Latest news with #StaroftheSeas
CNBC
20 hours ago
- Business
- CNBC
Royal Caribbean lifts full-year guidance on strong cruise bookings
Royal Caribbean raised its full-year guidance Tuesday on the back of strong cruise bookings. The company now expects 2025 earnings of between of $15.41 and $15.55 per share on an adjusted basis, up from prior EPS guidance of $14.55 to $15.55. CEO Jason Liberty noted traveler prefrences are evolving, saying more people are choosing to vacation more frequently and are opting for experience-driven travel. Royal Caribbean said 75% of consumers report they plan to spend the same amount or more on leisure travel over the next 12 months. "Our experiences are designed to meet these evolving expectations," Liberty said. Royal Caribbean reported growth in bookings during the second quarter from the prior period, especially from travelers booking closer to their departure date. It's a trend Liberty attributed to the growing number of younger cruisers, with millennials or younger generations now accounting for about half of total guests. And, they're willing to pay a premium, Liberty added. "In the weeks coming up to a sailing, the very few cabins that we would have left on each voyage, people not only were trying to get those cabins, but they were willing to pay considerably more money to ensure they get the vacation experience that they're looking for," Liberty said in an interview. The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $4.38 on revenue of $4.54 billion. Wall Street had expected earnings per share of $4.09 and revenue of $4.55 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. The cruise line's income rose to $1.2 billion, or $4.41 per share, an increase from $854 million, or $3.11 per share, a year earlier. Meanwhile, the cruise line reported capacity was up 5.8% compared to the year before, with 2.3 million guests taking a Royal Caribbean cruise during the second quarter. Still, shares of Royal Caribbean fell 5% Tuesday. The company noted bookings for its new ships launching this year, Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel, are performing well. "The strong demand we are seeing across our new ships and land-based destinations reinforces that our strategy is working and resonating with today's traveler," Liberty said.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Tragedy on world's largest cruise as Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas crew member dies
A crew member onboard the largest cruise ship in the world - the Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas - has tragically died during a voyage A crew member onboard a cruise ship has tragically died after an alarm on Royal Caribbean 's Icon of the Seas was sounded at around 7pm on Thursday. 'Unfortunately the crew member passed away,' a spokesperson for the company said. "We extend our condolences to the crew member's family and loved ones." Royal Caribbean said that no additional details would be made available. US-based tabloid TMZ reported the death was a suicide, citing confirmation from the Royal Bahamas Police Force Public Affairs and Communications Officer Stephen Rolle. The trip has continued uninterrupted, with the vessel set to complete its voyage in Port Miami on Sunday. The ship was sailing to Coco Cay, an island in the Bahamas used exclusively by Royal Caribbean for its guests. Icon of the Seas and its sister ship Star of the Seas are the largest cruise ships in the world. It has a gross tonnage of 248,663 and it is more than 364 metres long. Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and 2,805 state rooms which can accommodate up to 5,610 guests. At the same time, 2,350 crew can be onboard.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Cruise expert says 'mega ships' will soon rival cities and carry 35,000 passengers
Cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger every year, but one cruise expert reckons at this rate we could expect to see mega ships that are the size of small cities A cruise expert has predicted that cruise ships could soon be the size of small cities, carrying thousands of passengers and having enough onboard that most people probably wouldn't get off the ship. Long gone are the days when cruise holidays included a bit of live entertainment and a pool. Nowadays, ships have everything from onboard rollercoasters, epic water parks, slides, and thrill-attractions, not to mention the plethora of restaurants and shops on board. Of course that means that vessels are getting bigger every year. Currently, the world's largest cruise ship is Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, which can hold up to 7,600 passengers - and even that is getting a rival in the form of a sister ship Star of the Seas which will be the same size. I stayed on a new £1bn cruise ship with 17 restaurants and waterslide rollercoaster Inside new record-breaking mega cruise ship with ice rink and huge waterpark Mark Barton, cruise expert at Avanti Travel Insurance, looked at the current growth rates for cruise ships, and has predicted that theoretically, by 2075 we could be seeing mega ships that can carry up to 34,860 passengers, with a gross tonnage of 902,000 - nearly five times the size of Icon of the Seas. Mark has attributed the demand for these larger ships to passenger demands for entertainment. Research from Avanti showed that the growth is driven by younger passengers, who make up over a third of cruise passengers worldwide, and prefer onboard entertainment to traditional sightseeing. He points to the ever-increasing number of festival cruises where passengers tend to stay on the ship because of a jam-packed programme of entertainment, such as the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, which has been dubbed 'the world's biggest heavy metal cruise', carries 3,000 metal fans and features 60+ bands performing 120+ shows across four stages. Meanwhile the EDSea - the Electronic Dance Carnival cruise - transforms ships into floating nightclubs with multiple stages and 24/7 music programming. However, these mega ships could have one big drawback for those who prefer the traditional port-hopping experiences; destinations simply aren't equipped to deal with the size of giant vessels. "While the mathematical projections suggest ships could one day carry 35,000 passengers, this is future-gazing based on past growth patterns. The reality is different, as there are significant real-world constraints," Mark explained. "Port infrastructure, safety protocols, and fuel demands make vessels of that scale highly unlikely. "Only a handful of global superports, such as Miami, Barcelona, Shanghai or Dubai, could potentially accommodate vessels of this size, and critically, the environmental impact of building and operating ships at this scale cannot be ignored." In recent years a number of holiday hotspots have been introducing rules to try and combat the effects of overtourism, including the crowds of cruise passengers that descend on a city for a few days. In 2021, Venice became one of the first port cities to ban cruise ships weighing over 25,000 tons and redirecting them to a port further away. The city has also brought in a tourism tax of approximately €5 for day-trippers who are not spending the night in the Italian city, over a course of peak season travel dates.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- 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.
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Inside new record-breaking mega cruise ship with ice rink and huge waterpark
A brand new cruise ship is set to sail this August as it becomes one of the biggest in the world. The Star of the Seas will be the same size as it's sister shop - the Icon of the Seas, making them the joint largest ships to date. With a gross tonnage of 248,633, the new Royal Caribbean ship contains many popular features and attractions such as an ice rink, a rock climbing wall, giant waterparks with six record-breaking slides and a surfside neighbourhood. There will also be some brand new food stations available, including the AquaDome Market, serving smoky pulled pork and beef brisket, Southeast Asian regional favourites such as pad thai and panang curry and South American staples including empañadas and arepas. Royal Caribbean's speciality Lincoln Park Supper Club is also being refreshed, serving intimate meals with live entertainment in a 1930s Chicago-inspired setting. Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean, said: 'We're incredibly proud to welcome Star of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family as we continue to revolutionise 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.' The ship has space for 5,610 passengers in regular rooms and up to 7,600 when fully booked and there are 20 decks, and around 2,350 crew members are expected to work onboard. After almost two years of construction costing two $2billion, the Icon class ship was handed over to Royal Caribbean at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. It started construction in February 2023 and completed sea trails in May 2025. A ceremony was held at the Finnish shipyard with more than 1,250 crew members and partners to honour the team of engineers, designers and architects who built the ship and helped install key features such as the 327-ton glass-and-steel AquaDome and the six unique waterslides. Star of the Seas will now make its way from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean will add some finishing touches before its August debut in Port Canaveral, Florida, when new godmother Diana Ross will christen it.
