Royal Caribbean Places a Big Bet on Expedition Cruising
Photo Credit: A Silversea Cruises ship travels through the ice. Royal Caribbean has bought a majority stake in the company. Silversea Cruises
Skift Take
With expedition cruising set for serious growth over the next few years, it is understandable that one of the big cruise companies has decided to get more involved. The question now is will the others follow?
Luxury Travel News
The Skift New Luxury column is our weekly column focused on the business of selling luxury travel, the people and companies creating and selling experiences, emerging trends, and the changing consumer habits around the sector.
Given the fact that Royal Caribbean didn't have a true luxury offering, last week's announcement that it was buying a majority stake in Silversea Cruises shouldn't come as a complete surprise.
What's interesting about the move is not that it was the last of the big three to get into the luxury sector but that in the words of Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor at large at the industry news and review site Cruise Critic, "it’s the first of the big three to get to expedition.”
Previously this segment had been seen as more of a specialty for smaller lines. Not anymore.
