For more than a year, Royal Caribbean has been talking about building smaller ships.
The cruise line has been pressed on this issue by loyal passengers who have seen the cruise line pursue a “bigger is better” strategy, ordering more Oasis and Icon-Class megaships.
Related: Royal Caribbean CEO makes unintentional comment about Kamala Harris
Many cruise passengers like smaller ships because they offer a more classic cruising experience. Some older passengers feel that older ships were more elegant and offered a more refined experience than larger, more family-friendly ships.
Additionally, smaller ships can dock in places that larger ships cannot. For passengers who consider a ship's itinerary, not the amenities it offers, smaller ships become very important.
Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty addressed the issue during Royal Caribbean's second-quarter earnings conference call.
Older Royal Caribbean ships are smaller
“And of course, the other thing… that's important when you think about the classes of boats, whether they can be small or larger, is… we also have boats that are reaching 30, 35 years,” Liberty said. saying. “And part of this is not just that we want to build ships of the same size, smaller ships. It's also about replacing ships that will eventually reach the end of their useful life.”
Those older ships are the cruise line's smallest classes, Liberty confirmed.
“We're looking at potentially smaller ships that will probably replace some of those older ships,” he said.
“It's a little less about the supply market. It's more about where those ships can go. It's about taking them to perhaps some of the most unique and personalized destinations to further diversify our presence around the world.”
Image source: Shutterstock
No small Royal Caribbean ships arriving anytime soon
Liberty has formally shared the name “Discovery Class” as the working title for the cruise line's new class of smaller ships. And although the CEO has said that design work has begun, Royal Caribbean has not set a specific date when it will add one of the new ships to its fleet.
“I think when your question refers to the drivable vehicle market, the ships that you're referring to and that we're looking at potentially, smaller ships will probably replace some of those older ships,” he said.
Those comments have given hope to cruise line passengers who want newer, smaller ships. But those plans come with an important caveat, according to comments Liberty made on the company's most recent earnings conference call.
“I think, for the most part, we've certainly seen all of our orders through 2027 and maybe even 2028,” he said during the conference. Call for third quarter results.
The current order book includes three Royal Caribbean Icon-Class ships, one Oasis-Class ship and one Edge-Class ship for Celebrity Cruises.
READ ALSO: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
“We continue to look to moderately grow our fleet, moderately grow each of our brands,” Liberty said. “And again, as a general reminder, when we order ships and take them, they don't all go to the same brand, they don't all go to the same market, they don't all go to the same itinerary. We operate with a very large global footprint.”
New small ships are coming for Royal Caribbean, but the first likely won't arrive before 2029.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to get answers to all your questions.
