Royal Caribbean shares key news about its plans to go small

Many older cruisers believe that some of the magic of cruising was lost when ships exceeded a certain size. They miss the intimacy of smaller ships and the port-led itineraries those ships were known for.

In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, cruise ships were more of a place where passengers slept, ate a few meals, and attended big production shows. The ships were more hotels than destinations themselves.

Related: Royal Caribbean maintains Covid change that fixed passenger problem

This has changed dramatically over the years as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC Cruises have engaged in an arms race to build larger ships. These mega-ships aren’t just bigger, they’re destinations in their own right.

You can board the largest cruise ship on any of these three lines and keep yourself busy for an entire week. There’s really no need to go down to the port, especially since the biggest ships have limited places to dock.

For some passengers, however, bigger is not better. Don’t look for a roller coaster, a climbing wall and dozens of bars and restaurants.

Instead, they want a return to smaller ships, but with a modern twist. Royal Caribbean has consistently hinted at plans for what it called “Discovery-class” ships, but confirmed plans for those ships in its second-quarter earnings call.

These comments were followed by even more details from a Royal Caribbean executive who shared key insights into the creative process.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or first) cruise.

The Oasis and Icon class ships offer the open-air Central Park neighborhood.

Image source: Daniel Kline/Come Cruise With Me

Royal Caribbean sees the need for small ships

Royal Caribbean executives have commented vaguely on several occasions about the smaller ships. Cruise line CEO Jason Liberty made very direct comments on the matter during the cruise line’s second quarter earnings call.

“And of course the other thing that I think is important when you think about the classes of ships, whether they could be small, they could be bigger, is kind of a consideration that we also have ships that are 30, 35 years old. So some of that is not just about wanting to build ships of the same size, smaller ships, but also replacing ships that will eventually reach the end of their lives,” he said.

The company’s two smaller classes, the Radiance and Vision classes, are all nearing the end of their lives. Additionally, small ships are not as efficient as newer, larger ships in many ways that simply cannot be corrected with a dry dock.

Jewel of the Seas, the youngest of these classes, first sailed in 2004, making her 20 years old, but Grandeur of the Seas, the oldest ship in the Vision class, has been sailing since 1996, making her at 28 years old.

“We’re potentially looking at smaller vessels that will probably replace some of those older vessels,” Liberty added. “It’s more about where those ships can go. It’s to bring them to some of the more unique and personalized destinations to further diversify our footprint around the world.”

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Royal Caribbean says size doesn’t matter

Some ports, including Tampa and Baltimore, can only accommodate ships of a certain size due to the bridges that ships must fit under when leaving the port. In addition, some cruise destinations have limits on the size of ships they can dock, while others have limits based on the number of passengers on board.

Both of these factors are considerations for the cruise line as it looks to design the first Discovery-class ships. Size, however, will not be the only factor.

“It’s about experience, and it’s from the experiences we put together that we get to size. What are (guests) looking for that we don’t offer today, and how can we provide that through our product?” Kara Wallace, Royal Caribbean’s chief marketing officer, told Travel Weekly.

READ ALSO: The best travel agents tell you how to get the best price on your cruise

The CMO also made it clear that the working name for the line of smaller ships gives some clues as to what Royal Caribbean is trying to achieve.

“To call something ‘perfect’ is a very high bar. To say something is an “icon” is a very high bar. It’s almost (like) we put this out into the world, and then we show up and challenge ourselves to make sure it gets done. against it as a namesake,” she shared.

Related: Get the best cruise tips, deals and ship news from our expert cruiser