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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
World's Largest Cruise Ship to Make Maiden Voyage From Florida
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The largest cruise ship in the world is set to make its maiden voyage in August. Royal Caribbean welcomed its newest Icon-class vessel, the Star of the Seas, ahead of its inaugural journey from Port Canaveral, Florida, on August 31. Newsweek reached out to Royal Caribbean via email for comment. The Context The Star of the Seas will become the sister ship to the Icon of the Seas, which launched in January last year. They are the same size, at 248,633 gross tonnage, and will share the mantle of the largest cruise ship in the world. Construction on the Star of the Seas began in 2023 and was finished on September 25, 2024. A rendering of the Star of the Seas, which begins its maiden voyage in August this year. A rendering of the Star of the Seas, which begins its maiden voyage in August this year. Royal Caribbean What To Know The 5,610-passenger ship, constructed over nearly two years at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, completed sea trials involving more than 2,000 maritime experts. The ship will commence weeklong eastern and western Caribbean sailings, including stops at Royal Caribbean's private Bahamas resort, Perfect Day at CocoCay. For testing, the ship underwent rigorous 11-day sea trials in Finland, reaching speeds of up to 25 knots while engineers measured propulsion, pressure, and maneuverability. A rendering of the Star of the Seas, which begins its maiden voyage in August this year. A rendering of the Star of the Seas, which begins its maiden voyage in August this year. Royal Caribbean As part of its environmental strategy, Star of the Seas uses LNG fuel, widely regarded as a cleaner maritime alternative. It incorporates systems that recover waste heat and enable shore power connections, reducing emissions while docked. The maiden voyage will depart from Port Canaveral on August 31, 2025, for a seven-night cruise around the western Caribbean. Fares for this sailing start at about $1,731 per person, according to The Independent. In advance, shorter showcase journeys include a three-night round-trip to Perfect Day at CocoCay, beginning August 20, with tickets from about $1,069 per person, the outlet reported. What People Are Saying Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said in a July 2025 statement: "The delivery of Star of the Seas marks another bold step forward in Royal Caribbean Group's journey to reimagine the future of vacations. "Star and the Icon class are a symbol of what's possible when innovation, imagination and our relentless focus on delivering exceptional experiences come together, ultimately creating unforgettable memories for millions of families and vacationers. "We're proud to bring this next-generation vacation experience to life with our valued partners at Meyer Turku." Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said in July 2025: "We're incredibly proud to welcome Star of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family as we continue to revolutionize how families and adventurers vacation. "It's a true team effort with so many talented individuals coming together to make the new Icon class vacation a reality, and we're excited to debut this incredible achievement with a star-studded celebration this August." What Happens Next Following final preparations in Cadiz, Spain, Star of the Seas is scheduled to begin regular seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral in August 2025, with additional short showcase cruises planned. Royal Caribbean aims to debut its next Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, in 2026.
