Under What Flag Does Carnival Cruise Lines Fly? Royal Caribbean International Overview

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), based in Miami, Florida, is the largest cruise line by revenue. Founded in Norway in 1968, RCI operates a fleet of 25 ships sailing to over 280 destinations in 71 countries worldwide. RCI was named "Cruise Line of the Year 2018" by Cruisedaily. RCI offers a variety of activities onboard, including shows, clubs, music, movies, casino, youth programs, ziplining, ice skating, and surfing. The RCI ship Icon of the Seas recently made a transatlantic journey from Spain to Puerto Rico, where crews tested venues for 10 days at sea. RCI’s revenue is derived from ticket sales, onboard dining, and activities.

Flags Flown on Royal Caribbean International Ships

The ships of Royal Caribbean International fly the flags of Panama and the Bahamas.

American Flag and Cruise Lines

Most major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean International, fly foreign flags such as those of Panama and the Bahamas to avoid stringent U.S. labor laws and taxes. However, some niche U.S. cruise lines, like the Pride of America sailing around Hawaii, operate under the American flag. They must comply with U.S. laws by being American-owned, -built, and -crewed, making this option rare and costly compared to foreign registry operations.

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