The coronavirus outbreak has so far impacted bookings in Asia, but recent indications suggest that a weaker tone is setting in elsewhere as well, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, said in a statement.
“There are still too many variables and uncertainties to make a reasonable forecast for 2020. While the early impact due to concerns about the coronavirus is mainly related to Asia, recent bookings for our broader business have also been softer,” the company said.
“If the travel restrictions and concerns over the outbreak continue for an extended period of time, they could materially impact the company's overall financial performance,” the company warned.
RCCL has cancelled 18 cruises in Asia so far and revised itineraries of a number of others, which it estimates would reduce 2020 earnings per share by up to 6.3%.
A few days earlier, Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping company, had warned that the outbreak would lower its full financial year earnings by share by roughly 13%.
