Latest news with #JasonLiberty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean makes controversial change, again
Royal Caribbean makes controversial change, again originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Many 'loyal to Royal' cruisers have learned over the years that careful planning and early booking are a must if you want to secure the itinerary, stateroom type, and add-on amenities you want for your vacation. These days, most experienced cruisers know that booking early will usually help you secure the lowest price for your cruise, days of scoring a last-minute cruise deal are mostly gone, with only a few exceptions this year like some of this summer's Mediterranean and Alaska cruises. Despite the higher prices that usually come with last-minute cruise bookings, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty revealed during the company's Q1 earnings call that the cruise line has noticed more last-minute booking behavior recently. So rather than discount last-minute cruises, Royal Caribbean has been raising prices on near-departure cruises to drive higher profits. This trend in last-minute bookings could also be a factor in the cruise line's controversial decision to continue to make changes to this summer's launch schedule for its next Icon Class ship. These launch schedule changes have opened up some enticing opportunities for cruisers to add somewhat last-minute summer cruises on board Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated Star of the Seas, which will debut in August from Port Canaveral, loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers who are diligent about planning their vacations far in advance were quick to book this summer's inaugural sailing for Star of the Seas when it opened for booking back in December 2023. Most of those cruisers wanted to be the first to sail on the new megaship, which will offer seven-night Caribbean cruises designed to compete with Orlando's theme park vacations. Originally, Star of the Seas' first cruise was scheduled for Aug. 17, 2025, but Royal Caribbean later pushed the inaugural sailing back to Aug. 31, citing a delay in the ship's expected delivery. But early this year, it became clear that Star of the Seas would be ready to sail earlier in August after than change the date of the inaugural voyage again, Royal Caribbean decided to add two shorter 'showcase sailings' before it. For some Royal Caribbean cruisers who didn't plan early enough to secure the ship's inaugural sailing, this was great news. But at the same time, it frustrated some of the careful planners who booked the inaugural cruise to be the first to sail on the new ship on its full seven-night maiden voyage. Some of those cruisers took the opportunity Royal Caribbean offered to switch their booking to the first showcase sailing so they could still be the first on board, but then, a few weeks later, the cruise line changed the launch schedule March, the cruise line announced that Star of the Seas would be ready to sail even earlier, and added another short showcase sailing on the ship departing on Aug. 20, 2025. And now, they've done it again. It turns out Star of the Seas will be delivered according to its original timeline after all, and now it will even debut one day earlier than the previously planned Aug. 17 inaugural voyage.'To officially kick off our inaugural season, we have added in an additional 4-Night Star Showcase Cruise to Perfect Day [at CocoCay] on August 16, 2025, because we simply can't wait to debut the world's best family vacation,' the cruise line wrote in an email to travel partners. So now, while the Aug. 31 Star of the Seas cruise is the first full-length sailing and still considered the inaugural voyage, there are a total of four short showcase sailings happening before it. Although that may be a bit disappointing for some passengers who chose to stay on the original inaugural sailing, it's sure to bring higher revenue for Royal Caribbean as it capitalizes on this year's last-minute cruise booking trend with new sailings on a brand-new ship. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Travel Weekly
4 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Celebrity will sail the Danube and Rhine in its first season of river cruising
Celebrity River Cruises will cruise the Rhine and Danube in its first season in 2027. The brand, an offshoot of ocean line Celebrity Cruises, announced plans earlier this year to expand into river cruising with an initial order of 10 ships. The design of the ships will be inspired by the Edge-class ocean ships and operate with an all-inclusive model. Alcoholic drinks, WiFi and one excursion per port will be included in the fare, a Celebrity spokesperson confirmed to Travel Weekly. The river cruise line said it will unveil itinerary details and open bookings this summer. The Rhine and Danube are Europe's two most popular waterways for river cruises. The Rhine alone carries about a quarter of river cruise passengers each year, making it the most popular, followed by the Danube, according to Cleveland Research Company. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said during the company's Q4 earnings call in late January that expansion into river cruising "is not a hobby for us." "We are taking this extremely seriously, and we want to make sure we can live up to delivering the best vacation experiences in the world and make sure we're doing so in a responsible way," Liberty said. Liberty indicated that about half of Royal Caribbean Group's guests have experienced or intend to take a river cruise. Travel advisors have said that Celebrity's loyal customer base and brand recognition could lure a younger crowd. Celebrity is just one well-known brand wading into river cruising. Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Transcend Cruises to sail the Rhine, and tour operator Trafalgar will offer Danube and Rhine itineraries.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I've been to Royal Caribbean's private islands 3 times. It's no surprise the cruise line is taking nearly all its Caribbean sailings there.
