Royal Caribbean International

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox company Royal Caribbean International (RCI), formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997.

Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passenger counts. Template:As of Royal Caribbean International controlled 27.0% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 24.8% by revenue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:As of the line operates 29 ships; three additional ships are on order and two ships are planned but do not have a launch date.

History

Royal Caribbean's first ship, Song of Norway

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line was founded in 1968 by three Norwegian shipping companies: Anders Wilhelmsen & Company, I.M. Skaugen & Company, and Gotaas Larsen.Template:Cn The newly created line put its first ship, Song of Norway, into service two years later. A year later, the line added Nordic Prince to the fleet and in 1972 it added Sun Viking. In 1978, Song of Norway became Royal Caribbean's first passenger ship to be lengthened. This was accomplished via the insertion of an Template:Convert section to the vessel's severed center. Following the success of this work, Nordic Prince was also stretched in 1980. During the stretching of both ships, their sterns were modified to create more open space. In 1982, Royal Caribbean launched Song of America.

Royal Caribbean's third ship, Sun Viking

In 1986, Royal Caribbean leased a coastal property in Labadie, Haiti, to be used as a private destination for its guests, renamed as Labadee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After a corporate restructuring in 1988, the line launched Sovereign of the Seas, the largest passenger vessel afloat at the time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, Royal Caribbean also merged with Admiral Cruises.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> Two years later in 1990, Nordic Empress and Viking Serenade entered service and Royal Caribbean purchased a second private destination, Little Stirrup Cay, an island in the Bahamas, which they branded as CocoCay.<ref name=":3" />

Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas

The second and third Template:Sclasss Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas were delivered in 1991 and 1992 respectively.

Royal Caribbean went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1993.

Reorganization and renaming

In 1997, it merged with the Greek cruise line Celebrity Cruises and changed its name from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to Royal Caribbean International. At the same time, Royal Caribbean Group was formed as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to serve as a holding company that owned both Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

In 2000, Royal Caribbean operated a series of land-and-sea-based "cruise tours" in Alaska, featuring glass-domed train cars to scenic destinations within the state and Canada. Over the next two years, they also introduced cruise tours to destinations throughout Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An even larger class, the Oasis class, featuring Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, was launched in 2009 and 2010, guaranteeing Royal Caribbean the ship size lead for years to come. In December 2012, Royal Caribbean announced that they had ordered a third Oasis-class cruise ship from STX France, which would be larger than the previous ships in the class.<ref name="3rdoasis">Royal Caribbean Orders Third Oasis-Class Ship from STX France. Cruise Industry News, 27 December 2012. Template:Retrieved</ref> In March 2014, Royal Caribbean announced that they had ordered a fourth Oasis-Class ship from STX France.<ref name="4thoasis">Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2013, Royal Caribbean announced the first two ships of their newest Quantum class, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, which were being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard.<ref name="baltimoresunquantumnames">Royal Caribbean announces names for new cruise ships, baltimoresun.com</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May of that year, Royal Caribbean announced that they had signed a contract for a third Quantum-class ship for delivery in mid-2016.<ref name="ThirdQuantum">Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2014, Royal Caribbean announced that the third Quantum-class ship would be named Ovation of the Seas,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in February 2015 they announced that the third Oasis-class ship would be named Harmony of the Seas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2015, Royal Caribbean announced that they had agreed to sell Splendour of the Seas to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2016, Royal Caribbean announced that they had agreed to sell Legend of the Seas to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The company lobbies in various jurisdictions in which it operates. In the United States of America, lobbying expenditure records are held by the Senate Office of Public Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In South Australia, the company is represented by lobbying company Richardson Coutts Pty Ltd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2017, Royal Caribbean agreed to use Port Everglades as a preferred berth for its Oasis class ships.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> The new agreement extended the past contract with Port Everglades until 2026, contingent upon a $100 million remodeling of Cruise Terminal 25, and approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.<ref name=":0" />

