🚨🚢 ROYAL CARIBBEAN GROUP IS BUYING 50% OF SANDALS & BEACHES RESORTS — FOR AROUND US$3 BILLION!
Yep… that’s a BIG one
Royal Caribbean Group is expanding beyond cruise ships with a huge investment in Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts
And the really interesting part?
While Royal talks about building a broader vacation platform, Carnival’s response is basically:
“We’re very proudly a cruise company.”
Two of the world’s biggest cruise groups. Two VERY different strategies
We’re unpacking all of that LIVE tonight on Deb & Matt Chat — plus Princess is bringing ChatGPT into cruise planning, MSC is building another private island, Explora Journeys is heading onto Europe’s rivers and Celebrity’s new Australian cruises are on sale!
🏝️ ROYAL CARIBBEAN + SANDALS — A US$3 BILLION DEAL
Royal Caribbean Group has agreed to acquire a 50% interest in Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts for approximately US$3 billion
That adds all-inclusive Caribbean resorts to a group that already includes:
🚢 Royal Caribbean
✨ Celebrity Cruises
🥂 Silversea
🌊 Celebrity River Cruises
🏝️ Private destinations and Royal Beach Clubs
Is Royal Caribbean transforming from a cruise company into a complete holiday company?
🚢 CARNIVAL SAYS: WE’RE A CRUISE COMPANY
Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein has been asked whether Carnival might follow Royal into major land-based resort acquisitions
His response?
Carnival is “very proudly a cruise company.”
Carnival continues investing in destinations such as Celebration Key and RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay — but sees those as extensions of the cruise holiday
So which strategy makes more sense?
💰 CARNIVAL IS ALREADY HALF BOOKED FOR 2027!
Carnival says around 50% of its 2027 capacity is already booked — with both occupancy AND pricing at record levels
Even 2028 bookings are running ahead
Are the days of waiting until the last minute for a bargain cruise disappearing?
🤖 PRINCESS CRUISES + CHATGPT
Princess Cruises is launching an AI-powered cruise planning experience with ChatGPT
Instead of endlessly searching dates, destinations and itineraries, travellers will be able to have a conversation about the cruise they want
Would YOU trust AI to help choose your next holiday?
And perhaps more importantly
Could ChatGPT find Deb & Matt a better cruise than Deb can? 😂
🇦🇺 PRINCESS PACKAGE CHANGES FOR AUSTRALIANS
Princess has also changed how Plus and Premier packages work for Australians cruising overseas
For package buyers, crew appreciation/gratuities will now be included, potentially removing one of those annoying extra costs Aussies encounter when cruising internationally
We’ll explain what’s changing and whether it’s actually a better deal
🌊 EXPLORA JOURNEYS IS GOING RIVER CRUISING
First Celebrity
Now Explora Journeys
MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand is planning its own move onto Europe’s rivers
Is river cruising about to become the next major battleground between the big ocean-cruise companies?
🏝️ MSC IS BUILDING ANOTHER PRIVATE ISLAND
MSC has officially broken ground on Sandy Cay, a new private destination in The Bahamas opening in 2028
And it’s right beside Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
MSC and Explora guests will effectively have access to TWO complementary private destinations
🇦🇺 CELEBRITY’S 2028–29 AUSTRALIAN CRUISES
Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice are returning Down Under with 23 Australia and New Zealand sailings
Cruises range from four to 14 nights from Sydney and Auckland
So
EDGE or SOLSTICE?
Which one are YOU booking?
PLUS
⚡ 30 Second Quick Questions
💬 Your questions LIVE
😂 Deb & Matt banter
🚢 Cruise news, tips, opinions and conversation
💬 TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTIONS
🏝️ Is Royal right to expand beyond cruising?
🚢 Or do you prefer Carnival’s “we’re a cruise company” strategy?
🤖 Would you use AI to choose and plan a cruise?
💰 And are you prepared to book cruises TWO YEARS ahead to get the price you want?
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Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel