Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:) is engaging new and existing markets to recruit thousands of workers to staff its ships and private destinations, driven by record demand for cruises, Reuters reported Tuesday.
The surge in passengers in 2023, combined with the arrival of larger vessels, has increased the company’s labor requirements. According to the report, Royal Caribbean seeks to hire approximately 10,000 new employees this year.
At the end of 2023, the cruise operator’s sea-based workforce numbered about 88,700, representing a 6% decline from the previous year. However, its land-based workforce, including private destinations, increased by 17% to around 9,500 full-time staff.
The company experienced a record-breaking first quarter, with bookings soaring and quarterly revenue reaching $3.73 billion, up 29%, resulting in its stock price doubling over the past year, setting a new high.
“The recruiting strategy follows the business strategy of moderate capacity growth,” a spokesperson told Reuters.
Royal Caribbean intends to recruit over 10,000 workers in 2024 as it launches three new ships. Analysts at the Caribbean Maritime University revealed that Royal Caribbean and rival Carnival have requested the university to expand its short-term training and certification courses to prepare more workers for careers at sea.
However, Royal Caribbean isn’t only focusing on the Caribbean for hiring. In April, the company approached The Gambia Tourism Board with an interest in hiring more workers, already employing about 700 from the West African nation.
