Carnival sees first quarter net loss, adjusted EBITDA to improve each quarter

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, expects a net loss for the first quarter of its financial year but said adjusted EBITDA should improve each quarter in the 2023 financial year

The company expects $250 to $350 million of adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2023 and a sequential improvement compared to 2019 in each quarter of next year as it continues to close the gap.

“In addition, the company expects to generate significant positive adjusted EBITDA in 2023. The company expects an adjusted net loss of $750 to $850 million for the first quarter of 2023,” Carnival said in a statement.

The company's depreciation and amortization forecast for the first quarter of 2023 is $0.6 billion little changed from the final quarter of the 2022 financial year. The 2023 full year forecast is $2.4 billion compared to $2.275 billion in 2022.

Booking volumes nearing 2019 levels

“Booking volumes during the fourth quarter of 2022 for 2023 sailings are nearing 2019 comparable booking levels, with November booking volumes exceeding 2019 levels.

“The company's North America and Australia ("NAA") segment's fourth quarter 2022 booking volumes for 2023 exceeded the comparable period in 2019. The company's Europe and Asia ("EA") segment's fourth quarter 2022 bookings for 2023 were lower than the comparable period in 2019, Carnival said.

However, reflecting the closer-in booking pattern of its Continental European brands, its fourth quarter bookings for fourth quarter sailings significantly exceeded the comparable period in 2019. “Further, the company continues to see an extension of its EA segment's booking curve, facilitating more optimal revenue yields over time,” Carnival said.

The company's full year 2023 cumulative advanced booked position is at higher prices in constant currency, normalized for future cruise credits, as compared to strong 2019 pricing with a booked position that is higher than the historical average. “During the second half of 2022, the company significantly increased its advertising activities to support booking volumes,” Carnival said.

Final quarter and full year losses narrow at Carnival group

 

Losses for the final quarter and its full financial year to 30 November narrowed at Carnival Corporation & plc as the company continued to return to normal conditions.

For the fourth quarter, the company reported a net loss of $1.598 billion compared to a loss of $2.620 billion in the same period a year earlier, Revenues rose to $3.839 billion from $1.287 billion.

For the 12 months to 30 November, the loss narrowed to $6.039 billion from $9.501 billion, while revenues increased to $12.168 billion from $1.908 billion.

Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein said in a statement: "Throughout 2022, we have successfully returned our fleet to service, aggressively building occupancy on growing capacity, while driving revenue per passenger cruise day higher than 2019 record levels, both in the fourth quarter and full year overall. We have also actively managed down our costs while investing to build future demand."

Revenue per passenger cruise day (PCD) for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 0.5% and by 3.8% in constant dollar compared to a strong 2019, overcoming the dilutive impact of future cruise credits (FCC), and better than the third quarter of 2022 which decreased 4.1% or by 2.1% in constant dollar compared to 2019.

Occupancy in the fourth quarter was 19 percentage points below 2019 levels, on capacity in guest cruise operations approaching 2019 levels. This was better than the third quarter, which was 29 percentage points below 2019 levels on 8% lower capacity than 2019.

Adjusted cruise costs excluding fuel per available lower bed day (ALBD) continued its sequential quarterly improvement in the fourth quarter with a 7.2% increase , or by 11% in constant currency, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

This was down from a 25% increase (same in constant currency) in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to the first quarter of 2019. “Costs remain higher as a result of higher advertising investments to drive 2023 revenue as well as partially mitigating the impacts of a high inflation environment. This was in line with the previous guidance of a low double-digit increase in constant currency,” the company said.

Changes in fuel price, fuel mix and currency rates unfavorably impacted the fourth quarter of 2022 by $267 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Carnival plans to sell three more ships

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, said it expects to remove three additional smaller-less efficient ships from its fleet.

“Two of these three ships are from Costa Cruises' fleet as part of the company's strategy to right-size the brand in light of the continued closure of cruise operations in China, and Costa's significant presence there prior to the pause in the company's guest cruise operations.

Once completed in spring 2024, the company's fleet optimisation strategy will have reduced Costa's capacity so that it approximates the 2019 capacity Costa dedicated outside of Asia to its core markets in Continental Europe.

Prior to this, Carnival group had sold 19 ships since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The company now expects total capacity growth of 3% for 2023 compared to 2019, at the lower end of the previous guidance range of 3% to 5%. The prudent capacity growth rate includes the benefit that newly delivered ships will represent nearly a quarter of the company's capacity,” Carnival said in a statement.

Photo: Costa Cruises is based in Genoa in Italy and it is one of the largest brands in the Carnival group

Resorts World Cruises debuts in Surabaya with the Genting Dream

Resorts World Cruises, Asia’s newest luxury and dynamic lifestyle cruise brand today celebrated a new milestone with its maiden voyage to Surabaya on the Genting Dream with over 3,500 passengers from its dual homeports in Singapore and Malaysia (via Port Klang). In addition to Surabaya as a destination, the ship will also visit North Bali the following day as part of Resorts World Cruises special Indonesia cruise itinerary to celebrate the year-end holiday period.

“Resorts World Cruises is excited to include both Surabaya and North Bali as destinations for this special Indonesia cruise from both our homeports. Indonesia remains an important cruise market with huge potential both as a destination and source market for the FlyCruise sector. We would like to thank the local authorities, travel and business partners, media and consumers for their ongoing support, as we continue to work closely together to revitalize the cruise and tourism sector in Indonesia and across the region in a post COVID era”, said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises.

During the ship’s visit to Surabaya, guests disembarking had the opportunity to explore many of the city’s hidden gems, which include famous landmarks such as the Four Faced Buddha monument with the biggest and tallest Four Faces Deity statue in Indonesia; the spectacular view of Putuk Truno Waterfall or Mount Penanggugan in Tretes; shopping at Pasar Genteng and Tunjungan Plaza and so much more. The Indonesia adventure continues in North Bali the following day, as the ship makes a special stop to offer guests more exciting local attractions. These include various gorgeous and photo worthy places like the Kekeran Rice Terrace, as well as the protected sanctuary of Plataran Menjangan Resort Bali and also West Bali; or diving in the pristine waters of Menjangan Island and more

MSC Cruises unveils top trends on UK cruise market

MSC Cruises has unveiled eight top trends it has detected on the UK cruise market ahead of the new year.

“There are many aspects of the travel landscape have changed over the past few years with new trends and ways of travel emerging which is why MSC Cruises is revealing the top trends to watch out for in the travel and cruise industry next year,” the company said in a statement.

Convenience is king – More Brits are looking for hassle-free holidays and going flight-free is an ideal way to keep trips simple. MSC Cruises saw many Brits choosing to cruise from Southampton in the summer of 2023, in fact almost 65% of all MSC Cruises’ UK guests chose to board in the UK

Focus on sustainability – As travellers become more and more conscious of the environmental footprint of their travel and seek out eco-friendly holiday options, MSC Cruises booking data reveals that the “Nature & Wildlife” shore excursion is the most popular shore excursion for Brits.

Big plans – Travellers are set to make 2023 a big year for getting out and exploring the world, booking longer trips. MSC Cruises in the UK has seen that 7-night cruises are the most popular for next year with an increase of 104% YOY, showing that people are prioritising travel.

Luxury travel – Among all the new travel trends for next year, luxury travel is that’s set to be big.

Under-the-radar destinations – Travellers are looking to expand their horizons and are considering lesser-known destinations with under-the-radar charm. Brits are increasingly booking unique destinations such as Iceland and the Fjords looking for once-in-a-lifetime experiences and Instagram-friendly holiday snaps

A family affair – Cruising provides a safe, hassle-free environment for families, with food, accommodation and non-stop entertainment all thrown in, so it’s no wonder that families with kids are a key demographic when looking at bookings next year.

All-inclusive – When costs are rising elsewhere, it’s essential that families still have time to take a break and get away to bond over their family holiday, and nothing offers better value than a cruise, even more so with an all-inclusive package.

Ride the wellness wave - In 2023, wellness travel is expected to reach new levels of popularity, with a focus on health and wellness often high on new year's resolutions lists.

Image: MSC Virtuosa operates from the UK port of Southampton year round.