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A cruise ship passenger may have gone overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the U.S. Coast Guard says.
The U.S. Coast Guard said a search is underway for a a 66-year-old woman that somehow went into the ocean while sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.
The report of the passenger overboard occurred at 9:40pm on Tuesday evening, roughly 17 miles north of Nassau, Bahamas.
Allure of the Seas is sailing a 4-night Bahamas cruise that departed Miami.
Search efforts by the Coast Guard include a plane and a helicopter dispatched from Miami.
Royal Caribbean also brought Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas to assist in the search.
Photo by X user @Navaleye1
Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident in a statement, "Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort and is working with local authorities. We are also providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time.
"To respect the privacy of our guest’s family, we have no additional details to share."
Passengers sailing on Allure of the Seas posted on social media their account of what happened last night.
"Allure of the seas. Code Oscar," wrote Reddit user Kaylaaa002. Oscar is a maritime code for someone that has gone overboard.
"Heart goes out to the family."
Suspicious-Visit8634 added, "That is terrible, hoping for a miracle".
One user tracked the search efforts of the Coast Guard airplane, noting the pattern the plane took to try to locate the woman.
The chances of falling overboard on a cruise ship are extremely low.
Deck railings on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which comply Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010.
In addition, there are thick metal or Plexiglas panels or metal bars are positioned under the railings to prevent people from slipping through.
When a man overboard situation occurs, the media usually reports on it and it leads some to wonder how it could happen in the first place.
An article from The Points Guy points out cruise ships have railings that are around chest height to ensure passenger safety and to prevent someone from slipping and falling overboard.
"The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to. It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel."
The chances of a cruise ship passenger going overboard are quite low, but it does occasionally happen.
In a report from Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), there were 212 identified overboard incidents from cruise ships for either crew members or passengers between 2009 to 2019.
Of these overboard incidents, only 48 (or 28.2%) individuals were successfully rescued. Around 71.8% of people who go overboard from cruise ships are sadly never recovered or located.
The CLIA report also shows an overall decline in overboard incidents throughout the 10-year period. The overboard incident rate decreased 64% from 2009 to 2019, with an incidence rate of 0.00004 overboard reports per active lower berth in 2019.
The report states, “When compared with the growth in capacity in the industry over the study years, man overboard incidents continue on a downward trend.”
What's it like to work on a cruise ship, and is working and living on a cruise ship the right career path for you?
Royal Caribbean employs thousands of crew members that live on their cruise ships in order to work there for months at a time.
Across the Royal Caribbean Group brands, the company employs 100,000 employees from over 130 nationalities that work both on ships and on land.
One crew member shared on Facebook his experience working on a ship.
Ervin Rebuyas posted in a Facebook group dedicated to Filipino crew members working on Royal Caribbean his reasons to consider working onboard.
Ervin's photo is a self-portrait taken on Icon of the Seas, which could indicate he does (or did) work on that ship.
He started by listing the five reasons being a crew member is worth it:
1. Travel opportunities
Ervin said you can, "visit multiple destinations and experience different cultures," as a crew member.
Royal Caribbean's ships sail around the world, and often ships transition from one part of the world to another during a single contract.
2. Meet people from diverse backgrounds
Because crew members live on cruise ships, they run into both other crew and passengers from all over the world.
Ervin said the opportunity to, "interact with passengers and crew from around the world," is a benefit to working there.
3. Career development
Royal Caribbean is a big company, and there's room to grow.
Ervin believes working on a ship provides, "skills and experience in hospitality, tourism, and customer service," that could benefit his career within the company and beyond.
4. Competitive salary and benefits
While Ervin did not disclose his pay, he believes the compensation is good as a crew member.
He mentioned the fact crew get not just salary, but accommodations, meals, and access to onboard amenities.
The crew member only restaurants serve international cuisine to ensure everyone has something they like. There are also crew lounges, gyms, pools, and recreational activities.
Examples of social events held onboard a ship include crew gatherings, parties, and themed events.
5. Unique lifestyle
Most crew members work a number of months on the ship, then go home for a break for a few months, and then return again for a new contract.
