Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL Quick QuoteRCL - Free Report) , the Miami-based cruise line, recently announced that its newest ship, Harmony of the Seas will sail on its debut cruise from its homeport Barcelona this week. It offers an exclusive five-night Western Mediterranean itinerary.

The world's largest cruise ship will visit Rome (Civitavecchia) and Naples, Italy mainly and other popular Mediterranean destinations. Guests from as many as 34 countries will get to enjoy the distinct seven-neighborhood concept that Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of ships are famous for.

In its inaugural summer season sailing, Harmony of the Seas will provide seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries that feature Europe's most popular destinations – Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseilles), France; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples, Italy.

Thereafter, in November, the ship will move to the U.S. and make Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale its home port. Guests can enjoy their Mediterranean travel, given the most modern and groundbreaking vacation amenities including the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea with a 10-story plunge; robot bartenders at The Bionic Bar, powered by Makr Shakr; interior staterooms with virtual balconies that provide real-time views of the destinations, and VOOM – the fastest Internet at sea.

Royal Caribbean has seen strong demand for Mediterranean sailings, particularly from European tourists. However, geopolitical events had a negative impact on booking volumes from the U.S. Other than the Mediterranean region, the outlook for the European market is promising, with robust volumes and rates for the Baltic region.

Royal Caribbean currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked stocks include Carnival plc (CUK Quick QuoteCUK - Free Report) , Vail Resorts Inc. (MTN Quick QuoteMTN - Free Report) and Monarch Casino & Resort Inc. (MCRI Quick QuoteMCRI - Free Report) , all carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>