What happened Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL) shareholders sailed past a surging market in November as their stock rose 40% compared to the 11% increase in the S&P 500, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Yet the rally removed just a small portion of wider losses for the cruise ship giant, whose shares remain lower by 40% so far in 2020. Image source: Getty Images. So what Royal Caribbean, along with rivals Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, benefited from surging investor enthusiasm about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive vaccine development news last month kindled hope of an approaching resumption of business for these companies, which have been under no-sail orders for most of the last eight months. Now what The widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines should support a rebound for the industry, perhaps by as early as mid-2021. But until then, Royal Caribbean's sales will stay near zero while operating losses mount. Investors choosing to buy the stock today must balance the potential for a sharp business recovery against risks to the timing of that boost even as the company works to pay down the new debt it took on to help it navigate through the prolonged pause in global sailings. The improving vaccine picture lessened some -- but not all -- of those key risks to a cruise industry investment. 10 stocks we like better than Royal CaribbeanWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Royal Caribbean wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of November 20, 2020 Demitri Kalogeropoulos owns shares of Carnival. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source