United States
Revenue Exposure
74% of 2025 passenger ticket revenues were sourced from guests in the United States, making U.S. consumer demand the principal revenue driver.
Relevance 92·Dependency 74·Confidence 97
Source evidence
“United States74 %75 %74 %”
Passenger cruise vacations
Demand Driver
Cruise ticket sales, recognized over cruises of three to 14 nights, constitute the majority of revenues and are funded by upfront customer deposits.
Relevance 90·Dependency 85·Confidence 95
Source evidence
“The majority of our revenues are derived from passenger cruise contracts which are reported within Passenger ticket revenues”
Weak economic conditions reduce consumer discretionary spending on cruises, driving booking slowdowns, lower prices and lower onboard revenue.
Relevance 90·Dependency 75·Confidence 95
Source evidence
“This, in turn, may result in cruise booking slowdowns, decreased cruise prices and lower onboard revenues.”
North America (United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean)
Revenue Exposure
North America itineraries generated $11,542M of 2025 revenues, roughly two-thirds of itinerary-based revenues.
Relevance 90·Dependency 68·Confidence 97
Source evidence
“North America (1)$11,542 $10,594 $8,707”
Fuel price increases raise not only fuel costs but also crew travel, freight and commodity prices; fuel restrictions create hedging uncertainty.
Relevance 85·Dependency 70·Confidence 93
Source evidence
“Increases in fuel prices have and could continue to materially and adversely affect our business as fuel prices impact not only our fuel costs, but also some of our other expenses, such as crew travel, freight, and commodity prices.”
geopolitical_risk
Demand Driver
Terrorism, war, civil unrest and travel restrictions reduce travel demand and pricing, increase fuel/food costs and disrupt newbuild and modernization programs.
Relevance 85·Dependency 70·Confidence 94
Source evidence
“have had, and could have in the future, a significant adverse impact on demand and pricing in the travel and vacation industry.”
Carnival Corporation & plc
Competitive Exposure
Carnival is RCL's principal cruise competitor, alongside Disney, MSC, NCLH, Viking and Virgin Voyages, competing for consumer leisure time and pricing.
Relevance 85·Dependency 60·Confidence 97
Source evidence
“Our principal cruise competitors are Carnival Corporation & plc, which owns, among other brands, Aida Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises...”
IRC Section 883
Tax Exposure
RCL's exemption from U.S. federal income tax on shipping income under Section 883 is material; loss via legislative or shareholder-base changes would reduce net income.
Relevance 80·Dependency 75·Confidence 94
Source evidence
“Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will continue to be exempt from U.S. income tax on U.S. source shipping income in the future.”
experience-over-goods consumer preference
Demand Driver
Consumers prioritizing experiences over goods supports cruise industry growth and RCL's market share opportunity.
Relevance 80·Dependency 70·Confidence 90
Source evidence
“consumers prioritizing experiences over goods is another reason supporting this growth.”
interest_rates
Cost Driver
$1.6B of variable-rate debt (7.4% of total, net of swaps) means rising rates increase interest expense; +1% = +$12.3M forecasted 2026 interest expense.
Relevance 80·Dependency 60·Confidence 95
Source evidence
“an increase in market interest rates would increase our interest expense and our debt service obligations.”
Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Supplier Dependency
December 2025 agreements with Chantiers de l'Atlantique for two Discovery-class ships expected to enter service 2029 and 2032; newbuild program depends on shipyards.
Relevance 75·Dependency 65·Confidence 90
Source evidence
“we signed agreements with Chantiers de l'Atlantique to build two ships of a new generation for Royal Caribbean, known as Discovery-class ships”
United States dollar
Currency Exposure
The majority of transactions settle in USD; remeasurement gains/losses on other-currency monetary items flow directly to earnings.
Relevance 70·Dependency 80·Confidence 93
Source evidence
“The majority of our transactions are settled in United States dollars.”
travel advisors / retail agencies
Revenue Exposure
Distribution runs primarily through retail agency and direct sales; China market skews to travel advisor charter and group sales.
Relevance 70·Dependency 60·Confidence 92
Source evidence
“sale arrangements through travel advisor charter and group sales are proportionately higher in the China market than in our other markets which are primarily through retail agency and direct sales.”
Fincantieri
Supplier Dependency
Fincantieri is building TUI Cruises Mein Schiff newbuilds (Mein Schiff Flow Q2 2026 plus ships for 2031 and 2032) and TeamCo Shipyard river vessels for Celebrity.
Relevance 70·Dependency 60·Confidence 90
Source evidence
“Mein Schiff FlowFincantieri2nd Quarter 20264,100”
Strong U.S. dollar adversely impacts the value of earnings in foreign currencies; company exposed to FX, fuel and interest rate market risk net of hedging.
Relevance 70·Dependency 55·Confidence 90
Source evidence
“the value of our earnings in foreign currencies is adversely impacted by a strong U.S. dollar.”
onboard activities and other revenues
Revenue Exposure
Onboard and other revenues (~30% of total) come from gaming, beverages, shore excursions, spa, retail, specialty dining, partly via concessionaires.
Relevance 65·Dependency 55·Confidence 95
Source evidence
“Onboard and other revenues accounted for approximately 30% of total revenues in 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.”
Commercial airline services
Demand Driver
Guests depend on commercial airline service to reach cruise ports; higher airfare or reduced availability raises vacation cost and reduces cruise demand.
Relevance 65·Dependency 55·Confidence 90
Source evidence
“Increases in the price of airfare would increase the overall price of the cruise vacation to our guests, which may adversely impact demand for our cruises.”
Europe itineraries generated $2,951M of 2025 revenues, a stable but smaller share than North America.
Relevance 65·Dependency 17·Confidence 95
Source evidence
“Europe2,951 2,697 2,685”
Asia/Pacific
Revenue Exposure
Asia/Pacific itineraries generated $1,716M of 2025 revenues and grew fastest from $993M in 2023.
Relevance 55·Dependency 10·Confidence 95
Source evidence
“Asia/Pacific1,716 1,380 993”
Onboard and other revenues
Revenue Exposure
Onboard and other revenues ($864M in 2025) from goods/services sold onboard plus cancellation fees, insurance, tours and port facility fees supplement ticket revenues.
Relevance 55·Dependency 5·Confidence 92
Source evidence
“Our total revenues also include Onboard and other revenues, which consist primarily of revenues from the sale of goods and services onboard our ships that are not included in passenger ticket prices.”