I've been to Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay private resort three times over the years. Cruise lines are all in on these private island resorts: Passengers love them, and they're insanely profitable. Royal Caribbean is set to debut three new resorts through 2027. Royal Caribbean's land-based portfolio is growing alongside its famous fleet of cruise ships. Three new private ports in Mexico and the Bahamas are set to debut in the coming years alongside three new Icon Class ships At first glance, it may seem ironic for a vacation-at-sea company to invest millions into land-based destinations. But after visiting Royal Caribbean's land-based attraction for myself — three times — I can see exactly why they fit perfectly into the cruise giant's plans. To understand Royal Caribbean's real estate conquest, look at the accomplishments of its first private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in October 2024 that its continued success can be partly attributed to its highest-rated port, Perfect Day at CocoCay. I've visited the in-demand destination three times since 2022. It's no surprise the 5½-year-old Bahamian retreat has become the inspiration for the company's quickly growing private port-folio. I love the thrill of ultra-planned, stress-inducing travel — but I also love indulging and relaxing at the beach. This wasn't a physically exhausting or emotionally taxing trip. Visiting here is a mushy-brained break where I get to rot on the beach and indulge in frivolous luxuries like guiltless naps and sugary beverages. That about sums up why cruisers love Royal Caribbean's private island. Some travelers criticize CocoCay for being an inauthentic Bahamian experience. That may be true in some cases, but was also never its promise. The island was designed as an extension of Royal Caribbean's ships — a beach resort on steroids. CocoCay is for people who crave the conveniences of an all-inclusive resort: secure confinement, glittery beaches, and plenty of snacks The island has options for every type of traveler. And much like going on a cruise, there's no need for planning as part of your visit (save for excursions like entry to its beach clubs). It's all set out for you. For kids, CocoCay has a waterpark, a zipline, a water playground, and easygoing activities like ping-pong tables. For adults, the island has two pool clubs: a boozy Vegas-style party at Hideaway Beach and a pricier high-end retreat at Coco Beach Club. For traditionalists seeking a no-frills beach day, CocoCay's sandy waterfront is lined with innumerable lounge chairs and slow-sloping banks. The island feels relatively safe. Several popular cruise ports are in destinations where the US Department of State has issued travel advisories, such as Mexico's Ensenada, Baja (Level 3 — "reconsider travel" ) and Manzanillo, Colima (Level 4 — "do not travel"). The agency also suggests travelers "exercise increased caution" when visiting the Bahamas, home of CocoCay. The island felt like one of the safest places I've recently visited. CocoCay is only accessible by Royal Caribbean Group's ships. As such, the only people there are its staff and the ship's crew and guests. My biggest fear there? Getting a sunburn. That's great news for concerned parents traveling with children or folks who may have read one too many cruise-related horror stories. That means it's a proverbial goldmine for Royal Caribbean. Travelers love splurging during their daylong visit. The island doesn't require third-party excursion operators, allowing Royal Caribbean to maximize profits from activities. Sections like the waterpark and beach clubs cost money to enter, from about $100 per person for the former to upward of $300 for Coco Beach Club. Free parts of the island also have rentals, such as snorkeling equipment and costly cabanas. Expect more opportunities to spend big at Royal Caribbean's coming properties. Liberty told analysts in 2024 that the cruise giant is "very mindful of having sizable significant returns" as it relates to its private properties. (It recently acquired the land for Perfect Day Mexico for $292 million.) The company is using what it learned from CocoCay to design the Mexico location, which would also have free and paid amenities. The same can't be said for the coming Royal Beach Club Collection. The inaugural Paradise Island resort will accommodate about 4,000 guests a day. All would have to pay to enter, which would it a strong revenue driver. For travelers, CocoCay is convenient, safe, amenity-rich, and beloved. For Royal Caribbean, the island is a source of demand and increased revenue. These private ports are a win-win all around, although competition could soon be stiff. Carnival Corp is also racing to expand its private port portfolio. The competing cruise giant plans to debut its $600 million private resort, Celebration Key, in 2025 and expand its existing private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, in 2026. It's already selling 2026 itineraries that include both destinations, starting at about $350 per person for a four-day sailing. Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas, is currently in the middle of an upgrade. The company is building a new pool and pier to keep up with all the competition for private resorts. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fast Company
05-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty says despite economic uncertainty, his company has wind in its sails
Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I'm Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. CEOs and other business leaders are scrambling to understand how customers might respond to financial uncertainty brought on by tariffs and other factors roiling the markets. Early signs are not great: the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index in April fell for the fourth straight month, and the Conference Board's April Expectations Index, which measures short-term outlook each month, dropped to its lowest level since October 2011. In the travel industry, some executives are bracing for a hard landing: Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Air recently withdrew 2025 earnings guidance, while United Airlines took the unusual step of offering two sets of profit guidance, depending on whether or not the U.S. enters a recession. A shipshape outlook So, what to make of cruise company Royal Caribbean Group's rosy forecast? In late April, the company reported better-than-expected first quarter earnings and increased the midpoint of its full-year guidance for adjusted earnings by 3.8 %. (Rival Carnival Corp. also beat earnings expectations and boosted guidance, but Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings missed its numbers and signaled softening demand.) In 2024, Royal Caribbean Group reported net income of $2.9 billion on revenue of $16.5 billion. CEO Jason Liberty says his cautiously optimistic outlook validates the consumer's appetite for experiences. 