Contracts typically range from 3-12 months. He estimates time off between contracts is usually 2-6 weeks. He also said vacation days accrue during contracts, and are usable during time off.
He said you get to, "enjoy a distinctive work-life balance, with time off between contracts."
No job is perfect, and Ervin also listed five negatives to working on a cruise ship.
1. Time away from family and friends
Because you live on the ship, you don't get to commute back home after the day's work is over.
Crew members' contracts are many months, and that means they don't get to see loved ones in person until the end of the contract.
2. Confined living space
It's no secret cabins on a cruise ship are small, and that applies to crew cabins too.
Crew members have shared or single accommodations, often with bunk beds.
Ervin said crew members share small cabins with limited personal space.
3. Long working hours
Every crew member has their own work schedule that corresponds to their duties, and Ervin said shifts include working evenings, weekends, and holidays.
4. High stress levels
Just like many jobs on land, a crew member job is not a cushy one.
"Manage demanding passenger expectations and tight deadlines," are how Ervin described the work environment.
5. Limited personal freedom
Ervin said the "strict rules, regulations, and safety protocols" mean you have to live differently than on land.
Ships have stricter safety regulations to mitigate danger, especially fire. Crew members drill regularly to know what to do in the case of an emergency.
For anyone who might consider a career working on a cruise ship, Ervin spelled out what to think about first.
He boiled it down to five key points:
In 2010, Royal Caribbean and Starbucks signed a licensing agreement to open Starbucks locations on select cruise ships. It's become a popular way to enjoy made-to-order espresso beverages and Frappuccino blended beverages ever since.
Many cruisers are happy to discover there's a Starbucks on their ship, and it adds a new option for coffee beyond what Royal Caribbean offers.
Not all Royal Caribbean ships have a Starbucks location onboard, but many do (especially the newer ships).
However, it can be somewhat confusing how it all works given that Starbucks is not included in your cruise fare and the rules about how you can use your Starbucks Rewards are different than on land.
Here's what you need to know about the Starbucks and Royal Caribbean partnership, including how to redeem free Starbucks Rewards drinks.
No, there is an extra charge for any food or drink you order at a Starbucks kiosk.
Royal Caribbean drink packages do not include Starbucks drinks ordered from the licensed kiosk. Similarly, the coffee punch card does not work at Starbucks kiosks either.
There is one exception, and that is if you are a Star Class guest. Star Class guests get complimentary drinks at a Starbucks kiosk.
There is complimentary coffee available at many other venues around the ship.
You'll need to use your SeaPass card to pay for any item you order at a Starbucks kiosk.
Alternatively, you could use your Starbucks app to pay for an order. You cannot redeem Starbucks Rewards onboard to pay for items purchased onboard.
You don't need to have a WiFi package to use your app to pay. Starbucks has its own internet connection to verify the funds available on your card. They will let you know if/when your account is empty.
Even if you have WiFi, you cannot use the mobile order (order ahead) functionality while on any ship.
You are indeed able to use your Starbucks card for purchases, and you will gain stars for those purchases. However, you cannot claim rewards for the stars you've accumulated, including the free birthday drink.
This is commonly how licensed Starbucks locations operate, such as a Starbucks found in a supermarket or highway rest stop.
Yes, you can use a physical Starbucks gift card or a digital one in your Starbucks app to pay for food or beverages.
Mostly, yes. Starbucks kiosks on a Royal Caribbean ship get re-supplied every voyage, and you will find the same seasonal beverages offered, such as Holiday red cups, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and the like.
They serve all the standard stuff, such as brewed coffees, refreshers, lattes, macchiatos, and Frappuccino's.
One notable exception is Starbucks locations on Royal Caribbean ships do not offer coffee beans for sale.
It can be confusing to distinguish between the two, but Royal Caribbean also serves Starbucks brewed coffees, lattes, and Frappuccinos at Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes and this is different from the kiosk.
The Starbucks drinks served at Cafe Promenade or Cafe Latte-tudes still cost extra, but they are included with a Royal Caribbean drink package. Likewise, Diamond drink vouchers also can be redeemed for drinks here.
You can use your SeaPass card to pay for drinks here, but not your Starbucks app.
