Veteran marine leader Christopher Wiernicki joins Royal Caribbean (RCL) board

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Royal Caribbean Group appointed Christopher J. Wiernicki

Wiernicki brings more than four decades of experience in marine and offshore design, operations, safety management, digitalization, cyber security, and clean energy transition. Royal Caribbean’s leadership highlights his disciplined approach to growth and responsible operations as an important addition to the Board’s expertise.

02/17/2026 - 08:40 AM

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 10, 2026

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Republic of Liberia

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-11884			98-0081645
(Commission File Number)			(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida			33132
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)			(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 305-539-6000

Not Applicable 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

	¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
	¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
	¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
	¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share	RCL	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company         ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.        ¨

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On February 10, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (the “Company”) appointed Christopher Wiernicki as a director of the Company.

Mr. Wiernicki served as Chairman and CEO of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a leading maritime classification society, from 2011 through 2025. Prior to that role, he held other senior positions at ABS, including president and chief operating officer and chief technology officer. Mr. Wiernicki is a recognized expert in the marine sector, member of the International Maritime Hall of Fame and recipient of numerous industry, government and academic accolades.

Mr. Wiernicki will receive compensation for his board service consistent with the compensation of other non-management directors as described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2025.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On February 17, 2026, the Company issued a press release regarding Mr. Wiernicki’s appointment to the Board, a copy of which is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 - Press release dated February 17, 2026.

Exhibit 104 - Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
Date: February 17, 2026	By:	/s/ R. Alexander Lake
	Name:	R. Alexander Lake
	Title:	Chief Legal Officer & Secretary

Exhibit 99.1

Royal Caribbean Group Appoints Christopher J. Wiernicki to
Board of Directors

MIAMI (Feb. 17, 2026) – Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced the appointment of Christopher J. Wiernicki, former Chairman & CEO, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Wiernicki brings more than four decades of commercial, government and international experience in marine and offshore design, along with operations, infrastructure and safety management, ports and bunkering, digitalization, cyber security, and clean energy transition expertise.

During his fourteen-year tenure at the helm of ABS, a global leader in classification, certification, and verification, for marine and offshore assets, Wiernicki led the global enterprise to the leading global market position in marine and offshore classification, expanded the company into higher-value consulting and software services, and increased investment in digital platforms, advanced analytics, and research and development.

“Chris’ disciplined approach to growth, innovation, and responsible operations will be highly valuable as we continue our evolution as a global vacation leader,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “In addition, his deep marine industry expertise brings important perspective to our Board as we continue to scale responsibly.”

Prior to stepping down from ABS, Wiernicki served as Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies and held several senior roles at ABS, including president and chief operating officer, chief technology officer, and president and chief operating officer of ABS Europe Ltd. 

He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2021 for his leadership in ship and offshore engineering and selected in 2022 to serve on the Marine Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He is a Fellow with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and has held senior advisory roles on the White House National Infrastructure Advisory Council and the U.S. Marine Transportation Board.

Wiernicki holds a master’s in ocean engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a master’s in structural engineering from George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group is a leading global vacation company spanning cruise, exclusive destinations, and land-based vacation experiences. The company operates 69 ships sailing to more than 1,000 destinations across all seven continents through its three wholly owned brands -Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea - and a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises which operates the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd brands.

The Group is expanding its portfolio of private destinations from three to eight by 2028 through its Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club collections, and the company will enter river cruising in 2027 with Celebrity River Cruises. Powered by innovative brands, advanced technology, and an industry-leading loyalty program, the company has built a connected vacation ecosystem, turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.

Named to the Fortune World's Most Admired Companies 2026 and Forbes' 2026 Best American Companies lists, Royal Caribbean Group is guided by its mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly. For more information, visit www.royalcaribbeangroup.com. 

FAQ

What did Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) announce in this 8-K?

Royal Caribbean Group announced the appointment of Christopher J. Wiernicki to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. He is a long-time maritime industry leader with extensive experience in marine design, offshore operations, digitalization, and clean energy transition, expected to enhance the Board’s technical and strategic expertise.

Who is Christopher J. Wiernicki, the new Royal Caribbean (RCL) director?

Christopher J. Wiernicki is the former Chairman and CEO of American Bureau of Shipping, a leading maritime classification society. He has over forty years of experience spanning marine and offshore design, infrastructure and safety management, ports and bunkering, digital platforms, cyber security, and clean energy transition initiatives worldwide.

How will Christopher J. Wiernicki be compensated as a Royal Caribbean (RCL) director?

Christopher J. Wiernicki will be compensated on the same basis as Royal Caribbean’s other non-management directors. His compensation follows the program described in the company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which outlines retainers, equity awards, and other standard director benefits.

Why did Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) add Christopher J. Wiernicki to its Board?

Royal Caribbean cites Wiernicki’s disciplined approach to growth, innovation, and responsible operations as key reasons for his appointment. His deep marine industry expertise is expected to provide valuable perspective as the company continues scaling its global vacation business while focusing on operational safety, technology, and environmental responsibility.

What industry experience does Christopher J. Wiernicki bring to Royal Caribbean (RCL)?

Wiernicki led American Bureau of Shipping for fourteen years, guiding it to a leading market position in marine and offshore classification. He expanded ABS into higher-value consulting and software services and increased investment in digital platforms, advanced analytics, and research and development, complementing Royal Caribbean’s innovation-focused strategy.

What are Christopher J. Wiernicki’s notable qualifications mentioned by Royal Caribbean (RCL)?

Wiernicki has served as chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies and held senior advisory roles to U.S. government bodies. He holds advanced engineering degrees from MIT and George Washington University and a civil engineering degree from Vanderbilt, underscoring strong technical credentials aligned with complex marine and offshore operations.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

Press Releases

• EX-99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 8.1 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 3.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 33.4 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 21.8 KB