In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Royal Caribbean suspended sailings across its fleet. It also sold Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas,<ref name="cinmajestyempress" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with the former going to Cordelia Cruises.<ref name="empress-cordelia" /> Template:As of, its first and only ship to resume sailing was Quantum of the Seas, which began sailing from Singapore in December 2020 under health and safety regulations formulated by the Singapore government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 29 June 2021, Royal Caribbean International's Ovation of the Seas became the first cruise ship to return to the Port of Seattle since the COVID-19 pandemic began.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Partnerships/capabilities

In August 2022, the company announced that it would partner with SpaceX to use its Starlink technology across all its ships, in an effort to improve historically weak internet connections. This comes on the heels of the Federal Communications Commission authorizing SpaceX to provide its services to boats, planes, and trucks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Private resorts

Royal Caribbean operates two privately owned resorts that are used as stops on some Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. They are Labadee, a resort on the northern coast of Haiti, and CocoCay, a private island in the Berry Islands region of the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean will establish the Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas in December 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The company is planning to open additional private resorts in Cozumel<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Costa Maya<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in Mexico and on Lelpea Island, Vanuatu in the South Pacific.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Fleet

Current fleet

Since Sovereign of the Seas entered service in 1987, all subsequent Royal Caribbean ships have names ending with the phrase "of the Seas".

Vision class

Template:Main

The Vision class consists of three pairs of sister ships. Legend and Splendour, built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France have a gross tonnage of approximately 70,000. Grandeur and Enchantment were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Helsinki, Finland and had an original tonnage of approximately Template:GT. The final pair, Rhapsody and Vision were also built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and have a tonnage of Template:GT. In 2005, a Template:Convert midsection was added to Enchantment of the Seas, bringing its tonnage to over Template:GT. All ships of this class feature over Template:Convert of glass. Royal Caribbean sold both Splendour of the Seas and Legend of the Seas to Marella Cruises. Splendour of the Seas last sailed for Royal Caribbean on 4 April 2016, and the final Legend of the Seas sailing for Royal Caribbean left port on 13 March 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2019, Royal Caribbean announced a plan to transfer Grandeur of the Seas to Pullmantur Cruises after its last scheduled sailing on 21 March 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, following Pullmantur's filing for bankruptcy, Royal Caribbean later announced in August 2020 that Grandeur would remain in Royal Caribbean's fleet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Built in Kvaerner Masa-Yards
Grandeur of the Seas 1996 73,817<ref name="GrandeurDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 1,992<ref name="GrandeurFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,440<ref name="GrandeurFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Enchantment of the Seas 1997 82,910<ref name="EnchantmentDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 2,252<ref name="EnchantmentFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,730<ref name="EnchantmentFacts" /> Template:Flag Lengthened in 2005. Last renovated in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Built in Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Rhapsody of the Seas 1997 78,878<ref name="RhapsodyDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 1,998<ref name="RhapsodyFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,416<ref name="RhapsodyFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vision of the Seas 1998 78,717<ref name="VisionDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 2,050<ref name="VisionFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,514<ref name="VisionFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2013.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>

Voyager class

Template:Main

The Voyager-class ships were the largest class of cruise ships in the world when constructed, were the first ships to have an ice rink at sea and the first to have Royal Caribbean's "Royal Promenade" concept, a main thoroughfare extending most of the length of the ship, flanked by bars, cafes, and shopping venues. They were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards' (now Meyer Turku) facility in Turku, Finland. They have a gross tonnage of around 137,000 tonnes. Activity options onboard all five ships include a basketball court, at least three pools, a mini-golf course, a rock wall, an ice skating rink and, originally, an inline skating track. Navigator of the Seas replaced the inline skating track with a Flowrider surf simulator in 2014, and similar changes are planned for Voyager and Explorer.<ref name="voy_flowrider">Template:Cite web</ref>

Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas are second-generation Voyager-class vessels, and feature glass stateroom balconies that extend out from the superstructure of the ship and a larger Windjammer buffet area.

