Opinion: Royal Caribbean’s itineraries are becoming repetitive and boring, but it works for them

Over the past few years, Royal Caribbean has noticeably shifted its focus when it comes to itinerary variety. For years, Royal Caribbean’s itineraries offered a mix of traditional Caribbean routes and unique, destination-rich sailings, but that’s no longer the case.

As a longtime Royal Caribbean cruiser, I’ve experienced many of those diverse, immersive itineraries that have since disappeared.

For instance, I sailed on a 13-night Baltic cruise in 2016. We woke up in a new country each day, including destinations like Latvia and Lithuania. Even sailings I enjoyed just two years ago are no longer available, such as an incredible 12-night Iceland and Ireland cruise from Amsterdam.

I’ll be honest, I do miss the days when Royal Caribbean offered more destination-intensive sailings with varied ports of call. Each year, I was eager to check the deployment schedule and discover new itineraries.

Today, many of those distinctive routes have vanished, and the lineup feels a lot more predictable. Short cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean dominate the schedule, and nearly all of them include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Meanwhile, the bigger ships are staying closer to Florida, and fewer vessels are being sent to Europe or Asia.

The change is especially noticeable within the last few years, and it’s a notable deviation from the Royal Caribbean I first fell in love with. As much as loyal cruisers may crave more variety, there’s no denying this new strategy is working for Royal Caribbean.

Over the past few years, Royal Caribbean has rebounded strongly from pandemic losses, climbing from a net loss in 2022 to a net income of $2.88 billion in 2024. Demand has skyrocketed, and ships are sailing at full capacity with increased onboard spending.

As a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser, it can feel like the cruise line has lost some of its adventurous spirit. But this shift is intentional, and it’s been a massive success for them.

Fewer ships in Europe, more in the Caribbean

One of the biggest changes in Royal Caribbean’s strategy is shrinking its European presence. Only six ships have been deployed to Europe in 2025, compared to nine in 2023.

This is a big change, and it means fewer chances to book Northern Europe cruises, Mediterranean, or Arctic Circle adventures. When Royal Caribbean released its 2025 deployment schedule, many loyal cruisers voiced their frustration.

One Royal Caribbean cruiser commented on Facebook:

“Crazy! Royal have created their own downfall with Southampton… they have stuck with the same ship and itinerary for too long. Have done the same 14 night cruise 3 times in a row. No wonder people have got bored and not booked to do the same thing again next year.”

Another added, “Very poor from Royal for Northern European…[Independence of the Seas] has such poor itineraries and nothing for Iceland/Arctic circle? It’s as though we’re an afterthought. Not impressed.”

“I don’t see Scotland or Ireland. We booked a Scotland/Ireland with NCL. We are pretty loyal to Royal Caribbean but wanted and needed more time to pay it off. Plus with some research it looked like RC was going to be more with nothing included,” responded another cruiser on Facebook.

These frustrations echo a larger theme: Royal Caribbean loyalists want variety, and they’re willing to jump to other lines when they can’t find it. With other cruise lines offering more off-the-beaten-path itineraries, some are finding themselves jumping ship.

Royal Caribbean’s itineraries focus on Perfect Day at CocoCay

No destination captures Royal Caribbean’s current direction better than Perfect Day at CocoCay. Since its $250 million transformation in 2019, the private island has become both a financial powerhouse and a guest favorite.

Instead of focusing on niche European or Asian sailings, Royal Caribbean has doubled down on what’s working: short Caribbean getaways that almost always include CocoCay. The island has become the centerpiece of the brand, complete with a giant waterpark, overwater cabanas, and the new adults-only Hideaway Beach.

CocoCay allows Royal Caribbean to capture nearly all passenger spending, like cabana rentals, drinks, and beach club access, without sharing revenue with outside vendors.

Executives have repeatedly described the island as a “game-changer,” and it’s easy to see why. The destination consistently ranks among the most profitable and popular stops in the fleet.

Guests love it, too. Many describe Perfect Day at CocoCay as a “resort day at sea,” praising its organization, cleanliness, and wide range of amenities. With additions like the adults-only Hideaway Beach, the island continues to evolve to meet growing demand for short, convenient, and all-inclusive cruise experiences.

Adding more weekend getaway cruises to the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s growing emphasis on short Caribbean cruises has become one of the clearest indicators of its shifting priorities. However, this strategy shift is also contributing to the cruise line’s itineraries feeling stale and repetitive.

The cruise line’s focus on shorter, more accessible sailings has been a commercial success with demand through the roof. However, the shift toward high-efficiency routes means fewer long voyages and less destination diversity. This is a trade-off that’s paid off financially, even if it leaves some loyal cruisers wanting more.

