCG's Executive VP), Naftali Holtz (RCG's CFO), RCI's Michael Bayley (President and CEO), Jim Berra (Chief Marketing Officer, Senior VP Marketing), Vicki Freed (Senior VP Sales), Michael Goldner (VP Revenue Management), Jessie Ortiz (VP Finance and Administration), Gregory Purdy (Senior VP Marine Operations), Nick Weir (Senior VP Entertainment), Sean Treacy (Senior VP Hotel Operations), Laura Hodges Bethge (Senior VP Product Development), Bert Hernandez (President of Royal Caribbean China). RCG's Managing Director for China and Asia is Zinan Liu.

The name RCCL (initially "Royal Caribbean Cruise Line AS) was officially accepted in 1969 (on January 31st). Other suggested names for the company included "Pleasure Cruise Line" (PCL), "Holiday Cruise Line" (HCL), "Crown Cruise Line" (CCL), "Royal Caribbean Line" (RCL). RCCL's "crowned anchor" logo was designed by Morits Skaugen and accepted in March (1969).

Around 55% of RCI's total revenue comes from the USA. The brand's other major markets are Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. As of 2020, RCI ships visit a total of 322 call ports worldwide, offering 4500+ shore excursions through local tour companies.

Since 2017, Royal Caribbean has joint ownership of Grand Bahama Shipyard (Freeport) , where major drydock refurbishments and ship maintenance works take place.

Company changes 2024

In January, Jason Liberty was appointed as the Chairman of CLIA's Board of Directors (CLIA/Cruise Lines International Association). Also in January was RCG's ever-strongest booked position (as both pricing and volume/staterooms), with North America being the primary source market (~80%) and the Caribbean being RCI's most demanded region.

In March, RCI introduced fleetwide a third (Middle) dinner time, added in between the traditional two dining times in the MDRs/main restaurants (Early/5 pm or Late/8 pm). The exact Middle dinner time depends on ship/itinerary, starting sometime around 7 pm.

In late-March 2024, RCG announced plans for Royal Beach Club Cozumel . Scheduled for opening and inauguration in 2026, the exclusive destination will feature several beaches (including adults-only and suite guests-only), kids' playgrounds, freshwater pools, various drinking and dining venues, live music and entertainment.

Company changes 2023

In January RCI opened a sales office in Limassol Cyprus and Spectrum OTS was reflagged from Bahamas to Cyprus.

Since January 2023, RCI's onboard messaging system is complimentary (provided free of charge fleetwide/via Royal App) regardless of cabin category and during the entire voyage. The service used to cost US$2 per day per device.

Since March 2023, RCI provides fleetwide once-per-day cabin housekeeping service to all staterooms in non-suite categories. The service is provided either in the morning or in the afternoon (at the passenger's discretion).

There are rumors that RCI may bring back the RFID bracelets (aka WOW bands) fleetwide. They were reintroduced in early 2023 (on all OASIS- and QUANTUM Class boats) at the cost of US$10 per bracelet. WOW bands are still provided complimentary to all passengers occupying Sky Class and Star Class suites.

RCI announced that starting in April, the Sky Pad Bungee Trampoline will be removed fleetwide, and the facility will be replaced with a new venue (tba).

In 2023, the music clubs "Jazz on 4" of all OASIS-class liners were converted into non-smoking Casino Rooms. Each Casino Royale Non-Smoking is fitted with 40-46x slot machines, 3x gambling tables (1x blackjack table, 2x 3-card poker tables), a kiosk and a cashier window.

On August 25th, RCI announced the exclusive partnership with Inter Miami CF (2018-established soccer club) to become its Official Vacation Partner. In July, Lionel Andres Messi (1987-born Argentine footballer) joined Inter Miami and the club won "2023 Leagues Cup" (an international tournament between MLS and Liga MX/held in Jul 21-Aug 19). 2023 Leagues Cup's 47 teams played at 29 stadiums (77 matches, 251 goals) and Messi was the top-scorer (with 10 goals).

Since October 2023, the Diamond Lounge has been renamed Crown Lounge (fleetwide).

On November 11th (2023), RCI's daily gratuities per person (automatically charged/both adults and kids) were increased to US$18 (Junior Suites and below categories) and US$20.50 (Grand Suite and above categories).

In November RCG appointed Diane Chiang as APAC (Asia-Pacific) Sales Director. She joined RCG in 2007 (as Business Analyst) and was later promoted to Revenue Manager.

In December RCI ended its partnership with Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc (1978-founded company that manufactures premium ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet). On 13 RCI ships, the Ben & Jerry's ice cream shops (previously offering the Vermont brand) now offer in-house brand ice cream.

In December, it was rumored that RCG was negotiating to purchase Freeport's Xanadu Beach Hotel. The deal could include a land area of 40-50 acres (16-20  hectares/0,16-0,2 km2) in Freeport Harbour. The Xanadu Beach Hotel (1968-built, capacity 215 rooms) in 1972 was purchased by Howard Robard Hughes Jr (1905-1976) and also included an 80-berth yacht marina.

In 2023, RCI's 26 vessels served 6+ million travelers (~23% increase from 2022's 4,6M) and visited 252 call ports (230 in 2022). The most visited were Nassau (Bahamas) and Cozumel (Mexico), both received 3+ million tourists.

Company changes 2022

On September 7th (2022), RCI's daily gratuities per person were increased to US$16 (interior, oceanview, balcony staterooms/Junior Suites and below categories) and to US$18,50 (Grand Suite and above categories).

On August 30th, RCG signed a deal with SpaceX/Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (2002-founded by Elon Musk) for using Starlink's satellites to provide faster and low-latency Internet connections across the global fleet (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, and Silversea ships). Trials on the new Starlink Internet services were successfully conducted on Freedom OTS in June. Starlink Internet installations were scheduled to be completed fleetwide in 2023-Q1.

On June 15th, RCG signed with Eagle LNG Partners LLC (Eagle LNG) a contract for providing LNG (liquefied natural gas) and bunkering services to LNG-powered RCI liners, the first of which is Icon OTS. The gas supply is sourced from Eagle LNG's facilities in JAXPORT-Jacksonville Florida , shipped throughout the Caribbean and bunkered by Eagle LNG-owned newbuild vessels.

In March was launched the online booking service "Royal Caribbean Hotels" via partnership with Priceline (1997-founded online booking agency specializing in travel-related products/flights, hotels, cruises). The program (available only for residents of the USA, Canada, and Mexico) allows booking pre-/post-cruise hotel stays (in all RCI ports, including in Europe, Asia-Pacific. Caribbean-Americas) with exclusive discount rates and the guarantee that RCI will cover any hotel cancellation fees if the voyage is canceled or the itinerary modified.

Company changes 2021

RCG's 2021-Q3 report included Adjusted Net Loss USD 1,2B ($4,91 per share), liquidity ~$4,1B ($3,3B cash), 40 ships in operation (~65% fleet capacity), ~USD 2,8B in cruise deposits (of which ~1/3rd in FCCs/future credits).

In October was announced RCI's first " World Cruise " scheduled for Serenade OTS . The 274-night itinerary (Dec 10, 2023, thru Sept 10, 2024) is roundtrip from PortMiami and visits 150 ports/islands (57 new for RCI), 65 countries, 7 continents.

Since 2021, on all RCI ships passengers can use for US$ 2 per person per day a "guest-to-guest chat" feature (part of the Royal App) without purchasing Internet packages. The feature allows chatting between guests one-to-one, as well as group chats.

In September RCG signed with USVA (US Virgin Islands) an MoU for two future port developments - Crown Bay (St Thomas Island) and Frederiksted (St Croix Island). The agreement included increased calls to both islands and guaranteed by RCG minimum revenues.

In September RCG signed with TraceSafe a 2-year contract for "Tracelet" (trademarked by RCG in October 2020). These are wearable tracing bands used on RCG ships for identifying the close contacts of a COVID-positive passenger/crew. The technology was introduced on Quantum OTS when the boat restarted operations from Singapore.

On May 20th RCI patented "WATER-BASED PYROTECHNIC ILLUSION". The patent (number 20210146396) is about "systems and methods for firework water illusions" and includes a device with at least 1 rotating nozzle spraying water in a radial direction, with a system to illuminate the water and create an illusion of pyrotechnics.

RCG's 2020-Q4 financial report revealed US GAAP Net Loss of USD 5,8 billion (EUR 4,774B, or US$27,05 per share) and Adjusted Net Loss of USD 3,9 billion (EUR 3,21B, or US$18,31 per share). In 2020, RCG raised ~USD 9,3B (~EUR 7,655B) through bond issuances, loans, public common stocks) and as of Dec 31 had liquidity ~USD 4,4B (EUR 3,62B, including $3,7B in cash-cash equivalents plus $0,7B from a year loan).

In mid-February RCG established a USD 40 million fund for USA-based qualifying travel agencies. The program allows 3-year, interest-free loans (max US$250,000) via CruisingPower.com.

On January 19th RCG announced an agreement to sell the brand Azamara Cruises for USD 201 million (~EUR 165,8 M / ~GBP 147,6 M / carve-out transaction) to Sycamore Partners. Sycamore Partners acquired the entire brand and its 3 ships, plus all the associated intellectual property rights and goodwill. The all-cash transaction was closed on March 19, 2021. Azamara's CEO (Carol Cabezas) was appointed President. The deal was assisted by Perella Weinberg Partners (financial advisor for RCG), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (legal counsel for RCG) and Kirkland & Ellis (legal advice to Sycamore).

After selling 8 ships - 3x Pullmantur (Horizon, Monarch, Sovereign), 3x Azamara (Quest, Journey, Pursuit), 2x RCI (Empress, Monarch), RCG's global fleet capacity decreased by 12316 berths (5984+2138+4194).

Company changes 2020

In February RCG purchased land ("multiple real estate parcels") on Paradise Island's (Bahamas) western coast, at the cost of ~USD 54 million (~EUR 50 million). In mid-March 2020 was announced RCI's second private resort property (after Fort James in St Johns Antigua ) - Royal Beach Club Bahamas (at Paradise Island , close to Nassau ).

On March 23rd RCG loaned USD 2,2 billion (~EUR 2,03 B) with maturity in March 2021 and an optional extension for 364 more days (till March 2022). With the new financing, RCCL now has USD 3,6+ billion of liquidity (cash deposits plus undrawn credit facilities). The money was secured term-loaned from 3 US banks (JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America Corporation, Goldman Sachs Group) plus the French banking group BNP Paribas.

On July 30th RCG was officially renamed to "Royal Caribbean Group". The logo was also changed.

In late-July RCI introduced "Muster 2.0" (patented, Internet-based safety drill conducted via the eMuster mobile app). The patent was filed on September 12, 2019 (issued March 3, 2020).

Company changes 2019

In April RCG partnered with IDEMIA (fka Morpho) - Paris-based French company specializing in security and identity solutions. In 2017, Morpho merged with Oberthur Technologies. IDEMIA's services will help speed up RCCL passenger disembarkation at select US homeports via the company's MFACE (high-speed 3D facial recognition) technology. The list of homeports, for now, includes NYC (Cape Liberty NJ) and PortMiami, with more Florida homeports to me added by the end of 2019. MFACE compares disembarking passenger's facial identity with those of embarking passengers, also matching against US Customs and Border Protection provided TVS (Traveler Verification Service). Passenger privacy is guaranteed as no photos are stored either by RCCL, IDEMIA or US Customs after the cruise's completion.

On June 4th the USA banned travel to Cuba (effective immediately). On June 5, RCCL officially canceled all pre-scheduled for 2019 Cuban cruises. On both affected RCI liners ( Majesty OTS and Empress OTS ) all Cuban ports were substituted with alternative Caribbean ports. All affected customers were provided with the option to either remain on the revised cruise and receive 50% refund (in OBC) or cancel the booking with a full refund.

In late-July on Symphony OTS was introduced "Fast Track" - expedited boarding program offered in all call ports of the current itinerary. Fast Track is available for passengers in Star-Sky Class suites, Pinnacle members, "The Key" (pre-purchased daily package that includes lunch at Chops Grille, Jamie's or Giovanni's specialty restaurants), disabled passengers, and families with strollers.

In October 2019 were open for booking RCI's new "Spa Cabins" offered fleetwide in the ship classes Radiance-Voyager-Freedom-Quantum-Quantum Ultra-Oasis. The new Spa staterooms (available since 2021) offer as bonus amenities priority Spa reservations, 50% discounted Spa treatments (1 per cabin), daily room service (coffee/tea), BOSE Bluetooth speaker, tranquil artworks (on the walls), plush bedding, feather pillows, upgraded bathroom amenities (Jacuzzi showerhead, premium brand toiletries, luxury slippers and bathrobes), cushioned balcony furniture, Welcome Aboard gift (fresh fruits).

In November RCI signed a 5-year partnership deal (until 2024) with Singapore Tourism Board (under Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry) and Changi Airport Group (Singapore airport operations and management). This 3-party deal is for promoting fly-cruises to Singapore mainly (from China, India, Southeast Asia, USA) on Quantum OTS with expected ~623,000 international tourists spending ~USD 430+ million on flight+cruise packages. This is ~60% growth in comparison to the previous tripartite partnership (2015-2018) when in Singapore was homeported Mariner OTS.

In December RCI sighed with Port Galveston an agreement for building Cruise Terminal 3. The new (USD 100 million) facility is scheduled for inauguration in November 2021.

Company changes 2018

Since March 2018, RCCL offers one login for RCI and Celebrity websites and mobile apps. The new policy allows one account to be used for loyalty program benefits, bookings, and reservations with both brands. Account security was also simplified and strengthened to ensure customers' personal data.

Since May 2018 fleetwide are used only cage-free eggs and gestation stall-free pork. By the year 2024, for all its USA-based ships, RCCL will purchase poultry only from GAP-certified producers/dealers. The corporation will require chickens to be slaughtered and processed in a manner that doesn't involve live dumping and shackling, thus eliminating conscious throat-slitting and scalding.

Since June 2018, RCI's ship bars serve cocktails with optional plastic straws (not by default) - a new policy aiming to reduce sea pollution. "Why no straws?" signs at onboard bars fleetwide now indicate that drink orders will not automatically receive a straw, but only upon request.

