RC

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. stock research

Latest · Mar 31, 2026

FY2026 Q1

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) Gross Margin & Quarterly History

Explore Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) gross margin from 2023 through the latest reported quarter, using SEC-sourced revenue, gross profit, and direct costs.

Gross margin takeaway

Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Revenue and gross profit both increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, while cost of revenue was stable relative to the prior quarter and slightly higher year over year. Gross margin improved versus both periods, reflecting a stronger relationship between revenue growth and cost control.

  • The improvement in gross margin was driven by revenue growing faster than cost of revenue, as revenue increased while cost of revenue remained unchanged sequentially and rose only modestly year over year.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross margin was higher, supported by higher revenue and stable cost of revenue. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, gross margin also improved, with revenue growth outpacing the increase in cost of revenue.

Gross margin snapshot

The selected quarter's reported revenue, gross profit, direct costs, and margin comparisons.

Gross margin

49.5%

Gross profit

$2.2B

Revenue

$4.5B

Cost of revenue

$2.2B

Quarter-over-quarter change

+2.2 pts

Year-over-year change

+1.5 pts

Quarterly gross margin trend

A four-quarter view of the revenue and direct-cost bridge behind gross margin.

PeriodRevenueGross profitCost of revenueGross margin
Jun 30, 2025$4.5B$2.3B$2.3B49.7%
Sep 30, 2025$5.1B$2.7B$2.5B51.8%
Dec 31, 2025$4.3B$2.0B$2.2B47.4%
Mar 31, 2026$4.5B$2.2B$2.2B49.5%

Quarterly comparisons

Compare the selected margin with the preceding quarter and the same fiscal quarter one year earlier.

Previous-quarter change

Dec 31, 2025

+2.2 pts

Year-over-year change

Mar 31, 2025

+1.5 pts

What the margin says

Filing-constrained interpretation of margin direction, comparisons, and what to monitor next.

The improvement in gross margin was driven by revenue growing faster than cost of revenue, as revenue increased while cost of revenue remained unchanged sequentially and rose only modestly year over year.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, gross margin was higher, supported by higher revenue and stable cost of revenue. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, gross margin also improved, with revenue growth outpacing the increase in cost of revenue.

Monitor the trajectory of cost of revenue, which remained flat sequentially but increased year over year, as any acceleration could pressure gross margin.

Peer context

Latest available gross margins for related public companies.

CompanyGross margin
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)49.5%