Royal Caribbean has been continuously raising the bar when it comes to building bigger ships. It changed the industry when it introduced Oasis of the Seas, the first Oasis-Class ship, in 2009. That was the world's biggest cruise ship at the time,

Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas will be skipping her September 15, 2024, sailing due to damage to one of her life boats.

Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley confirmed that the official announcement will be made during a 2025 reunion sailing in for the passengers of the first Ultimate World Cruise

Royal Caribbean International has erred on the side of caution and canceled all bookings on its Rhapsody of the Seas ship that was supposed to depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday, September 15. The culprit is a damaged lifeboat that leaves the ship without the industry standard of providing enough seats on a lifeboat for every passenger.

The 274-night cruise, which garnered widespread attention in the weeks following its departure, ends on Tuesday.

The longest cruise in history took on a life of its own. And while Royal's first world cruise ends this week, it might not be its last.

Cruises often get canceled for reasons that the cruise line can't control. That could be a mechanical issue or problematic weather. Every cruise line gets hit with these problems and will always make the decision to opt for the safest choices for its passengers and equipment.

Royal Caribbean Cruises had strong Q2 on top and bottom lines, with positive EPS growth forecast for 2024. Read more on RCL stock here.