Royal Caribbean Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings

MIAMI, July 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) today reported record second quarter results and updated its full year Adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $9.55 to $9.65 per share versus the company's latest midpoint guidance of $9.45 per share (including the impact of the Cuban travel restrictions).  This is an improvement of approximately $0.15 per share due to better second quarter results and an improved revenue outlook for the second half of the year.

For the second quarter, the company reported US GAAP earnings of $2.25 per share and adjusted earnings of $2.54 per share.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Second Quarter 2019 Results:

• US GAAP Net Income was $472.8 million or $2.25 per share and Adjusted Net Income was $532.7 million or $2.54 per share. Last year, US GAAP Net Income was $466.3 million or $2.19 per share, and Adjusted Net Income was $482.2 million or $2.27 per share.
• Gross Yields were up 9.4% in Constant-Currency (up 8.2% As-Reported). Net Yields were up 9.5% in Constant-Currency (up 8.1% As-Reported). These results include a 30 basis point negative impact related to the discontinuation of the high yielding Cuba sailings.
• Gross Cruise Costs per Available Passenger Cruise Days ("APCD") increased 8.2% in Constant-Currency (up 7.4% As-Reported). Net Cruise Costs ("NCC") excluding Fuel per APCD were up 8.9% in Constant-Currency (up 8.2% As-Reported).

Full Year 2019 Outlook:

• Adjusted earnings for the full year are expected to be in the range of $9.55 to $9.65 per share.
• Net revenue yields are expected to increase 7.75% to 8.25% in Constant-Currency (up 6.5% to 7.0% As-Reported). This range includes approximately 70 basis points related to the discontinuation of the high yielding Cuba sailings.
• NCC excluding Fuel per APCD are expected to be up 10.0% to 10.5% in Constant-Currency (up 9.5% to 10.0% As-Reported).

"We are elated to see our brands executing so effectively, keeping our business in an exceptionally strong position," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO.  "Our strategic focus on destinations, technology and people is clearly paying off.  And, our core products are doing exceptionally well, driven by a gratifyingly robust demand for the Caribbean."

SECOND QUARTER 2019

US GAAP Net Income for the second quarter of 2019 was $472.8 million or $2.25 per share and Adjusted Net Income was $532.7 million or $2.54 per share.  Last year, US GAAP Net Income was $466.3 million or $2.19 per share and Adjusted Net Income was $482.2 million or $2.27 per share.  The improvement over last year was mainly driven by increased revenue from our global brands.

Gross Yields were up 9.4% and Net Yields were up 9.5% in Constant-Currency, within guidance.  Better demand for onboard experiences as well as strong close-in demand for our core products fully offset the impact from the travel restrictions to Cuba which equated to 30 basis points for the quarter.

Gross Cruise Costs per APCD increased 8.2% in Constant-Currency.  NCC excluding Fuel per APCD were up 8.9% in Constant-Currency, better than guidance, driven by timing.  The travel restrictions to Cuba were neutral to NCC excluding Fuel in the second quarter.

Additionally, lower interest expense contributed to the second quarter's positive performance.

Bunker pricing net of hedging for the second quarter was $483.8 per metric ton and consumption was 374,600 metric tons.

FULL YEAR 2019 OUTLOOK

The company expects its full year Adjusted EPS to be in the range of $9.55 to $9.65 per share.  The midpoint of the company's latest Adjusted EPS guidance was $9.45 (including the impact of the Cuban travel restriction).  Thus, the midpoint of the company's guidance has improved by approximately $0.15 per share due to better second quarter results and an improved revenue outlook for the second half of the year.

Net Yields for the year are expected to increase 7.75% to 8.25% in Constant-Currency.  This guidance includes the impact of approximately 70 basis points related to the discontinuation of the high yielding Cuba sailings.  Excluding this impact, the midpoint of the company's Net Yield guidance has improved by approximately 40 basis points versus our previous guidance driven by better demand for our core products in the second half of the year.

NCC excluding Fuel for the year are expected to be up 10.0% to 10.5% in Constant-Currency.  This guidance reflects an increase in our costs related to the travel restrictions to Cuba.

Taking into account current fuel pricing, interest and currency exchange rates, and the factors detailed above, the company estimates 2019 Adjusted EPS will be in the range of $9.55 to $9.65 per share.

"The company's booked position for the remainder of 2019 continues to set new records with all core products in line or ahead of the company's previous expectations," said Jason T. Liberty, executive vice president and CFO.  "While it is too early to provide detailed color on 2020, we are delighted that bookings are already off to a very strong start."