Cision Canada
10-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
STAR OF THE SEAS OFFICIALLY JOINS ROYAL CARIBBEAN AS THE NEXT ICONIC VACATION
The ultimate family vacation has completed construction and is one step closer to its August debut in Port Canaveral ( Orlando ), Florida MIAMI , July 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- Royal Caribbean kicked off the countdown to a new era of family vacations, officially welcoming Star of the Seas* into the family. After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland , the keys to the next revolutionary Icon Class ship were officially handed over to Royal Caribbean just a few weeks ahead of its August debut in Port Canaveral ( Orlando ), Florida . Continue Reading Royal Caribbean welcomed the ultimate family vacation, Star of the Seas, with a star-worthy celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Alongside more than 1,250 crew members and partners, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm and Meyer Turku Chairman Jaakko Eskola marked the moment just a few weeks ahead of Star's August debut in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. Credit: sbw-photo Royal Caribbean welcomed the ultimate family vacation, Star of the Seas, with a star-worthy celebration at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Alongside more than 1,250 crew members and partners, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm and Meyer Turku Chairman Jaakko Eskola marked the moment just a few weeks ahead of Star's August debut in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. Credit: sbw-photo In a ceremony truly fit for a star, 1,250-plus crew members and partners gathered to mark the milestone in the ship's next-level AquaTheater. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley , along with Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm , hosted the event, recognizing the hard work and innovation that brought Star to life and celebrating the team of engineers, designers and architects who made it all possible. From the first steel cut to the final delivery, the highlights of how it all came together can be seen here. "The delivery of Star of the Seas marks another bold step forward in Royal Caribbean Group's journey to reimagine the future of vacations. Star and the Icon Class are a symbol of what's possible when innovation, imagination and our relentless focus on delivering exceptional experiences come together, ultimately creating unforgettable memories for millions of families and vacationers," said Jason Liberty , president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. "We're proud to bring this next-generation vacation experience to life with our valued partners at Meyer Turku." The delivery of the new ship marked the transfer of ownership between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku and celebrated the incredible feats of engineering accomplished during construction, like the installation of the glass-and-steel AquaDome, the development of six record-breaking waterslides and more. Soon, Star will make its way from Turku to Cadiz, Spain , where Royal Caribbean will put the finishing touches before Star sets sail on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures to top-rated destinations, including the vacation brand's fan-favorite Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas . "We're incredibly proud to welcome Star of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family as we continue to revolutionize how families and adventurers vacation," said Michael Bayley , president and CEO, Royal Caribbean . "It's a true team effort with so many talented individuals coming together to make the new Icon Class vacation a reality, and we're excited to debut this incredible achievement with a star-studded celebration this August." Star will double the world's best vacation count with record-breaking thrills, unrivalled ways to chill, and more than 40 ways to dine, drink and be entertained across eight neighborhoods that are destinations in themselves, including: Thrill Island – Adrenaline lovers can find thrills of all kinds at Category 6 , the largest waterpark at sea with six record-breaking waterslides including family raft slides, a drop slide and dueling mat racers; Crown's Edge , the part skywalk, part thrill ride 154 feet above the ocean; and fan favorites, such as the FlowRider surf simulator and rock-climbing wall. – Adrenaline lovers can find thrills of all kinds at , the largest waterpark at sea with including family raft slides, a drop slide and dueling mat racers; , the and fan favorites, such as the FlowRider surf simulator and rock-climbing wall. Chill Island – The three-deck slice of paradise is the ultimate spot for vacationers to kick back at four pools, including Royal Bay , the largest pool at sea. Vacationers can enjoy live bands and DJs while they party poolside and sip on tropical drinks from the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar or at The Lime & Coconut just steps away. – The three-deck slice of paradise is the ultimate spot for vacationers to kick back at four pools, including , the largest pool at sea. Vacationers can enjoy live bands and DJs while they party poolside and sip on tropical drinks from the swim-up bar or at just steps away. Surfside – Designed for young families, Surfside is the place to stay and play all day together. Kids and tots have more ways to splash at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay , while adults relax at the nearby Water's Edge . When it's time for a bite, Surfside Eatery and Pier 7 have menu options for all ages. – Designed for young families, is the place to stay and play all day together. Kids and tots have more ways to splash at and while adults relax at the nearby . When it's time for a bite, and have menu options for all ages. AquaDome – With wraparound ocean views , the tranquil oasis by day and vibrant hot spot at night features deck-defying shows at the