In June-July RCCL acquired 2/3 of the top-luxury brand Silversea . On June 14, 2018, RCCL and Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio (Silversea's majority stock owner) announced an agreement for RCCL to acquire 66,7% equity stake in Silversea, at purchase price ~USD 1 billion. At the time, Silversea was valued ~USD 2 billion. RCCL financed the deal (through debt) in October. In addition to the cash money, Lefebvre family received ~472,000 RCCL shares. With the addition of Silversea (4 expedition ships) and the newbuild Celebrity Flora (Galapagos) , RCCL's expedition fleet in 2019 grew to approx 2,5% of the corporation's combined fleet (compared to 0,5% in 2018). By combined expedition cruise berths, RCCL is ranked the world's 4th largest operator - following Ponant , Hurtigruten and Lindblad . In July 2020, RCCL-Royal Caribbean Group purchased Silversea's remaining shares from Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd. The purchase was in the form of 5,2 million RCL shares (~2,5% of RCCL's total common stock).

(deposit program changes) Since November 2018, RCI customers booking non-refundable deposit fares don't receive onboard credit (US$100) per stateroom. Instead, they are promised the lowest pricing on the fare.

RCCL has a call center in Springfield OR, operated since 2006. The customized office resembles a cruise ship. In 2014, the company employed there over 700 people. In August 2018 was announced that RCCL plans to outsource most of its Springfield jobs (~90%, excepting only sales employees) to the company's call centers in Jamaica and Guatemala. This means that US sales agents will do the bookings, but when customers call back with issues they will be re-routed overseas.

On October 1st RCI announced that the company's 50th birthday cruise (themed "50 Years Bold Birthday Cruise") will be held on Symphony OTS (November 2-9, 2019). The 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary from PortMiami visited St Maarten, San Juan Puerto Rico, CocoCay Bahamas, and featured unique programming, special events, surprise guest performers.

All RCG-owned vessels are serviced by Wartsila ( Helsinki Finland -based corporation, marine equipment manufacturer and maritime services provider). In 2018, RCCL and Wartsila extended their service agreement to 2028. Under the agreement, Wartsila optimizes machinery efficiency through improved Turbocharger maintenance, also provides OEM (original equipment manufacturer) spare parts, workshop services, technical assistance for the entire RCCL fleet. The deal covers a total of 196 marine diesel engines on 46 vessels. Most RCCL liners are equipped with Wartsila-developed monitoring technology sending real-time engine data to a land-based center for analysis.

Royal Caribbean International (RCI)

Royal Caribbean is in the top 3 "best family cruise lines" (together with CCL-Carnival and DCL-Disney) and owns the world's largest and some of the most popular ships for young adults, kids, and teens. As a mass-market company, RCI is recommended mostly for young and middle-aged, active and sports-oriented travelers.

A signature feature of RCI ships is the "Viking Crown Lounge", introduced in 1970 with RCI's first ship MS Song of Norway (2013-scrapped as "Formosa Queen"). As RCI ships grew in size, this top-deck observation lounge also grew. On the VISION-Class ships (1995) its location was changed - from forward to midship-aft (near the smokestacks) allowing more space to be allocated for new amenities and entertainment.

In 2014 and 2015, RCI introduced the Dynamic Dining concept that replaced the Main Dining Room concept on QUANTUM-class ships.

• RCI vessels with Dynamic Dining don't have an MDR/Main Dining Room. Instead, they feature complimentary table service restaurants, each with its own theme and menu: "The Grande", "American Icon Grill", "Chic" and "Silk".
• Suite passengers have access to "Coastal Kitchen" (complimentary restaurant). Similar to the Freestyle concept on NCL Norwegian , passengers make reservations for their restaurant choice for each night in advance.
• Each venue maintains the same staff and menu throughout the cruise. Anthem OTS has a "Dynamic Dining Classic" option, allowing guests to rotate between dining venues but keep the same waiter, assistant waiter, and tablemates.

The company had planned to extend the Dynamic Dining to OASIS-class liners. During 2014-2015 drydock refurbishments , decor and signage were installed on the 3 levels of the MDRs of Allure OTS and Oasis OTS to prepare them to function as separate restaurants ("The Grande", "Silk", "American Icon Grill"), although the 3 levels continued operating as a single MDR. The suite-only restaurant Coastal Kitchen was also installed. However, on July 15, 2015, RCI announced that the dynamic dining concept would not be rolled out fleetwide.

Besides the multi-deck MDRs, RCI also features the "Chops Grille" (steakhouse(, "Windjammer Cafe" (Lido buffet restaurant), Johnny Rockets, Izumi (Japanese/Asian), poolside bars, 24-hour Room Service. "Cupcake Cupboard" is a ship bakery (available on the newest and refurbished ships) offering 30 gourmet cupcakes. Select RCI ships offer Starbucks Coffee at Sea.

RCI's new alcohol policy allows passengers to bring their own wine onboard and consume it in cabins (for free) or for a corkage fee (additional charge) in public areas.

(trademarks) New services, venues, trademarked ship names

Note: OTS="Of The Seas"

In January 2017 were trademarked (USPTO-registered) the ship names Valhalla OTS, Sunrise OTS, Icon OTS , Symphony OTS . On September 15, 2014, RCCL trademarked the ship names Spectrum OTS , Harmony OTS , Emblem OTS, Joy OTS, Apex OTS. In September 2015 were abandoned the trademarks Emblem OTS, Passion OTS, Pulse OTS, Apex OTS, Joy OTS, Spectrum OTS . Other currently trademarked by Royal Caribbean ship names include Gallant OTS, Phenom OTS, Valhalla OTS, Sunrise OTS.

In September 2018 were trademarked 3 ship names (could be used for future newbuilds) - Eon OTS, Gallant OTS, Phenom OTS. In October was trademarked Metropolis OTS.

In September 2018 was trademarked the OASIS-Class ships' smokestack area (located top-deck midship). The design features a crown-shaped bottom section with 2 slanted funnels above. In October 2018 was trademarked the hull's oblong-shaped stern. The design features AquaTheater Suites (with balconies), Ultimate Abyss (2 cascading waterslides) and RCCL's logo. In December 2018 was trademarked the name "Fly Rider" (amusement park ride/similar to a zip-line roller coaster ride).

In October 2019, RCI partnered with Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park FL) for an exclusive beer label available only on CocoCay Island. The private beer label ("Chilla Thrilla") was trademarked on July 8, 2019. The craft beer (5% ABV) is a tropical ale (with mango and guava) packaged in 12-oz cans and is offered in different labels themed after CocoCay's areas.

In April 2020, RCG filed a trademark application for "Seaface" - its own sanitary mask brand ("medical apparatus") intended for cruise ship services.

In October 2020 were trademarked the names of 4 new shipboard venues - Vue Bar, Cask & Clipper (pub restaurant?), Wonder Playscape (kids playground?), Cantina Fresca (Mexican food bar).

In January 2020 were trademarked 15x names for new services and shipboard venues - Go Green, Roosevelt's Table, Royal Dueling Pianos, Royal Suite Club, Cloud 17 (adults-only sundeck), Lou's Jazz Club, Playaway Park (kids), The Overlook, The Yard, The Lemon Post (bar), Absolute Zero (ice bar), Challenger's (bar), Surfside (bar), Salty Sip (bar), AquaDome (glass roof over the pool deck).

In March 2021 was trademarked the phrase "America's Cruise Line" (software-related).

In October 2021 were trademarked 3x shipboard BBQ restaurant names ("The Mason Jar", "Savannah's Table", "Palmetto Room"), as well as "RCTV" (in-cabin TV programming), "Cruise Compass" (daily onboard newspaper), "RCG" (abbrev) and "Royal Caribbean Group" (shipowner).

In November 2021 were trademarked 6x names for ship waterslides - "Perfect Storm", "Hurricane Hunter", "Category 6", "Pressure Drop", "Storm Surge", "Storm Chasers".

In December 2021 were trademarked 23x possible ship names (all with OTS) - Magnificence, Melody, Fantasia, Paradise, Vibrance, Splendor, Grace, Sanctuary, Illumination, Unity, Intrigue, Aria, Awe, Aura, Eternity, Eden, Euphoria, Bliss, Utopia , Marvel, Nirvana, Haven, Divine. Also was trademarked "Royal Beach Club" (Nassau).

In January 2022 was trademarked "Accessory Place" (retail shop services that include selling jewelry) and "Cruiseverse" (virtual cruise ship services).

In June 2022 were trademarked the ship names Hero OTS, Majesty OTS, Marquee OTS, Monarch OTS, Nova OTS, Splendor OTS, Star OTS , Sun OTS, Titan OTS.

In September 2022 was trademarked "Icon of Vacations".

RCI cruise ships classes

RCI's fleet has vessels in the following classes:

Note: All vessels have an Outdoor Movie Theater (poolside large LED screen for movies), Solarium (adults-only pool deck), Aqua Park, Rock Climbing Wall, FlowRider (surf simulator), 3D Cinema, Virtual Balcony Staterooms.

• "Oasis Class" ships (Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony) feature Neighborhoods, AquaTheater, 3D Movies, Waterslides (Harmony, Symphony), Zip Line, 2 FlowRiders, 2 Climbing Walls, Carousel, Ice-Skating Rink, Loft Suites (2-deck cabins).
• "Icon Class" is a new design vessel with GT ~250K tons and passenger capacity 5600. The design is represented by 3x units ( Icon OTS , Apex OTS, Joy OTS) and features 8x neighborhoods and numerous fleet-firsts in technologies, venues, amenities, cabin types and categories.
• "Quantum Class" (Quantum, Anthem, Ovation) and "Quantum Ultra Class" (Spectrum, Odyssey) feature North Star (top-deck, mobile observation capsule/costs $25 pp), RipCord by iFLY (sky-diving simulator/$55 pp), Seaplex (large indoor sports complex), Two70 Lounge (3-deck high), Loft Suites, Music Hall (2-deck venue).
• "Freedom Class" (ships Freedom, Liberty, Independence) features Ice-Skating Rink, Royal Promenade (indoor street).
• "Radiance Class" (ships Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade, Jewel) features Glass Elevators, Gyroscopic Self-Leveling Pool Tables, Mini-Golf Course.
• "Vision Class" ships (Grandeur, Rhapsody, Enchantment, Vision) is the fleet's oldest, excepting only the "Sovereign Class" ships Majesty and Empress.

The Voyager-class, Freedom-class, and Oasis-class vessels have Royal Promenade. It is a centerline promenade in a multi-deck Atrium with a pedestrian (shopping mall-like) area lined with restaurants and shops. At night, the Royal Promenade turns into an entertainment venue hosting live parades and dance parties. Royal Promenade's upper levels have "Promenade Staterooms" (each with a large window overlooking the promenade below).

All RCI ships have an Escape Room (team-building, adventure gaming experiences/$20 pp), Flowriders (surfing simulator/private lessons cost $69-500), Gaming Arcades ($1-3 per game). Optional are the Behind the Scenes (ship tour/costs $49-129 pp), fitness classes ($12 pp), cooking classes ($35-70 pp).

The next aerial photo shows a VOYAGER-class ship (Adventure, Explorer, Mariner, Navigator, Voyager).

On February 18, 2019, RCI signed a shipbuilding agreement with STX France (Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard in St Nazaire ) for a 6th OASIS liner (yard's 23rd vessel built for RCG). The ship ( Utopia OTS ) has volume 236857 GT-tons, LOA 362 m (1188 ft) and 2834 cabins (capacity 5634-6788 passengers).

On April 24, 2019, STX France started construction works on the 5th OASIS unit (Wonder OTS/2022), and on July 1st, 2022, on the 6th unit (Utopia OTS/2024).

The next aerial photo shows an OASIS/OASIS PLUS-class ship as looked from above.

Instead of Royal Promenade, Quantum-class liners have "Royal Esplanade" - a 2-deck high shopping complex without any overlooking "Promenade cabins".

Royal Caribbean ships offer a wide list of onboard facilities, the main of which include Grand-style productions Theatre, Live Comedy Club, Disco/Nightclub, Casino Royale, Library. Sports facilities include Studio B/Ice-Skating Rink, Rock Climbing Wall, FlowRider/surfing simulator, a Multiple Sports Court, Walking/Jogging Track, Golf Simulator, ZIP-Line, H2O Zone (Waterpark with Waterslide), Adventure Beach. Only Quantum ships have Bumper Cars, Skydiving Simulator, North Star/rotational capsule.

In 2016, RCI entered the "Guinness Book of World Records" in the category "Highest Viewing Deck on a Cruise Ship". The record was because of the "North Star" glass-walled observation capsule rising over 300 ft (91 m) above sea level and rotating upwards and over the ship's sides providing 360-degree views.

Next photo shows an ICON-class ship.

Families cruising with infants and toddlers benefit from RCI's nursery programs "Royal Babies" and "Royal Tots". Supervised children's club activities are available by RCI's children's program "Adventure Ocean".

CocoCay Island refurbishments 2018-2019 expansion

Since 2015, RCCL/RCG invests huge money in the corporation's private Bahamian island CocoCay .

In March 2018 was announced a USD 200-million project (named "Perfect Day Island Collection") for developing private land destinations in the regions of the Caribbean, Asia, and Australia-Oceania. As part of this project, on CocoCay will be built unique water attractions.

Thrill Waterpark attraction has 2 water towers (Daredevil's Tower, Family Tower) with a total of 13 slides. The Daredevil's Tower complex consists of North America's tallest waterslide (named Daredevil's Peak, height 135 ft / 41 m), Dueling Demons (2 drop slides), Manta Raycers (2 high-speed slides), Screeching Serpent (fully vertical slide), Green Mamba (coiling slide), as well as Caribbean's largest wave pool (Adventure Pool ) with obstacle course (lily pads), rock-climbing wall, . The Family Tower complex consists of all 6 waterslides, including 1 tubed (The Twister, capacity 2 persons sharing 1 raft), 1 zero-gravity (The Slingshot, capacity 4 persons) and 1 racing (Splash Speedway, with 4 lanes).

Caribbean's biggest freshwater swimming pool (named Oasis Lagoon) has a swim-up bar and water loungers.

Caribbean's only Zip-line with water landing has length 1600 ft (488 m) and crisscrosses the island at heights up to 50 ft (15 m).

The Bahamas' highest vantage point (an attraction named "Up, Up and Away") is a helium balloon flying up to 450 ft (137 m) above ground.

Newly added amenities include wave runner and boat tours, snorkeling, private cabanas and daybeds for rental, several beach bars with upgraded menus.

CocoCay has 3 new beaches - Chill Island Beach (private cabanas, daybeds), South Beach (designed for beachside activities/volleyball, basketball, soccer, paddleboards, glass-bottom sea kayaks, zorbs, has bungalows, daybeds, teepees/cone-shaped tents) and Coco Beach Club (overwater cabanas/rentals are inclusive of 1 hammock, 1 waterslide, dedicated service by an attendant). The complex also has a freshwater infinity pool, full bar, restaurant.