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Voyager of the Seas 1999 138,194<ref name="VoyagerDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 3,114<ref name="VoyagerFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 3,840<ref name="VoyagerFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Voyager of the seas santorini.png
Explorer of the Seas 2000 138,194<ref name="ExplorerDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 3,114<ref name="ExplorerFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 3,840<ref name="ExplorerFacts" /> Template:Flag Planned renovation postponed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Adventure of the Seas 2001 138,193<ref name="AdventureDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 3,114<ref name="AdventureFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 3,807<ref name="AdventureFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Navigator of the Seas 2002 139,999<ref name="NavigatorDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 3,376<ref name="NavigatorFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,000<ref name="NavigatorFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Error creating thumbnail:
Mariner of the Seas 2003 139,863<ref name="MarinerDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 3,114<ref name="MarinerFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 3,807<ref name="MarinerFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Mariner of the Seas at hakata port (cropped).jpg

Radiance class

Template:Main All Radiance-class ships have a gross tonnage of 90,090 and environmentally friendlier gas turbine engines. The Radiance-class ships have over Template:Convert of glass, glass exterior viewing elevators, over 700 balcony staterooms, two-level glass windowed dining rooms, alternative restaurants, a retractable glass roof over a pool, an outdoor pool, as well as the first self-leveling billiard tables at sea. The Radiance class ships were constructed at Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany. Unlike the preceding Voyager class, these ships are built to the Panamax form factor, allowing them to pass through the Panama Canal.

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Radiance of the Seas 2001 90,090<ref name="RadianceDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 2,143<ref name="RadianceFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,466<ref name="RadianceFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Radiance of the Seas - Juneau, AK (cropped).jpg
Brilliance of the Seas 2002 90,090<ref name="BrillianceDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 2,142<ref name="BrillianceFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,543<ref name="BrillianceFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2013.<ref name="auto"/>
File:Brilliance of the Seas in Tallinn 9 August 2012 (cropped).JPG
Serenade of the Seas 2003 90,090<ref name="SerenadeDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 2,146<ref name="SerenadeFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,476<ref name="SerenadeFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Serenade of the Seas at Grand Cayman1 (cropped).JPG
Jewel of the Seas 2004 90,090<ref name="JewelDNV">Template:Csr</ref> 2,112<ref name="JewelFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 2,502<ref name="JewelFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Jewel of the Seas G628 (cropped).jpg

Freedom class

Template:Main The Freedom-class ships are lengthened versions of the second-generation Voyager-class ship, and contain a Template:Convert Royal Promenade mall running much of the length of the ship, an ice skating rink, basketball court, several pools, a mini-golf course, and a rock wall. New features on the Freedom class include the FlowRider surfing simulator, the H2O Zone kids water play area, a boxing ring, and hot tubs cantilevered over the side of the ship. At 154,407 gross tons, the Freedom-class ships were the largest ships in the world from 2006, until the debut of the Oasis class in 2009.<ref name="fleetguidePDF">Template:Cite web</ref>

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Template:MS 2006 156,271<ref name="FreedomDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 3,782<ref name="FreedomFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,515<ref name="FreedomFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Freedom of the Seas (12174093863) (cropped).jpg
Liberty of the Seas 2007 155,889<ref name="LibertyDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 3,798<ref name="LibertyFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,960<ref name="LibertyFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Liberty of the Seas (ship, 2006) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on August 18, 2025.jpg
Independence of the Seas 2008 155,889<ref name="IndependenceDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 3,634<ref name="IndependenceFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,375<ref name="IndependenceFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Independence of the Seas 7.jpg

Oasis class

Template:Main The Oasis-class ships are some of the largest passenger ships ever built, having surpassed the Freedom-class ships, and are surpassed only by the Icon-class ships. They can accommodate up to 5,400 passengers at double occupancy and they have a maximum capacity of 6,296 passengers. Furthermore, the ships have a gross tonnage of at least 225,282 tons, and cost the line around US$1.4 billion each. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas,<ref name="RCIPressRelease1">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> were delivered in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland.<ref>Aker Yards press release, Royal Caribbean orders another giant cruise vessel from Aker Yards, 2 April 2007.</ref> The third and fourth ships in the class, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. They were the first to come with the Ultimate Abyss dry slide.<ref name="4thOasisKeelLaid">Template:Cite web</ref> Royal Caribbean International, in conjunction with USA Today, sponsored a contest to name the first two vessels.<ref name="RCIPressRelease1" /><ref name="namesrevealed">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Name that ship contest, usatoday.com</ref> In February 2019, Royal Caribbean announced the order of a 6th Oasis class vessel, later named Utopia of the Seas, from Chantiers de l'Atlantique for delivery in 2024 with a double occupancy of 5,714 and gross tonnage of 231,000.

