Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is an American global cruise company incorporated in Liberia and based in Miami, Florida. It is the world's second-largest cruise line operator, after Carnival Corporation & plc. As of March 2009, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. fully owns three cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises. They also hold a 50% stake in TUI Cruises and 49% stakes in Pullmantur Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. Previously Royal Caribbean Cruises also owned 50% of Island Cruises, but this was sold to TUI Travel PLC in October 2008.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was formed in 1997 when Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, founded in 1968, and Celebrity Cruises, founded in 1988, was then purchased. The decision was made to keep the two cruise line brands separate following the merger; as a result Royal Caribbean Cruise Line was re-branded Royal Caribbean International and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was established as the new parent company of both Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
A third brand under Royal Caribbean Cruises ownership was formed in 2000 when Island Cruises was created as a joint venture with British First Choice Holidays. Island Cruises became an informal cruise line on the British and Brazilian markets.
In November 2006, Royal Caribbean Cruises purchased Pullmantur Cruises based in Madrid, Spain. From there, the company expanded radically with the creation of new cruise lines: Azamara Club Cruises was created in May 2007 as a subsidiary of Celebrity Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, aimed at French-language customers, in May 2008. Another new cruise line, TUI Cruises began operations in 2009. The brand is aimed at a German-speaking audience and is a joint venture with TUI AG.
TUI Travel had previously become the owner of 50% of Island Cruises following their merger with First Choice Holidays in 2007. In October 2008 Royal Caribbean Cruises sold their share of Island Cruises to TUI.
Brands & ships
(completion dates below are the dates when ships entered service)
Royal Caribbean International -
Empress Class: all built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, France.
Empress of the Seas (completed August 1989) - 48,563 tons / 2,020 passenger berths + 685 crew
Sovereign Class: all built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, France.
Majesty of the Seas (completed April 1992) - 73,941 tons / 2,774 passenger berths + 827 crew
Vision Class:
Legend of the Seas (completed May 1995 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique) - 69,130 tons / 2,076 passenger berths + 720 crew
Grandeur of the Seas (completed December 1996 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Finland) - 74,137 tons / 2,446 passenger berths + 760 crew
Rhapsody of the Seas (completed May 1997 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique) - 78,491 tons / 2,435 passenger berths + 765 crew
Enchantment of the Seas (completed July 1997 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Finland) - 81,500 tons / 2,730 passenger berths + 840 crew
Vision of the Seas (completed May 1998 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique) - 78,491 tons / 2,436 passenger berths + 765 crew
Voyager Class: all built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Finland.
Voyager of the Seas (completed November 1999) - 137,280 tons / 3,838 passenger berths + 1,176 crew
Explorer of the Seas (completed October 2000) - 137,308 tons / 3,840 passenger berths + 1,181 crew
Adventure of the Seas (completed November 2001) - 137,276 tons / 3,838 passenger berths + 1,185 crew
Navigator of the Seas (completed December 2002) - 137,276 tons / 3,835 passenger berths + 1,185 crew
Mariner of the Seas (completed November 2004) - 137,276 tons / 3,840 passenger berths + 1,185 crew
Radiance Class: all built by Meyer Werft, Germany.
Radiance of the Seas (completed April 2001) - 90,090 tons / 2,542 passenger berths + 858 crew
Brilliance of the Seas (completed July 2002) - 90,090 tons / 2,500 passenger berths + 869 crew
Serenade of the Seas (completed August 2003) - 90,090 tons / 2,500 passenger berths + 858 crew
Jewel of the Seas (completed June 2004) - 90,090 tons / 2,500 passenger berths + 858 crew
Freedom Class: all built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Finland.
Freedom of the Seas (completed June 2006) - 154,407 tons / 4,375 passenger berths + 1,397 crew
Liberty of the Seas (completed May 2007) - 154,407 tons / 4,375 passenger berths + 1,397 crew
Independence of the Seas (completed May 2008) - 154,407 tons / 4,376 passenger berths + 1,397 crew
Oasis Class: Oasis and Allure of the Seas built by STX Europe, Finland; Harmony and TBA fourth ship in class built by STX France.
Oasis of the Seas (completed December 2009) - 222,900 tons / 6,360 passenger berths + 2,164 crew
Allure of the Seas (completed December 2010) - 225,062 tons / 6,360 passenger berths + 2,164 crew
Harmony of the Seas (completed May 2016) - 227,700 tons / 6,360 passenger berths + 2,164 crew
TBA (to be completed 2018)
Quantum Class: all built by Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany.
Quantum of the Seas (completed November 2014) - 167,800 tons / 4,905 passenger (maximum) + 1,500 crew
Anthem of the Seas (completed April 2015) - 167,800 tons / 4,905 passenger (maximum) + 1,500 crew
Ovation of the Seas (completed April 2016) - 167,800 tons / 4,905 passenger (maximum) + 1,500 crew
TBA (to be completed 2019)
Celebrity Cruises -
Millennium Class: all built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique.
Celebrity Millennium (completed June 2000) - 90,228 tons / 2,450 passenger berths + 999 crew
Celebrity Infinity (completed March 2001) - 90,228 tons / 2,570 passenger berths + 999 crew
Celebrity Summit (completed November 2001) - 90,228 tons / 2,450 passenger berths + 999 crew
Celebrity Constellation (completed May 2002) - 90,228 tons / 2,450 passenger berths + 999 crew
Solstice Class: all built by Meyer Werft.
Celebrity Solstice (completed November 2008) - 121,878 tons / 3,145 passenger berths + 1,253 crew
Celebrity Equinox (completed August 2009) - 121,878 tons / 3,145 passenger berths + 1,253 crew
Celebrity Eclipse (completed June 2010) - 121,878 tons / 3,145 passenger berths + 1,253 crew
Celebrity Silhouette (completed June 2010) - 121,878 tons / 3,145 passenger berths + 1,253 crew
Celebrity Reflection (completed June 2012) - 126,000 tons / 3,323 passenger berths + 1,253 crew
Ecotourism ships:
Celebrity Xpedition (completed June 2001 by Cassens Werft) - 2,842 tons / 95 passenger berths + 64 crew
Azamara Club Cruises
Pullmantur Cruises (49% Ownership)
CDF Croisières de France (49% Ownership)
TUI Cruises
Island Cruises (50% share, owned 2000-2008)
Wamos Air (formerly Air Pullmantur, 19% share)
Cruise1st