One other distinguishing factor about the Starbucks drinks at Cafe Promenade is you can have them with a shot of alcohol added to it.
These are the ships with a Starbucks kiosk:
Yes! Each of the 10 Royal Caribbean ships that have a Starbucks kiosk sell a mug that represents signature features onboard.
The price for a mug is $16.95.
Yes, there's complimentary coffee served at a variety of locations on any Royal Caribbean ship.
Youu'll find coffee served every day at Cafe Promenade/Cafe Latte-tudes/Cafe @ Two70, dining rooms, Windjammer, specialty restaurants, and select bars and lounges.
It's official: Royal Caribbean will bring Doc Brown, Marty McFly, and Biff to sea.
Royal Caribbean Blog was the first to report on the new musical being licensed by Royal Caribbean last month, but the cruise line confirmed it on Monday.
"Blast to the past and introduce the entire fam to Marty McFly’s high-flying adventure, as Back to the Future: The Musical travels straight from Broadway to Star of the Seas, coming summer 2025," is what Royal Caribbean posted on social media.
The Royal Caribbean entertainment team is working alongside the musical’s original creative team to bring the musical to the Royal Theater stage on Star, and after two successful weeks of auditions in London and NYC, the team is excited to begin rehearsals in the next year.
The show on Royal Caribbean's ship will be a reworked 100-minute version of the show. Royal Caribbean is working alongside the original creatives from the musical to make the iconic production come to life.
This includes:
Like Royal Caribbean's other musical productions, the cost of the show is included in the cruise fare.
Star of the Seas is under construction and will debut in August 2025.
Star of the Seas will be the second Icon Class cruise ship, and similar in size and features to the record breaking biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas.
Inspired by the 1985 film from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the musical tells the story of teenager Marty McFly, who is unintentionally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean created by Dr. Emmett Brown. The show’s book is written by Bob Gale, with original music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. It also features well-known songs from the movie, such as “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.”
It's a relatively new show, having made its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in March 2020.
The West End production opened in London September 13, 2021, and subsequently won the Best New Musical Olivier Award.
It opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in August 2023, and continues to play there today.
The musical is also currently playing a North American national tour, and will open a Tokyo production in 2025.
Royal Caribbean will homeport Star of the Seas at Port Canaveral, with her first sailing scheduled for August 31, 2025.
Her first cruise will be a Western Caribbean sailing calling at Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas; Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan Island, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.
The 248,663-gross ton Star of the Seas is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and is slightly smaller than the 250,800-gross ton Icon of the Seas.
There will be eight distinct themed neighborhoods on Star of the Seas, including the popular Central Park and Royal Promenade. It will also feature Thrill Island, home to the largest waterpark at sea, named Category 6.
If you prefer a quieter pool day, Chill Island has multiple pools spread across three decks. There's also live music performed daily, and food options nearby.
Young families will enjoy a special area of the ship dedicated to them at Surfside. In Surfside, Splashaway Bay and the Playscape will get new features. The Water's Edge pool will be more kid focused. The kids clubs will get updates too.
Don't worry, there's an adults-only area on the ship at the Hideaway that has a great infinity pool.
At the AquaDome neighborhood, you'll find shows inside the Aquatheater. There's also great dining choices and amazing views to enjoy.
If you're like a lot of people, you want to enjoy your cruise vacation without tipping the scales when you get home.
Dining on a cruise ship is one of the top reasons people book a cruise in the first place (along with the destinations your ship will go), but keeping the pounds off on your holiday is just as important as being at home.
You'll find on any cruise ship many choices of places to eat and food to choose from. If a cruise ship is like a floating city, then it has a very large restaurant district.
But there’s a habit that might be driving your weight up post-cruise up without you even knowing it. So we’re here to pinpoint the one clear thing you can do to bring your numbers down. Keep reading.
Because there are so many choices of food and places to eat, the bad habit you're likely to pick up on a cruise is stopping to eat at many of them.
Snacking on a cruise ship seems to be far more common on a cruise than at home, because it's all readily available and so much is included.
It could be a frozen yogurt cone at the pool deck, plate of cookies at Cafe Promenade, or couple slices of pizza at Sorrento's, but it all adds up.