In May 2018 were announced plans to build permanent accommodations on CocoCay allowing Suite passengers to stay on the island overnight (or longer). The concept includes premium cabanas serving passengers on any of the RCI ships calling at CocoCay.

In 2017-2018 was constructed a new pier (can handle RCI's largest boats), as well as a basketball court, bocce ball court, bowling court, volleyball nets, large-size pool table.

In 2016 CocoCay was upgraded with a swim-up bar at Barefoot Beach, new cabanas, new island dock (for tenders), 35 beach bungalows (capacity 6 persons each) at Barefoot Beach.

In 2015, the island was upgraded with new trams (quieter and taller) and was added a new / shorter tram route and a new freshwater shower (at Barefoot Beach).

(NEW) Lucaya Resort Bahamas

In March 2019, the joint venture company Holistica Ltd (RCCL and ITM Group / Mumbai India ) signed a letter of intent with The Bahamas government for the purchase of Grand Lucayan Resort (an all-inclusive resort complex) and redevelopment of the Bahamian cruise port Freeport Harbor. The 2-year, USD 195 million project includes Grand Lucayan Resort's purchase (USD 65 million) plus USD 135 million for development works. The new (RCL-exclusive) cruise port is expected to bring ~2 million additional tourists to Grand Bahama Island annually. The project includes the construction of a theme park and a 5-star hotel. Grand Lucayan Resort suffered significant damages during Hurricane Matthew (October 2016) and was forced to close 2/3 of its property.

On June 24, 2019, RCCL and ITM Group established the Miami-headquartered joint venture company "Holistica" which specializes in cruise port development projects worldwide. Holistica's first project was the USD 275 million Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport Bahamas . Developments by Holistica were also planned for Costa Maya (Mexico), Roatan Island (Honduras) and Kumamoto (Kyushu Island, Japan).

On March 2, 2020, RCCL officially announced Holistica's USD 300 million private cruise resort project "Lucaya Property". The investment includes redeveloping (expanding) the Freeport Cruise Terminal (to be renamed to "Harbour Village") and building a leisure complex with a large hotel (526 rooms), wellness facilities, shopping village, convention center (sized 40,000 ft2 / 3720 m2), theme park (with water slides, outdoor playgrounds, zip-lines).

Lucaya Property is approx 9 mi (15 km) west of Harbour Village (Freeport Cruise Terminal). At Harbour Village for tourists will be introduced new shopping and dining venues (bars, restaurants), live entertainment and nightlife programming, beach zones, new shore excursions, new transport infrastructure (serving ferries, buses, passenger vehicles). The Lucaya Property project is planned for completion in 2022-Q4.

RCI "VOOM" Internet

VOOM is the trademarked name of RCI's high-speed Internet service providing faster connectivity at sea, with almost the same Internet speeds as on land. The new satellite technology utilizes each ship specifically.

VOOM Internet has latency 120 ms, ping ~300 ms, download speed ~4,6 Mbps, upload speed ~5,2 Mbps. VOOM allows fast streaming of music and movies (incl YouTube, Netflix), uploading multiple (incl big-sized) pictures, also video chatting (FaceTime, Skype, conference calls), checking email, web surfing, stable and fast VPN connections. The onboard system is based on the 802.11b wireless connection (theoretical bandwidth peak of 11 Mbps).

• Onboard Internet access is integrated to the stateroom number and the personal onboard account. Following the log-on to the ship's wireless network "Royal WiFi", there is an option for creating an Internet account where the passenger can sign up for a particular Internet plan or pay by the minute. The charge is always applied to the cabin (onboard) account.
• While using the VOOM Internet package, passengers can switch between various mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops). However, the number of devices connected at the same time is limited by the Internet plan.
• The cruise ship also has several Internet workstations available for all passengers on an FCFS basis (a first-come-first-served).
• Among the cheaper alternatives to the VOOM are connecting onboard (while the ship is in ports of call) or ashore (in restaurants, bars, etc).

In August 2022 RCG signed a deal with SpaceX (2002-founded by Elon Musk) for using Starlink's satellites to provide faster and low-latency Internet fleetwide (RCI, Celebrity, and Silversea). The project was completed in 2023-Q1.

New Internet packages cost (2023 prices)

RCI's ship internet offering was revamped from only one plan into different per day packages with pricing based on the number of included devices. Two new packages are currently available for booking:

• Note: All below listed unlimited Internet package prices are CruisePlanner booking rates and include the 30% pre-cruise booking discount. Packages can be purchased onboard and also pre-purchased (before the cruise) via RCI's "Cruise Planner" booking system.
• "Voom Surf Voyage" is the "light package" providing high-speed Internet for general web browsing, e-mails and social media platforms (except video streaming). The "Voom Surf Voyage" Internet package cost (per day) depends on the number of mobile devices using it. "Voom Surf" pricing is as follows: $13 (1 device), $12 (2 devices), $10 (4 devices) and $20 (Single Day Pass per device / per day).
• "Voom Surf + Stream" is the "real deal", offering unlimited Internet activities, including high-speed video streaming (music, movies, video chatting, texting, VoIP apps /Internet phone calls). The "Voom Surf + Stream" Internet package cost (per day) also depends on the number of mobile devices included. Voom Surf + Stream pricing is as follows: $18 (1 device), $16 (2 devices), $14 (4 devices) and $28 (Single Day Pass per device / per day).

Occasionally, Royal Caribbean offers VOOM package discounts for passengers with pre-purchased online (via CruisePlanner) internet packages. Discounts are also offered for Royal Caribbean loyalty program members (Crown and Anchor Society) when the VOOM package is purchased onboard.

RCI's Cruise Planner packages & prices

Cruise Planner is an online booking system for adding/pre-purchasing shore excursions, specialty restaurants, beverage packages, internet packages, photo packages, gifts and gear, onboard activities (ship tour, special events), The Key (VIP access program), as well as making wellness reservations (massage and body therapies, treatments, teeth whitening, beauty services, fitness classes, personal training, etc).

Specialty restaurant dining packages currently offered by RCI include "Unlimited" (lunches, snacks, dinners), "3-Night" (3x dinners) and "Chops+1" (1x Chops Grille dinner plus 1x dinner at another restaurant).

Drink packages include Deluxe (all-inclusive), Refreshment (non-alcoholic) and Soda (unlimited refills with included a Coca-Cola souvenir cup).

The Key (VIP program offering exclusive onboard perks) must be purchased prior the voyage and is priced US$20-35 per person per day.

Arcade Gaming credit packages via CruisePlanner cost less ($20 vs $25, $40 vs $50, $80 vs $100).

Loyalty program (Crown and Anchor Society)

Through this program, regular customers accumulate points (booking 7-day and longer voyages) to become members and earn discounts and gifts.

Since January 2013, RCI's exclusive partnership with MGM Resorts International provides benefits to members of both companies' loyalty programs (Crown & Anchor Society/M life) and access and rewards at MGM Resorts' properties in the USA (casino gaming, hotel accommodations, dining, spa) and onboard RCI's liners. MGM Resorts' portfolio of resort brands includes properties in Las Vegas (Bellagio, MGM Grand, ARIA, Vdara, Mandalay Bay, Delano, The Mirage, Luxor, New York-New York, Excalibur, Park MGM, NoMad), Detroit (MGM Grand), Mississippi (Beau Rivage, Gold Strike Tunica ), Atlantic City NJ (Borgata), Oxon Hill MD (MGM National Harbor), Springfield MA (MGM Springfield).

GOLD Level (3-29 points)

Gold level members receive loyalty program-only benefits (Onboard Offers, Exclusive Rates, Desk for inquiries, member newsletter, exclusive email offers), priority notices (promo offers, new ships/itineraries), additional points (for bookings Suites and/or single cabins), various onboard discounts.

All above levels receive these perks by default.

These are exemplary discounts for Gold level members - up to 50% off wine-beer-soda by the glass/2x coupons per voyage, -25% Coffee Beverage/excluding Starbucks, -50% Johnny Rockets Milkshakes/2x coupons per voyage, -10% any VOOM-Internet Package, -10% Logoed Products/min purchase US$25, -10% any Spa Service/excluding Medi-Spa).

PLATINUM Level (30-54 points)

Platinum level members receive robes (onboard use only), Signature Lapel Pin, booking discounts (on Balcony cabins and Suites).

EMERALD Level (55-79 points)

Emerald level members receive Welcome Waters and Snacks (with Beverage Selection) and bigger booking discounts (on Balconies and Suites).

DIAMOND Level (80-174 points) perks

• Discounts on booking Suites and Balconies - US$225 discount per cabin (7-day itinerary)
• One day free VOOM internet access
• Exclusive access to Diamond Lounge (complimentary brand coffees, continental breakfast, light lunch option/sandwiches-fruits-desserts, evening happy hour/appetizers)
• 4x free drinks pp per day

DIAMOND PLUS Level (175-699) perks

• Two days free VOOM internet access
• 5x free drinks pp per day
• 1x BOGO offer (dining at any specialty restaurant paying 1x cover charge and the second person dines for free) - except Izumi Restaurant (Japanese) and Chef's Table (VIP Dining Room).

After 340 points is offered lunch with an officer (in the MDR/main dining room), with a special menu (champagne and wine included).

Lifeguards on RCI ships

Since 2017, all RCI ships have onboard licensed lifeguards by the line's "water safety program", implemented fleetwide. By the new program, water safety signs are placed throughout the ship.

Ship's lifeguards are dressed in special uniforms (in bright red and white) and stationed at every swimming pool, including the Solarium (adults-only retreat) during the complex's opening hours. All Royal Caribbean lifeguards are trained through the RCI's partnership with StarGuard Elite (Florida-based lifeguard training center).

• The water safety program includes a 15-min presentation (on embarkation day). The instruction is for by both kids and parents and held during Adventure Ocean's open-house session.
• Swim vests for all kids (aged 4-12) are readily available. Additional signage is added around swimming pool areas and in all cabins to encourage parents to use them.
• Kids under 12 require a parent or guardian to be present when swimming in any of the cruise ship's pools.

RCI's water safety program was rolled out fleetwide in 2017 (February-June). Next are listed all RCI boats and the itinerary dates (2017) when each implemented the new lifeguard service.

• Oasis (February 26-March 5)
• Harmony (March 7-11)
• Independence (March 11-16)
• Anthem (March 11-14)
• Liberty (March 12-19)
• Freedom (March 22-29)
• Allure (March 23-26)
• Brilliance (March 24-30)
• Quantum (March 26-31)
• Ovation (March 29-April 3)
• Navigator (March 31-April 5)
• Serenade (March 31-April 7)
• Jewel (March 31-April 4)
• Rhapsody (April 5-8)
• Majesty (April 21-24)
• Empress (April 24-29)
• Adventure (April 26-29)
• Enchantment (May 8-12)
• Grandeur (May 13-18)
• Explorer (May 15-26)
• Mariner (May 26-June 4)
• Radiance (May 28-June 6)
• Voyager (June 5-12)
• Vision (June 15-27)

The news made RCI the 2nd major cruise company with shipboard lifeguards - following DCL-Disney (employing certified lifeguards since 2013) and followed by NCL-Norwegian (in 2017 summer) starting with NCL's 4 largest vessels and employing onboard lifeguards fleetwide by 2018.

Shipboard poolside activities (listed in the newsletter "Cruise Compass") vary, but some of the common ones include watching movies (on the LED screen), playing bingo, hosting fun competitions, games, classes (scuba, fitness, dance, yoga, etc).

RCI "NextCruise" (onboard booking)

In August 2017, Royal Caribbean changed "Next Cruise" (onboard cruise booking program). NextCruise allows passengers to book a future RCI itinerary while on the ship. The old program included booking with reduced deposits.

Since August 2017, the deposit required for onboard booking is the same as the deposit required with shore bookings (ranging between USD 100-450 per stateroom, depending on itinerary length).

Since December 2017, NextCruise shipboard booking customers are eligible to pay a reduced deposit (USD 100 pp) regardless of voyage length - but only if they book with non-refundable fares. Refundable fare bookings still require a full deposit. This offer is available on all RCI cruises - excluding only China roundtrips. The USD 100 pp deposit is applicable when booking Interior Cabin up to Junior Suite.

• Grand Suite and above stateroom bookings require a full deposit.
• Group bookings are also not eligible for the USD 100 pp deposit.
• In case non-refundable fare bookings are canceled, "Future Cruise Credit" will not be issued.

Currently, the only benefit from onboard cruise booking is the future onboard credit (abbrev OBC), which is based on cabin type:

• 4-5 night itineraries - Inside and Oceanview cabins (USD 25 per cabin), Balcony Stateroom and Junior Suite (USD 50), Grand Suite and higher (USD 150)
• 6-9 night itineraries - Inside and Oceanview cabins (USD 50 per cabin), Balcony Stateroom and Junior Suite (USD 100), Grand Suite and higher (USD 300)
• 10-night and longer itineraries - Inside and Oceanview cabins (USD 100 per cabin), Balcony Stateroom and Junior Suite (USD 200), Grand Suite and higher (USD 500).

In May 2019, RCI introduced the "Book Later" booking option available at all ships' NextCruise Offices, in addition to "Book Now" (booking a specific itinerary). Book Later allows future bookings up to 2 months thus providing more time to consider itineraries while retaining the shipboard booking discount/bonus. Book Later requires a non-refundable deposit of USD 200 per stateroom (US$100 per cabin if booking a specific itinerary) and gives up to USD 600 in OBC or instant savings. Book Later deals expire within 1 year (after creating the onboard reservation) and the deposits paid will be lost.

RCI Cruise Cancellation Policy

Starting April 18, 2018, Royal Caribbean passengers who want to cancel an upcoming cruise without penalty have to do so farther out from the departure date than before. The new RCI cruise cancellation policy simplifies the penalty fee schedule by reducing the number of itinerary categories from 5 to 2: those of 1 to 4 nights and those 5 nights or longer.

