Reporting 2024 annual financial earnings per share (EPS) of $10.94 and adjusted earnings per share of $11.80, Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, described the company’s 2024 fiscal performance as “exceptional.” In addition, “strong demand for the company’s vacation experiences continues to accelerate,” he explains, and “2025 is shaping up to be another great year.” In fact, bookings accelerated since the last earnings call, resulting in the five best booking weeks in the group's history.
Booked load factors are also in line with prior years but at higher rates. Guest spending onboard and pre-cruise is also soaring. Most notably, Liberty says that the group will launch a new river cruise product, Celebrity River Cruises, in Europe by 2027. An initial order for 10 river vessels was placed. He emphasized that half of the company's guests have either experienced a river cruise or intend to vacation in that way.
In other big news, Viking appointed Leah Talactac as president, effective immediately. She’ll continue to serve as Viking’s chief financial officer while assuming her new responsibilities as president. Talactac, who joined the line in 2006 and successfully led Viking’s IPO last year, will continue to report directly to Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO, as well as to the company’s board of directors.
MSC Cruises is further strengthening its schedule at Port Canaveral, FL. The line announced that its fourth, yet-unnamed, World-class ship will operate seven-night, year-round Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, FL, in winter 2027-28. In addition, the line says that MSC Grandiosa will offer year-round seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral starting in winter 2026-27. That builds on previously announced plans to deploy that ship there during the previous year's winter season. MSC Seashore will also continue to offer year-round three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral.
Last week, Holland America Line unveiled new “Legendary Voyages” for 2026-27. Sailing round-trip from the U.S., these five new cruises will range from 27 to 45 days. They'll touch such destinations as the Mediterranean, South Pacific, Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii. In addition, the soon-to-relaunch Victory Cruise Lines, under new ownership and management by founder John Waggoner, announced details of its 2026 Great Lakes season with several new itineraries and ports of call.
On the river cruise front, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is introducing a new itinerary for its 2025 “Holiday Collection” season in Europe. Sailing round-trip from Paris, the 128-passenger Joie de Vivre will operate a new, seven-night “Magical Parisian Holiday” itinerary along the Seine River into the French countryside.
As reported in sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, SeaDream Yacht Club will become the first cruise company to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. As a result, guests will be able to book a vacation voyage using Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) or more than 200 of the most frequently used cryptocurrencies.
Related Stories
Hurtigruten, Approach Guides Partner on Advisor Content
Four Seasons Yachts Floats Out First Vessel
HX Debuts Greenland Cruises with Roundtrip Flights from NY
Carnival Launches "Book More, Earn Big" Promotion for Advisors