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Oasis of the Seas 2009 226,838<ref name="OasisDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,400<ref name="OasisFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 6,780<ref name="OasisFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Oasis of the Seas (cropped).jpg
Allure of the Seas 2010 225,282<ref name="AllureDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,492<ref name="AllureFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 6,780<ref name="AllureFacts" /> Template:Flag Last renovated in 2025.
File:Allure of the Seas (ship, 2009) 001 (cropped).jpg
Harmony of the Seas 2016 226,963<ref name="HarmonyDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,497<ref name="HarmonyFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 6,687<ref name="HarmonyFacts" /> Template:Flag
File:Harmony of the Seas (ship, 2016) 001 (cropped).jpg
Symphony of the Seas 2018 228,081<ref name="SymphonyDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,518<ref name="symphonyfactsheet">Template:Cite web</ref> 6,680<ref name="symphonyfactsheet" /> Template:Flag
File:SymphonyOfTheSeas (cropped) 02.jpg
Wonder of the Seas 2022<ref name="new delivery dates" /> 235,600<ref name="WonderDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,734 6,988 Template:Flag File:Wonder of the Seas Jan 30 2025.jpg
Utopia of the Seas 2024 236,473<ref name="UtopiaDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,668<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flag 1st LNG powered Oasis class cruise ship.<ref name="oasis6">Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Utopia of the Seas La Rochelle-b.jpg

Quantum class

Template:Main The Quantum-class of ships debuted as the second largest class of cruise ships in the world. The Quantum-class ships were the first ships built for Royal Caribbean by Meyer Werft since the Radiance class and share many features with those ships, including indoor pools with retractable roofs, vast expanses of glass, outdoor seating in the "Windjammer" buffet, and self-leveling pool tables.<ref name="intent">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="MusicHallPressKit">Template:Cite web</ref> Other distinctive features of the Quantum-class include the "North Star" observation capsule mounted on the end of a Template:Convert crane arm,<ref name="NorthStarPressKit">Template:Cite web</ref> "RipCord by iFLY" a skydiving simulator,<ref name="RipCordPressKit">Template:Cite web</ref> the three-deck-high Two70° lounge and performance venue at the aft of the ship featuring panoramic windows that convert into projection screens,<ref name="two70PressKit">Template:Cite web</ref> and the multi-purpose SeaPlex facility which hosts activities such as basketball, roller skating, bumper cars, and a trapeze school.<ref name="SeaPlexPressKit">Template:Cite web</ref> The Quantum class was the first class designed specifically for Dynamic Dining, and feature several separate complementary dining facilities instead of a single main dining room.<ref name="cruisedining">Template:Cite web</ref> Each venue will maintain the same menu and staff throughout the cruise.<ref name="culinaryqandas">Template:Cite web</ref> Unlike the earlier Voyager, Freedom, and Oasis class, Quantum-class ships do not feature a Viking Crown Lounge or ice skating rink, and the Royal Esplanade mall down the center of the ship is not featured in the traditional form of Royal Promenades.<ref name="QuantumDeckPlans">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Dunham-PotterThrillsatSea">Template:Cite web</ref>

Five ships, Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas<ref name="fourthquantum">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="spectrum">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="fifthquantum">Template:Cite news</ref> were built as of 2021.

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Quantum of the Seas 2014 168,666<ref name="QuantumFactSheet">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,180<ref name="QuantumFactSheet" /> 4,905<ref name="QuantumFactSheet" /> Template:Flag Renovation planned for 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Quantum of the Seas - Wedel 04 (cropped).jpg
Anthem of the Seas 2015 168,666<ref name="AnthemFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,180<ref name="AnthemFacts" /> 4,905<ref name="AnthemFacts" /> Template:Flag
File:El Crucero Anthem of The Seas en el muelle de Santa Catalina de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. (18173969071).jpg
Ovation of the Seas 2016<ref name="delivery Ovation">Template:Cite web</ref> 168,666<ref name="OvationDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 4,180<ref name="ThirdQuantum" /> 4,905<ref name="ThirdQuantum" /> Template:Flag
File:Ovation of the Seas - Nieuwe Maas - Port of Rotterdam (25843859904) (cropped).jpg
Spectrum of the Seas 2019 169,379<ref name="SpectrumFacts">Template:Cite web</ref> 4,246<ref name="SpectrumFacts" /> 5,622<ref name="SpectrumFacts" /> Template:Flag First Quantum Ultra Class<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ship
File:SPECTRUM OF THE SEAS 20190608-2 (cropped).jpg
Odyssey of the Seas 2021<ref name="new delivery dates">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref> 167,704<ref name="OdysseyDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 4,200 5,510<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flag 2nd Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship
File:Odyssey of the Seas (cropped).jpg

