Royal Caribbean Is Betting Big on Short Cruises, With Mega Ships, Private-Island Escapes, and Thrill-Filled Weekends

Royal Caribbean is changing the way people think about cruising. For decades, the line was defined by weeklong vacations in the Caribbean. Now it’s turning weekends into the main event — rolling out a new generation of three- and four-night getaways built around its largest ships and its private-island experiences. It’s a deliberate shift: shorter sailings, bigger hardware, more high-impact days. For travelers who don’t have the time for a weeklong trip — or simply want a quick hit of vacation without the logistics — Royal Caribbean’s new approach offers a way to pack the thrills of a mega