MIAMI, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) today reported 2015 results and provided guidance for 2016. Continuing on its Double-Double trajectory, the company's adjusted earnings for 2015 were $4.83 per share - up 42% over 2014, and are expected to further increase to $5.90 - $6.10 in 2016.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Full Year 2015:

• Net Yields were up 3.5% on a Constant-Currency basis (down 1.0% As-Reported).
• Net Cruise Costs ("NCC") excluding fuel were down 0.6% on a Constant-Currency basis (down 3.2% As-Reported).
• Adjusted Net Income was better than guidance at $1.07 billion, or $4.83 per share, versus Adjusted Net Income of $755.7 million, or $3.39 per share, in 2014. US GAAP Net Income was $665.8 million or $3.02 per share, versus $764.1 million, or $3.43 per share in 2014.

Full Year 2016 Outlook:

• Net Yields are expected to increase 2.0% to 4.0% on a Constant-Currency basis (in the range of flat to up 2% As-Reported).
• NCC excluding fuel are expected to be up 1% or less on a Constant-Currency basis (up 0.5% or less As-Reported).
• Adjusted EPS for 2016 is expected to be in the range of $5.90 - $6.10 per share.
• In the second quarter of 2016, Royal Caribbean International will take delivery of Ovation of the Seas, third in the highly successful Quantum class of vessels. Also debuting during the second quarter is Harmony of the Seas, third in the groundbreaking Oasis class. Splendour of the Seas will leave the Royal Caribbean fleet in April. During the summer, TUI Cruises, the company's German joint venture, will take delivery of its third new build, Mein Schiff 5.

"Our core brands are firing on all cylinders, our new ships are performing exceptionally well and our costs are well controlled. This is driving 40%+ earnings growth in two consecutive years," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. "These very gratifying results combined with a strong start to Wave position us well on our path toward Double-Double."

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Adjusted and US GAAP Net Income for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $206.8 million, or $0.94 per share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $70 million, or $0.32 per share, for the same period last year. Constant-Currency NCC excluding fuel were down 4.7%, 70 basis points better than guidance, mainly due to timing. Net Yields on a Constant-Currency basis increased 4.9% versus guidance of 4.5% to 5.0%. Stronger demand in the Caribbean and new China sailings in the winter drove an improvement versus last year.

FULL YEAR 2015 RESULTS

Adjusted Net Income for the full year 2015 was $1.07 billion, or $4.83 per share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $755.7 million, or $3.39 per share, for the full year 2014. This represents a 42% year-over-year increase. US GAAP Net Income for the full year 2015 was $665.8 million.

Net Yields for the full year 2015 increased 3.5% on a Constant-Currency basis versus 2.4% in 2014.

NCC excluding fuel were down 0.6% on a Constant-Currency basis, marking another year of strong cost control. The average bunker price net of hedging for full year 2015 was $582 per metric ton and consumption was 1,367,000 metric tons.

Last quarter, the company announced that its Pullmantur brand would re-focus to the core market of Spain as a result of the deterioration of economies in Latin America. The company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $399.3 million related to this change, which is reflected in the US GAAP Net Income figure.

During 2015, the US Dollar strengthened while the price of fuel in world markets declined. While the impact of currency is immediate, there is a lag before a change in the price of fuel flows through to business. There continues to be an inverse relationship between the foreign exchange impact on our currency exposures and fuel prices, but the offsets are not exact, especially in the short term. For 2015, the net impact of currency and fuel was a negative $0.25 per share relative to our January guidance.

FULL YEAR 2016

Our booked position for 2016 is roughly equal to last year's record high, and at higher rates. Continued strength from North American consumers is driving strong demand for North American products such as Caribbean, Alaska, and Bermuda which represent over 50% of capacity for the year. These North American products combined with strong demand for Northern Europe and Asia sailings are expected to more than offset current pricing challenges impacting the Mediterranean, Australia and Brazil.

The company expects a Net Yield increase in the range of 2.0% to 4.0% on a Constant-Currency basis and flat to up 2% on an As-Reported basis for the full year.

NCC excluding fuel are expected to be up 1% or less on a Constant-Currency basis and up 0.5% or less As-Reported.

"Despite some challenges in select destinations, our strong brands, innovative hardware and deployment optimization are continuing to deliver strong yield growth in 2016," said Jason T. Liberty, chief financial officer. "These yields coupled with continued cost discipline are expected to result in another year of step change performance."

Over the past several months the dollar has continued to strengthen relative to our basket of currency exposures, while fuel prices have lowered – resulting in a negative $0.14 impact to earnings per share for 2016. Additionally, interest rates have recently increased, which are negatively impacting earnings by $0.06 per share.

Taking into account current fuel pricing, interest rates, currency exchange rates and the factors detailed above, the company currently estimates 2016 Adjusted EPS will be in the range of $5.90 - $6.10 per share.

As the company noted previously, due to the weakness in the economies in Latin America, it is re-focusing the Pullmantur brand on its core market of Spain and right-sizing the brand. Part of this right-sizing includes anticipated restructuring and related charges during 2016 in the range of $0.05 to $0.10 per share. Additionally, the company plans to eliminate the two-month reporting lag for the Pullmantur brand in the first quarter of 2016 resulting in a negative impact of approximately $0.10 per share. Both adjustments will be excluded from key metrics for transparency and comparability purposes.

