Royal Caribbean has always been a very innovative company in the cruise industry.
In recent years, it has made major investments, launched several new ships, and seen impressive growth in both revenue and passenger numbers.
2025 should be another great year, and Royal Caribbean is ready to roll out several changes and innovations. Let’s dive in and see what’s new!
1. New Cabin Categories
The first change is about the cabins. Royal Caribbean will reorganize the categories and the cabin codes in order to simplify the booking process and better understand the differences between the cabins.
In particular, there will be more options for guests with large families, as well as separated triple and quad occupancy inside and window cabins.
This change will make it easier to identify which cabins are for couples and which are for larger families.
In addition, Royal Caribbean already introduced new guarantee categories for bookings with three or four guests. This will give families more flexible and potentially cost-effective options.
Other small changes include the reclassification of some suites, such as the aft-facing ones that are now called “Sunset Junior Suites.”
2. First Beach Club
Another very interesting thing that will be introduced in 2025 is a private beach club designed specifically for cruise passengers.
It will be called “Royal Beach Club” and will open on Paradise Island in Nassau (Bahamas) in December 2025.
According to the rumors, the beach club will blend the natural beauty of The Bahamas with Royal Caribbean’s signature amenities.
Guests will find two beautiful beaches and three temperature-controlled pools, including the always-loved swim-up bars.
Obviously, then there will be a whole food part with restaurants, dedicated cabanas, live music, cultural experiences, and all those things you might expect from a cruise that literally moves to the beach.
3. New Itineraries and Destinations
Now, a very interesting part, especially for those who are thinking about their next cruise: the itineraries and destinations for 2025.
As you probably already know, Royal Caribbean is decreasing the number of ships in Europe for the 2025 season, opting to deploy larger ships like Allure of the Seas and Independence of the Seas (for the UK).
Ovation of the Seas is moving to Los Angeles in May 2025, a good opportunity for a nice cruise from the East Coast.
Another interesting move is Anthem of the Seas going for the first time in Australia in November 2025. It will be a good opportunity if you’ve never been there to discover new destinations in New Zealand, including the Great Barrier Reef and the South Pacific islands.
4. Launching a New Ship
Given the major investments, it’s no surprise that a new ship is also set to arrive in 2025.
Star of the Seas will be the second Icon-class cruise ship and will begin offering cruises from Port Canaveral (Florida) in August 2025.
From what they know, the ship will be perfect for families with children since the Surfside area will be expanded, and there will also be new interactive features in Splashaway Bay and Playscape.
It’s also likely that during 2025, the name of the new ship joining the fleet in 2026 will be revealed. Any guesses on what it might be?
5. Allure of the Seas Big Renovation
Another major 2025 change affects Allure of the Seas. This year, the ship will be renovated, quite an important change since it’s one of the largest of the fleet (even if it was launched in 2009).
And it’s no small thing—Royal Caribbean is investing a whopping $100 million in the project, with the refurbishment expected to take at least a month.
Some of the changes include adding new waterslides and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, a new aquapark for kids, some new restaurants, and new entertainment games.
Do you remember that Allure was ranked first in the Royal Caribbean ship rankings? Find the updated 2025 ranking by clicking here.
6. Enhanced Sustainability Initiatives
Like many other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean will continue its initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its ships in 2025.
The goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, an ambitious goal that requires significant investment and change.
Some of the initiatives include featuring ships equipped with hydrogen fuel cells and LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) to reduce environmental impact.
7. Increased Technology Integration
Finally, although it has not been explicitly mentioned by the cruise line, we anticipate that there may be important technological innovations that relate primarily to the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) on cruises.
Royal Caribbean has already introduced “Royal Genie” for its Suite Class guests, offering personalized services. In 2025, we could see AI-powered chatbots or virtual concierges becoming available for all passengers.
In addition, AI could be used for faster and smoother embarkation and security, like facial recognition technology for boarding.
In the meantime, you should still use these important tips to be the first passenger to board the cruise ship.
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