• Under the old policy, travelers booked on 1 to 5-night-long itineraries could cancel up to 60 days prior to departure without a cancellation fee.
• The new RCI cancellation policy changes the cruise length/itinerary duration to 1 to 4 nights (including short holiday and mini-cruise deals) and requires cancellation at least 75 days before departure.
• Cruises 1- to 4- night-long canceled between 74 and 61 days out incur a fee of 50% of the total price. Cruises canceled 60 to 31 days out incur a fee of 75% of the total fare and any cruise canceled within 30 days or less of departure is not refunded at all (100% cancellation fee).
• The second tier of cancellations includes any itineraries 5 nights or longer, including cruise tours and holiday voyages. Under the old policy, cruises 6 nights or longer, holiday voyages 1 to 5 days, holiday voyages 6 nights or longer, and cruise tours had separate cancellation penalty schedules. By the new policy, itineraries 5 nights or longer must be canceled at least 90 days before departure date to avoid the cancellation fee. Previously, RCI customers could cancel 75 to 90 days before departure, depending on itinerary category.
• Cruises 5 nights or longer canceled 89 to 75 days before departure incur a penalty equal to 25% deposit paid. Cruises canceled 74 to 61 days incur penalties of 50% of the total price. Cruises canceled 60 to 31 days incur penalties of 75% of the fare Cruises canceled within 30 days or less of departure is not refunded at all (100% cancellation fee).

The previous time when RCI updated its cancellation policy was on March 7, 2016.

Shore Excursions Cancellation Policy

On June 15, 2017, Royal Caribbean International implemented a new "Shore Excursions Cancellation Policy" fleetwide. The new policy transitions from 1 day / 24-hour before land tour departure date to 48 hours before cruise port arrival date.

• Shore Excursions can be modified/changed or canceled up to 2 days / 48 hours before seaport arrival date without any penalty.
• Land Tours that involve travel by air/flights (international and domestic), trains, also special/themed events, overnight hotel stays and Private Journeys (customized tours) must be canceled 30 days before cruise departure date to avoid cancellation fees/penalties.
• In the event a land tour is canceled 48-hours before seaport arrival date, a full refund is provided to the passenger's onboard account.

At the end of March 2017, RCCL corporation launched its own land tour travel website - GoBe.com. The website is non-cruise travel-related and allows international travelers to book tours and excursions in 97 countries and 896 cities worldwide.

• As of 2017, tour prices (per person) ranged from USD 14 (Cape Town bus tour) to USD 3,785 (Rome helicopter tour).
• The new website is managed by Larry Pimentel (RCCL's Chief Destination Officer, also Azamara Club's President and CEO. The website provides full tour information, including duration, activity level, languages, etc.
• Optional custom itinerary planning is also offered.

On select voyages, RCI offers a behind-the-scenes "crew life" tour with duration 2 hours. The "All Access Crew Life Tour" (priced USD 79 pp) can be booked via CruisePlanner and offers a glimpse of what it is like to work and live on the ship.

RCI fly-cruise packages are via the company's Air2Sea program.

Non-Refundable Cruise Deposit Policy

On July 1, 2017, RCI implemented fleetwide a new, non-refundable cruise deposit program.

• USD 100 "cruise change" fee per person (pp) is imposed on each booked reservation (under "non-refundable deposit fare") opting to change the originally selected vessel and/or departure date.
• Multiple adjustments to the vessel/departure date result in the assessment of USD 100 pp change fee for each qualifying change made to the booked reservation. RCI doesn't limit the number of changes.
• Outside of final payment, when a non-refundable cruise deposit cancellation occurs, booked passengers receive "Future Cruise Certificate" in the amount of the cruise deposit, minus the USD 100 pp change fee.
• Non-refundable deposits are the only option for booking higher-grade Suites, and also for all guaranteed cabin categories.

In late February 2017, the RCCL corporation imposed a fee of USD 65 pp in case of leaving the cruise early (whatever the reason might be). Passengers who refuse to pay face the prospect of being banned from RCCL cruise ships FOREVER.

RCI pet/animal policy

In August 2018, RCI updated its "emotional support animals" policy by banning such animals fleetwide. Support/companion animals are not recognized by ADA. By definition, these are pets determined by a medical professional as providing benefits for handicapped people (cruise passengers with disabilities).

In an officially issued statement, RCI explained as the main reason for its policy change to differentiate support from service animals, the latter of which are trained and certified to help the disabled. Service animals traveling with physically / non-physically disabled passengers are still allowed on the ships. Pets are not allowed on RCI ships.

Photo packages prices

In late June 2017, RCI added two photo packages (available for online purchasing at CruisePlanner) both including two options - digital (unlimited photos are uploaded on a USB stick) and printed.

• The unlimited digital photo package costs US$250.
• The 50-prints/digitals photo package costs US$140.
• The 20-prints/digitals photo package costs US$200.
• The 10-prints/digitals photo package costs US$110.
• The 5-prints/digitals photo package costs US$70.

Before 2017, RCI offered photo packages for online purchasing on a separate website.

Private photo sessions can be also booked.

RCI "Cruise Compass" (onboard newsletter)

"Cruise Compass" is named the RCI's onboard newsletter delivered by cabin attendants each evening. This is a daily guide for news, onboard events, and activities on the cruise ship scheduled for the next day.

The newsletter also provides valuable information regarding forecasted weather, bars with drink specials, itinerary ports of call and shore excursions info, themed events (parties, lectures, seminars, etc), sporting events.

• Some of the events are not repeated, other activities change daily.
• RCI doesn't publish "Cruise Compass" guides for upcoming cruises in advance.
• age 1 is an overview of what to expect the next day, including port, weather report, specials, highlighted events, dedicated "Important things to know today" section.
• Page 2 lists more onboard events, sales, and special offers. The "Activity and Entertainment Highlights" section lists headlines of all evening show performances onboard,
• Page 3 lists all the ship's venues (bars, restaurants, food bars, lounges, Spa, Gym, etc) and their opening hours. Here is also the RCI's main dining room dress code. At the page's bottom is the "drink of the day" special - a discount-priced cocktail.
• Page 4 lists all the next day's activities broken down by time (morning, afternoon, evening) - all shipboard events, each has time, title and deck location.
• "Adventure Ocean" is another newsletter providing information about kids programming (small children and teens) scheduled on the cruise ship. Some of these events are also listed in the "Cruise Compass". "Adventure Ocean" newsletter has "Daily Planner" with kids and teen activities (broken up by ages).

The "Royal iQ" app is available on some RCI ships and features a "Cruise Compass" digital copy. This mobile app allows adding specific events directly to your own digital calendar. Via the app, you can make reservations (spa, dining, etc) or add activities directly from the "Cruise Compass" to your own calendar. Your own daily schedule will be automatically updated. Unfortunately, the app works only on Quantum- and Oasis-class ships.

RCI's shipboard All Access Tour (aka behind-the-scenes tour)

Like most mainstream brands, RCI offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship providing access to areas where passengers are otherwise not allowed to visit.

Conducted only on a sea day, the 2-hour "All Access Tour" is a walking tour of 6x areas - Galley/Kitchen, Navigation Bridge (the Wheelhouse and both bridge wings), Engines/control room, waste management (trash separation and disposal), laundry room (deck 1), food storage rooms, the Royal Theater (backstage). Participants are required to wear pants and closed-toed shoes, and are provided with earpieces to hear the tour guide's narration. The tour leader also often hands off the technical explanations to a crew working in the visited area for more detailed information on the facilities.

RCI's shipboard "DreamWorks Experience" program

"DreamWorks Experience" was a family-themed program via a partnership between Royal Caribbean International and Amblin Partners (DreamWorks SKG's owner company). Universal Pictures is the distributor of DreamWorks movie productions through its subsidiary company Touchstone Pictures.

RCI's DreamWorks programming featured 3D movies and DreamWorks characters meets-and-greets. It was introduced in June 2010 and terminated in March 2019. This new entertainment program was geared toward families and offered DreamWorks movie-themed activities on only 9 RCI ships (Allure, Oasis, Harmony, Anthem, Ovation, Quantum, Freedom, Liberty, Voyager). The list of such activities included:

• DreamWorks characters meetings and greetings (with photo ops). The list of characters included Po ("Kung Fu Panda" movie), Shrek, Fiona, Puss ("Shrek" series), Alex, Gloria, King Julien, penguins ("The Penguins of Madagascar" series, "All Hail King Julien" series).
• Character Breakfasts were offered (at surcharge pp) in the Main Dining Room restaurant.
• 3D DreamWorks movie screenings were available in the Royal Theater (Cinema Lounge), including first-run movies which premiered on the ship were on the same day they went at land-based theaters. Among the films were "Shrek", "Madagascar", "How to Train Your Dragon", "Kung Fu Panda".
• DreamWorks channel was part of the in-cabin TV programming.
• Themed activities and games (by ship's "Adventure Ocean" / complimentary youth program) included 3D animation workshops, storytime, themed dance parties, character story-based adventure games, regular character visits to kids facilities, onboard parades, meet-and-greets with photo ops (throughout the ship).
• DreamWorks shows were available in Studio B (ice rink theater) and AquaTheater (Oasis ships).

The DreamWorks-themed shows at Studio B and AquaTheater were replaced with new Royal Caribbean Productions. All cruises departing before April 1 (2019) had the DreamWorks program available for the entire voyage.

RCI's shipboard kids and teen programming

Also complimentary the company offers to kids and teenagers supervised activities at dedicated facilities and youth counselors on each vessel.

For toddlers (2-3 yo) on each liner are provided at-fee nursery services (hourly charge) via highly experienced and professionally trained staff.

RCI's children program (named "Adventure Ocean") covers ages 2-17 and features brand partnerships (with Fisher-Price, Crayola), Family Disco Hour. dedicated areas and facilities, including toddlers-only pools, computer rooms, video game arcades, separate kids- and teen-only clubs.

On September 30, 2018, RCI discontinued fleetwide its in-cabin babysitting service ("Sitters at Sea" program served by crew members, upon request). Service's only alternatives still available are the shipboard nursery (on some liners only, serving toddlers and kids up to 3 yo) and group sitting ("Late Night Party Zone" program for kids 3-11 yo, served by Adventure Ocean staff). The other two kids programs (Adventure Ocean, Royal Babies, and Tots) remained unchanged.

Shipboard VIP passenger program

Currently, RCI offers two VIP packages available for prepurchasing before boarding the ship - "The Key" and "Premier Pass".

VIP package The Key

On two liners (Liberty OTS and Oasis OTS) was tested the new VIP passenger access program "The Key". The program's test period was between November 2018 and March 2019. It was in limited quantity and available on select voyages.

The VIP package is available for purchase only via CruisePlanner. Currently, the package's cost is USD 25,99 per person per day. However, all roommates ages 6 and older must purchase the package to receive its benefits (available via SeaPass cards and starting on embarkation day).

"The Key" VIP package is inclusive of:

• Carry-on luggage service (max 2 bags pp) - drop off at Royal Theater or MDR (by 2 pm), cabin delivery
• Welcome MDR lunch (Chops Grille/steakhouse menu) on embarkation day between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Dining reservations are not required.
• Daily private visits (reserved hours) at signature shipboard facilities - including FlowRider, Rock-Climbing Walls, Ice-Skating Rink. VIP seating at live shows must be reserved online (via CruisePlanner) prior departure.
• Early access at the cruise terminal, priority check-in (embarkation day) and tendering (ship-to-shore ferry) service at call ports without docking facilities.
• Complimentary room service (during the entire voyage)
• 25% discount on all shipboard dining purchases
• Early access at the Theater's shows (reservations are required)
• Complimentary VOOM Internet ("Surf and Stream" package for 1 device).
• Priority debarkation with exclusive a la carte breakfast (between 6:30-9:30 am).

IMPORTANT: Currently, "The Key" package is not offered only on Majesty OTS , Quantum OTS and Voyager OTS . Priority check-in and boarding are not offered in Vancouver BC Canada and at Australian homeports.

VIP package "Premier Pass"

The "Premier Pass" package is for two passengers (sharing a stateroom) and includes the following perks:

• Welcome Champagne (bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin)
• Priority embarkation/tendering/debarkation
• All Access Tour (2-hour walking tour of 6x areas)
• Officer's lunch invitation (meal with an officer)
• Captain's Cocktail Reception (toast and photo)
• Exclusive food and wine pairing (with sommelier service and complimentary wine)
• Unlimited Internet (for 2x devices)
• Laundry service (1x bag per cabin)

The VIP package Premier Pass was introduced in March 2023.

Premier Pass costs US$89 (US$44,50 pp).

(NEW) RoyalUp - cabin upgrade bidding

On November 28, 2018, RCI introduced fleetwide bid-based cabin upgrade program called "RoyalUp". Booked customers receive an email if their cruise is eligible. They can browse through available for booking higher-grade staterooms on that voyage. Then select their bidding price for a particular cabin upgrade and submit the bid.

RoyalUp upgrades are priced per person, for the entire voyage, based on twin share. Only the first and second passengers in the cabin are charged the extra - regardless room's grade and max occupancy. These upgrades are based on availability. Cabin location can't be specified.

Group bookings are also included but without a guarantee that all reservations will be upgraded. If all reservations are upgraded, RCI doesn't guarantee that all upgraded staterooms will be located close together.

Booked customers are allowed to bid multiple cabin categories. Travel agents are also allowed to bid for their clients. Upgrade bids are accepted until 2 days prior departure. Passengers with accepted RoyalUp biddings are notified via email. They are allowed also to modify or cancel the upgrade (until 2 days prior departure) if the offer is not been accepted by RCI and their credit card is not been charged.

RCI's wedding packages and vow renewals

Call port/ashore or onboard cruise ship weddings and vow renewals are available by contacting RCI's weddings department a minimum 90 days before the itinerary's departure date. The company assigns dedicated coordinators for customizing the ceremonies and the reception events, as well as assisting with marriage licenses.

Standard wedding packages include priority services (dockside check-in and boarding), non-denominational officiant, pre-recorded music, 3-tier cake, chocolate-covered strawberries, a specialty restaurant dinner and in-bed breakfast (onboard), themed cabin decorations, 1-hour photo service, 1x champagne bottle (Moet & Chandon), keepsake wedding certificate (listing the ship/cruise port).

Wedding package add-ons may include beauty services (haircuts/styling, nails, barber), live music, DJ (private party), cocktail reception (at a VIP venue with bar service).

Wedding packages are priced between USD 2000-5600 (the couple plus 10-75 guests).

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, RCG suspended its global fleet's passenger shipping operations (RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Silversea) worldwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through early-July 2021.

