Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., (RCCL), the world's second largest cruise shipping group, has reported a rise in both second quarter and first half interim profits on strong yields in the Caribbean and China markets plus favourable development of costs, the company said in a statement.

Group net profit rose to $184.9 million in the second quarter of the current year from $137.7 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues rose to $2.06 billion from $1.98 billion.

In the first six months of the year, the group profit rose to $230.2 million from $164.1 million although revenues only rose to $3.87 billion from $3.86 billion

"Overall, the year will be another solid step towards the Double-Double. Commercially, the business continues to perform as expected and the biggest drivers of our increased guidance are better foreign exchange and fuel rates," the company said in the statement.

It raised the following points regarding second quarter 2015 results:

Net Yields were up 4.2% on a Constant-Currency basis (down 0.2% As-Reported), modestly better than guidance mostly driven by strength in the Caribbean and China.

Net Cruise Costs ("NCC") excluding fuel were up 3.4% on a Constant-Currency basis (down 0.1% As-Reported), better than guidance mainly due to timing.

Adjusted Net Income of $185.0 million, or $0.84 per share, versus $146.7 million, or $0.66 per share in 2014.

US GAAP Net Income was $185.0 million or $0.84 per share, versus $137.7 million, or $0.62 per share in 2014.