Royal Caribbean has become one of the largest cruise lines in the world, today operating 11 modern ships with a total capacity of nearly 19,000 lower berths. The Company took delivery of the second and third vessels in its Vision-class series in 1996. The fourth and fifth Vision-class ships will join the fleet in 1997.

Ship construction hit a peak in the spring when, in one 11-day period, five Company ships were under construction in French and Finnish shipyards. Splendour of the Seas was readied for delivery. Grandeur of the Seas was floated out of its construction dock. Rhapsody of the Seas was under assembly in drydock. The keel was laid for Enchantment of the Seas, and steel was cut to frame Vision of the Seas.

Within months, the Company was drawing up plans for the next generation of cruise ships, announcing plans to build up to two new 130,000-ton vessels with long-time partner Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland. Delivery of the first Eagle-class ship is scheduled for fall 1999. As new ships entered service, older ships were taken out of duty. The Company sold Song of Norway in October to Airtours plc in England. The ship, which was the first in the line's fleet, officially retires in March 1997.

Nearly one million passengers sailed on Royal Caribbean's ships in 1996, an 11 percent increase over 1995. Projections for 1997 estimate 1.25 million passengers.