Next are listed all RCI ships and their first departure dates/regions/homeports - ADVENTURE OTS (June 12, 2021/ Caribbean from Nassau Bahamas ), ALLURE OTS (Aug 8, 2021/Port Canaveral), ANTHEM OTS (July 7, 2021/Europe-UK from Southampton), BRILLIANCE OTS (Dec 16, 2021/Tampa), ENCHANTMENT OTS (Dec 23, 2021/Bahamas-Caribbean from Baltimore), EXPLORER OTS (Nov 7, 2021/Caribbean from San Juan Puerto Rico), FREEDOM OTS (July 2, 2021/Miami), GRANDEUR OTS (Dec 5, 2021/ Caribbean from Bridgetown Barbados ), HARMONY OTS (Aug 15, 2021/Mediterranean from Barcelona), INDEPENDENCE OTS (Aug 15, 2021/Galveston), JEWEL OTS (July 10, 2021/ Mediterranean from Limassol Cyprus ), LIBERTY OTS (Oct 3, 2021/Galveston), MARINER OTS (Aug 23, 2021/Port Canaveral), NAVIGATOR OTS (Nov 19, 2021/Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles), OASIS OTS (Sept 5, 2021/Florida-Bahamas from NYC), ODYSSEY OTS (July 31, 2021/Fort Lauderdale), OVATION OTS (Aug 13, 2021 and May 5, 2022 / Alaska from Seattle ), QUANTUM OTS (Dec 1, 2020/ cruises to nowhere from Singapore, and May 4, 2022/Alaska from Seattle), RADIANCE OTS (April 23, 2022/LA to Vancouver-Alaska), RHAPSODY OTS (May 23, 2022/Europe-Mediterranean from Rome), SERENADE OTS (July 19, 2021/ Alaska from Seattle ), SPECTRUM OTS (Oct 14, 2021/ cruises to nowhere from Hong Kong China), SYMPHONY OTS (Aug 14, 2021/Miami), VISION OTS (March 7, 2022/Fort Lauderdale), VOYAGER OTS (April 15, 2022/Europe), WONDER OTS (March 4, 2022/ Maiden Voyage /Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale).

• ODYSSEY OTS was scheduled to start on June 2nd Eastern Mediterranean roundtrips from Haifa Israel. However, due to "unrest in Israel and the region", this Cyprus and Greece program was canceled in May.
• VISION OTS was scheduled to start on June 26th Bahamas roundtrips from Bermuda (King's Wharf), but the program was canceled.
• Royal Caribbean's Australia 2021-2022 winter program was canceled due to travel restriction uncertainties. Two ships were affected - QUANTUM OTS from Brisbane (planned restart October 30) and OVATION OTS from Sydney (planned restart December 13).
• VOYAGER OTS had scheduled an Asian 2021 program with homeporting in Tianjin-Beijing (China to Japan, starting August 1) and in Singapore (starting November 4), but in July 2021 the program was canceled through April 2022.
• In August 2021, RCI postponed the restarts of BRILLIANCE OTS (planned for Sept 4/Tampa), RADIANCE OTS (for Oct 15/Miami), and RHAPSODY OTS (for Dec 14/Tampa). The affected bookings were moved to similar out-of-Tampa voyages on SERENADE OTS.

All affected bookings received full refunds (100%), including on prepurchased through RCI cruise packages and services. With rebooking are offered 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) to be used on itineraries that depart up to September 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by December 31, 2021. Full cash refund or changing the FCC to a monetary refund (100%) must be done by March 31, 2021. Within 45 days (from the cancellation date), all taxes, port fees and pre-purchased (if any) packages/amenities are automatically refunded to the original form of payment.

RCI's Cancellation Policy (Cruise with Confidence) was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior to departure (all itineraries) and receive an FCC. The policy was also enhanced with two new rebooking options - "Best Price Guarantee" (you can change the price and promo offers on the booking up to 48 hours prior to departure) and "Lift and Shift" (you can rebook the same itinerary departing within 1 month from the canceled date, with protected original price and promo offer and keeping the same cabin category).

In the period August-December 2021, all unvaccinated passengers (12 and older) on RCI cruises from Florida ports were required to have a valid insurance policy of a minimum US$25,000 pp (medical expense coverage) and US$50,000 pp (for onboard quarantine and COVID-related medevac). Before this new policy, RCI covered up to US$20,000 per person for Coronavirus-related costs. The money was for shipboard medical treatments and safe quarantine plus providing safe return-to-home travel arrangements. If a passenger tested COVID-positive while on the ship, RCI also provided a full monetary refund (100% of the cruise price) for the infected and his/her travel companions.

In mid-December 2020, RCI sold the ships Empress OTS (30-years-old) and Majesty OTS (28-years-old) were sold to an Asian company (undisclosed shipowner).

In Aug 2022, RCI announced that allows unused FCCs (future cruise credits left from a booking/remainder balance) to be redeemed as OBCs/onboard credits.

Itinerary of Royal Caribbean

RCI offers year-round roundtrip departures from Baltimore MD (South Locust Point Terminal) where is currently homeported Enchantment OTS. The ship cruises to ports in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and Canada-New England. The fleetmate Grandeur OTS operated out of Baltimore between 2013-2020.

Comic-Con Cruise 2025

Serenade OTS is RCI's first ship to host a Comic-Con - an annual event by San Diego Comic-Con International (1970-inaugurated as "Golden State Comic Book Convention").

The special voyage (February 5-9, 2025, roundtrip from Tampa Florida ) is a full-ship charter by Entertainment Cruise Productions (Clayton Missouri-based company) specializing in themed voyages.

Royal Caribbean's Comic-Con cruise ship experience will feature various small group events (including Q&A sessions, trivia, fun contests), video gaming competitions, parties (dancing, karaoke, cosplay/costume play, DJs).

When the announcement was made (in July 2023) prices (per person) varied between US$990 (interior cabin) and US$5620 (Royal Suite) with double occupancy, while single occupancy was US$1240 (interior).

IMPORTANT/Itinerary changes 2024-2025 (Europe-Caribbean-Alaska-Australia)

RCI's Australia 2023-2024 season is based on 2x liners/homeports - Ovation OTS/Sydney NSW (9-11-night roundtrips, including around New Zealand), Quantum OTS/Brisbane QLD (3-13-night roundtrips). Enchantment OTS Sydney NSW schedule (8-11-night roundtrips) was canceled.

RCI's Australia 2024-2025 season is again based on the ships Quantum (Brisbane) and Ovation (Sydney).

RCI's Alaska 2025 program is based on 4 ships (Anthem, Quantum, Radiance, Serenade), mainly 7-day itineraries and homeporting in Seattle WA, Vancouver BC, and Seward AK. Quantum OTS visits destinations like Sitka, Skagway, Endicott Arm fjord, Dawes Glacier, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Victoria BC. Serenade OTS Inside Passage voyages visit Haines, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan. Radiance OTS operates between Seward and Vancouver and visits Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier.

In February 2024, RCI opened for booking Wonder OTS' short Caribbean voyages. Starting September 1st, 2025. the ship changes homeports (Port Canaveral to Miami) offering 3- and 4-night roundtrips out of PortMiami. Previously, (from Port Canaveral) were operated 7-day roundtrips.

Ultimate World Cruise 2023-2024 (Serenade OTS)

In October 2021, RCI announced the company's first World Cruise , which is also one of the world's longest.

The 274-night itinerary (themed "Ultimate World Cruise"/December 10, 2023, through September 10, 2024) is scheduled for Serenade OTS/wiki section .

The roundtrip from Miami visits 150 ports/islands (57 new for RCI) in 65 countries and on all 7 continents.

Shorter segments included:

• (Dec 10 - Feb 11) "Round the Horn: Americas and Antarctica Expedition" itinerary visits 36 ports/islands, 3 continents, and destinations in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Cape Horn, Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro (New Year's Eve overnight), Los Angeles (overnight).
• (Feb 11 - May 9) "Wonders of Asia and the Pacific Expedition" itinerary visits 40 ports/islands, 3 continents, and destinations in North America (Hawaii), Oceania (French Polynesia), New Zealand, Australia, Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Japan).
• (May 9 - July 10) "Middle East Treasures and Marvels of the Med Expedition" itinerary visits 44 ports, 3 continents, and destinations in Arabia (Dubai, Jordan), Africa (Egypt), Mediterranean (Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Spain), Adriatic (Croatia).
• (July 10 - Sept 10) "Capitals of Culture" itinerary visits 40 ports, 3 continents and destinations in the Mediterranean (Spain, Morocco), Baltic (Russia/St Petersburg, Norway), with the Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the USA (via Iceland and NYC New York) ending in PortMiami.

Full-paid early bookings (made by January 6, 2023) received a 10% discount. Additional costs include taxes-fees-port charges (USD 4667 USD pp).

A Balcony stateroom cost USD 75,000 ($136 pp per day), the 4-passenger Royal Suite cost USD 760,000.

In April 2023, RCI opened for booking more shorter segments of the Ultimate World Cruise 2024:

• 26-days (Dec 10, 2023 - Jan 5, 2024) "Ultimate Caribbean and South America" itinerary (Miami to Buenos Aires)
• 18-days (Jan 5-23) "Ultimate South America and Antarctica" itinerary (Buenos Aires to Valparaiso-Santiago)
• 19-days (Jan 23 - Feb 11) "Ultimate Central and South America" itinerary (Valparaiso-Santiago to Los Angeles)
• 29-days (Feb 11 - Mar 11) "Ultimate Hawaii, Tahiti and Australia" itinerary (Los Angeles to Brisbane)Papeete Tahiti), New Zealand (Auckland, Russel-Bay of Islands) and NSW Australia (Sydney, Newcastle).
• 16-days (Mar 11-27) "Ultimate Australia and Southeast Asia" itinerary (Brisbane to Hong Kong China)
• 12-days (Mar 27 - Apr 8) "Ultimate China, Japan and South Korea" itinerary (Hong Kong to Tianjin-Beijing China)
• 16-days (Apr 8-24) "Ultimate Japan, Vietnam and Singapore" itinerary (Beijing to Singapore)
• 15-days (Apr 24 - May 9) "Ultimate India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia" itinerary (Singapore to Dubai)
• 18-days (May 9-27) "Ultimate Jordan, Egypt and Israel" itinerary (Dubai to Piraeus-Athens Greece)
• 11-days (May 27 - Jun 7) "Ultimate Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey" Black Sea itinerary (Piraeus-Athens to Istanbul)
• 13-days (Jun 7-20) "Ultimate Greece, Turkey and Italy" itinerary (Istanbul to Ravenna-Venice)
• 11-days (Jun 20 - Jul 1) "Ultimate Italy, Croatia and Malta" Adriatic Sea itinerary (Ravenna-Venice and Civitavecchia-Rome)
• 9-days (Jul 1-10) "Ultimate Italy, France and Spain" itinerary (Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona)
• 16-days (Jul 10-26) "Ultimate Spain, Morocco and France" itinerary (Barcelona to Southampton England UK)
• 15-days (Jul 26 - Aug 10) "Ultimate Denmark, Germany and Sweden" Baltic Sea itinerary (Southampton to Copenhagen Denmark)
• 9-days (Aug 10-19) "Ultimate Norwegian Fjords" itinerary (Copenhagen to Amsterdam Holland)
• 22-days (Aug 19 - Sep 10) "Ultimate Iceland, Greenland and Caribbean" Transatlantic itinerary (Amsterdam to Miami)

RCI's World Voyage 2024 fares are inclusive of business class flights, land transportation, pre-cruise 5-star hotel overnight. Loyalty program's Platinum and above members (Emerald-Diamond-Diamond Plus-Pinnacle Club) receive as perks shore excursion package, Deluxe Beverage package, free Internet (VOOM Wi-Fi), free laundry service.

Panama Canal cruises 2024 (Rhapsody OTS)

For winter 2024, Rhapsody OTS has scheduled an RCI-first Caribbean and Latin America program based on 3x homeports - two in Panama ( Colon , and Panama City/Fuerte Amador ) and one in Colombia ( Cartagena ).

The 7-night roundtrips also visit Panama Canal and The Netherlands' ABC islands ( Aruba , Bonaire , Curacao ) in the Leeward Antilles. The Panama Canal itinerary (8x departures from Fuerte Amador) visits Cartagena, and Costa Rica's Puntarenas and Quepos .

Asia 2024-2025 ships and itineraries

In 2024-2025 (November-March) Anthem OTS is homeported in Singapore, replacing Spectrum OTS, which will be redeployed to China and homeported in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Starting in April 2024, Spectrum OTS from Shanghai offers roundtrips to Japanese ports, including Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagasaki.

Starting in December 2024, Spectrum OTS has scheduled 8x roundtrips from Hong Kong (China) to ports in Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Anthem's ex-Singapore itineraries are 3-4-5-night roundtrips visiting Malaysia (Penang) and Thailand (Phuket). The new 8-night "Bali Getaway" itinerary visits Bali Indonesia's ports Celukan Bawang and Benoa Harbour, as well as Lombok Indonesia's port Lembar. Another new itinerary is the 10-night "Vietnam and Thailand" voyage that visits Vietnam's ports Nha Trang, Phu My-Saigon, and Chan May-Da Nang, and Thailand's port Laem Chabang-Bangkok (overnight stay).

UK-Europe 2024-2025 summer deployment

RIC's European summer 2024 schedule lists 8 ships and 11 homeports. The program features the European debut of Oasis OTS (5- to 17-night itineraries). Odyssey OTS and Anthem OTS return to Rome and Southampton, respectively.

Europe Summer 2024 highlights include:

• Odyssey OTS sailing from Civitavecchia-Rome (for a 3rd year) offers 7- to 9-night Greek Isles voyages, as well as 12-night Holy Land cruises to Israel (Ashdod-Jerusalem), Cyprus (Limassol), Turkey (Kusadasi).
• Oasis OTS from Rome and Barcelona offers Western Mediterranean 7-night voyages visiting France, Italy, and Spain.
• Anthem OTS from Southampton offers 7-night roundtrips to the Norwegian Fjords, or to Atlantic Europe (Spain and France). 11- to 14-night ex-UK roundtrips visit also the Canaries.
• For Serenade OTS is scheduled the "Ultimate World Cruise" (274-night itinerary) also available in 2 segments - from Dubai and Barcelona.
• Explorer OTS sailing from Ravenna offers 7-night Med and Aegean itineraries visiting Chania (Crete), Argostoli (Greece), and Kotor (Montenegro).
• Voyager OTS (from Rome, Barcelona, Ravenna, and Athens) offers 7-night voyages to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea (Greece, Israel, Egypt).
• Jewel OTS (from Amsterdam) offers 11- to 17-night roundtrips to Iceland, UK-British Isles, Ireland, the Arctic Circle.

Enchantment OTS was to be deployed first in Australia (from Sydney) and in Alaska but was redeployed in Europe.

