Higher costs are forcing some Americans to rethink summer vacations, but Royal Caribbean seems largely insulated from any cutbacks.
“Forty-five percent of Americans plan to take a summer vacation with a stay in paid lodging, the lowest figure in six years. Costs are keeping others home, as one-third of non-travelers say travel is too expensive (32%), and they cannot afford it (35%),” according to an April Deloitte survey.
People who are taking a vacation, however, are spending more.
“Surveyed Americans who are willing to travel are willing to spend: Travelers expect to spend an average of $4,069 on their longest summer trip, up 17% from last year,” the data showed.
That may help explain why, at a time where many Americans are cutting back, Royal Caribbean not only saw total second quarter revenue rise by 6% year over year to $4.8 billion, but also raised its guidance for the full year.
That’s good news for investors, but CEO Jason Liberty did share some thoughts on changing customer behavior, while also delivering bad news for any Royal Caribbean customers hoping for a deal.
Royal Caribbean won’t be cutting prices
Liberty made it clear during the second-quarter earnings call that Royal Caribbean has been well-positioned to remain strong, despite the economic woes facing many Americans.
“Consumers are becoming more deliberate about their spending, yet they still prioritize quality leisure time, which aligns with our differentiated portfolio and the compelling combination of experiences, choices and value we offer,” he said.
He also answered a question from Stifel’s Steven Wieczynski about many cruise lines offering promotions and discounts in the Caribbean.
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“I think on the Caribbean side, I know this has been one of the main stories or concerns for the year. I think all — whether it’s cruise competitors or vacation competitors, we’re all dealing with a different set of cards,” Liberty answered.
He thinks Royal Caribbean has an advantage due to its wide range of ship classes as well as its growing portfolio of private destinations.
“I think the reality for the Caribbean is while we have increased our Caribbean capacity for 2026, what we have seen is that demand for differentiated assets, which we bring to the table with our ships and with our destinations,” he added.
Royal Caribbean has touted its private destinations as among its highest-rated experiences.
Other cruise lines are offering discounts
As a registered travel agent, I see the weekly emails sent by the various cruise lines offering discounts or promotions on select cruises. Royal Caribbean has not been one of the companies offering those deals, although I have seen discounts on select sailings of the company’s Celebrity Cruises brand.
It’s typical for there to be a short list of special promotions or discounts on cruises from all the major companies, but Royal Caribbean has been largely absent from sending that type of email.
The company did, however, bring back its popular “Double Points” promotion. TravelHost’s Alisha Do Santos explained how points work in a recent post.
“Under normal circumstances, a guest cruising in a standard stateroom earns one Cruise Point per night sailed, while solo travelers in a regular cabin earn two per night, as do suite guests, and solo suite guests earn three points per night. During the double points promotional window, which runs from July 21-31, 2026, those nights double for eligible new bookings,” she wrote.
The double points offer is valid on new bookings made now through July 31 on sailings departing between Sept. 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027. It can be applied on up to two qualifying cruises, and is available to anyone with a valid Crown & Anchor Society member number, no matter how long it’s been since you last sailed.
Caribbean bookings are popular overall
Dennis Post, co-owner of Postcard Travel Planning, which books thousands of Caribbean cruises each year, does not see customers making any changes. Generally, they have a preferred line, and a sale on another line won’t change their plans.
“We have not seen any measurable difference in bookings due to Caribbean sales. Although some people shop around for cheaper prices for shorter quick getaway trips, 3-4 days, we have not seen any dramatic changes in what our customers book,” he told TheStreet.
It’s not that customers aren’t price conscious, but cruises, as Liberty often points out, remain a strong value compared to land-based vacations.
“We do get clients asking for some comparisons among brands, but for longer cruises 6-8 days,” Post shared. “A lot of cruisers are set on brand and ship so willing to pay prevailing rate versus saving a few dollars trying something different.”