NCLH: “robust” pricing environment
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) overnight reported its financial results for the three months to 30 Jun, announcing total revenue of USD$1.19 billion and a quarterly net loss of USD$509 million.
The sales figure was a huge increase on the prior corresponding pandemicimpacted period when NCLH’s revenue was just USD$4.3 million.
Chief Executive Officer Frank Del Rio said “we are encouraged by the continued strong consumer demand we are experiencing which is reflected in our record pricing, accelerating booking volumes, especially for 2023 and beyond, and highest ever onboard revenue generation”.
Del Rio said with the return to more normal operations “we remain steadfast in our strategy and commitment to protect our brands’ positioning and industryleading pricing, which we firmly believe is the best way to maximise long-term value for all our stakeholders”.
For the current quarter, NCLH expects a further uplift in total revenue per passenger cruise day, despite the “significant impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on certain premium-priced European itineraries in the current year”.
The easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands (CW yesterday) as well as on Norwegian Cruise Line voyages, will help boost demand, Del Rio expects, “as it reduces friction, expands the addressable cruise market, brings variety to itineraries and provides additional catalysts on the road to recovery”.
Booking trends for next year remain positive, and are currently in line with the record levels of 2019, even taking into account NCLH’s 20% increase in capacity with the delivery of newbuild vessels.
Advance ticket sales currently amount to USD$2.5 billion, of which USD$400m or 16% are comprised of future cruise credits.
NCLH has total debts of USD$13.2 billion, with liquidity of USD$2.9 billion including USD$1.9 billion in cash and a USD$1 billion undrawn finance facility, which has been extended by a year and now remains in place through until 31 Mar 2023.
“The company has not drawn, and currently does not intend to draw, under this commitment,” said CFO Mark Kempa.
“However the company believes extending the facility was prudent given the current volatile macroeconomic and strained capital markets environment.”