Icon class

Template:Main On 10 October 2016, Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku announced an order to build two ships under the project name "Icon".<ref name="presscenter">Template:Cite press release</ref> On 2 July 2019, Royal Caribbean announced an order for a third ship in the "Icon" class.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="third">Template:Cite press release</ref>

Icon class ships are the largest cruise ships ever constructed. The ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), with a gross tonnage of about 250,800 GT.<ref name="RCIiconMeyer">Template:Cite web></ref> Ships will contain other alternative energy features, like the use of fuel cells to produce electricity and fresh water.<ref name="presscenter"/>

Icon of the Seas was delivered on 27 November 2023, and the second ship, Star of the Seas, was delivered in 2025.<ref name="presscenter" /><ref name="meyerturku">Template:Cite web</ref> The third ship, Legend of the Seas,<ref name="iconthird">Template:Cite web</ref> is planned to be delivered in 2026, one year after Star of the Seas.

In August 2024, an order for a fourth ship to be delivered in 2027 was announced and planned two additional ships.<ref name=icon4>Template:Cite web</ref>

Name Year
built 		Gross
tonnage 		Berths Flag Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Icon of the Seas 2023 248,663<ref name="RCIiconDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,610<ref name="RCIicon">Template:Cite web</ref> 7,600<ref name="RCIicon" /> Template:Flag 1st LNG powered ship in the fleet, largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage
File:Icon of the Seas.jpg
Star of the Seas 2025 248,663<ref name="RCIStarDNV">Template:DNV</ref> 5,610<ref name="meyer2">Template:Cite web</ref> 7,600 Template:Flag 2nd LNG powered Icon class.<ref name="cruiseindustrynews.com">Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Cádiz - Crucero Star of the Seas, atracado en el puerto de Cádiz (25 julio 2025) 01.jpg

Future fleet

Name Class Estimated date of completion Current status Gross
tonnage 		Berths Notes Ship image
Double Maximum
Legend of the Seas Template:Sclass 2026<ref name="new delivery dates" /> Floated Out on September 2, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 250,800<ref name="meyer3">Template:Cite web</ref> 5,610<ref name="meyer3" /> 7,600 3rd LNG powered Icon class.
TBA Template:Sclass 2027<ref name="meyer-fourth">Template:Cite web</ref> Keel laid on September 8, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 4th LNG powered Icon class.
TBA<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Sclass 2028 Ordered 236,860 5,668 7th Oasis-class cruise ship. 2nd LNG powered Oasis class, sister ship to Utopia of the seas.
TBA<ref name="IconMeyerPartnership">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Sclass 2028 Ordered 5th LNG powered Icon class.


A new class of smaller ships, to be named Discovery class, is planned, but not ordered yet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Former fleet