marquee AquaTheater with high divers, aerialists, robots and more. AquaDome is also home to a variety of food and drink spots including the AquaDome Market food hall, the Rye & Bean bar, Hooked Seafood and The Overlook bar for unparalleled views. – With , the tranquil oasis by day and vibrant hot spot at night features at the marquee with high divers, aerialists, robots and more. AquaDome is also home to a variety of food and drink spots including the food hall, the bar, and bar for unparalleled views. The Hideaway – Tucked away at 135 feet above the ocean, the adults-only spot features a suspended infinity pool – the only other pool of its kind having been first introduced on Icon – a DJ, bar, a terrace with whirlpools and vast ocean views. Fleet favorites reimagined for the Icon Class round out vacationers' experience, including the Royal Promenade complete with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and the Pearl, the world's largest kinetic art sculpture; the open-air Central Park with more than 30,500 real plants; the new 1930's Chicago -inspired Lincoln Park Supper Club; convenient pick-up windows for sushi, champagne, sparkling wine and more. Plus, vacationers have more ways to stay across four decks at the Suite Neighborhood and amenities at the Grove Suite Sun Deck and two-level Coastal Kitchen. Star will also be the vacation company's third ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Star will advance Royal Caribbean Group's journey toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035. The vacation brand is also set to deliver their fourth ship powered by LNG with Legend of the Seas, the third Icon Class vacation set to debut in 2026. In addition to Star, Royal Caribbean continues to expand upon its lineup of vacation experiences across the ultimate destinations with the December 2025 debut of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas , delivering the ultimate beach day. The adventures continue with Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026, Perfect Day Mexico in fall 2027 and an exclusive beach destination in Lelepa in the South Pacific in 2027. Vacations on Star are available to book on Royal Caribbean's website. *NOTE TO EDITOR: Media can find assets and more information on Star at About Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line's game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 22 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the line's top-rated exclusive destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release relating to, among other things, expectations on onboard offerings on Star of the Seas, the Company's progress on LNG and net-zero initiatives, and future development of private destinations, constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "will," and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those included under the caption "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as well as our other filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at or the SEC's website at Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Royal Caribbean International Lyan Sierra-Caro, [email protected]; Brittney Smith, [email protected]
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
MSC Cruises aids Norwegian Cruise Line excursion gone wrong
Although it's logical to assume that most cruise lines would treat other cruise lines in a competitive manner, the reality is that the cruise industry is quite collaborative. Cruise line CEOs like Royal Caribbean Group's Jason Liberty often say their companies are not focused on cruise line rivalries. Instead of each other, they see land-based vacations as their main competition. Related: Royal Caribbean cruisers react to Carnival cruise loyalty shakeup Cruise lines want to collectively grow the industry to gain a greater share of the global vacation market, and all cruise lines can win as they advance that goal. Working cooperatively, all cruise lines can benefit from the rising tides of cruising interest from vacationers all over the world. The cruise industry is seeing strong growth from first-time cruisers, with 31% of passengers in the last two years being new to cruising, according to the 2025 Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) State of the Cruise Industry report. With this kind of proven ability to attract new customers, cruise lines know that they can focus more on working together on strategies to continue to grow the industry as a whole. If there was any doubt that cruise lines really are in it together, though, MSC Cruises stepped up to prove it when Norwegian Cruise Line suffered a shore excursion mishap in Germany on June 22. Doug Parker shared details on how MSC Cruises came to the aid of Norwegian and its passengers, and other cruise news, on the June 23rd edition of Cruise News Today. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Monday, June 23rd. A Caribbean cruise took a troubling turn for one couple when kitchen wastewater dumped into their cabin. Yeah, Pam and Ken Jackson were three days into their trip on Marella Explorer 2 when a pipe carrying macerated food waste to the ship's holding tanks burst above their bed. The sludge soaked them, their clothes, and medication. This video here courtesy of Liverpool Echo. Now, Marella Cruises apologized and offered a partial refund plus $680 in compensation, which they accepted. The couple says it still doesn't cover the damage to their belongings. Marella 2 was formerly the Celebrity Century. Related: Video: Celebrity Cruises ship nearly collides with Carnival ship And a show of solidarity between two cruise lines played out in Germany over the weekend after a shore excursion went wrong. With extreme heat, a bad bus, and two guests being left behind, MSC Cruises stepped in to help. The guests were left behind after a scheduled stop was cut short during the excursion. The stranded Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were picked up by an MSC shore