Royal Caribbean plans to acquire a 50% equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion. The transaction has committed debt financing, is set to close at the beginning of 2027, and is expected to be accretive to 2027 EBITDA and earnings.
Royal Caribbean is the world's second-largest cruise company by revenues, operating 71 ships across five global and partner brands in the cruise vacation industry. Brands the company operates include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The company also has a 50% investment in a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The selection of brands in the portfolio allows Royal to compete on the basis of innovation, quality of ships and service, variety of itineraries, choice of destinations, and price. The company completed the divestiture of its Azamara brand in 2021, plans to launch its new Celebrity River Cruise brand in 2027, and is set to operate eight private destination locations by 2028.