Name Class Year built Duration in service for Royal Caribbean International Current status Gross tonnage Notes Ship image
Template:MS Song of Norway class 1970 1970–1997 Scrapped in 2013 as the Formosa Queen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 22,945 Lengthened in 1978
Error creating thumbnail:
Template:MV Song of Norway class 1971 1971–1995 Scrapped in 2015 as the Pacific<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 23,149 Lengthened in 1980
File:Carouselship (cropped).jpg
Template:MS Song of Norway class 1972 1972–1998 Sold for scrap in 2021. 16,607
File:Sun Viking at Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong (cropped).jpg
Template:MS Song of America class 1982 1982–1999 Sold for Scrap in 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 37,584
File:ThomsonDestiny (cropped).jpg
Template:MS - 1982 1990–2002 Scrapped in 2018 as the Ocean Gala 1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 40,171 Transferred from Royal Caribbean's subsidiary Admiral Cruises in 1990.
File:Viking Serenade Mexico 3 (cropped).jpg
Sovereign of the Seas Template:Sclass 1987 1988–2008<ref>Cruise Business Review 12. 10. 2007: Say goodbye to Sovereign! The first ever modern megaship to join Pullmantur fleet, retrieved 13 October 2007 Template:Webarchive</ref> Scrapped in 2020 as the Sovereign 73,192 Largest cruise ship from 1987 to 1990.
File:Sovereign of the Seas Nassau Bahamas (244161813) (cropped).jpg
Monarch of the Seas Template:Sclass 1991 1991–2013<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Scrapped in 2020 as the Monarch 73,192
File:Monarch of the Seas (cropped).JPG
Splendour of the Seas Template:Sclass 1996 1996–2016 Operating as the Marella Discovery for Marella Cruises 69,130<ref name=fleetguidePDF /><ref name=SplendourFacts>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Splendour of the Seas 2011 (cropped).jpg
Legend of the Seas Template:Sclass 1995 1995–2017 Operating as the Marella Discovery 2 for Marella Cruises 69,130<ref name=fleetguidePDF />
File:Legend of the Seas (1) (cropped).jpg
Empress of the Seas Empress class 1990 1990–2008

2016–2020<ref name="cinmajestyempress">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sold to Cordelia Cruises<ref name="empress-cordelia">Template:Cite web</ref> 48,563 Sailed for Pullmantur Cruises as Empress from 2008 to 2016.
File:Empress of the Seas in Grand Cayman May 30, 2016 (cropped).jpg
Majesty of the Seas Template:Sclass 1992 1992–2020<ref name="cinmajestyempress"/> Sold to Seajets and renamed Majesty of the Oceans<ref name="cinmajestyempress"/> 78,941
File:MSMajestyOfTheSeasEdit1.JPG

Ports of call

Royal Caribbean operates internationally and has many ports of call.

International ports

Template:Location map many

Territory Port<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> City
Template:Flag Port of Amsterdam Amsterdam
Template:Flag Port of Barcelona Barcelona
Template:Flag Port of Quebec Quebec
Template:Flag Port of Shenzhen Shenzhen
Template:Flag Template:Ill Stockholm
Template:Flag Port of Vancouver Vancouver
Template:Flag Port of Auckland Auckland
Template:Flag Port of Tianjin Beijing
Template:Flag Port of Civitavecchia Rome
Template:Flag Port of Singapore Singapore
Template:Flag Port Jackson Sydney
Template:Flag Port of Venice Venice
Template:Flag Port of Copenhagen Copenhagen
Template:Flag Port of Hong Kong Hong Kong
Template:Flag Port of Melbourne Melbourne
Template:Flag Port of Shanghai Shanghai
Template:Flag Port of Southampton Southampton
Template:Flag Marmagao Port Goa

U.S. Ports

Template:Stack begin

Template:Location map many

Template:Stack end

Territory Port<ref name=":1"/> City
Template:Flag Port Everglades Fort Lauderdale
Template:Flag Cape Liberty Bayonne
Template:Flag Honolulu Harbor Honolulu
Template:Flag PortMiami Miami
Template:Flag Port of Seattle Seattle
Template:Flag Port of Galveston Galveston
Template:Flag Port of Los Angeles Los Angeles
Template:Flag Port of New Orleans New Orleans
Template:Flag Port of San Diego San Diego
Template:Flag Port of Seward Seward
Template:Flag Port of Baltimore Baltimore
Template:Flag Port of Boston Boston
Template:Flag Port Canaveral Cape Canaveral
Template:Flag Port Tampa Bay Tampa
Template:Flag Port of San Juan San Juan

Awards

Travel awards include

Controversies

Cruise line operators have been criticized for using their large economic impact to cut deals over ship-generated waste with home ports, ports of call, and agencies.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Norovirus outbreaks

