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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Royal Caribbean shares key news on smaller ships
Royal Caribbean has been talking about smaller ships for a very long time. It seems that every time the cruise line launches a new Icon or Oasis-class ship its executives get hit with multiple questions about when they will build smaller ships. In recent years, the cruise line has not exactly done to these questions. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean Group CEO Michael Bayley have openly admitted that a smaller class has been talked about. Related: US government shares 'do not travel' warnings for Mexico Neither man, however, has given out much information. Passengers want new, smaller ships because these ships can stop in ports where the larger ships do not fit. Some cruise line passengers also preferred the intimacy of a few people being onboard. Some of Royal Caribbean's smaller ships are also near the end of their lifetime. All ships get repurposed and refurbed all the time, 35 years is considered a reasonable lifetime. Now, the cruise line has quietly given out some information on its plans for smaller ships. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Royal Caribbean has been talking about the need for a new class of smaller ships for quite some time. "We're always designing the next classes of ships really for all of our brands," Liberty said during Royal Caribbean's second-quarter-earnings call. "We specifically pick segments and brands in those segments and deployments and experiences that we believe have a very long runway to generate demand globally, as each of our brands are globally sourced business." He also made it clear that the cruise line sees a need. "And, of course, the other thing I think that's important when you think about ship classes, whether they could be small, they could be larger, is kind of also a consideration that we also have ships that are reaching 30, 35 years. And so some of this is not just about we want to build same-size ships, smaller ships. It's also replacing ships that will eventually kind of reach their end of life." At the time of those comments, Liberty was just talking. The cruise line had not ordered a new class of ships or fully confirmed that one was coming. Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support Vicki Freed commented on smaller ships during a recent sailing of Ovation of the Seas. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Freed was speaking to a group of travel advisors (or travel agents depending upon the lingo) and she confirmed the new class of ships. "The Discovery Project is our next new class of ships, following the Icon of the Seas, and the Star of the Seas, and the Legend the Seas. And we're in the design process now," she said, according to Royal Caribbean Blog. "We meet on a regular basis with the architects, with the ops team and the hotel operations, food and beverage. And so it is a top secret design at this point." Freed also made some remarks that suggest that the project has moved forward internally. "It's an exciting project. It'll be a new class of ship. In true Royal Caribbean style, it will be special, it will be innovative. And I think it'll be something that'll be a home run from the beginning," she added. Related: Royal Caribbean makes key change to fix passenger problem Royal Caribbean has two classes of smaller ships, Radiance and Vision classes. The newest of these ships, Jewel of the Seas, was built in 2004. The cruise line's oldest ship, Grandeur of the Seas, first sailed in Dec. 1996. At max capacity, Grandeur holds roughly 2,400 passengers while Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, can hold 7,600. (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
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean warns cruisers about deadly disease
These days, most people understand the general risk of illness that comes with bringing a large number of people together into a semi-enclosed space like a cruise ship. Many people don't realize though that cruise ship hot tub use can potentially increase their risk of becoming ill from a disease that isn't spread through person-to-person the last couple of years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working to educate cruise lines about the increased risk for Legionella bacteria growth in private-balcony hot tubs. When Legionella bacteria grows in hot tub water systems, it can be transmitted to hot tub users through inhaled water droplets. In some cases, cruise passengers exposed to the bacteria later become sick with Legionnaires' disease, a severe type of pneumonia. Although rare, Legionnaires' disease is a growing health concern for cruise passengers because private-balcony hot tubs have become a popular amenity on many newer cruise ships. Since private-balcony hot tubs aren't used as often as public ones, their maintenance requirements typically aren't as strict, which can create conditions favorable for Legionella bacteria the last few months, Royal Caribbean has been notifying passengers on multiple cruises about a recent case of Legionnaires' disease, according to an unofficial fan blog not affiliated with the cruise line. 'The CDC has advised that while they are unsure where exposed, a guest who recently sailed on Symphony of the Seas was later diagnosed with Legionella,' Royal Caribbean informed passengers. Royal Caribbean sent a similar notification to Symphony of the Seas' passengers in January after two other passengers fell ill with the disease after sailing on the ship in late of the Seas is not the only cruise ship to be associated with the disease, however. In October 2024, the CDC reported that it was notified of 12 cases of Legionnaires' disease among travelers sailing on two cruise ships from separate cruise lines between November 2022 and June 2024. Their investigation linked both cruise ship Legionnaires' disease outbreaks to private-balcony hot important for cruisers to know that private-balcony hot tubs are more likely to experience Legionella growth than public hot tubs found in common areas because they are not required to be disinfected as frequently as public ones. The CDC has been working to ensure that cruise lines understand the hot tub features that increase the risk for Legionella growth and transmission, and how cruise lines can adapt maintenance and operations protocols to reduce that risk. 'Royal Caribbean is working hard to protect the health of guests and crew onboard Symphony of the Seas,' the cruise line assured passengers in its recent Legionnaires' disease notification emails. The cruise line informed passengers that it stepped up its sanitation efforts as a precautionary measure and followed all CDC most healthy people who are exposed to Legionella do not get sick, some people are at an increased risk including current and former smokers, adults over 50, and people with specific health issues or conditions. Legionnaires' disease symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches. 'If you experience these symptoms and have concerns, please reach out to your preferred medical professional,' the cruise line urged. (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.