While this isn't to say you shouldn't snack or indulge on a cruise, the key is to not over eat between meals. Eat when you are hungry. Stop eating before you are full.
In some cases, a lot of extra weight is gained because of either consuming a lot of extra calories, or they're retaining a lot of water from all the extra salt that their body isn't used to.
Speaking of things you probably do at home but not on a cruise is drink water.
If I were to ask our readers what's the first thing they want to do when they get on a cruise, the answer is likely to celebrate the start of vacation with a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine.
There's nothing wrong with that, but not drinking enough water adds up quickly. A lot people gain weight because of water weight from salty food and alcohol.
If plain water that is included with your cruise fare isn't to your liking, you could opt for the flavored waters they have at select dining locations, such as the Windjammer or Cafe Promenade.
Or you could bring water drink mixes to enhance the flavor of the water included with your cruise fare. (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).
Here are more tried-and-true ways to avoid weight gain on your cruise.
Walk and take the stairs whenever possible: While your first instinct may be to hop in an elevator, the more you can walk, the more calories you can burn to offset the sweets and snacks.
If you're only climbing or descending a few decks, taking the stairs is a really good idea and alternative to crowded elevators.
My personal strategy is up to 3 decks going up, I'll take the stairs. Around 5-6 decks going down, and I'll opt for the stairs.
Start with a salad and glass of water at the buffet: Before you grab a plate and hit the Asian stir fry station, try to fill up first on a salad and some water. It will temper your appetite so you might eat less overall.
Beware the liquid calories: I find it's easy enough to skip the cookies and cake, but it's the sugary drinks that add up quickly and without you noticing as much.
Instead of a tropical drink, order low-calorie spirits like vodka. Pick a light beer instead of a traditional one, or opt for a spritzer.
Don't feel obligated to eat or drink your money back: Live your best life on a cruise and indulge, but don't come at your cruise as your attempt to eat because it's included.
Don't join the "clean plate club": Enjoy the food, but don't feel like you're obligated to eat everything they serve you.
There's no penalty if you don't finish everything on your plate. At the buffet, use it as an opportunity to try a wide range of foods, not to stuff yourself silly.
While you might not want to gain weight, one mantra to remember is you are on vacation and a few extra pounds won't be a problem.
If you're indulging here and there and not being overly gluttonous, you'll probably come home with just a handful of extra pounds.
A great deal of that extra weight could be water weight as a result of the salty foods and cocktails, so it could go away after a few days.
Matt answers as many emails as he can in this week's episode
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Looking to book a 2025 cruise in Europe? You could easily save hundreds or thousands of dollars extra if you book your flights through Royal Caribbean.
While you may know that Royal Caribbean offers bundled airfare you can purchase through its Air2Sea program, you might not know how lucrative it can be.
Air2Sea is a convenient way to purchase a flight after you book a cruise. It's available in all markets, but I was shocked how much cheaper it was by booking through the cruise line instead of directly with the airline.
For my 2025 European group cruise (you're invited to join us), I had originally booked my flights directly with Virgin Atlantic. But when my travel agent ran the numbers through Air2Sea, I was able to save over $2,000 for my family of four and I got a more convenient flight option.
I was curious if I was lucky, or there's really something to the offer, so I asked MEI Travel to run a few example flights to compare prices booking through the cruise line or through the airline.
Royal Caribbean advertises savings of up to $500 off airfare for Alaska and European select sailings.
It's available for Alaska and European sailings departing between April 11 - October 27, 2025 and must be booked between September 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025.
The fine print says the exact savings depend on destination and airfare type:
I've seen plenty of advertised offers where the "deal" doesn't match up to reality very well, so I wanted to see put it to the test.
I asked MEI Travel to run airfares for flights from New York and Los Angeles to London for the dates of our group cruise next year.
I then ran the same flights through Expedia to see how much they were charging.
I was curious to see if the savings were substantial, or was it a case where only some flights really got you a deep discount.
Flight 1: New York to London non-stop
Depart June 19, 2025 from JFK to LHR
Flight 2: Los Angeles to London non-stop
In every situation, Air2Sea saved hundreds of dollars, even in economy.