excursion bus, provided with water, and safely returned to the ship, where they were able to board. A guest sailing on Norwegian told us that the shore excursion started to fall apart after the bus was late due to mechanical issues. Related: Cruise lines face new passenger fee; MSC Cruises brings new thrill And it's a bucket list destination, but ships are getting a bad name. Yeah, cruise ships heading to Antarctica are under scrutiny after a new study revealed that the ship's anchors are severely damaging the seabed. Now, scientists from Memorial University of Newfoundland and New Zealand used deep sea cameras to capture the first underwater video of anchor impacts in the region. You can see here this video courtesy of Colossal, where they found crushed sponge colonies and disrupted marine habitats, especially in shallow coastal zones. Researchers say nearly a half-acre of seafloor was damaged by cruise ships in 2023 alone. Recovery for Antarctic marine life could take a century or maybe never happen at all. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. And cruise stocks were higher on Friday. Carnival Corporation: up one percent, 23.77. Royal Caribbean: up two percent, 272.39. Norwegian: flat 18.86, and Viking; up two percent, 49.48. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@ Here on the seventh floor of the parking garage at Harrah's Vegas, I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Monday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Travel Daily News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Royal Caribbean Group announces Board leadership transition plans
Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain to step down in Q4 2025; CEO Jason Liberty elected as new Chairman and CEO. MIAMI – Royal Caribbean Group announced that Richard Fain, Chair of the Board of Directors since 1988 and a visionary leader whose contributions helped shape the modern cruise industry, will be stepping down from his role as Chairman in Q4 2025. Fain will remain as a Director on the Board. Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO since January 3, 2022, was elected by the Board of Directors to succeed Fain as Chairman and CEO and will assume the role in Q4 2025. Additionally, John Brock, a member of the Board of Directors since 2014 and current Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has assumed the role of Independent Lead Director. 'Richard's leadership has been nothing short of transformative. Under his leadership, the Royal Caribbean Group has become the leading vacation company – with industry leading brands, ships, destinations and people,' said Liberty. 'I am honored and humbled to have been elected as Chairman and CEO and I look forward to continuing to create and deliver the ultimate vacation experience for our guests and delivering elevated long-term value for our shareholders. Fortunately, the company and I will continue to benefit from Richard's experience and mentorship in his continued role as a Director on our Board.' 'It is time to hand the wheel to the next generation of exceptional talent at RCG, and I am very confident that under Jason's strong leadership, the Royal Caribbean Group will accelerate to even greater heights in the years ahead,' noted Richard Fain. 'Looking ahead, John Brock brings invaluable experience from his time as Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises and CEO of InBev, and strong integrity that will support the company's ongoing growth and governance. I look forward to working with him in his new role, along with the rest of the Board, as we execute on our bold ambitions,' Liberty added. Royal Caribbean Group is a vacation industry leader with a global fleet of 67 ships across its five brands traveling to all seven continents. With a mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly, Royal Caribbean Group serves millions of guests each year through its portfolio of best-in-class brands, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea; and an expanding portfolio of land-based vacation experiences through Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club collection. The company also owns a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises, which operates partner brands Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. With a rich history of innovating, Royal Caribbean Group continually delivers exciting new products and guest experiences that help shape the future of leisure travel.
Travel Weekly
06-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Richard Fain will step down as Royal Caribbean Group's chairman
Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Group's board of directors since 1988, will step down from that role in the fourth quarter. Jason Liberty will take on the chairman's role in addition to his duties as CEO. Fain will remain a board director. "It is time to hand the wheel to the next generation of exceptional talent, and I am very confident that under Jason's strong leadership, the Royal Caribbean Group will accelerate to even greater heights in the years ahead," Fain said in a statement. Fain was Royal Caribbean Group CEO from 1988 to 2022, when Liberty was promoted to succeed Fain. "Richard's leadership has been nothing short of transformative," Liberty said. "Under his leadership, the Royal Caribbean Group has become the leading vacation company -- with industry-leading brands, ships, destinations and people. I am honored and humbled to have been elected as chairman and CEO, and I look forward to continuing to create and deliver the ultimate vacation experience for our guests and delivering elevated long-term value for our shareholders. Fortunately, the company and I will continue to benefit from Richard's experience and mentorship in his continued role as a director on our board." John Brock is the board's new independent lead director. He has served on the board since 2014 and was formerly CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises.