Europe 2025

RCI's 2025 European season (April-October) is based on 6 ships,

Independence OTS is homeported in Southampton and visits destinations in Iberia (Spain, Portugal) and Northern Europe/Baltic, Norway.

Allure OTS  is homeported in Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome for Western Mediterranean itineraries.

Brilliance OTS operates from Piraeus-Athens Greek Isles voyages until August 2025, when returns to Barcelona and Southampton.

Explorer OTS from  Ravenna Italy offers roundtrips to the Greek Isles and Adriatic Sea ports.

Odyssey OTS and Voyager OTS are both based in Civitavecchia and visit destinations in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Adriatic.

Australia 2024-2025-2026 summer deployment (2 ships)

RCI's 2024 Australian schedule listed 2 liners (Ovation OTS and Quantum OTS) homeported, respectively, in Sydney NSW and Brisbane QLD . Australia 2025-2026 season is also based on 2 ships (Anthem OTS and Voyager OTS).

Quantum OTS (from Brisbane) offers 3- to 13-night Queensland roundtrips to Airlie Beach and Cairns or discover the South Pacific by visiting Port Vila (Vanuatu) and Noumea (New Caledonia).

Ovation OTS (from Sydney) starts its 5th Australian season - with 20 voyages, including 9- to 11-night roundtrips to New Zealand (Bay of Islands, Milford Sound, Wellington), 3- to 9-night voyages around Australia (Adelaide, Eden, Hobart Tasmania), as well as sailings to the South Pacific islands.

RCI's Australia 2024-2025 season (October thru April) is again based on Ovation OTS and Quantum OTS and groups a total of 45 departures.

Quantum OTS (out of Brisbane) offers 12 different itineraries (7-8-nights) visiting Mystery Island ,  Port Vila (Vanuatu) , and  Noumea (New Caledonia) . Five sailings visit the Great Barrier Reef , while a 14-night voyage visits New Zealand.

Ovation OTS offers NZ and South Pacific voyages.

Both Australian ships also have scheduled 2-night and 3-night weekend getaways. Both are also deployed during summer 2025 in Alaska, and homeported in Seattle WA .

Caribbean and Bahamas 2024-2025-2026 fleet deployment

RCI's 2024-2025-2026 Caribbean schedule lists 8 ships and 20+ Caribbean destinations.

• Wonder OTS from Port Canaveral offers 7-night Western-Eastern Caribbean voyages, while Harmony OTS from Galveston offers 6- to 8-night Western Caribbean with CocoCay. Starting September 1st, 2025. Wonder moves to Miami for short itineraries (3- and 4-night roundtrips).
• In summer 2024, Symphony OTS offers 7-night Bahamas roundtrips out of NYC/Bayonne NJ, while Freedom OTS offers 7-8-night Western-Eastern-Southern Caribbean itineraries.
• Liberty OTS from Bayonne/NYC offers 4-5-9-night roundtrips to Eastern Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England.
• Adventure OTS from Port Canaveral offers 6- and 8-night Southern-Eastern-Western Caribbean and Bahamas roundtrips.
• Enchantment OTS from Tampa offers 7-night Western Caribbean plus select 7-night Bahamas itineraries.
• Vision OTS from Baltimore sails 5- to 12-day roundtrips to Bermuda, Bermuda plus Bahamas, Florida+Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, and Canada-New England.

RCI's 3- to 6-night Caribbean cruises scheduled for 2025-2026 originate from six USA homeports (in Florida, California, and Texas). Utopia OTS and Wonder OTS are based in Port Canaveral/Orlando and Miami, respectively.

Navigator OTS and Quantum OTS are homeported in Los Angeles .

RCI's Caribbean fleet (Enchantment, Explorer, Freedom, Jewel, Liberty, Mariner) is based in Tampa FL , Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale FL , and Galveston TX .

Caribbean short breaks 2024-2025

RCI's Caribbean short break 2024-2025 itineraries are scheduled for 8 ships, including 1x OASIS-class (Allure OTS from Port Canaveral).

Year-Round 2024-2025 Short Getaways

Allure OTS (from Port Canaveral and PortMiami) is the first OASIS-class boat with year-round season of 3-4-night itineraries.

Independence OTS (from Miami) offers 5-night Western Caribbean plus CocoCay voyages, as well as 4-night Eastern Caribbean (with Labadee Haiti).

Mariner OTS (from Galveston Texas) offers 4-5-night roundtrips to Mexico (Cozumel+Costa Maya).

Navigator OTS (from Los Angeles California) offers 3-4-7-night voyages to Catalina Island, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Ensenada.

Seasonal 2024-2025 Short Cruises from Florida

Enchantment OTS (from Tampa Bay) offers 4-5-night Mexico (Cozumel+Costa Maya), and 7-night summer voyages (Roatan, Belize City, Cozumel, Costa Maya, CocoCay).

Grandeur OTS (from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale) offers 4-5-night Bahamas and Mexico (CocoCay, Cozumel) and during winter 5-night roundtrips to Labadee and Amber Cove Dominicana.

Liberty OTS (from Fort Lauderdale) offers 3-4-night roundtrips to Bahamas (CocoCay+Nassau).

Voyager OTS (from Port Canaveral) during winter offers 4-5-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages to CocoCay, Nassau, Cozumel, Amber Cove, Labadee.

RCI-Royal Caribbean itineraries by ship

Follows a review of the Royal Caribbean itinerary program scheduled itineraries. For sailing dates (departures, arrivals), ports of call times and RCI cruise prices per person follow the ship pages listed below.

Royal Caribbean's "Private Journeys" excursions

RCI passengers seeking personalized shore excursion experiences can take advantage of the company's "Private Journeys" program.

The USD 100 concierge service enables passengers to book port calls tailored to their interests, travel style and budget. Private Journeys (custom-made tours) allow access to 1 of 9 professional Destination Insiders who help planning every detail of the shore excursion before the cruise starts. Activities can include private yachting, cooking with Michelin-starred chefs, food tasting. The USD 100 fee for Private Journeys is applicable to excursion's final cost.

Private Journeys are offered as a 3rd excursion choice (besides independent and RCI-sponsored group tours). The new choice offers direct booking through RCI (ONLY via Royal Caribbean). Booked passengers have to provide Private Journeys' staff with their idea/basics of what they want (duration, preferred places, activities, meals, etc). Then they work with local (professional) tour guides to design the excursion. The contact with Private Journeys is by email or phone.

"Private Journeys" RCI tour deals guarantee: priority disembarkation, sure return to the cruise ship (if the tour runs late, the ship waits for you), convenient access to private tour vehicles, quality of service (reputable/insured operators in direct contact with the RCI cruise ship's personnel).

Royal Caribbean cruises to Cuba from Florida (Miami and Tampa)

Royal Caribbean operated Cuba cruises with the Miami -homeported (later in Tampa) Empress of the Seas . The first Cuban cruise was on April 19, 2017 (5-night Miami to Costa Maya and Havana).

The newly-refreshed Empress OTS had scheduled a total of 58 voyages (4- and 5-night itineraries) in the period January 2018 through March 2019, with more than half offering overnights in havana. Empress was homeported in Tampa for summer 2018, for 4- and 5-night itineraries to Key West, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Havana (on most voyages). For the winter 2018-2019 season, the ship repositioned to Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale).

On December 1, 2017, RCI added 2 new Cuban ports (Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos) included in 4- to 8-night long Caribbean itineraries on Empress of the Seas. The new 7-night "Best of Cuba" itinerary from Miami visits Cienfuegos , Havana, and Nassau. The 5-night itinerary visits Key West Florida and Havana (overnight). The 8-night itinerary visits Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba , Grand Cayman Island, and Labadee Haiti .

Majesty of the Seas offered 4- and 5-night itineraries to Havana (day visits and overnights) leaving roundtrip from Tampa (in the period April-October 2018) and from Fort Lauderdale (November 2018 through March 2019). In July 2017, RCI unveiled the company's 2nd ship to Cuba - Majesty OTS, homeported in Port Canaveral. Starting March 25, 2019, the liner offered a 4-night voyage calling at Havana.

On June 4, 2019, the US Government announced new regulations (economic sanctions) that ended group travel to Cuba, including via US-homeported cruise liners, effective immediately. The ban relates to "private and corporate aircraft, cruise ships, sailboats, fishing boats, and other similar aircraft and vessels". The US travel restrictions impacted hundreds of pre-scheduled cruise itineraries, which were adjusted to no longer stop in Cuban seaports.

Note: According to the current Cuban law, US citizens of Cuban origin (born in Cuba) are not allowed to visit the island country (including on cruise ships). Regardless of their US citizenship status, Cuba-born Americans were denied booking on cruise itineraries visiting ports in Cuba. However, the situation changed in April 2016, after Carnival Corporation negotiated with the Cuban government for allowing ships with Cuban-born passengers, as such US citizens are allowed to visit the country on USA-Cuba charter flights. The Carnival-fathom line started Miami to Cuba cruises in May 2016.

Alaska Airlines offers regular nonstop flights to Havana from Los Angeles (California USA). An 80-min ling JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Havana costs less than USD 100. Previously, air travel from the USA to Cuba was thought charter flights only.

Royal Caribbean related cruise news

RCI-Royal Caribbean cancels May cruises to Haiti amid escalating security concerns

Amid escalating security concerns in Haiti, RCI-Royal Caribbean has extended its cancellation of all scheduled cruises to Labadee Haiti throughout...

Carnival Corporation plans headquarters sale and Miami relocation

Carnival Corporation is in the process of selling its longstanding headquarters in Doral, Florida, with plans to relocate to a more modern and...

RCI-Royal Caribbean unveils 2025-2026 Australian ships and homeports

RCI-Royal Caribbean International unveiled its upcoming 2025-2026 itinerary from Australia. Holidaymakers can anticipate a diverse range of...

20-yo passenger jumps overboard from Royal Caribbean's cruise ship Liberty OTS

Passengers aboard RCI-Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas faced a distressing situation when a young man jumped overboard in the early hours...

Royal Caribbean and CTI win bid for future cruise terminal at Port of Barcelona (Spain)

The management board overseeing operations at the Port of Barcelona, Spain, has granted approval for the development and operation of a forthcoming...

Royal Caribbean and The Wiggles partner for family cruises in Australia

RCI-Royal Caribbean and The Wiggles, two renowned family brands, are collaborating to offer an extraordinary family holiday experience in Australia...

Silversea cancels Red Sea cruises (Suez Canal transits) due to ongoing unrest in the region

Silversea Cruises announced the cancellation of a couple of its Red Sea area voyages, due to the continuing unrest in the region. The itineraries...

RCI-Royal Caribbean to open second Royal Beach Club in Cozumel, Mexico

RCI-Royal Caribbean International is in the process of establishing its own private resort in Cozumel Mexico. Scheduled to debut in 2026 along the...

RCI-Royal Caribbean's ship Brilliance of the Seas cut voyage short due to propulsion problem

RCI/Royal Caribbean International's ship Brilliance of the Seas is facing an unexpected setback during the current South Pacific voyage, as the...

US Coast Guard conducts medevac from Symphony of the Seas near Puerto Rico

A 56-year-old American passenger's Caribbean voyage came to an unexpected halt on Friday, March 15th, following a medical emergency onboard. The...

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Royal Caribbean Cruise from Miami January 2024

Every ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet features an extensive array of amenities and activities. Entertainment options on a cruise in the Caribbean may include rock climbing walls, surfing on a FlowRider, a fully equipped fitness center, and a number of pools and spas in which to unwind and enjoy the waves. Everyone in the family can relax and have fun on a cruise. Royal Caribbean understands how to make children happy. Royal Caribbean has one of the most modern fleets in the business because it is always questioning what everyone else thinks.

Cruise to the spectacular Caribbean Sea’s warm waters and lively islands with Royal Caribbean from Miami in January 2024. In January 2024, Royal Caribbean will take you from Miami to the Bahamas , the Eastern Caribbean , the Southern Caribbean , the Western Caribbean , and other places in the Caribbean Sea.

Find your next Royal Caribbean cruise out of Miami in January 2024

4-day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Independence of the seas, royal caribbean.

Date: January 2, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Labadee, Miami; View Itinerary

3-day Bahamas from Miami, Fl

Freedom of the seas, royal caribbean.

Date: January 5, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, CocoCay, Nassau, Miami; View Itinerary

5-day Western Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Date: January 6, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Falmouth, Nassau, Miami; View Itinerary

12-day Southern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Grandeur of the seas, royal caribbean.

Date: January 7, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Falmouth, Puerto Limon, Colon, Cartagena, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Miami; View Itinerary

7-day Western Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Oasis of the seas, royal caribbean.

Ports of Call: Miami, Nassau, CocoCay, Labadee, Falmouth, Miami; View Itinerary

4-day Bahamas from Miami, Fl

Date: January 8, 2024

Date: January 11, 2024

Date: January 12, 2024

Date: January 14, 2024

Date: January 15, 2024

Date: January 19, 2024

Date: January 20, 2024

Date: January 21, 2024

Date: January 22, 2024

Date: January 25, 2024

Date: January 26, 2024

Date: January 28, 2024

Date: January 29, 2024

11-day Southern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Limon, Colon, Cartagena, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Miami; View Itinerary

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Anthem of the Seas - January 18, 2024

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January 18, 2024

January 18 - 29, 2024

Anthem of the Seas

Royal Caribbean

11 Night Southern Caribbean

from Cape Liberty, New Jersey

The January 18, 2024 cruise on the Anthem of the Seas departs from Cape Liberty, New Jersey. On this 11 Night Southern Caribbean sailing, the ship will visit a total of 6 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Anthem of the Seas sets sail on a Thursday (January 18, 2024) and returns on a Monday (January 29, 2024).

The Anthem of the Seas was built in 2015 and is amoung Royal Caribbean's 27 ships in it's fleet. The Anthem of the Seas is included in the cruise line's Quantum Class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Anthem of the Seas vs all other Royal Caribbean ships.

All Itineraries

Cape Liberty

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. Explore the Anthem of the Seas Deck Maps and make sure to view our list of Ship Venues and Features. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

The fortress of El Morro guards the harbor against long-gone Sir Francis Drake and his British privateers. The colorful streets of Old San Juan retain the Latin flavor of its seafaring past, when this was the heart of the Spanish Main. Sample the fiery rum made here, or indulge in an icy treat made from fresh tropical fruit and enjoy the Caribbean atmosphere.

The fortress of El Morro guards the harbor against long-gone Sir Francis Drake and his British privateers. The colorful streets of Old San Juan retain the Latin flavor of its seafaring past, when this...