THIRD QUARTER 2019

Net Yields are expected to increase approximately 6.5% in Constant-Currency and 5.5% to 6.0% As-Reported.  These metrics include approximately 340 basis points from the operation of Silversea, the new cruise terminal and the Perfect Day development.  These Net Yields were negatively impacted by approximately 110 basis points related to the discontinuation of the Cuba sailings.

NCC excluding Fuel per APCD for the quarter are expected to increase approximately 11.0% in Constant-Currency and approximately 10.5% As-Reported.  These metrics include approximately 850 basis points from the operation of Silversea, the new cruise terminal and the Perfect Day development.

Based on current fuel pricing, interest and currency exchange rates, and the factors detailed above, the company expects third quarter Adjusted EPS to be approximately $4.35 per share.

FUEL EXPENSE AND SUMMARY OF KEY GUIDANCE STATS

Fuel Expense

The company does not forecast fuel prices and its fuel cost calculations are based on current at-the-pump prices, net of hedging impacts.  Based on today's fuel prices, the company has included $179 million and $703 million of fuel expense in its third quarter and full year 2019 guidance, respectively.

Forecasted consumption is 59% hedged via swaps for the remainder of 2019 and 55%, 30%, 19% and 5% hedged for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.  For the same five-year period, the annual average cost per metric ton of the hedge portfolio is approximately $390, $430, $463, $554 and $580, respectively.

The company provided the following fuel statistics for the third quarter and full year 2019:

The company provided the following guidance for the third quarter and full year 2019:

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

As of June 30, 2019, liquidity was $2.1 billion, including cash and the undrawn portion of the company's unsecured revolving credit facilities, net of our outstanding commercial paper borrowings.  The company noted that as of June 30, 2019, scheduled debt maturities (excluding commercial paper) for the remainder of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are $0.5 billion, $1.2 billion, $0.8 billion, $2.3 billion and $0.8 billion, respectively.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND CAPACITY GUIDANCE

Based upon current ship orders, projected capital expenditures for full year 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are $3.0 billion, $4.0 billion, $3.2 billion, $3.6 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively.  Capacity changes for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are expected to be 8.1%, 4.3%, 8.3%, 9.2% and 4.0%, respectively.  These figures do not include potential ship sales or additions that we may elect to make in the future.

CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED

The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time today to discuss its earnings.  This call can be heard, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company's investor relations website at www.rclinvestor.com.

Selected Operational and Financial Metrics

Adjusted Earnings per Share ("Adjusted EPS")

Represents Adjusted Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. divided by weighted average shares outstanding or by diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as applicable. We believe that this non-GAAP measure is meaningful when assessing our performance on a comparative basis.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted Net Income represents net income less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding certain items that we believe adjusting for is meaningful when assessing our performance on a comparative basis. For the periods presented, these items included (i) incidental costs related to the Grand Bahama drydock structure incident involving Oasis of the Seas and our share of the write-off of the related drydock by Grand Bahama, (ii) a loss on the early extinguishment of debt related to the repayment of certain loans, (iii) the change in fair value in the contingent consideration related to the Silversea Cruises acquisition, (iv) transaction costs related to the Silversea Cruises acquisition, (v) the amortization of the Silversea Cruises intangible assets resulting from the acquisition, (vi) the noncontrolling interest adjustment to exclude the impact of the contractual accretion requirements associated with the put option held by Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd.'s noncontrolling interest (previously known as Silversea Cruises Group Ltd), (vii) the impairment loss related to Skysea Holding and (viii) the impact of the change in accounting principle related to the recognition of stock-based compensation expense from the graded attribution method to the straight-line attribution method for time-based stock awards.

Available Passenger Cruise Days ("APCD")

APCD is our measurement of capacity and represents double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period, which excludes canceled cruise days and drydock days. We use this measure to perform capacity and rate analysis to identify our main non-capacity drivers that cause our cruise revenue and expenses to vary.

Constant-Currency

We believe Net Yields, Net Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel are our most relevant non-GAAP financial measures.  However, a significant portion of our revenue and expenses are denominated in currencies other than the US Dollar.  Because our reporting currency is the US Dollar, the value of these revenues and expenses in US Dollars will be affected by changes in currency exchange rates.  Although such changes in local currency prices are just one of many elements impacting our revenues and expenses, it can be an important element.  For this reason, we also monitor Net Yields, Net Cruise Costs, and Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel in "Constant-Currency" - i.e., as if the current period's currency exchange rates had remained constant with the comparable prior period's rates.  We calculate "Constant-Currency" by applying the average prior year period exchange rates for each of the corresponding months of the reported and/or forecasted period, so as to calculate what the results would have been had exchange rates been the same throughout both periods.  We do not make predictions about future exchange rates and use current exchange rates for calculations of future periods.  It should be emphasized that the use of Constant-Currency is primarily used by us for comparing short-term changes and/or projections.  Over the longer term, changes in guest sourcing and shifting the amount of purchases between currencies can significantly change the impact of the purely currency-based fluctuations.