Given that every price is for one ticket, if you multiply the discount by how many people are in your travel party, and you can net even bigger savings.
In my case, I cancelled my booking with the airline and re-booked with Air2Sea.
There are other benefits to booking a cruise with Air2Sea, such as the fact you can add an Air2Sea flight that remains refundable until final payment due date and it doesn't cost anything to make the booking.
If you find a better deal cancel the Air2Sea reservation before final payment due date at no cost. If fuel costs surge or flight cost jump unexpectedly the Air2Sea booking can suddenly be a great deal.
If there's a downside to Air2Sea, there is a fee for their services and Air2Sea is essentially your travel agent for the flight. If you need to do swift modifications to your flight(s) because of some unforeseen problem, you need to go through them vs. just fixing it with the airline directly. It's like booking a fare via Expedia or other third party.
One other benefit of Air2Sea is in some cases they offer "Assured Arrival" that can help get you on the ship if an airline mess causes you to miss the cruise.
You can easily browse flights by going to the Air2Sea website after you have a cruise booked.
Alternatively you can call Royal Caribbean 24/7 at 1-844-278-9745 to make your reservation. Or better yet, have your travel agent do it for you.
The Air2Sea program is currently available to guests in the U.S., Canada, and United Kingdom.
Getting a better cruise ship cabin is a fun way to make your vacation even more exciting, in part, because you'll get more space and maybe even more amenities.
I will often book a cruise in a certain category room, but as the cruise gets closer, reconsider my cabin choice.
Moving up to a better cabin might be a reflection of extra cash to splurge, a lower-than-expected price, or a change in our family's needs. It could just be a whim, but whatever the reason, it's a fun feeling to (try and) get a better cabin.
Here's everything you need to know about upgrading your cabin on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
The simplest and most straightforward way to upgrade your cabin is to ask your travel agent to do it. Or if you booked with Royal Caribbean directly, give them a call.
You'll compare the price you originally paid to the price of the better cabin, and pay the difference.
Royal Caribbean claims you can make these sort of changes up until the final payment date, but in my experience, they'll always take more money if you want to spend more. Any payments or deposits you've previously made can be applied to the new reservation.
Upgrading in this fashion means you're subject to the prevailing rates and, there could be different booking incentives too.
Ideally, you'll try this method as early as possible because cabins book up closer to your sail date. Likewise, prices go up as more cabins are sold. The chances of a last-minute cheap upgrade are unlikely, but not unheard of either.
It's not a bad idea to re-check cabin prices a day or two after the final payment date to see if any cabins returned to inventory because someone missed final payment or cancelled.
The easiest way to see if there's a room available to upgrade to is to do a mock booking on Royal Caribbean's website and see what comes up.
Prices can change at any time, and inventory moves in real-time. So you could very well spot a good price, call in the upgrade, but realize the room is no longer available. Be sure to act quickly.
One major advantage of this strategy is you get to pick the specific cabin and location, ensuring you know which room you are getting before paying. Unless, of course, you book a guaranteed cabin.
The disadvantage of upgrading your room in the traditional manner is you are limited to which rooms are available at that moment and whatever prevailing rates. Plus, as you get closer to the sailing, it's less likely there will be cabins to move up to, especially balcony rooms or suites.
Another way to move up to a nicer room is to tell Royal Caribbean how much you'd be willing to spend to hypothetically upgrade in a blind auction.
Royal Up is the name of the program where guests get a choice of different cabin categories you can place bids for, and a range of prices to choose from.
The bid amount is per person for the entire duration of the cruise. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged.
Typically you can begin placing bids through Royal Up up to 90 days before your cruise begins, and you can expect an email from the cruise line to inform you of the choice. Alternatively, you can check if you're eligible to place a bid on Royal Caribbean's website.
If you're going to place a bid, I'd recommend doing it right when bids open up, rather than waiting.
The other best time to place a Royal Up bid is if there's a chance a lot of people won't make the cruise, such as a hurricane or winter storm elsewhere in the country. Those sort of incidents spur last-minute cancellations and might be an opportune moment for a snipe bid.