Charlotte Amalie

Charlotte Amalie, is the capital of the United States Virgin Islands and the most popular cruise port in the Caribbean. Named for a Danish Queen, the city features pastel houses that are heavily sprinkled against a background of emerald hills. Colorful sloops dock along the waterfront, and a few steps back, down alleyways lined with old Danish warehouse buildings, is a world-famous shopping center.

Charlotte Amalie, is the capital of the United States Virgin Islands and the most popular cruise port in the Caribbean. Named for a Danish Queen, the city features pastel houses that are heavily...

Philipsburg

An island under two flags, St. Martin/St. Maarten is French and Dutch. Philipsburg is on the Dutch side and famous for its duty-free emporia and casinos. A short drive will bring you to Marigot, a charming French Colonial outpost featuring shops filled with French fashions and imported Gallic goodies, as well as beautiful beaches.

An island under two flags, St. Martin/St. Maarten is French and Dutch. Philipsburg is on the Dutch side and famous for its duty-free emporia and casinos. A short drive will bring you to Marigot, a...

St. Lucia is one of the most scenic volcanic islands in the Caribbean. By helicopter, fly over beautiful Castries Harbor and Les Pitons, St. Lucia's dramatic twin volcanic peaks.

This fertile isle is a land of rain forests, tropical flowers, and abundant sugar cane. After a stroll around the charming colonial streets and shops of the capital, Basseterre, tour the island or visit Brimstone Hill Fort, an impressive construction that is one of the wonders of the Caribbean world.

This fertile isle is a land of rain forests, tropical flowers, and abundant sugar cane. After a stroll around the charming colonial streets and shops of the capital, Basseterre, tour the island or...

I went on 2 of Royal Caribbean's largest and newest cruise ships. I enjoyed them, but they're not for everyone.

• I've sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest and largest cruise ships, Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.
• Both mega-ships are jam-packed with amenities, dining options, and people.
• They might not be for you if you want a quiet cruise to unique destinations.  

Before booking a vacation at sea, travelers should always research the best cruise line and ship for their needs.

If you're looking for an ultra-cheap and fast trip, try Margaritaville at Sea . Craving something more upscale? Consider Oceania Cruises.

And if you're looking for high-end sailing to unique destinations, I'd suggest avoiding Royal Caribbean's mega-ships .

Royal Caribbean has become synonymous with giant, family-friendly cruise ships

According to its current expansion plan, by 2028, about a third of Royal Caribbean's fleet will consist of mega-ships.

The latest addition, the 1,196-foot-long and 248,663-gross-ton Icon of the Seas, set sail in January, unseating its less than two-year-old predecessor, Wonder of the Seas , as the world's largest cruise liner.

Together, the two vessels can accommodate a whopping 19,238 people — 4,554 crew and 14,684 guests.

At almost all times of the year, these throngs of travelers can be seen running around the ships' eight neighborhoods, lining up for waterslides, and indulging at a combined 29 bars and 48 eateries.

I've attended complimentary sailings on Wonder and Icon, the longest being three nights on the latter. From their colorful pool decks to their inescapable crowds, as a solo adult traveler, I was equal parts entertained, overwhelmed, and overstimulated the entire time.

But admittedly, I had fun. I do love a good waterslide — and Wonder has three of them, while Icon has six.

If you plan on cruising with your children — and if they, like me, love activities like rock climbing and mini-golfing — Royal Caribbean's mega-ships could be your best option.

Its two largest and newest vessels are jam-packed with things to do. They each have more than 20 dining options and dozens of unique activities, a shortlist of which includes ice-skating rinks, ziplines, and shopping mall-like walkways.

But don't expect a peaceful retreat. The rowdy bar-hopping adults and screaming children at the water playground aren't exactly conducive to a relaxing vacation.

Mega-vessels might not be for you if you want a quiet, itinerary-focused cruise

If you want a relaxing and upscale vacation — maybe one that doesn't involve crowds of children — Royal Caribbean's behemoth vessels shouldn't be your top choice.

There are many ways to have a luxury vacation on Icon of the Seas . But unless you want to pay for upcharged amenities at every turn, you might be better off spending more upfront to reserve a more premium cruise line — especially if you're interested in cruising for the destinations, and not the ships.

After all, like most of Royal Caribbean's largest vessels, both Icon and Wonder are exclusively sailing in the Caribbeans.

Many desirable destinations like French Polynesia have set restrictions on cruises , including limits on ship size, amid concerns of pollution and overcrowding.

If stopping at these ports — or really anywhere outside the Caribbean — is at the top of your vacation wish list, you'll have to prioritize a smaller Royal Caribbean ship or go with higher-end companies like Oceania , Silversea, and Regent Seven Seas.

You might not get a waterpark, but at least you'll get a quieter vacation to destinations no mega-ship will likely ever be allowed to visit.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

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Best Time To Go To Casino Royale

By Donna Heiderstadt | Published on April 23, 2024

One of the many incredible things that make a Royal Caribbean cruise ship the floating equivalent of a world-class resort — like those in Las Vegas, Aruba, The Bahamas or other destinations offering on-site gaming — is that you're never more than a few hundred feet from the vibrant and buzzing Casino Royale℠. That means the best time to go to the casino is pretty much any time it's open and you feel like playing.

Perhaps your game is blackjack or three-card poker. Or maybe you love the feeling of rolling the dice on the craps table or betting that the tiny white ball will land on your lucky number on the roulette wheel. In addition to the usual table games, Casino Royale also features a fantastic selection of slot and video poker machines waiting for you to collect on a winning bet.

If you're considering taking a cruise and hitting the tables or slots is a favorite vacation pastime, there will be plenty of opportunities to test your skill and luck while onboard. Casino Royale is available on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and offers thousands of square feet of Las Vegas-style action at sea — whether you're cruising the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or even past glaciers in Alaska. You must be 18 or older to play on most cruises, and 21 or older on Alaska sailings.

So when is the best time to go to the casino? Both the gaming and the people-watching at Casino Royale peak after dinner each night when the blackjack tables are hot, the slot machines are whirring, the roulette wheels are spinning in a mesmerizing blur and the craps dice are tumbling as players anticipate what they'll land on.

Not everyone, however, loves to hone their gaming skills in the middle of so much action. What's the best time to go to the casino if you prefer a more mellow vibe? There are plenty of opportunities to visit when the experience will be more to your liking. Here are our top suggestions for the best time to go to Casino Royale.

Right After The Casino Opens On Sea Days

Sea days aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships are notable for the many possibilities they offer: relax and sleep in, be wellness-focused and enjoy a massage, socialize and sip mojitos at the pool bar or be the player who's the first one at the tables in Casino Royale when it opens, as that's when complimentary gaming lessons are offered. Since a cruise ship casino can only operate in international waters (it must close when docked in a port, with very few exceptions), sea days offer the perfect opportunity for early-bird gamblers who feel that Lady Luck is most on their side when the sun is shining.

Is it better to go to the casino in the morning? It is on a sea day if you love slots because you'll enjoy easy access to all of your favorite machines as you stroll the casino floor, morning coffee in hand, and decide which one feels like it's ready to hit the jackpot.

Some blackjack players love to play on sea days right after Casino Royale's table games open, usually at 10 a.m., because they get their pick of the tables. It's also a great time to enjoy a speedier and more intense blackjack game, with fewer players at each table.

Anytime You Want If You're A Slots Player

Royal Caribbean's ships feature thousands of reel machines, video slots and hybrids fleetwide — that's across 28 ships — but if you're a slots aficionado , be sure to book an Oasis Class ship. Why? You can play the slots 24/7 on these five ships:  Oasis of the Seas® ,  Allure of the Seas® ,  Harmony of the Seas® ,  Symphony of the Seas®  and  Wonder of the Seas® . A sixth Oasis Class ship,  Utopia of the Seas℠ , will debut in 2024.

Each ship features hundreds of slot machines in its Casino Royale, many of which rank among the largest and most dazzling casinos at sea. For details on 24/7 play, simply see the casino host.

Whenever There's A Show

Evenings aboard Royal Caribbean ships are when the onboard ambiance most closely evokes that of the world's most celebrated entertainment-and-gambling mecca: Las Vegas. That's because Royal Caribbean is also known for the live theatrical options it offers — all on a complimentary basis, making these productions extremely popular.

The result? When vast numbers of Oasis Class guests head to the Royal Theater to enjoy a performance of a hit Broadway musical such as  Cats ,  Grease ,  Mamma Mia!  or  Saturday Night Fever , Casino Royale tends to empty out a bit. This makes showtime the perfect moment to try your luck.

In addition, the cruise line's fleetwide headliner shows, which feature a wide range of world-class acts — vocal groups, magicians, impressionists, acrobats and more — are especially effective at drawing in guests and freeing up space in the casino.

But that's not all. Oasis Class ships also feature ice-skating performances in Studio B and diving shows at the AquaTheater, both of which draw large crowds. Onboard Quantum Class ships, the Two70® performance space attracts passengers with its multimedia productions featuring daring aerials and supercool soundtracks.

Every ship in the fleet has a Royal Theater, where the vessel's ensemble of singers and dancers perform in production shows. This means that guests who just dabble in blackjack, place an occasional roulette bet or pass the time with penny slots are often pulled in another direction by the opportunity to enjoy complimentary, high-quality theatrical entertainment.

Altogether, you can expect smaller crowds at the tables and less competition for your favorite machines when there's a show happening. Simply check the Royal Caribbean app or the daily printed activities schedule,  Cruise Compass , to see what time the most popular onboard productions — headliner acts, Broadway shows and high-dive performances — are scheduled and then hit Casino Royale at the designated hour to get in a winning groove.

When Everyone Heads To Bed

While cruise ships offer entertainment into the wee hours, the majority of passengers tend to make their way back to their staterooms around midnight. Most of us aren't night owls when we have to answer to a morning alarm, right? Even though a cruise is a vacation from everyday responsibilities, shore excursion meeting times are typically early in the morning for anyone who plans to explore that day's port of call.

As a result, the post-midnight hours are often when the most focused gamblers come out to play. While cruise ship casinos don't stay open 24/7 like they do in Las Vegas, Casino Royale typically closes late (generally 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.), and the casino can stay open until the ship is about to arrive in port. That means if you feel like the odds are most often in your favor when most people are sound asleep, you're in luck.

While Docked At Perfect Day At Cococay

Are you one that prefers a hot seat to beach heat? A winning hand to sandy feet? If your Bahamas itinerary includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, both are possible. While the ship is docked at Royal Caribbean's spectacular private island in The Bahamas, you may have the option to return to the ship early (or just stay onboard the whole day) to enjoy your favorite gaming action at Casino Royale, since it's able to stay open while in port there.

Imagine this perfect day: Enjoy a morning of relaxation as you chill on one of Perfect Day at CocoCay's white-sand beaches while enjoying a piña colada (covered by your onboard beverage package) or socialization at the exclusive adults-only Hideaway Beach - the ultimate beachfront party in paradise. Then head back to your ship, shower off any lingering sand and hit Casino Royale for some laid-back afternoon action at the tables or slots.

Anytime The Vibe Is To Your Liking

What is the least busy day at the casino? There's not an easy answer. The times when Casino Royale will be busiest — from around 7 p.m. to midnight as well as afternoons on sea days — are pretty predictable. But the days when it's likely to be the least crowded depends largely on the itinerary, the time of year and the passenger mix.

In general, Casino Royale will have fewer gamblers on sunny sea days in warm-weather regions than on cloudy sea days in cooler locales. Or perhaps the passenger mix on a particular voyage doesn't include a high percentage of casinogoers. In other words, if you pass Casino Royale and the vibe is to your liking, go for it!

Written By DONNA HEIDERSTADT

Donna Heiderstadt, a New York City-based freelance writer and editor, specializes in covering the cruise market and is a contributor to ThePointsGuy.com , Islands.com , ShermansTravel.com , Fodors.com and other travel websites and publications. She has visited more than 95 countries and has taken more than 70 cruises.

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Best Time to Go to Casino Royale℠ | Royal Caribbean Cruises

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The 7 best 3-day cruise itineraries for 2024.

Plan a long weekend getaway aboard a cruise for fun, scenery and entertainment.

The Best 3-Day Cruise Itineraries

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Hop aboard the Carnival Radiance for a short but fun-filled cruise weekend.

Whether you're short on vacation days or you only have a long weekend to spare, three-night cruises offer a fun and affordable way to get a change of scenery. These shorter sailings from the U.S. often amount to a weekend cruise and only depart from Florida and California for now. However, short cruises still let you dine and dance on board, enjoy world-class entertainment, and visit nearby destinations like Nassau in the Bahamas; Key West, Florida; or Ensenada, Mexico.

If you're looking for short cruises that pack a lot of good times into a weekend vacation, you should know that many cruise lines offer these trips, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Read on to find out which short cruises we recommend, where they depart from, and everything you can see and do over the span of three incredible nights.

3-Day Cruises From Florida

Norwegian sky from miami.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Dates: Aug. 2 to 5, 2024

Departure port: Miami

Stops: Key West, Florida; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $399 per person

This three-night cruise on Norwegian Sky departs from Miami in August 2024 with stops at two iconic tropical destinations. The vessel's first stop is Key West , where cruise passengers will have the day to visit the southernmost tip of the United States, book a snorkeling or kayaking tour, or bar hop along the world-famous Duval Street. From there, the cruise stops at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, which is a private island paradise that's only for cruise passengers. Here, visitors can enjoy some beach time, plan a WaveRunner adventure or snorkel the clear waters to watch out for wildlife.

When not at port, passengers on Norwegian Sky can enjoy the ship's 10 dining options, onboard spa, casino at sea, and variety of pools and hot tubs. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel even has a sushi bar and a Starbucks onboard, and it was completely renovated from top to bottom in 2019.

Book a Norwegian cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral

Conrad Schutt | Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Dates: Multiple dates in November and December 2024

Departure port: Port Canaveral, Florida (Orlando)

Stops: Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Starting price: $169 per person

This three-night cruise on MSC Seashore departs from Port Canaveral near Orlando and takes passengers to two tropical destinations in the nearby Bahamas . The first is the island of Nassau, which is known for its luxury resorts (including the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas), huge casinos and powder white sands. After that, guests can spend a second day at port at MSC Cruises ' private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This island offers a perfect beach retreat for people who just want to relax, including several expansive white sand beaches with ample seating, an interior ocean lagoon for swimming, and beach bars and eateries dotted throughout.

MSC Seashore features huge pools, an onboard water park for kids, the expansive MSC Aurea Spa and 11 distinct dining venues for passengers to choose from. The ship also boasts the exclusive "ship within a ship" Yacht Club area, which offers the best of everything for discerning guests.

Find an MSC Cruises deal on GoToSea.

Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Dates: Ongoing in 2024

Departure port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Stops: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas

Starting price: $273 per person

This three-night cruise on Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection departs from Fort Lauderdale and leaves for two days in the sunny Bahamas. The first stop gives guests a full day to enjoy at Perfect Day at CocoCay, a cruise line private island that's typically reserved for Royal Caribbean guests. This island paradise features an exclusive beach club, idyllic white sand beaches for swimming and floating, a water park, a zip line, and plenty of places to eat and drink all day. The next stop is Nassau: Visitors can dine and shop their way through the port area or book a fun day pass to the Baha Bay water park, which is located at resort Baha Mar and features waterslides, an expansive lazy river and incredible cuisine options right at the park.

Celebrity Reflection was recently refurbished in 2022. It features an incredible array of included dining options, eight specialty and exclusive dining establishments, and bars and lounges throughout the ship. The Retreat, a VIP ship-within-a-ship concept, is also offered on board for those who want an elevated cruising experience.

Explore Celebrity Cruises on GoToSea.

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Disney Dream from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Dates: Nov. 6 to 9, 2024

Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $1,973 per stateroom

This three-night Bahamian cruise on Disney Dream stops at two exclusive destinations in the Bahamas – Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, then Disney Castaway Cay. The first stop offers incredible beaches with play areas and crystal-clear water for swimming, as well as the Bahamian Arts and Culture Pavilion for families who want to learn something about the local culture on vacation. At Disney Castaway Cay, families can relax the day away on white sand beaches, go biking or kayaking, ride two waterslides, and more. Both destinations even have adults-only beach areas for cruisers who are traveling kid-free.

Disney Dream holds a maximum of 4,000 passengers and has everything you would expect on an exclusive Disney Cruise Line vessel, including kids and family areas, adults-only dining options and pools, and two large theaters. The ship also has several supervised kids clubs as well as dedicated clubs for teenagers and tweens .

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Stops: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Starting price: $263 per person

Royal Caribbean International also boasts a Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale that stops in Nassau and at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In Nassau, cruisers get the chance to explore one of the most popular cruise ports throughout the Caribbean, where you can book an excursion to a local beach, plan a snorkeling adventure or play in one of the two biggest casinos throughout the region at Atlantis or Baha Mar. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, families can stay active with waterslides, book a kayaking tour or ride a hot air balloon up to 450 feet in the air.

Liberty of the Seas is also an ideal ship for families thanks to fun features like a huge onboard water park with slides, an ice skating rink with shows and the Broadway at Sea theater. The Royal Caribbean vessel also has nearly a dozen different dining venues, including Cupcake Cupboard, Johnny Rockets, a pizza kitchen and an old-world Italian eatery called Giovanni's Table.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

3-Day Cruises From California

Navigator of the seas from los angeles.

Dates: Throughout 2024

Departure port: Los Angeles

Stops: Ensenada, Mexico

Starting price: $282 per person

Royal Caribbean offers a three-night West Coast adventure on Navigator of the Seas that includes a fun day at sea and a full-day stop in Ensenada, Mexico. This Mexican destination is known for the many activities that can be enjoyed along its rugged shores, which can include leisurely days at nearby Estero and Mona Lisa beaches, hiking experiences, exploration of Baja California's wine region, whale watching and more.

Dates for this sailing are offered throughout 2024, and the ship itself has plenty to keep passengers enthralled while at sea. For example, Navigator of the Seas features the longest waterslide at sea, enlarged pool deck areas for relaxation, ice skating shows and shopping – not to mention Broadway-style shows with dancers, acrobats and singers. There are also 12 unique dining options onboard, including Starbucks, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver and Johnny Rockets.

Carnival Radiance from Los Angeles

Dates: Jan. 26 to 29 and Sept. 24 to 27, 2024

Departure port: Long Beach (Los Angeles)

Starting price: $244 per person

Carnival Radiance also embarks on three-night journeys to Mexico from Los Angeles throughout the year, including in January and September 2024. This Carnival Cruise Line itinerary includes a fun day at sea and a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can plan a sightseeing trip, nosh on the unique Baja cuisine the area is known for, shop for silver jewelry and other keepsakes, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.

Carnival Radiance itself serves as the perfect floating vessel for this fun weekend vacation, with onboard amenities that span the Cloud 9 Spa and WaterWorks water park with slides to a comedy club and special clubs for kids and teens. The ship also boasts an adults-only solarium and 10 different bars to choose from.

Book a Carnival cruise on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer and cruise expert who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 40 times across most of the major cruise lines in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate the itineraries for this article.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List
• Beach Packing List
• Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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Royal Caribbean Reports 2024 Q1; Increases Guidance

• April 25, 2024

Royal Caribbean Group today reported first quarter Earnings per Share (“EPS”) of $1.35 and Adjusted EPS of $1.7, according to a press release.

These results were better than the company’s guidance due to stronger pricing on close-in demand, strength in onboard revenue and favorable timing of expenses. As a result of an exceptional WAVE season and continued strength in demand, the company is increasing 2024 Adjusted EPS guidance to $10.70 – $10.90 per share.

“Wow, what a great start to the year! Demand for our leading brands and the incredible experiences they deliver continues to be very robust, resulting in outperformance in the first quarter, a further increase of full year earnings guidance, and 60% expected earnings growth year over year,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Building on this momentum, we expect to achieve all our Trifecta financial goals in 2024, which allows us to focus on a new era of growth to drive long-term shareholder returns and take a greater share of the rapidly growing $1.9 trillion global vacation market.”

Key Highlights

Stronger than anticipated demand led to a record WAVE season and continued strength in bookings in April from both a volume and pricing standpoint. This robust booking environment across all key itineraries coupled with continued strength in onboard spend, led to higher revenue versus guidance in the first quarter and a further improvement in full year yield expectations.

First Quarter 2024:

• Load factors in the first quarter were 107%.
• Gross Margin Yields were up 60.3% as-reported. Net Yields were up 19.3% in Constant-Currency (19.5% as-reported).
• Gross Cruise Costs per Available Passenger Cruise Days (“APCD”) increased 5.1% as-reported. Net Cruise Costs (“NCC”), excluding Fuel, per APCD increased 4.1% in Constant-Currency (4.2% as-reported), which benefited from 325 bps of favorable timing of expenses.
• Total revenues were $3.7 billion, Net Income was $360 million or $1.35 per share, Adjusted Net Income was $478 million or $1.77 per share, Adjusted EBITDA was $1.2 billion, and operating cash flow was $1.3 billion.

Full Year 2024 Outlook:

• Net Yields are expected to increase 9.0% to 10.0% in Constant-Currency and as-reported.
• NCC, excluding Fuel, per APCD is expected to increase approximately 5.5% in Constant-Currency (approximately 5.4% as-reported), including 310 bps of costs related to increased drydock days and the new operations of Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Approximately one third of the increase in unit costs, compared to prior guidance, is related to lower APCDs due to cancelled Red Sea Sailings with the remainder driven by higher stock-based compensation.
• Adjusted EPS is expected to grow 60% year over year and be in the range of $10.70 to $10.90. The increase in earnings includes a $0.10 headwind related to a stronger dollar and higher fuel prices. Approximately one third of the increase is attributable to the first quarter business outperformance with the remainder mainly driven by better business outlook, lower interest expense but also higher stock-based compensation.
• The company expects to achieve all of its Trifecta financial goals in 2024: triple digit EBITDA per APCD, ROIC in the teens, and double digit EPS, one year earlier than prior expectations.

First Quarter 2024 Results

Net Income for the first quarter of 2024 was $360 million or $1.35 per share compared to Net Loss of $(48) million or $(0.19) per share for the same period in the prior year. Adjusted Net Income was $478 million or $1.77 per share for the first quarter of 2024 compared to Adjusted Net Loss of $(59) million or $(0.23) per share for the same period in the prior year. The company also reported total revenues of $3.7 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion.

Gross Margin Yields increased 60.3% as-reported, and Net Yields increased 19.3% in Constant Currency (19.5% as-reported) when compared to the first quarter of 2023. Load factor for the quarter was 107%, up 5 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2023. About half of the first quarter yield growth was driven by higher ticket pricing on existing hardware, with the remainder driven by a combination of onboard revenue rates, higher load factors, and new hardware.  While onboard revenue continues to grow, the company is particularly pleased with the significant increase in ticket rates compared to 2023.

Gross Cruise Costs per APCD increased 5.1% as-reported, compared to 2023. NCC, excluding Fuel, per APCD increased 4.1% in Constant Currency (4.2% as-reported), when compared to the first quarter 2023. Costs were favorable to prior guidance due to the timing of expenses.

Update on Bookings

The demand and pricing environment continues to be very strong. Overall, this has been the strongest WAVE season in the company’s history from both a demand and pricing standpoint. As a result, the company continues to be in a record booked position, with rates for 2024 sailings even further ahead of 2023 than they were at the beginning of the year. In addition to record ticket pricing, consumer spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases continue to exceed prior years driven by greater participation at higher prices.

“Our existing fleet along with our new ships continue to perform exceptionally well, highlighted by the market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas , which has exceeded all expectations,” added Liberty. “The momentum continues with Utopia of the Seas and Silver Ray , set to launch this summer. And, just this quarter alone, we announced an order for a seventh Oasis Class ship and the expansion of our Royal Beach Club portfolio in Cozumel; and we officially broke ground on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.  These strategies will further propel our leadership in the cruise industry and push us to new heights in the vacation industry.”

As of March 31, 2024, the Group’s customer deposit balance was at $6.0 billion.

Second Quarter 2024

Net Yields are expected to increase 10.20% to 10.70% in Constant Currency (10.0% to 10.5% as-reported).

NCC, excluding Fuel, per APCD, is expected to increase 7.4% to 7.9% in Constant Currency (7.2% to 7.7% as-reported) compared to 2023 and includes costs related to increased drydock days and the operations of Hideaway Beach, as well as timing of costs shifted from the first quarter.

Based on current fuel pricing, interest rates, currency exchange rates and the factors detailed above, the company expects second quarter Adjusted EPS to be in the range of $2.65 to $2.75.

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How to Play Royal Caribbean (RCL) Ahead of Q1 Earnings?

Royal Caribbean Group ( RCL Quick Quote RCL - Free Report ) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2024 results on Apr 25, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.30 per share. In the prior-year quarter, RCL reported adjusted loss per share of 23 cents. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $3.64 billion, suggesting 26.3% jump from a year ago. The company is likely to have been aided by strong cruising demand from new and loyal guests, robust booking trends and new ship addition. Our model predicts passenger ticket revenues, and onboard and other revenues to improve 15.8% and 23.2% from the year-ago levels to $2,195.6 million and $1,218.1 million, respectively.  We expect occupancy to be 105%. The cruise industry giant's performance outlook appears promising, but investors must weigh potential risks against anticipated rewards before making investment decisions.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Price and EPS Surprise

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. price-eps-surprise | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Quote

Solid Booking Trends and New Ship Additions Drive Optimism

RCL’s results are likely to be aided by solid booking volumes concerning all key itineraries. Rise in consumer spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases are expected to bode well. With a load factor of 105% in the previous quarter, indicating full capacity operations, it is poised to capitalize on active consumer engagement and outperform the broader travel industry. Early booking patterns and heightened onboard spending reflect active consumer engagement, positioning Royal Caribbean favorably to outperform the broader travel industry and attract new clients. With projected 40% earnings growth, 2024 is anticipated to be a record-breaking year, in line with the company's strategic objectives. On the other hand, Royal Caribbean continues to benefit from new ship addition. Management focuses on new innovative ships and onboard experiences to differentiate its offering as well as deliver superior yields and margins. In 2023, RCL unveiled three new ships that align with its strategy and are poised to generate higher yields 2024 onward. In 2024, management anticipates capacity to increase by 8.5% from the year-ago levels with the introduction of Utopia of the Seas and Silver Ray. The new vessels enhance vacation experiences, attract fresh customers to RCL’s brands, and contribute to yield improvements and overall profitability.

High Costs Pose Challenges

Despite the optimistic outlook, Royal Caribbean faces challenges associated with high expenses primarily due to a rise in food, fuel and onboard expenses. It also expects fuel costs to increase and continue through 2025. Our model predicts, total cruise operating expenses to increase 4.2% from the year-earlier levels in first-quarter 2024.

Investment Considerations: Balancing Risk and Reward

While Royal Caribbean's performance outlook appears promising, investors should exercise caution given the stock's recent surge in value. Over the past year, the company’s shares have skyrocketed by 111.5%, outperforming the industry's growth of 11.2%. As RCL has significantly outperformed the industry in the past year, its valuation looks a bit stretched compared with its own range as well as the industry average. The stock is currently trading at 2.07X forward 12-month sales, which compares with 1.29X for the Zacks sub-industry and 1.61X for the Zacks sector. As investors await Royal Caribbean's first-quarter earnings report, its solid booking trends, new ship additions and anticipated financial performance paint a positive picture. However, concerns over high costs and stretched valuation warrant caution for potential investors. While Royal Caribbean's long-term prospects remain promising as the travel industry continues to recover, it may be prudent to wait for a more attractive entry point.

What the Zacks Model Unveils

Per our proven model, stocks with a combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) are likely to beat on earnings. At present, Royal Caribbean has an Earnings ESP of +5.30% and a Zacks Rank of 3. Hence, it is presumed that Royal Caribbean is likely to beat estimates this earnings season.   In the last reported quarter, RCL delivered an earnings surprise of 10.6%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter .

Other Stocks Poised to Beat on Earnings

Here are some other stocks from the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat. Fox Corporation ( FOXA Quick Quote FOXA - Free Report ) has an Earnings ESP of +15.53% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here . FOXA is expected to register a 23.4% increase in earnings for the to-be-reported quarter. It reported better-than-expected earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 71.1%. DraftKings Inc. ( DKNG Quick Quote DKNG - Free Report ) currently has an Earnings ESP of +36.22% and a Zacks Rank of 3. DKNG’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 67.8%. It reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the other two occasions, with a negative surprise of 57.1%, on average. Funko, Inc. ( FNKO Quick Quote FNKO - Free Report ) currently has an Earnings ESP of +6.90% and a Zacks Rank of 3. FNKO’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 40.8%. It reported better-than-expected earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 42.8%. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar .

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