In January 2014, an outbreak of norovirus aboard Explorer of the Seas sickened 689 of 4,237 passengers and crew (16.3%), causing the ship to return to port two days early.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The outbreak reportedly marked the greatest number of cases of illness aboard a cruise ship in two decades,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> barely exceeding a 2006 outbreak aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Liberty that sickened 679 of 3,970 passengers and crew (17.1%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Royal Caribbean offered all passengers aboard that cruise a 50% refund of their cruise fare, an additional 50% (plus 10% for each day sick passengers were quarantined) of their cruise fare as a credit towards another cruise, and reimbursed extra travel expenses for guests returning home early.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Docking in Haiti

In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Royal Caribbean continued docking cruise ships at the Labadee resort, located approximately 60 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, during the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Royal Caribbean vice president John Weis defended the decision, citing relief supplies delivered through the ships and proceeds from the call going towards relief efforts. The decision to continue docking was criticized nonetheless and created concern among passengers.<ref name="haiti_dock1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="haiti_dock2">Template:Cite web</ref>

George Allen Smith case

Template:Main On 5 July 2005, passengers on board Brilliance of the Seas reported what appeared to be blood on a part of the ship below the passenger balconies. After a search, George Allen Smith was discovered to be missing and thought to have fallen overboard. A criminal investigation into possible foul play was conducted, and a brief press release on the company's investor relations website announced the settlement of the case,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> later revealed to be more than $1 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Environmental record

In 1998 and 1999, the company was fined US$9 million because one of its ships, Sovereign of the Seas, had repeatedly dumped oily waste into the ocean and tried to hide this using false records, including fake piping diagrams given to the U.S. Coast Guard. Because the company was and is incorporated in Liberia, Royal Caribbean argued that this case was not in the jurisdiction of U.S. courts. Despite their argument, they were unsuccessful.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency fined Royal Caribbean International $475,000 for failing to properly report solid and hazardous waste management and handling between July 2019 and July 2024.<ref name="usatoday">Template:Cite news </ref>

Whakaari / White Island eruption

Template:Main On 9 December 2019, a volcanic eruption occurred killing 21 people from Template:Ship. It occurred on New Zealand's Whakaari / White Island while Ovation was docked in the nearby Port of Tauranga. Despite an increase in seismic activity in preceding weeks, 47 people (including 38 passengers and crew from the ship) were on the island when it erupted.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:As of, 44 of the 47 were injured, missing, or killed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the line was "devastated by today’s events",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the ship remained in port until 10 December to assist with recovery efforts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2020, legal action was commenced in Australia on behalf of relatives and Ovation passengers against Royal Caribbean.<ref name="abc-stacks-legal-april-27">Template:Cite news</ref>

Death of Chloe Rae Margaret Wiegand

On 7 July 2019, 18-month-old Chloe Rae Margaret Wiegand was dropped to her death from an open window by her grandfather Salvatore Anello on Template:MS while docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was later arrested on counts of homicide by authorities in Puerto Rico.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The family attempted to file a civil suit against Royal Caribbean claiming that Anello did not know the window was open. Royal Caribbean later released several videos from surveillance cameras showing this incident. As of 25 February 2020, Anello took a plea deal with authorities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, the civil lawsuit was still approved by a judge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

COVID-19 pandemic

Template:Further

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miami Herald reported that, after cruises were cancelled worldwide and they had disembarked all passengers, Royal Caribbean Cruises had refused to repatriate many of their crew members due to the associated costs, with many crew members turning to desperate measures, such as hunger strikes, as a result.<ref name="herald.royal.1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="herald.royal.5">Template:Cite web</ref>

As part of the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), Royal Caribbean paused its global sailing operations through 30 April 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 16 June 2021, Royal Caribbean International announced that it was delaying the inaugural sailing of their newest cruise liner, Odyssey of the Seas after eight crew members tested positive for SARS-CoV-2–COVID-19. Six of the crew members were without showing signs of symptoms while the other two were experiencing mild symptoms of the disease.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The delay was extended until 31 July 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:Wikivoyage

Template:Portal bar Template:Royal Caribbean Cruise International Ships Template:Subsidiaries of Royal Caribbean Group

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Royal_Caribbean_International&oldid=445664"