Bidding for a cabin is a bit confusing because of the myriad of cabin choices and prices. How much should you bid? Will it actually save me money? Are these rooms really available?
When you bid for a room, keep in mind this is your offer to the cruise line if a cabin were to open up, how much you'd be willing to pay. Royal Up is a mechanism to handle unsold rooms or rooms that get cancelled at the last minute.
As for how much to bid, it almost doesn't matter because winning bids are routinely accepted at all ranges.
Bid what you're comfortable with, and understand that room might not actually be available (yet).
The advantage of bidding for an upgrade is you might save a lot of money compared to if you had booked that same room outright initially. This is especially true if you want to bid to upgrade to a different kind of interior cabin.
Aside from the confusion over how much to bid, I think the top disadvantage of bidding for a room is you will have no choice in where the room is located.
Winning bids get the cabin automatically assigned by Royal Caribbean, which could result in a room near a public venue, or being more susceptible to motion.
You should not bid for a cabin upgrade with Royal Up if you have more than one cabin booked, because there's no way to get the new cabins near each other.
Much has been made recently about cruise ship congestion in Alaska, so Royal Caribbean might have an answer.
Together with an Alaskan Native company, Royal Caribbean Group announced a new partnership to co-develop a new port in Juneau. Goldbelt Incorporated is a urban Alaska Native, for-profit corporation.
Some residents have wanted to limit cruise ship traffic in Juneau, despite the likely negative impact on local businesses. The reason is these locals have found the crowds cruise ships bring to be troublesome.
A resident-written ballot proposition was voted on recently to ban cruise ships on Saturdays, but 60% of voters rejected the measure. Unofficial tallies released by the city found that 2,586 residents voted in favor of the measure and 3,873 voted against it — also a 60% margin.
Royal Caribbean Group's plan would build a new port with the goal of, "strengthening the city's infrastructure while improving traffic congestion downtown and enhancing the local and visitor experience."
The new port would be located on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land on Douglas Island. Douglas island is west of downtown Juneau and east of Admiralty Island. It is separated from mainland Juneau by the Gastineau Channel.
The project is called, "The Port of Tomorrow" and it is expected to be completed during the 2027 Alaska cruise season.
The port would have two floating berths overlooking the Chilkat Range.
Once passengers disembark the ship, they would enter a recreated 1800s Alaska Native Tlingit village, where they "will experience Goldbelt Incorporated shareholders' ancestral history through stories, art, songs, dance, and traditional foods."
The existing port in Juneau includes three cruise terminals: the Ferry Terminal, South Franklin Dock, and Marine Park. In addition, ships may anchor and tender passengers ashore when more than three ships are present.
In order to leverage the existing whale watching tour operations, passengers would depart directly from West Douglas Island onto whale-watching tours or shuttle boats to Mendenhall Glacier to counter downtown traffic.
Estimates are it would remove nearly one-third of bus traffic from Juneau's most congested roadways, from downtown Franklin Street to the Glacier Highway, enhancing the overall guest and resident experience, while also paying testament to Alaska Native culture.
Because Douglas Island is located directly in the major shipping routes alongside Steven's Passage, the proposal has other advantages beyond downtown Juneau.
It promises an environmental advantage, reducing time, speed, and fuel requirements for ships sailing north to Skagway or west to the Gulf of Alaska, making it the most ideal stop-over for routing to Sitka or Seward.
Juneau welcomes more than 1.6 million cruise ship passengers per year, and on its busiest days, 20,000 cruise passengers arrive at the city.
Nearly every major cruise line that sails in Alaska has a stop in Juneau, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney, and Viking.
The Alaska cruise season runs between April and October, but Royal Caribbean ships primarily visit between May and September.
According to Juneau's FAQ on the ballot initiative, in 2023, cruise visitors generated $30 million in direct spending and $3.7 million in revenue for the municipal government on Saturdays.
Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty told Wall Street analysts during a quarterly earnings call in July 2024 that Alaska was one of his company's most sought-after destinations, "Alaska summer itineraries are performing exceptionally well."
In fact, summer Alaska season represents 6% of full-year capacity for Royal Caribbean Group. The company increased their capacity this year as a result of moving bigger ships into the Alaska market.