Royal Caribbean Knows Their Ships Feel Overcrowded
Star of the Seas Cruise ShipCarnival Corporation & plc Cruise GroupRoyal Caribbean Group Cruise GroupRoyal Caribbean Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean Knows Their Ships Feel Overcrowded. Royal Caribbean's own SEC filings say its ships sailed 110.2% full in the second quarter of 2026. Royal Caribbean sells third and fourth beds in cabins on purpose, and on its biggest ships you feel it on the pool deck. I break down what a load factor over 100% means, how many people are really on Star of the Seas, when Royal's ships run fullest, and why a free bed in your cabin still pays Royal. Then I share six ways to use Royal's own numbers to pick a less crowded sailing. Make your guess on the Star of the Seas headcount before the reveal and drop it in the comments. ❓ QUICK ANSWERS What does a load factor over 100% mean on Royal Caribbean? -Royal Caribbean Group measures capacity at two guests per cabin. A load factor above 100% means some cabins held a third or fourth guest. The group reported 110.2% for the second quarter of 2026 in its July 28, 2026 earnings release. That figure covers Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea together. How many people are on Star of the Seas? -Star of the Seas holds 5,610 guests at two per cabin and up to 7,600 at maximum capacity, plus more than 2,300 crew. How many guests Royal actually puts on an average sailing, and the one ship-level number Royal's leadership has shared, are in the video. Are Royal Caribbean ships more crowded in summer? -Royal's filings say yes. Its load factor hit 112.1% in the third quarter of 2025, which runs July through September, the highest of the last four reported quarters. Which weeks Royal's own promo calendar flags as its fullest is in the video. Why does Royal Caribbean let 3rd and 4th guests sail free? -As of October 2026, Royal Caribbean is offering a $0 cruise fare to the third and fourth guests in a cabin on select sailings. Taxes, fees and port expenses still apply to every guest. Why a free bed still makes Royal money is in the video. Do other cruise lines sail more than 100% full? -Carnival Corporation reported 111.8% for its third quarter of 2026. Viking reported 94.4% for its second quarter of 2026 because it caps two-berth staterooms at two guests. Where Norwegian lands is in the video. Load factor figures are group-level numbers from company filings. Promotions change often, so check current terms before you book. Facts were current at the time of recording. This video contains a paid promotion. ▶️ WATCH NEXT 3 Royal Caribbean Ships You Shouldn't Overlook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnX_yKGnhU0 Timestamps: 0:00- Intro 00:39- What does 110% Capacity Mean? 01:55- Your ship, in real headcount 03:40- The Passenger Space Ratio 04:32- This isn’t new, but the ships are 06:17- The Numbers Move with the Calendar 08:26- Where the extra guests come from 10:07- Why a free bed still pays 11:20- How other cruise lines compare 12:58- How to use this when you book 14:55- Back to your guess 15:35- Outro