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Carnival Cruise Line takes delivery of 26th ship, Carnival Horizon

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 28 March 2018 28 March 2018

In a traditional maritime handover ceremony held earlier today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Cruise Line officially took delivery of the new 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon, the 26th ship in its fleet.

The 3,954-passenger ship will reposition to Barcelona, Spain, where it will depart April 2 on an inaugural 13-night voyage – the first of four sailings from the European port. The ship will then operate a trans-Atlantic crossing before arriving in New York May 23, 2018, for a pierside overnight gala and naming ceremony featuring the ship's godmother, Grammy award-winning musical artist and acclaimed actress Queen Latifah.

Following a summer schedule of 4-night Bermuda and 8-night Caribbean sailings from New York, Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami for a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018.

Carnival Horizon offers several unique and exciting features, including a new Dr. Seuss-themed WaterWorks aqua park, part of the line's exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Bonsai Teppanyaki, the line's first teppanyaki venue, and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse|Brewhouse serving up "real deal" barbecue favorites created by Food Network star Guy Fieri, as well as four new craft beers brewed on board.

The second in the line's highly successful Vista-class, Carnival Horizon also offers fun innovations like the bike-ride-in-the-sky aerial attraction SkyRide, an IMAX Theatre, the Havana section with tropics-inspired staterooms and its own pool, and Family Harbor featuring extra-roomy accommodations and the Family Harbor Lounge. Like its name implies, Carnival Horizon also includes food and beverage outlets offering amazing views with both indoor and al fresco seating options at venues such as Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Library Bar.

"Carnival Horizon is an absolutely stunning ship offering so many ways to 'Choose Fun' both inside and out," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "In addition to the many exciting innovations previously introduced on Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon offers some new one-of-a-kind features and attractions that make this ship truly special allowing our guests to create a lifetime of wonderful vacation memories," she added.

Fincantieri to boost synergies, sees 49 million plus cruise passengers in 2030

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 28 March 2018 28 March 2018

Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilding group that is the biggest builder of cruise ships in the world, has presented a business plan for the years 2018-22, which calls for closer synergies between its yards and supply chain in the cruise ship sector.

To he company said in a statement that to better deploy its backlog, it plans to optimise the productive capacity of Italian shipyards and along the supply chain, besides leveraging on the substantial production synergies with Vard’s Romanian shipyards, particularly through an increased use of the Tulcea yard to support the Italian production network, therefore reducing the overload that would be otherwise incurred.

“The positive trend in global cruise tourism keeps sustaining momentum for the cruise activities of the Group. In fact, with respect to the previous Plan, the positive outlook for this tourist segment is confirmed, with an expected number of cruise passengers in 2030 exceeding 49 million (vs 25.8 million in 2017), amounting to a CAGR of 5.1%,” Fincantieri said.

Its cruise ship order portfolio is characterised by both a positive trend in lower berth pricing and a greater proportion of large cruise ships (above 140,000 gross tons); the combined effect of these two factors will allow the development of innovative projects with greater value.

“Furthermore, the Group will build an increasing number of luxury-niche cruise ships (a fast growing sub-segment) which are usually more profitable, despite the smaller size,’ fincantieri said.

Such expectations are confirmed by the strategies implemented by cruise operators, who started substantial newbuilding programs, particularly aimed at emerging markets, to anticipate demand growth and gain a more competitive positioning in the market. “Consequently, as the Group’s shipyards are now operating at full capacity, with planned production schedules until 2022, market prices will be positively impacted,” the company said.

In the new business plan, 2022 revenues are expected to grow up to 50% versus 2017, accompanied by a significant increase in profitability with an EBITDA margin between 8% and 9% (corresponding with a growth in EBITDA of up to 100% versus 2017). In 2022 the Adjusted net income margin is expected to be between 3% and 4%.

Carnival raises 2018 EPS guidance to $4.20 to $4.40 range

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 22 March 2018 22 March 2018

Carnival Corporation & plc, the Anglo-American cruise shipping group, said it expects full financial year to 30 November 2018 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $4.20 to $4.40 compared to December guidance of $4.00 to $4.30 and 2017 adjusted earnings per share of $3.82.

“At this time, cumulative advanced bookings for the remainder of 2018 are in line with the prior year at higher prices. Since January, booking volumes for all future periods have been running ahead of prior year at higher prices,” the company said in a statement.

President and Chief Executive Officer Arnold Donald said: “ "The booking strength achieved during this year's wave season, outpacing even last year's record levels, demonstrates sustained strong demand for our world's leading cruise brands and delivers further confidence in our raised earnings guidance.”

“We remain on track to achieve double-digit return on invested capital while continuing to return cash to shareholders through ongoing share repurchases and dividend growth,” he stated.

Based on current booking trends, the company expects full year 2018 net revenue yields in constant currency to be up approximately 2.5% compared to the prior year, in line with December guidance. The company expects full year net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD in constant currency compared to the prior year to be up approximately 1.0%, also in line with December guidance. Changes in fuel prices (including realized fuel derivatives) and currency exchange rates are expected to increase earnings by 0.10 per share compared to December guidance.

Second quarter constant currency net revenue yields are expected to be up approximately 2.5% to 3.5% compared to the prior year.

Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD in constant currency for the second quarter of 2018 are expected to increase by approximately 4.0% to 5.0% compared to the prior year. Based on the above factors, the company expects adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter 2018 to be in the range of $0.56 to $0.60 versus 2017 adjusted earnings per share of $0.52.