Short cruises used to be an anomaly, with Royal Caribbean only offering 3-night and 4-night sailings on its oldest and smallest ships. Now, the cruise line is deploying some of its newest and most advanced ships, like Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas, on these short Caribbean itineraries from Florida.

The strategy appeals to a wide audience, including younger travelers, families, and first-time cruisers who want the excitement of a major ship without the time or cost of a longer vacation.

From a business standpoint, short cruises are a win. They fill ships at record pace, generate strong onboard spending, and keep guests coming back more frequently throughout the year.

For travelers, they offer an easy, convenient getaway that still delivers Royal Caribbean’s signature “big ship” experience. Combined with the guaranteed stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, these short cruises have become a cornerstone of Royal Caribbean’s post-pandemic success.

Bigger ships with fewer port options

Another reason itineraries feel repetitive is the size of Royal Caribbean’s ships. The cruise line’s newest Oasis and Icon class ships are breathtaking, but their size limits where they can go.

Oasis class ships can’t tender, which means smaller ports are off the table. That reality funnels these megaships into the same handful of ports, including places like Nassau, Cozumel, and St. Thomas. Without tendering, this reduces access to the smaller, more unique destinations that once made Royal Caribbean itineraries more appealing.

This is where Royal Caribbean’s smaller ship classes come into the picture. Royal Caribbean’s Vision and Radiance class ships are the ones still sailing unique itineraries: Alaska, Panama Canal, and niche European ports that can’t handle a megaship. Loyalists treasure them for this reason, but the vessels are showing their age.

Many repeat cruisers say these ships are long overdue for major upgrades. They may still offer variety, but their staterooms and public spaces are starting to feel dated compared to the flash of Icon or Oasis class ships.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean has already confirmed that it’s designing a new class of smaller ships, named Project Discovery.

These vessels will eventually replace the Vision and Radiance Class, bringing modern amenities while keeping access to smaller ports. For cruisers who miss more adventurous itineraries, this development offers some hope.

The industry is following Royal Caribbean’s strategy

Royal Caribbean’s shift toward shorter Caribbean itineraries and private island destinations hasn’t just redefined its own brand, but it’s also reshaping the wider cruise industry.

The company’s financial recovery following the pandemic has been remarkable, driven largely by an approach that emphasizes high-demand routes and convenient private-island experiences over itinerary diversity. Ships are sailing full, often above 100% occupancy, and onboard spending is at an all-time high.

By concentrating new, high-capacity vessels on shorter cruises paired with Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean has created a model that maximizes efficiency and profitability.

Shorter sailings mean faster turnaround, more repeat bookings, and higher onboard revenue. CocoCay’s closed ecosystem lets the company capture nearly all guest spending while ensuring a seamless, brand-controlled experience.

Competitors that have struggled to match Royal Caribbean’s financial momentum are now adopting similar strategies. Norwegian Cruise Line, for instance, is expanding Great Stirrup Cay into a more resort-like private destination and redeploying additional ships to the Caribbean.

This marks a clear shift for NCL, which once distinguished itself through port-intensive itineraries to far-reaching destinations such as Africa, Antarctica, and South America. The cruise line’s evolving focus reflects a broader industry trend toward shorter, high-demand sailings that deliver stronger and more predictable returns.

Carnival Cruise Line is also following Royal Caribbean’s lead. The company recently debuted its own private destination, Celebration Key, designed to deliver a controlled, resort-style experience similar to CocoCay.

The new port is already featured on itineraries aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras and other Excel class ships, many of which are now sailing shorter four- and five-night cruises.

This industry-wide shift shows how effective Royal Caribbean’s approach has been. By focusing on short, high-yield cruises and private destinations, the line has built a repeatable, profitable model that keeps ships full and guests satisfied.

Unfortunately, for many destination-focused cruisers, this comes at the expense of the more adventurous itineraries that once defined the brand.

Project Discovery could bring back far-flung itineraries

While Royal Caribbean’s current strategy centers on short, high-demand Caribbean cruises, the company seems to recognize that many loyal guests miss the destination diversity it once offered.

For now, Royal largely relies on its sister brand, Celebrity Cruises, to fill that niche. Celebrity Cruises offers longer, more immersive itineraries in regions like Asia, the Galápagos, South America, and the Mediterranean.

That could soon change. Executives have confirmed that Project Discovery will be capable of visiting ports inaccessible to Royal Caribbean’s larger Icon, Oasis, and Quantum class vessels.

The project represents a chance to reintroduce more geographically diverse sailings while maintaining the innovation and entertainment-focused design that defines the brand.