Starboard Expands Partnership with Princess Cruises
Starboard announced an expansion of its partnership with Princess Cruises, extending Starboard-managed retail experiences across half of Princess's global fleet. The expanded agreement builds on the successful launch of Starboard's curated retail experiences aboard Star Princess last fall, marking a new chapter in the companies' collaboration. "Retail plays a meaningful role in how guests connect with our ships," said Rodrigo Llaguno, Princess Cruises Chief Operating Officer. "Starboard has demonstrated a strong understanding of our brand and our guests, delivering thoughtfully curated experiences aboard Star Princess. Expanding this partnership across half our fleet reflects our shared commitment to innovation, consistency and creating moments that enhance every guest journey."
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- Dry Dock Upgrade: Seabourn Quest has completed the most comprehensive dry dock upgrade in its history, enhancing suites, public spaces, and dining venues, which elevates guest comfort and luxury, thereby increasing brand appeal and customer loyalty.
- Public Space Transformation: The Club underwent significant renovations with a new layout and lighting design, creating a more social atmosphere that enhances live music and gatherings, further boosting the appeal of onboard activities.
- Sustainability Practices: The upgrade emphasizes sustainability, replacing over 20,000 square meters of carpet, with all original materials being repurposed, reflecting Seabourn's commitment to environmental responsibility while improving the overall quality of the onboard environment.
- Enhanced Guest Experience: Seabourn is offering a 15% discount on summer voyages and up to $1,000 in shipboard credit per suite for winter voyages, aimed at attracting more customers to experience the upgraded Seabourn Quest, thus driving sales growth.
- Dry Dock Overhaul: Seabourn's Seabourn Quest has completed the most comprehensive interior update in its history, enhancing suites, public spaces, and dining venues to elevate guest comfort and luxury, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Public Space Transformation: The Club underwent significant renovations with a new layout and lighting design, creating a more social atmosphere that enhances live music and social gatherings, further boosting the appeal of onboard social activities.
- Sustainable Practices: Over 20,000 square meters of carpet were replaced during the upgrade, with all original carpets being recycled, reflecting Seabourn's commitment to sustainability, while new suites feature biodegradable materials to support a closed-loop lifecycle approach.
- Customer Incentives: To attract more guests to experience the upgraded Seabourn Quest, Seabourn is offering up to 15% off summer voyages and up to $1,000 in shipboard credit per suite on select winter voyages, further driving sales growth.
- Royal Caribbean Growth: Royal Caribbean Cruises reported a revenue of $17.9 billion for FY 2025, reflecting an 8.8% year-over-year increase, with a net income of $4.3 billion and a net margin of 23.8%, indicating strong market demand and profitability, particularly in high-end and family segments.
- Carnival's Scale Advantage: Carnival Corporation achieved a revenue of $26.6 billion in FY 2025, with a growth rate of 6.4% and a net income close to $2.8 billion, showcasing a net margin of 7.7%, leveraging its large fleet and diverse brands to capture a wide range of customer segments.
- Risk Factors Analysis: Royal Caribbean faces risks from cybersecurity threats and geopolitical tensions that could lead to sudden drops in travel demand, while Carnival must navigate fluctuating fuel prices and weather events, which can impact operational costs and itinerary schedules.
- Valuation Comparison: Carnival's forward P/E ratio stands at 11.8x, lower than Royal Caribbean's 16.1x, indicating that Carnival's stock appears more valuable in the current market, and its $2.5 billion stock buyback program reflects the company's confidence in its stock value.
- Revenue Growth: Royal Caribbean's revenue for FY 2025 reached $17.9 billion, an 8.8% increase year-over-year, with a net income of $4.3 billion and a net margin of 23.8%, indicating strong market demand and profitability.
- Cash Flow Performance: Carnival reported revenue of $26.6 billion for the same fiscal year, a 6.4% growth, with net income close to $2.8 billion, generating $2.6 billion in free cash flow, enhancing its capacity for reinvestment and debt reduction.
- Market Competition: Both companies are vying for consumer spending, with Royal Caribbean focusing on high-end and family experiences, while Carnival leverages its massive fleet and brand portfolio to attract a diverse customer base, highlighting their strategic positioning differences.
- Risk Factors: Royal Caribbean faces risks from cybersecurity threats and geopolitical tensions, while Carnival must navigate fluctuating fuel prices and weather events, which could impact their operations and financial performance.
- Record Itinerary Count: Princess Cruises announces 291 departures across 150 unique itineraries for 2028, marking the largest European deployment in the company's history, which is expected to attract more tourists to 128 destinations and enhance market share.
- New Destination Highlights: The introduction of calls to Galway and Killybegs in Ireland, along with the debut of the Pole-to-Pole Odyssey voyage, provides richer cultural experiences that cater to travelers' desires for unique journeys, thereby enhancing brand appeal.
- Cultural Immersion Focus: Princess emphasizes authentic cultural immersion through its Princess Local Connections program, allowing guests to engage in activities like pasta making with an Italian family, which boosts customer satisfaction and encourages repeat business.
- Simplified Travel Planning: With Princess EZair, guests can access competitive airfare and flexible payment options, streamlining travel arrangements and enhancing customer experience, which is likely to drive sales growth.
- Record Itineraries: Princess Cruises announces 291 departures across 150 unique itineraries for 2028, marking the largest Europe season in the company's history, which is expected to attract more tourists and enhance market share.
- New Destinations: The inclusion of maiden calls to Galway and Killybegs, Ireland, offers richer cultural experiences, likely appealing to travelers interested in local culture and enhancing brand attractiveness.
- Cultural Immersion: The new season emphasizes deep connections with local cultures, featuring 32 late-night or overnight stays that allow guests to experience vibrant city life after dark, which is expected to boost customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Travel Simplification: The introduction of Princess EZair streamlines travel planning by offering competitive airfare and flexible payment options, likely attracting more travelers to choose Princess Cruises as their preferred travel method, thereby improving overall business performance.










