As a dominant force in the cruise industry, Royal Caribbean is renowned for operating the world's largest and most innovative ships, such as the groundbreaking Icon of the Seas. Their signature style is a unique blend of high-energy adventure and resort-style relaxation, packing vessels with first-at-sea thrills and neighborhood-style designs that make the ships destinations in themselves.
Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968 by three Norwegian shipping companies to serve the growing Caribbean tourism market. Its first ship, *Song of Norway*, launched in 1970 and was among the first purpose-built vessels for warm-weather cruising. This initial focus on the Caribbean set the stage for the company's rapid expansion and brand identity.
The company achieved a major milestone in 1997 by acquiring Celebrity Cruises, creating a powerful multi-brand portfolio. A few years later, Royal Caribbean redefined the industry with the 1999 debut of Voyager of the Seas, the first ship to feature a rock-climbing wall and an ice-skating rink. These innovations transformed ships into floating destinations and cemented the line's reputation for bold design.
Today, Royal Caribbean is a global leader with a fleet of fleet_size ships, including the world's largest vessels like Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas. Sailing from key ports such as Miami and Port Canaveral, the line serves popular destinations including the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. The company continues to be defined by its commitment to large-scale, innovative ships packed with unique onboard activities.
Royal Caribbean is globally recognized for its mantra of "bigger is better," consistently building and operating the world's largest cruise ships. Vessels like the groundbreaking Oasis-class and the new Icon of the Seas are not merely ships but floating mega-resorts. They are designed as destinations in themselves, packed with an unparalleled variety of dining, entertainment, and accommodation choices, appealing to travelers who want a city of adventure at sea.
The line's primary specialty is its incredible array of onboard innovations and high-energy activities. Royal Caribbean pioneered many at-sea firsts, and its ships often feature signature attractions like rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, zip lines, and the FlowRider surf simulator. This commitment to active fun makes the brand a magnet for families and thrill-seekers looking for a vacation that goes far beyond the pool deck.
Another key feature is Royal Caribbean's development of exclusive private island destinations, most famously Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. This destination is an extension of the ship experience, offering a massive waterpark, beautiful beaches, and exclusive club areas accessible only to its guests. The combination of revolutionary ships and a private island paradise solidifies its reputation as a leader in action-packed, resort-style cruising.
Royal Caribbean primarily attracts North American families, multi-generational groups, and couples, typically ranging from their 30s to 50s. This demographic is often middle-to-upper-middle-class, seeking a vacation that offers broad appeal and activities for all ages. With a large fleet departing from major US hubs like Miami and Port Canaveral, the line is a highly accessible and popular choice for its core market.
The travel style is active and energetic, with passengers drawn to the "wow" factor of mega-ships like Wonder of the Seas. These travelers enjoy a high-energy, resort-style atmosphere filled with diverse dining, Broadway-caliber shows, and thrilling onboard attractions. For them, the feature-packed ship is often the main destination, providing an action-filled getaway to popular regions like the Caribbean or Europe.
As the first of its revolutionary class and currently the largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas made global headlines for its sheer scale and ambition. It is notable for introducing eight distinct "neighborhoods" and industry-first attractions, including the massive Category 6 waterpark.
The original game-changer for Royal Caribbean, Oasis of the Seas was the world's largest ship upon its 2009 debut and pioneered the line's "neighborhood" concept. It introduced unique features never before seen at sea, such as a zip line, an AquaTheater, and the Central Park area with thousands of live plants.
One of the largest ships in the world, Wonder of the Seas represents a pinnacle of the immensely popular Oasis Class. It was the first ship of its class to feature the dedicated Suite Neighborhood, an exclusive eighth neighborhood providing private dining and lounge access for suite guests.
A standout of the technologically advanced Quantum Class, Anthem of the Seas is famous for its unique onboard innovations. It is particularly known for the North Star, a glass observation capsule that lifts guests over 300 feet above the ocean, and the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator.
Your Royal Caribbean cruise fare typically includes your stateroom accommodation, most meals in main dining rooms and buffets, select non-alcoholic beverages (like water, tea, coffee, and juices at breakfast), and access to many onboard activities and entertainment such as pools, fitness centers, and shows. Specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, soda packages, shore excursions, spa services, and gratuities are usually extra.
Royal Caribbean offers a variety of dining options, including complimentary choices like the Main Dining Room offering multi-course meals, the Windjammer Café (buffet), and casual spots for pizza and snacks. For an additional fee, you can experience specialty restaurants featuring diverse cuisines such as Italian (Giovanni's Table), steakhouses (Chops Grille), and Asian-inspired (Izumi).
Royal Caribbean ships boast a wide array of entertainment and activities, including Broadway-style musicals, ice-skating shows, AquaTheater acrobatic performances, and live music. Onboard activities often feature rock-climbing walls, FlowRider surf simulators, zip lines, mini-golf, sports courts, and multiple pools and whirlpools.
Royal Caribbean's cancellation policy varies based on the length of the cruise and how far in advance you cancel. Generally, cancelling closer to the sailing date incurs higher penalties, potentially up to the full cruise fare. Non-refundable deposit fares have stricter terms, so it's crucial to review the specific terms at booking.
Royal Caribbean automatically adds a daily gratuity to each guest's onboard SeaPass account to recognize the service provided by stateroom attendants, dining staff, and other hotel personnel. Guests have the option to pre-pay these gratuities before their cruise or can adjust the amount onboard at Guest Services if service expectations aren't met.
For most Royal Caribbean cruises, infants must be at least 6 months old on the first day of the cruise; for transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, and certain South America sailings, infants must be at least 12 months old. Generally, individuals under 21 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older in the same stateroom, with some exceptions for married couples or families.
Yes, Royal Caribbean can accommodate a variety of special dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, low-fat, low-sodium, and kosher meals. It's best to advise the cruise line of any dietary requirements at the time of booking or at least 45-90 days prior to sailing, depending on the need.
For U.S. citizens on cruises beginning and ending in the same U.S. port (closed-loop), a government-issued birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID are often accepted, but a valid passport is strongly recommended. For all other itineraries, including those visiting international ports that don't meet closed-loop criteria, or for non-U.S. citizens, a valid passport is typically required, and visas may also be necessary depending on the destinations and your nationality.
Royal Caribbean maintains a collection of ships of thirty-two vessels, spanning ten distinct classes. The most veteran ship has been in service for 33 years, and the most recent addition was introduced in 2026.
On average Royal Caribbean is somewhat inexpensive compared to other cruise lines. See the graph below for the average cost per day by month. Royal Caribbean cruises during the the peak season of summer are somewhat more expensive than the low seasons of winter, spring, and fall.
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