Mark Timothy Grant arrived at the Brisbane cruise terminal with his partner and son, expecting to board the first of five Royal Caribbean cruises he says he won through casino play. Instead, he was turned away. Royal Caribbean had placed him on a “no sail” list, alleging he broke casino rules by counting cards and engaging in other behavior. Grant is now seeking A$22,000, the value he places on the five trips. 

Royal Caribbean Group says it is now diverting close to 80% of its waste away from landfills, supported by a waste-management network operating in more than 40 ports worldwide.

The company shared the latest figure, pointing to its Green Hubs program as one of the main systems supporting its waste-diversion efforts. 

Royal Caribbean employees came together to celebrate President and CEO Michael Bayley’s 45 years with the company.

The surprise celebration included a spirit tunnel, a DJ and Royal Caribbean entertainment as employees honored one of the cruise line’s longest-serving and most influential leaders.

Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas reached another major construction milestone on Friday, September 4, 2026, when the ship floated out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

The day began with a traditional launching ceremony. Later that evening, after the building dock was flooded, the fourth Icon Class ship was moved out of the dry dock and taken to an adjacent outfitting pier, putting water beneath its keel for the first time.

Dominique Gamba, one of Royal Caribbean Group’s most experienced food and beverage leaders, has announced his departure after a career spanning more than three decades.

Known among crew members and guests simply as “Dom,” Gamba most recently served as Senior Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean International. His responsibilities included overseeing operations across 29 ships and more than 450 dining venues.

Royal Caribbean crew members have supported 83 community events around the world through the company’s ROYAL Crew Cares volunteer program.

According to an internal company newsletter, 643 crew members from 23 ships had participated in projects across 16 ports as of June 2026.

The initiative connects crew members with volunteer opportunities in the destinations visited by Royal Caribbean ships. Activities include community service projects, environmental initiatives and other forms of local assistance.

Royal Caribbean has recognized Zikang “Khan” Zhang, a Loyalty Ambassador aboard Allure of the Seas, for his thoughtful approach to guest service.

In one case highlighted by the cruise line, guests complained that outdoor movie nights had become unusually dark. Khan coordinated with several departments to address the problem and help restore the popular onboard experience.

Roberto Idos, Carpenter Supervisor aboard Adventure of the Seas, has been named Royal Caribbean’s 2025 Fleet Employee of the Year in the Back of House category.

Idos was away caring for his daughter when the award was originally announced. Royal Caribbean formally celebrated his achievement after he returned to the ship.

Royal Caribbean Group is inviting crew members to showcase their skills in the 2026 edition of RCG Center Stage.

The annual talent competition gives employees an opportunity to perform, represent their ships and share their creativity with colleagues across the company.

The contest is open to crew members with different types of talent, giving performers from across the fleet an opportunity to step outside their regular shipboard roles and take the spotlight.

Royal Caribbean has introduced a fleetwide leadership development program designed to help shipboard supervisors strengthen their management skills.

The myLeadership Level 1 for Supervisors program was launched across the fleet during the summer of 2026. It focuses on five areas: effective communication, personal development, building trust, accountability and valuing differences.