Will It Strengthen Yield Growth?

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL is seeing rapid expansion in the adoption of its digital commerce ecosystem, supported by a marked increase in platform usage and deeper integration across the guest journey. In the third quarter of 2025, the company delivered its strongest digital performance to date, with e-commerce visits and conversion rates rising at double-digit levels. Meanwhile, a record share of onboard revenues was booked pre-cruise, and nearly 90% of those purchases occurred through digital channels, underscoring a structural shift in guest behavior.

The company’s digital infrastructure now captures a significantly larger portion of guest interactions than in prior years. The Royal Caribbean app — originally launched as a tool to eliminate first-day bottlenecks — has evolved into a central platform for pre-sailing purchases, including shore excursions, dining and onboard activities. This early engagement provides clearer visibility into revenues ahead of departure and supports more efficient onboard operations. Management highlighted that the app is now the fastest-growing driver of engagement and conversion, reinforcing its expanding commercial relevance.

Much of this momentum is supported by Royal Caribbean’s broader technology investments, including ongoing enhancements to its digital channels and AI-enabled capabilities. These tools are increasingly embedded in forecasting, customer engagement and operational efficiency, strengthening the company’s ability to meet guest expectations and optimize its commercial flywheel. The rollout of Points Choice in early 2026 — which will allow guests to apply loyalty points to their preferred Royal Caribbean Group brand regardless of the brand they sail with — represents the next step in deepening cross-brand loyalty and expanding ecosystem participation.

Royal Caribbean also continues to benefit from growth across its key revenue drivers, including private destinations, new ships and diversified itineraries. As digital penetration rises and a larger share of spend shifts pre-cruise, the company is building a more data-rich and engagement-driven revenue base. While management did not explicitly tie digital adoption to yield growth, the record levels of pre-cruise monetization and higher conversion rates suggest a strengthening commercial backdrop that could support more consistent onboard revenue performance.

With rising digital activity, growing guest engagement and an expanding suite of technology-enabled tools, Royal Caribbean is demonstrating early signs of a more mature, scalable e-commerce platform — one positioned to play a meaningful role in its broader commercial strategy.