Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International began in 1969 as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, founded by three Norwegian shipping companies: Anders Wilhelmsen & Co., I.M. Skaugen & Co., and Gotaas Larsen. The founders, Sigurd Skaugen, Arne Wilhelmsen, and Gotaas Larsen, saw an opportunity to pivot from declining ocean transport into the growing leisure cruise market. Instead of converting old ocean liners, they built purpose-built cruise ships, starting with the Song of Norway in 1970, followed by Nordic Prince and Sun Viking. In 1978, the Song of Norway became the first passenger ship to be cut and stretched, increasing capacity by about 40%. The 1988 merger with Admiral Cruises and the introduction of the 73,000-ton Sovereign of the Seas launched the modern megaship era.

In 1997, the company purchased Celebrity Cruises for $1.3 billion. To keep the two brands separate, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line was renamed Royal Caribbean International, and the parent company became Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., later rebranded as Royal Caribbean Group in 2020. The company went public on the NYSE in 1993 under the ticker RCL. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Royal Caribbean Group broke ground on a new headquarters building at PortMiami in February 2024. The group's fleet spans over 60 ships across its brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, as well as a 50% joint venture in TUI Cruises.

Royal Caribbean International operates 29 ships as of August 2025, with more on order. The brand is known for its innovative amenities, such as robotic bartenders, water slides, skydiving simulators, and virtual balconies. It also owns private destinations like Coco Cay in the Bahamas, which serve as key differentiators. The company reported $16.5 billion in revenue for FY2024 and $17.9 billion for 2025, with a market capitalization around $83 billion. It holds 27% of the global cruise market by passengers and 24.8% by revenue, making it the largest cruise line by revenue and second by passenger count. [edit]