Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is one of the most famous cruise line brands in the world. Founded in 1968 in Norway, it’s organized as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) since 1997, following a merger with Celebrity Cruises. Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue, stock market and by passenger count, followed closely only by Carnival Cruise Line. In 2022, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 17.0% by revenue. It also operates the largest passenger ships in the world.

Since the 1987 vessel Sovereign of the Seas entered service, all subsequent Royal Caribbean ships have names ending with the phrase ‘of the Seas’.

Despite being the largest and most profitable cruise line in the world, Royal Caribbean doesn’t offer competitive benefits, salaries, and perks for its crew members, making it an unattractive choice for potential candidates. Also, despite operating the largest cruise ships in the world, it doesn’t offer single cabins for most crew members. It’s not uncommon to hear complaints about too many tasks not mentioned in job descriptions or extra working hours, especially on their flagship. Perks for team members include only pleasant crew areas, complimentary internet plans, and fully paid travel tickets.