'They treasure vacations, and they're going to lean more [into experiences] than into buying stuff,' he says. Indeed, consumer discretionary spending on experiences, which fell dramatically during the pandemic, has reached an all-time high, according to McKinsey & Co., while spending on 'things,' which ticked up during lockdown, is down again. (Not surprisingly, the pandemic was a low point for the travel industry; Royal Caribbean voluntarily suspended cruise operations and reported a loss of $5.8 billion in 2020.) Experiences aren't recession-proof, of course, and they're not immune to tariff impacts. The United States Tour Operators Association, a travel trade organization, says its research arm predicts that higher import taxes will result in price inflation and declines in tourist sentiment, particularly among international travelers to the U.S. Royal Caribbean's own data, fielded in April, found that 7 out of 10 consumers intend to spend the same or more on leisure travel in the coming 12 months, and that 9 out of 10 consumers are looking for value when making vacation plans. Steady as she goes Liberty is quick to point out that 'value' is different from 'low-budget.' Rather, he says, travelers may value the convenience of being able to access dining and entertainment in the same place, or they may appreciate being able to see multiple destinations in one trip. And Royal Caribbean, which operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea brands, is adding more experiences to its portfolio. In December, the company will open its first Royal Beach Club, an all-inclusive property in the Bahamas that its passengers can access via an island day pass that's part of a plan to grow from two to seven private destinations by 2027. Liberty says Royal Caribbean doesn't compare itself to other cruise companies; the company aspires to measure up to travel destinations known for their dining, amenities, and activities. 'If you look at our Oasis Class ships or Perfect Day'—a private island with a water park and a zipline, multiple pools, and separate section for adults—'you may ask: 'why did they go there?' We went there to take share from Orlando,' he says. Some ships have added Broadway shows and enhanced gaming activities to compete with Las Vegas, Liberty adds. And while a cruise isn't exactly for the budget-conscious consumer—travelers pay $576 per person for a three-night getaway on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, with fares climbing to $6,350 per person for a 12-day trip around the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean on Silversea's Silver Dawn—Liberty notes that Royal Caribbean travel is about 20% cheaper than comparable land-based experiences. If water slides, gaming rooms, and cabarets seem like a lot to fit on a ship, keep in mind that Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, for example, are more than 1,000 feet long and can accommodate 5,600 guests. 'These are floating cities,' Liberty says. 'Everything that can happen in the city happens on a ship. Everything you have to plan for on a city, whether it's power, whether it's sanitation, whether medical—and then all the experiences that take place—we've got to be able to do that.' What's your experience? Is your company in the experience business? Are you seeing any softness in consumer demand as a result of bearish sentiment? Or are you, like Royal Caribbean's Liberty, cautiously optimistic? Send your thoughts to me at stephaniemehta@ I'd like to share your examples in a future newsletter.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Economic Worries Have Americans Booking Cruises But Staying Closer to Home
Bookings for cruises to the Caribbean are strong, but have been choppy for trips to Europe, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said Wednesday. Executives said consumers seem more comfortable sticking closer to home amid economic uncertainty. Royal Caribbean Group also envisions Americans booking trips closer to home, executives said aren't giving up on vacations, but cruise operators say they're sticking closer to home. Bookings for Caribbean-bound cruises remained brisk in the first three weeks of April, but trips to Europe were weak, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) executives said on an earnings conference call Wednesday. They attributed the shifts to consumers feeling uncertain about the economy amid evolving domestic trade policies. Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) also expects consumers to seek out value while planning vacations closer to home, CEO Jason Liberty said on a conference call Tuesday. Americans "seem to be a little bit more comfortable staying closer to home, given what's going on in the macroeconomic environment,' Norwegian CFO Mark Kemba said, according to a transcript made available by AlphaSense. Choppiness in European cruise bookings seems to have tapered off in the final week of April, according to CEO Harry Sommer. The 'short-lived weakness' suggested 'some hesitancy for Americans to do long-haul trips in this environment,' Sommer said, according to the transcript. Norwegian missed analyst expectations in its first-quarter earnings, but maintained a rosy outlook for the year ahead. The company forecasts it will have $1 billion in adjusted net income in 2025, a roughly 11% increase from the year before. Liberty said consumer behavior hasn't shifted, other than being a bit 'more short-term focused.' 'Travel is not the first place consumers indicate they will pull back,' he said on Tuesday's call. He said Royal Caribbean was well-positioned to offer 'value through a range of itinerary options from 3 to 10 days, from Florida, Texas, California, the Northeast, and the Northwest.' The company envisions net yield—revenue minus certain costs per available passenger cruise day—increasing 2.6% to 4.6% year-over-year in 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line shares were down nearly 8% Wednesday, while Royal Caribbean Cruises shares were down a bit less than 1%. Read the original article on Investopedia Sign in to access your portfolio
