Has Royal Caribbean’s Recent Booking Surge Created a New Opportunity for Investors in 2025

November 27, 2025

  • Curious if Royal Caribbean Cruises stock is really a hidden gem or just riding high on waves of hype? Let us take a closer look at what today’s price means for value-focused investors.

  • The stock has seen dramatic swings lately, surging 3.8% in the last week but down 17.0% over the past month. It is still up 16.0% year-to-date and has delivered a 349.6% return over the past three years.

  • Recent headlines have spotlighted the cruise industry’s recovery, with renewed travel demand and expanded itineraries helping Royal Caribbean regain investor confidence. News about new ship launches and booking trends has added fuel to the company’s momentum.

  • On our valuation checks, Royal Caribbean Cruises scores an outstanding 6 out of 6, suggesting it passes every undervaluation test we use. Next, we will dig into the different ways value is measured, and at the end of the article discuss a smarter approach to valuation.

Royal Caribbean Cruises delivered 11.3% returns over the last year. See how this stacks up to the rest of the Hospitality industry.

A Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model estimates what a company is worth by projecting its future cash flow generation and then discounting those figures back to today’s dollars. The goal is to calculate the company’s intrinsic value.

For Royal Caribbean Cruises, the current Free Cash Flow stands at approximately $2.18 billion. Analysts forecast that the company’s free cash flow will continue to grow, reaching around $6.22 billion by 2029. These projections are based on analyst estimates for the next five years, with further numbers extrapolated by Simply Wall St for the longer-term outlook. All values are presented in US dollars.

Using the two-stage Free Cash Flow to Equity method, the DCF model calculates an intrinsic value of $434.47 per share. This implies that Royal Caribbean Cruises is trading at a 38.8% discount compared to its estimated fair value, suggesting the stock is significantly undervalued according to future cash flow expectations.

Result: UNDERVALUED

Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests Royal Caribbean Cruises is undervalued by 38.8%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio, or discover 928 more undervalued stocks based on cash flows.

RCL Discounted Cash Flow as at Nov 2025
RCL Discounted Cash Flow as at Nov 2025

Head to the Valuation section of our Company Report for more details on how we arrive at this Fair Value for Royal Caribbean Cruises.

The Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio is a popular valuation tool when analyzing profitable companies because it provides a direct sense of how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings. This multiple is particularly useful for companies like Royal Caribbean Cruises with consistent profitability, as it links the share price to the company’s capacity to generate profits.

In general, growth expectations and perceived risk play key roles in what is considered a normal or fair PE ratio. Companies with higher earnings growth rates typically command higher PE ratios. Riskier or more volatile firms tend to see lower multiples from investors who demand a greater margin of safety.

Currently, Royal Caribbean Cruises trades at a PE ratio of 17.82x. For comparison, the average PE ratio in the broader Hospitality industry sits at 21.39x. A group of close peers averages an even higher 27.11x. On the surface, Royal Caribbean’s valuation looks conservative compared to these benchmarks.

To provide a more tailored analysis, Simply Wall St calculates a proprietary “Fair Ratio.” This metric estimates the ideal PE multiple for Royal Caribbean Cruises based on its earnings growth outlook, profit margins, business risks, industry positioning, and company size. Unlike simple peer or industry comparisons, the Fair Ratio factors in the company’s unique profile and forward prospects, making it a more meaningful gauge for investors.

At present, Royal Caribbean’s Fair Ratio stands at 28.99x. This is well above its actual PE of 17.82x. This significant discount suggests that the shares are undervalued relative to what an informed investor might expect based on the company’s performance and outlook.

Result: UNDERVALUED

NYSE:RCL PE Ratio as at Nov 2025
NYSE:RCL PE Ratio as at Nov 2025

PE ratios tell one story, but what if the real opportunity lies elsewhere? Discover 1440 companies where insiders are betting big on explosive growth.

Earlier we mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation; let us introduce you to Narratives. A Narrative is a simple, accessible tool that allows you to connect the story or perspective you hold about a company with the financial forecasts and fair value estimates that flow from those beliefs. Narratives help you articulate the reasons behind your outlook, such as expectations for future revenue, profit margins, or business strategy, and then link those assumptions directly to a fair value calculation.

On Simply Wall St’s Community page, millions of investors use Narratives to express their viewpoints about Royal Caribbean Cruises, turning complex data into clear, actionable investing insights. Narratives make investment decisions easier by letting you compare your estimated Fair Value with today’s Price, so you can decide when to buy or sell with confidence. The best part is Narratives update automatically when new information, like news or earnings, is released, keeping your valuations current without extra work.

For example, some investors see Royal Caribbean Cruises’ new ships, strong financial management, and rising onboard spending as catalysts for significant future growth, resulting in higher fair value targets. Others are more cautious, factoring in economic uncertainty and the risk of slowing demand, leading to lower estimates. Narratives let you choose the story that fits your view and see instantly where you stand compared to the wider market.

Do you think there’s more to the story for Royal Caribbean Cruises? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying!

NYSE:RCL Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025
NYSE:RCL Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include RCL.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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