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Azura becomes fourth P&O Cruises’ ship to make world voyage in 2013

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 21 June 2011 21 June 2011

P&O Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corp & plc group, says it will send four ships to world voyages in 2013 byadding the 115,031 gross ton Azura to the roster. The ship will spend the winter 2011/12 in the Caribbean, operating fly cruises from the UK.

The 30,277 gross ton Adonia will sail from Southampton on a 85 night cruise around South America on 3 April 2013, thus repeating similar voyage it is scheduled to do next winter. Managing Director Carol Marlow said in a presentation in London that due to strong demand and wishes o fpassengers that the itinerary be repeated, Adonia will thus make the same cruise again.

Prior to this, on 5 January, the 86,799 gross ton Arcadia will sail on a 99 night voyage that takes in South America,the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia and California.

The 76,132 gross ton Aurora will depart Southampton two days later on a westbound cruise around the world that is scheduled to take 106 nights. Azura will follow on 7 January on a 110 night cruise that sails to Australia and the Far East via the Suez Canal and returns home via Cape Town.

Carnival Corp & plc 2Q11 net income falls to $206 million from $252 million

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 21 June 2011 21 June 2011

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, reported net income of $206 million, or $0.26 diluted EPS, on revenues of $3.6 billion for its second quarter ended May 31,2011. Net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $252 million, or $0.32 diluted EPS, on revenues of $3.3 billion.

Commenting on the second quarter, Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison said, "Our North America brands' revenue yields increased 3 percent in the second quarter while yields for our Europe, Australia and Asia brands were up slightly (constantdollars), having been affected by the geo-political events which unfolded inthe Middle East and North Africa, as well as the earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan. The revenue yield improvement was more than offset by higher fuel prices which cost the company approximately $150 million, or $0.19 pershare."

On a constant dollar basis net revenue yields (net revenue per available lower berth day) increased 2.3 percent for 2Q 2011,which was in line with the company's March guidance, up 1.5 to 2.5 percent. Net revenue yields in current dollars increased 6.0 percent due to favorable currency exchange rates. Gross revenue yields increased 5.8 percent in current dollars.

Net cruise costs excluding fuel peravailable lower berth day ("ALBD") increased 2.7 percent in constantdollars, which was in line with March guidance, up 2.0 to 3.0 percent. Gross cruise costs including fuel per ALBD in current dollars increased 10.3 percent. Fuel prices increased 35 percent to $673per metric ton for 2Q 2011 from $498 per metric ton in 2Q 2010 and was highe rthan March guidance of $659 per metric ton.

Continuing with its strategic growth initiatives, the company took delivery of its 100th ship, Carnival Cruise Lines' 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, in late April. Two additional ships, AIDA Cruises' 2,194-passenger AIDAsol and Seabourn's 450-passenger Seabourn Quest were also delivered during the 2011 second quarter. Also, during the second quarter a contract was finalized with Fincantieri for the construction of a 3,611-passenger ship for P&O Cruises (UK) scheduled to be delivered in February 2015. The order marks Carnival Corporation & plc's first ship delivery for 2015, aligned with the company's strategy to have two to three ships constructed per year.

Carnival Miracle to offer year-round eight night Caribbean cruises from New York

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 15 June 2011 15 June 2011

Carnival Cruise Lines will launch ayear-round program of eight-day cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from NewYork beginning in April 2012 – the line’s first year-round sailings from thatport, the company said in a statement.

On this schedule, Carnival Miracle willoffer three uniquely different eight-day itineraries that visit a diversity ofbeautiful islands throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas. The itinerariesinclude:

Eastern Caribbean departures to San Juan,St. Thomas and Grand Turk, offered on a rotating basis April through October.

Bahamas sailings featuring stops at theprivate Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Nassau, offered on arotating basis April through October

Bahamas/Florida cruises with port calls toPort Canaveral (Orlando), Nassau and Freeport, offered November through April

While these Caribbean itineraries areuniquely different, each offers beautiful white-sand beaches, excellentshopping and dining experiences, world-famous landmarks, historical sites andattractions, and myriad sightseeing and shore excursion opportunities,including snorkeling, scuba-diving, and water sports.

These cruises also offer the convenienceand affordability of sailing from New York on a year-round basis. Residentsthroughout the Northeast can simply board the Carnival Miracle in New York andstart their vacation right away.  Thisprogram also represents a tremendous savings in airfare cost for theseconsumers who avoid the inconvenience often associated with air traveltoday. 

In addition to extended visits to sunny,tropical islands, guests on these voyages can experience Carnival Miracle’swide variety of on-board amenities and facilities -- delicious dining choices,captivating entertainment, extensive spa and children’s facilities, andfun-filled top-deck amenities, including the line’s signature TwisterWaterslide.

According to Carnival President and CEOGerry Cahill, Carnival has offered seasonal voyages from New York for more thana decade but the convenience of sailing from the Big Apple on a year-roundbasis, combined with its unique appeal as a pre- and post-cruise destination,strongly influenced the decision for the new year-round program.

“New York is one of the highest-ratedhomeports for ‘Fun Ship’ cruising. Carnival Miracle’s new year-round eight-daydepartures offer consumers the best of both worlds -- a choice of threeattractive year-round Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary options with theopportunity to depart from one of the world’s great cities,” he said.

Carnival warns of deeper Middle East, Japan impact, sees softness in Southern Europe, UK bookings

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 13 June 2011 13 June 2011

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest cruise shipping group, says events in North Africa and the Far East will have a deeper negative effect on earnings than previously forecast plus adds that bookings in Southern Europe and the UK show softness.

Carnival says the revised impact from the prolonged conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as the earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan, which combined resulted in over 300 deployment changes, will cost the company an additional $0.15 per share for the second half of 2011. In addition, the increases in fuel prices net of currency exchange rates will cost the company approximately $0.05 per share in the second half of the year.

In its March guidance, the company underestimated the full impact of these events on its second half earnings. The March guidance occurred just one week after substantially all the Itinerary changes resulting from these events were announced and only days after the Japanese earthquake.

The company has also experienced softness in bookings for the Southern Europe and UK markets, which will result in reduced revenues costing an additional $0.05 per share for the second half of 2011. "However, the company expects to offset the effect of this $0.05 per share in other cost areas of the business. Revenue performance for the North American brands remains strong and the company continues to expect sequential improvement in the second half of the year," Carnival said

"The company will announce second quarter results and more details of its 2011 full year guidance (updated for current spot prices for fuel and exchange rates) in its regularly scheduled earnings release and conference call to be held on June 21, 2011," the company stated.