Royal Caribbean had certainly one of its greatest years ever in 2025 with the launch of a brand new ship, huge bulletins, and stellar monetary efficiency.
It was additionally a busy 12 months with heaps taking place. Generally the information was thrilling and upbeat, and different instances dangerous issues briefly overshadowed the enjoyable. Â Nonetheless, there was rather a lot to like and mirror on from this 12 months.
With the tip of the 12 months just some days away, I needed to share which information tales garnered probably the most consideration and notoriety within the 12 months.
This is a glance again at this 12 months’s huge Royal Caribbean information.
Good Day Mexico and seashore membership reveal
Jaws dropped when Royal Caribbean unveiled plans for brand spanking new seashore golf equipment and a second Good Day location.
Held at a particular occasion in New York, Royal Caribbean introduced the opening of Good Day Mexico, two seashore golf equipment, and a brand new seashore vacation spot.
Good Day Mexico is the crown jewel of the announcement. Situated in what’s at present Costa Maya, that is Royal Caribbean’s greatest land challenge ever.Â
Royal Caribbean cruisers could have the selection of miles of seashores, heated swimming pools, an enormous water park, and even the longest lazy river on the planet.
Plus, the lazy river could have a couple of totally different “Tubes and Tequila Bar” areas you possibly can cease at, the place you latch your tube to a bar and take a break for a cocktail.
As well as, a brand new seashore membership is coming to Cozumel, Mexico.
Royal Seaside Membership Cozumel will open in December 2026 and supply a brand new seashore getaway possibility that matches the cruise line’s excessive commonplace.
The concept is to construct the idyllic resort centered across the pool, seashore, solar, meals and tradition.
There might be a pool with a swim-up bar, DJ, and loads of Mexican meals to get pleasure from too.
Lastly, a brand new personal vacation spot will open within the South Pacific in early 2027.
Lelepa is positioned on the island of Vanuatu, and it is a totally different type of product that does not match into the opposite locations mould.
A collection of “villages” might be constructed to supply varied seashore choices. There is not any water park, DJ, or lazy river right here. As a substitute, it is about stress-free and having fun with the pure fantastic thing about the realm.
Star of the Seas launch
A brand new Royal Caribbean joined the fleet this 12 months.
Star of the Seas grew to become the world’s largest cruise ship and started crusing in August. The second within the Icon Class, Star measures 1,196 ft lengthy and 219 ft broad.Â
Though Star of the Seas is extra much like Icon of the Seas than not, there are a couple of key variations that assist give Star a defining character of her personal.Â
First, Royal Caribbean is elevating the leisure bar even greater with its new theater manufacturing, Again to the Future: The Musical, which could have the biggest orchestra at sea. Not solely that, however there are additionally new reveals within the ice skating rink and AquaTheater.
The AquaDome Market is getting a refresh, too. As a substitute of GNGR, Mac’s, and Toast & Backyard, visitors will discover Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita.Â
Equally, the Lincoln Park Supper Membership is changing the Empire Supper Membership. The $200-per-person specialty restaurant will function a Chicago-inspired theme with the cocktails, menu, and music reimagined to mirror the spirit of the Windy Metropolis.Â
Icon of the Seas confirmed for Galveston
Individuals dwelling in Texas and Oklahoma celebrated the announcement Icon of the Seas is coming to Texas.
Galveston will name Icon house starting in August 2027.
This has been a long-rumored deployment, and it is affirmation means the Texas cruise market is getting one of many greatest and most spectacular cruise ships on the planet.
It opens up Icon to a wholly new cruise market in Texas, and the ship’s arrival coincides with the opening of Good Day Mexico.
Labadee visits cancelled
Royal Caribbean ships have been unable to go to Labadee by means of a lot of 2025, and that may proceed into subsequent 12 months.
The cruise line halted visits to Labadee till at the least Might 2026.
The difficulty is the continued civil unrest and violence within the nation, which pressured Royal Caribbean’s hand in making this choice.
“Out of an abundance of warning,” the announcement learn.
Nothing else has been introduced since, however at the least half of 2026 will start with out visits to certainly one of Royal Caribbean’s greatest recognized personal seashores.
Loyalty factors might be interchangeable
Maybe the most important loyalty program change ever introduced by Royal Caribbean, we are able to count on a significant shift subsequent 12 months.
The Factors Alternative program might be absolutely revealed in “early 2026”, and can change how cruisers earn loyalty factors once they cruise between traces.
The brand new program guarantees to permit cruisers to earn and apply loyalty factors throughout the household of manufacturers inside Royal Caribbean Group.
It seems that means somebody taking a Movie star Cruise might earn Crown and Anchor Society factors for that crusing. Or vice versa.
Extra particulars might be forthcoming within the early a part of the 12 months.
Drink bundle rule change
Royal Caribbean dropped its drink bundle exception rule in 2025, a lot to the dismay of many households.
There had been an unpublished choice to allowed for somebody who’s unable or unwilling to drink alcohol to name in and get an exemption to the rule requiring all adults in the identical stateroom to purchase a drink bundle.
That workaround is now not out there and it is as a result of too many passengers have been sharing drink bundle advantages.
“This alteration permits us to make sure visitors are consuming their beverage bundle responsibly. Over time, requests for exceptions have elevated, and sharing of packages has continued, which led us to implement this coverage change,” the corporate spokesperson stated.
The unique intent of the exception was to supply an alternative choice to visitors who could not drink alcohol, reminiscent of expectant moms, folks in restoration, and different particular wants. Nevertheless, too many individuals took benefit of it.
Broadway present was faraway from two ships
A Broadway present carried out on two totally different cruise ships was quietly eliminated with no substitute Broadway present.
Grease is not carried out on Concord or Independence of the Seas.
As a substitute, it seems cruise line created manufacturing reveals have taken its place.
No cause was given why Grease was eliminated, however there’s loads of hypothesis associated to prices.
New non-smoking casinos added
Non-smokers acquired some welcome information with new methods to gamble on ships.
Freedom of the Seas changed Vintages wine bar with a non-smoking on line casino, whereas Marvel, Utopia, and Attract of the Seas had the Crown Lounge and even the Attic changed with non-smoking casinos.
The concept is to supply extra methods to benefit from the enjoyable of the on line casino to those who don’t care to be in a room sharing house with people who smoke.
The cruise line has not gone so far as banning smoking within the on line casino outright, offering a non-smoking various venue appears to be their new technique.
Legend of the Seas particulars revealed
Legend of the Seas will not enter service till 2026, however 2025 was the 12 months we acquired all the small print about this new ship.
That is going to be one of many greatest cruise ships on the planet, coming in at 250,800 gross tons, and have the ability to accommodate as much as 7,600 passengers.
Legend of the Seas will welcome paying visitors for the primary time when she sails in Europe in summer season 2026.
Legend stays in Europe by means of October, till the ship departs on a 13-night transatlantic crusing.
The brand new ship heads to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to sail within the winter.
Bookings can be found now for all open sailings.
First Royal Seaside Membership opened
Sneaking in proper earlier than the tip of the 12 months, Royal Seaside Membership Paradise Island opened its seashores to cruisers within the closing weeks of the 12 months.
Situated in Nassau, Bahamas, that is the cruise line’s first seashore membership and it is designed to be the last word seashore day possibility.
Consider it extra like a “tremendous shore tour” than a non-public island seashore day. Â There’s an admission value, however it has limitless meals, drink, and Wi-Fi. Â Plus, transportation is included.
The world is split into three zones to offer a unique vibe for everybody.
Plus, it is solely open to Royal Caribbean cruise passengers in one of many busiest cruise ports on the planet.
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