Royal Caribbean Leaders Outline Future of Ocean and River Cruises
Royal Caribbean Group’s top leadership shared new insights about the company’s future direction for both ocean and river cruising during a panel session at Northstar’s annual CruiseWorld convention in Fort Lauderdale. The discussion highlighted evolving guest preferences, the success of private destinations, and the strategic expansion of Celebrity Cruises into the river cruise market.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, revealed that the company’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, remains the top-rated destination among all Royal Caribbean guests—surpassing even iconic regions such as Greece and Italy. Bayley noted that the island was designed entirely around guest feedback, with travelers expressing a desire for simple, high-quality experiences focused on relaxation, fun and family time.
“People wanted a chill, quality experience—feet in the sand, a cold beer and confidence their kids were happy,” Bayley said. This led to the brand’s signature “thrill and chill” design philosophy, which he says has been central to Perfect Day’s success.
Bayley also confirmed that Royal Caribbean will expand its private destination portfolio, including a new island in the Asia-Pacific region opening in 2027 and a new Royal Beach Club in Santorini—described as the most in-demand Mediterranean destination among cruisers.
Joining Bayley on stage, Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge discussed the company’s bold entry into river cruising. Launched in January 2025, Celebrity River Cruises will begin operations with 10 new ships, including the Celebrity Compass debuting in August 2027 and the Celebrity Seeker launching in October 2027.
Hodges Bethge said more than half of Royal Caribbean Group guests have already taken a river cruise, making the expansion a natural way to retain travelers within the brand family. “This is not a hobby for us,” she emphasized. “We intend to be a major player in the space.”
Early demand has been extraordinary: priority bookings sold out in six minutes, and general reservations disappeared within hours. Hodges Bethge advised travel advisors to keep checking for cancellations if clients hope to secure a spot for the 2027 season.
Royal Caribbean’s former chairman and CEO Richard Fain also appeared at CruiseWorld to discuss his new book, Delivering the Wow, which explores his decades-long focus on innovation and the culture that helped shape the modern cruise industry.
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