FIRST QUARTER 2016

Constant-Currency Net Yields are expected to be up approximately 4.0% in the first quarter of 2016 (approximately 0.5% As-Reported). A strong Caribbean environment, combined with Quantum of the Seas' first winter product in China, is driving the majority of the improvement.

NCC excluding fuel are expected to be up in the range of 4.5% to 5.0% on a Constant-Currency basis (3.5% to 4.0% As-Reported). While planned operating costs for the full year show continued strong expense discipline, the timing of costs between quarters varies considerably. The company has a higher level of dry docks during the first and fourth quarters than the previous year. It also plans to increase first quarter costs related to the expansion in China and for the launch of new marketing campaigns for the core brands. In addition, although Ovation of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas are being delivered in the second quarter, there are some preparatory costs incurred in the months before delivery. As a result, costs are more concentrated than usual in the first quarter.

Based on current fuel pricing, interest rates and currency exchange rates and the factors detailed above, the company expects first quarter Adjusted EPS to be approximately $0.30 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 $185 million and $716 million of fuel expense in its first quarter and full year 2016 guidance, respectively.

Forecasted consumption is 66% hedged for 2016 and 59%, 40%, 20% and 5% hedged for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. For the same five years, the average cost per metric ton of the hedge portfolio is approximately $538, $501, $466, $359 and $261, respectively.

The company provided the following fuel statistics for the first quarter and full year 2016:

In summary, the company provided the following guidance for the first quarter and full year of 2016:

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

As of December 31, 2015, liquidity was $0.9 billion, including cash and the undrawn portion of the company's unsecured revolving credit facilities. The company noted that scheduled debt maturities for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 are $0.9 billion, $0.9 billion, $2.2 billion, $0.6 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND CAPACITY GUIDANCE

Based upon current ship orders, projected capital expenditures for full year 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 are $2.4 billion, $0.5 billion, $2.5 billion, $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. Capacity increases for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 are expected to be 6.3%, 3.7%, 3.4%, 6.4% and 3.0%, respectively. These figures do not include potential ship sales or additions that the company may elect to make in the future.

CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED

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

Selected Operational and Financial Metrics

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted Net Income represents net income 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 the impairment of the Pullmantur related assets, restructuring charges, other costs related to our profitability initiatives, the estimated impact of the divested Pullmantur non-core businesses for the periods prior to the sales transaction, the loss recognized on the sale of Celebrity Century, the impact of the change in our voyage proration methodology and the reversal of an asset valuation allowance due to Spanish tax reform. The estimated impact of the divested Pullmantur non-core businesses was arrived at by adjusting the net income (loss) of these businesses for the ownership percentage we retained as well as for intercompany transactions that are no longer eliminated in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) subsequent to the sales transaction. For the full year 2014, the impact of the voyage proration change represents net income that would have been recognized in 2013 had we recognized revenues and cruise operating expenses on a pro-rata basis for all voyages.

Adjusted Earnings per Share ("Adjusted EPS")

Represents Adjusted Net Income divided by the diluted shares outstanding at the end of the reporting period. We believe this measure is meaningful when assessing our performance on a comparative basis.

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. We use this measure to perform capacity and rate analysis to identify the main non-capacity drivers that cause our cruise revenues and expenses to vary.

Constant-Currency

We believe Net Yields, Net Cruise Costs, and Net Cruise Costs Excluding Fuel are our most relevant financial measures. However, a significant portion of our revenue and expenses are denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar. Because our reporting currency is the United States 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 on a "Constant-Currency" basis – 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 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.

Gross Yields

Gross Yields represent total revenues per APCD.

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

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. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Cruise Costs to projected Net Cruise Costs and projected Net Cruise Costs Excluding Fuel due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at these measures. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful. For the periods prior to the sale of the Pullmantur non-core businesses, Net Cruise Costs excludes the estimated impact of these divested businesses. Net Cruise Costs also excludes initiative costs reported within Cruise operating expenses and Marketing, Selling and Administrative expenses, as well as the loss recognized on the sale of Celebrity Century included within Other Operating Expenses.

Net Revenues

Net Revenues represent total revenues less commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. For the periods prior to the sale of the Pullmantur non-core businesses, Net Revenues excludes the estimated impact of these divested businesses.

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 it is the most relevant measure of our pricing performance because it reflects 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. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Yields to projected Net Yields due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful. For the periods prior to the sale of the Pullmantur non-core businesses, Net Yields excludes the estimated impact of these divested businesses.

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.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, these six brands operate a combined total of 44 ships with an additional eleven on order. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490 destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaraclubcruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com, www.tuicruises.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Certain statements in this release relating to, among other things, our future performance constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expected financial results for the first quarter and full year 2016, and expectations regarding the timing and results of our Double-Double initiative and the costs and yields expected in 2016 and other future periods. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, 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, our operating costs and our ability to obtain new borrowings in amounts sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditures, debt repayments and other financing needs, incidents or adverse publicity concerning the cruise vacation industry, 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 exchange rates, interest rate and fuel price fluctuations, vacation industry competition and changes in industry capacity and overcapacity, the impact of new or changing regulations on our business, emergency ship repairs, including the related lost revenue, the impact of ship delivery delays, ship cancellations or ship construction price 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" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com or the SEC's web site 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 as defined 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 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 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 GAAP measures.

A reconciliation to the most comparable 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.

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SOURCE Royal Caribbean