Royal Caribbean grows 6% and prepares its river cruise entry

Royal Caribbean Group has done it again. According to Hosteltur, the company closed the second quarter of 2025 with $4.8 billion in revenue, up 6% year-on-year. And that's not all: it raised its full-year guidance after the launch of the Legend of the Seas, which set sail from Málaga on its inaugural voyage to Europe.

But what really catches my eye is the strategic move brewing behind the scenes. The group is finalising its leap into river cruising through Celebrity Cruises, with an entry planned for 2027. The goal, as I read in the same report, is to increase travel frequency among its customers and grab a bigger slice of the vacation pie that river operators have had to themselves. Smart play? We'll see how it fits the brand, but it's a clear warning to traditional river lines: a giant with pedigree and financial muscle is coming.