Gross Cruise Costs

Gross Cruise Costs represent the sum of total cruise operating expenses plus marketing, selling and administrative expenses.  For the periods presented, Gross Cruise Costs exclude transaction costs related to the Silversea Cruises acquisition and the impact of the change in accounting principle related to the recognition of stock-based compensation expense from the graded attribution method to the straight-line attribution method for time-based stock awards, which were included within marketing, selling and administrative expenses.

Gross Yields

Gross Yields represent total revenues per APCD.

Net Cruise Costs ("NCC") and NCC excluding Fuel

Net Cruise Costs represent Gross Cruise Costs excluding commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses and, in the case of Net Cruise Costs Excluding Fuel, fuel expenses.   In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, we believe changes in Net Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs Excluding Fuel to be the most relevant indicators of our performance. Net Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs Excluding Fuel excludes incidental costs related to the Grand Bahama drydock structure incident involving Oasis of the Seas.

Net Revenues

Net Revenues represent total revenues less commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses.

Net Yields

Net Yields represent Net Revenues per APCD. We utilize Net Revenues and Net Yields to manage our business on a day-to-day basis as we believe that they are the most relevant measures of our pricing performance because they reflect the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant variable costs, which are commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses.

Occupancy

Occupancy, in accordance with cruise vacation industry practice, is calculated by dividing Passenger Cruise Days by APCD.  A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

Passenger Cruise Days

Passenger Cruise Days represent the number of passengers carried for the period multiplied by the number of days of their respective cruises.

For additional information see "Adjusted Measures of Financial Performance" below.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that controls and operates four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises.  We are also a 50% joint venture owner of the German brand TUI Cruises and a 49% shareholder in the Spanish brand Pullmantur Cruceros.  Together these brands operate a combined total of 63 ships with an additional 13 on order as of June 30, 2019.  They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on all seven continents.  Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.azamara.com, www.silversea.com, www.tuicruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, or www.rclinvestor.com.

Certain statements in this release relating to, among other things, our future performance constitutes forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to: statements regarding revenues, costs and financial results for 2018 and beyond. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "driving," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the following: the impact of the economic and geopolitical environment on key aspects of our business, such as the demand for cruises, passenger spending, and operating costs; our ability to obtain new borrowings or capital in amounts sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditures, debt repayments and other financing needs; incidents or adverse publicity concerning the travel industry generally or the cruise industry specifically; concerns over safety, health and security aspects of traveling; unavailability of ports of call; the uncertainties of conducting business internationally and expanding into new markets and new ventures; changes in operating and financing costs; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, interest rate and fuel price fluctuations; vacation industry competition and changes in industry capacity and overcapacity; the risks and costs associated with protecting our systems and maintaining integrity and security of our business information, as well as personal data of our guests, employees and others;  the impact of new or changing legislation and regulations on our business; emergency ship repairs, including the related lost revenue; the impact of issues at shipyards, including ship delivery delays, ship cancellations or ship construction cost increases; shipyard unavailability; and the unavailability or cost of air service.

More information about factors that could affect our operating results is included under the captions "Risk Factors" in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as our other filings with the SEC, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.rclinvestor.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Adjusted Measures of Financial Performance

This press release includes certain adjusted financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, which we believe provide useful information to investors as a supplement to our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or US GAAP.

The presentation of adjusted financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with US GAAP. These measures may be different from adjusted measures used by other companies. In addition, these adjusted measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Adjusted measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our results of operations as do the corresponding US GAAP measures.

A reconciliation to the most comparable US GAAP measure of all adjusted financial measures included in this press release can be found in the tables included at the end of this press release.  We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of (i) projected Total Revenues to projected Net Revenues, (ii) projected Gross Yields to projected Net Yields, (iii) projected Gross Cruise Costs to projected Net Cruise Costs and projected Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel and (iv) projected Net Income and Earnings per Share to projected Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share because preparation of meaningful US GAAP projections of Total Revenues, Gross Yields, Gross Cruise Costs, Net Income and Earnings per Share would require unreasonable effort. Due to significant uncertainty, we are unable to predict, without unreasonable effort, the future movement of foreign exchange rates, fuel prices and interest rates inclusive of our related hedging programs.  In addition, we are unable to determine the future impact of restructuring expenses or other non-core business related gains and losses which may result from strategic initiatives. These items are uncertain and could be material to our results of operations in accordance with US GAAP. Due to this uncertainty, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.