6 million people took a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2023

From the total number of ice cream cones served to passengers carried, Royal Caribbean ended 2023 with some impressive stats. 

According to an internal Royal Caribbean study, the top two reasons that people decide to go on a cruise are for the destination and food. 

Knowing that, it’s no surprise that Royal Caribbean sailed to over 250 different ports of call this year and whipped up 14.5 million ice cream cones for passengers onboard. 

Here’s a look at Royal Caribbean by the numbers in 2023. 

Royal Caribbean carried over 6 million guests to 252 ports across the world

Throughout 2023, over 6 million passengers took a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean’s 26 ships. That is quite the increase from the 4.6 million guests that sailed with Royal Caribbean in 2022! 

Passengers sailed all over the world, too, with the cruise line visiting 252 ports of call. This, too, is an increase from their 2022 numbers, as they only sailed to 230 destinations last year. 

Two of the most popular ports in 2023 were Nassau and Cozumel, Mexico. Both welcomed over 3 million passengers in 2023, with Nassau seeing a record 3.8 million by November 2023. By the end of 2024, it’s estimated that Nassau will see four million cruise visitors!

Outside of the Caribbean and Bahamas, Royal Caribbean ships sailed to Alaska, Canada & New England, Bermuda, Asia, the Panama Canal, Australia & New Zealand, Europe, South America, Hawaii, and more. 

Royal Caribbean ships served over one million ice cream cones and 275,000 piña coladas per month

There’s nothing quite like a soft serve cone on the pool deck to cool down on a hot sea day. 14.5 million ice cream cones were served across the fleet in 2023. This breaks down to roughly one million per month or just a little over 39,700 per day. 

Instead of ice cream, some adult passengers may opt for a refreshing beverage, such as a piña colada! The cruise line served over 3.3 million piña coladas alone in 2023. While that number might seem a little low, that’s over 9,000 per day! 

Royal Caribbean ships offer much more than just ice cream cones and alcoholic beverages, though. You won’t go hungry onboard any of their ships. From the all-you-can-eat buffet, Main Dining Room, and specialty restaurants, there are plenty of options to appease all travelers. 

Read more: 21 best drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package

12,800 performances for guests to enjoy

One thing that sets Royal Caribbean apart from other cruise lines is its entertainment offerings. From jaw-dropping AquaTheater shows to Broadway-style musicals and one-of-a-kind production shows in the main theater, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

In 2023, Royal Caribbean’s casts put on 12,800 performances on their ships, which is over 240 per week! The actual number per sailing varies depending on the ship and length, with longer voyages usually having more shows. Similarly, smaller ships aren’t equipped to offer some of the larger productions. 

In addition to performances, Royal Caribbean offers numerous other activities, too, ranging from daily trivia to comedians, live music, bingo, karaoke, and more. 

Read more: Broadway shows on Royal Caribbean: Everything you need to know

82,135 jackpots won in Casino Royale

Casino Royale can be a place of happiness or extreme disappointment. 82,135 passengers got lucky in 2023, though, winning jackpots and taking home more cash than they most likely boarded with! 

While I cannot say that I was one of them, I like to think of each cruise that I’m on as a win in and of itself! I don’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning, and I get to visit some pretty neat destinations. Plus, the memories that I make will last far longer than cash winnings. 

There’s more history to be made in 2024

From the launch of the brand-new Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas to Perfect Day at CocoCay‘s adults-only Hideaway Beach opening, it’s hard not to think about everything to look forward to in 2024.

Icon of the Seas is set to embark on her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024, from Miami, Florida. The 250,800 gross registered ton vessel is larger than Wonder of the Seas, which has held the title of the world’s largest cruise ship from the time of its launch in 2022. 

In fact, Icon of the Seas will be the first non-Oasis Class ship to hold the title of largest cruise ship in the world since Oasis of the Seas was launched in 2009. This means that Utopia of the Seas will be the first-ever brand-new Oasis Class ship to not have the honor of holding that title. 

What are you looking forward to the most in 2024? Are there any records that you hope to be part of? Let us know in the comments!

Read more: 5 big changes coming to Royal Caribbean in 2024