RCL Best Booking Streak Ever: Signal of Strong Cruise Demand in 2026?

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL has entered 2026 with rare momentum. Management revealed that the period since the last earnings call delivered the best seven booking weeks in the company’s history, an eye-catching milestone that strengthens the case for sustained cruise demand next year.The early data are compelling. Roughly two-thirds of 2026 capacity is already booked, with load factors in line with historical norms but achieved at record pricing levels. This combination matters, it suggests demand is not just strong but healthy enough to absorb capacity while preserving pricing power. Importantly, bookings are broad-based, with direct-to-consumer channels and travel partners both contributing higher-quality demand.New hardware is a major catalyst. Ships such as Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel are outperforming expectations, while Legend of the Seas, the first Icon-class ship debuting in Europe, is seeing robust bookings. These newer vessels do more than add berths; they expand the experience and attract incremental demand, supporting yields even as capacity grows at a mid-single-digit pace.Consumer behavior also supports the outlook. Management noted that travelers continue to prioritize experiences, with a meaningful share planning to increase leisure spending. Cruises remain a compelling value proposition versus land-based vacations, combining convenience, amenities and destination access at attractive price points.Taken together, RCL’s record booking streak looks less like a post-pandemic aftershock and more like confirmation of structural demand strength. With solid visibility, disciplined capacity growth and pricing resilience, the current booking trajectory sends a clear signal: cruise demand heading into 2026 appears not only strong, but durable.How Are RCL’s Rivals Shaping Up?Royal Caribbean’s record booking streak stands out, but it gains sharper meaning when viewed against peers like Carnival Corporation CCL and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings NCLH, both key barometers of industry demand.Carnival, the world’s largest cruise operator, has also reported solid booking volumes and healthy onboard spending trends. However, its larger exposure to mass-market itineraries makes pricing discipline more sensitive to capacity additions across the industry. While demand remains firm, Carnival’s ability to consistently push rates higher appears more measured compared with RCL’s record-level pricing and premium hardware-driven demand.Norwegian, on the other hand, continues to benefit from its premium positioning and strong appeal among higher-income travelers. Still, its smaller scale and narrower fleet mix limit the degree to which Norwegian can leverage demand surges versus Royal Caribbean’s diversified brands and Icon-class ships.Against this backdrop, RCL’s booking performance looks comparatively stronger, suggesting it may be capturing incremental demand and share rather than merely riding an industry-wide recovery.RCL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Royal Caribbean have gained 16.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 4.5%.RCL Three-Month Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment ResearchFrom a valuation standpoint, RCL trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.08X, above the industry’s average of 17.18X.P/E(F12M)Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL’s 2026 earnings and sales implies a year-over-year uptick of 13.3% and 9.1%, respectively.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchRCL currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.#1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA)The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow.One under-the-radar chipmaker is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. It specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.See This Stock Now for Free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Carnival Corporation (CCL): Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL): Free Stock Analysis Report Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks