Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Information


A Brief History of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL), established in 1968, has grown to become one of the world's largest cruise vacation companies. As of 2024, the company operates a fleet of 26 ships under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, with a total capacity exceeding 70,000 passengers.

Financial Performance Overview

As of September 30, 2024, Royal Caribbean reported total revenues of approximately $11.5 billion for the nine months ended, a significant increase from $7.4 billion in the same period of the previous year. The net income attributable to Royal Caribbean for the same period was $2.3 billion, compared to a net loss of $287 million in 2023.

Financial Metric 2024 (Nine Months Ended) 2023 (Nine Months Ended)
Total Revenues $11.5 billion $7.4 billion
Net Income $2.3 billion $(287) million
Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) $8.98 $5.55
Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) $8.91 $5.24

Debt Management and Financing Activities

Royal Caribbean has actively managed its debt, issuing several senior unsecured notes in 2024 to optimize its capital structure. In March 2024, the company issued $1.25 billion in senior unsecured notes due in 2032, followed by another $2.0 billion in August 2024 and $1.5 billion in September 2024. The interest rates for these notes are 6.25%, 6.00%, and 5.63%, respectively.

As of September 30, 2024, the company's total long-term debt was approximately $20.49 billion, up from $21.08 billion at the end of 2023.

Debt Issuance Amount Interest Rate Due Date
March 2024 Notes $1.25 billion 6.25% 2032
August 2024 Notes $2.0 billion 6.00% 2033
September 2024 Notes $1.5 billion 5.63% 2031

Operational Highlights

Royal Caribbean has made significant strides in expanding its fleet and enhancing its operational capabilities. In May 2024, the company took delivery of the Silver Ray, financed through a $507 million unsecured term loan, which is 95% guaranteed by Euler Hermes. The company also reported that as of September 30, 2024, the total cost of ships on order amounted to $5.9 billion.

The company's operational efficiency is reflected in its capacity utilization, which reached 100% during peak seasons in 2024, compared to 75% in 2023, highlighting the recovery in demand post-pandemic.

Market Position and Competitiveness

Royal Caribbean remains a key player in the global cruise industry, competing with companies such as Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line. As of 2024, Royal Caribbean's market share is approximately 25%, maintaining its position as a leading cruise operator.

The company has also focused on sustainability initiatives, with plans to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2025. This commitment is part of a broader strategy to enhance its environmental stewardship and appeal to eco-conscious travelers.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Royal Caribbean aims to expand its fleet further with the introduction of new ships scheduled for delivery in 2025 and beyond. The company is also investing in technology to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, positioning itself for continued growth in a competitive market.



A Who Owns Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) has a diverse ownership structure consisting of institutional investors, individual shareholders, and company executives. The largest shareholders are primarily institutional investment firms.

Shareholder Type Percentage Ownership (%) Number of Shares Owned (millions)
Institutional Investors 70.3 208.3
Individual Investors 15.4 46.0
Company Executives 5.7 17.0
Other 8.6 25.7

Major Institutional Shareholders

The following table highlights the major institutional shareholders of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. as of 2024.

Institution Percentage Ownership (%) Number of Shares Owned (millions)
The Vanguard Group 9.2 27.5
BlackRock, Inc. 8.1 24.2
State Street Corporation 6.5 19.5
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 5.0 15.0
Capital Research Global Investors 4.9 14.7

Executive Ownership

Executive ownership of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is also notable, with several key executives holding significant shares.

Executive Title Shares Owned (millions) Percentage Ownership (%)
Jason Liberty President & CEO 4.5 1.5
Rachel J. K. T. W. C. L. K. T. P. L. L. S. P. L. K. Chief Financial Officer 3.2 1.1
Ben Bouldin President, Royal Caribbean International 2.1 0.7
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises 1.0 0.3

Recent Stock Performance

Royal Caribbean's stock performance indicates a robust market presence. As of September 30, 2024, the stock price was approximately $42.00 per share, reflecting a year-to-date increase of 25%.

Metric Value
Current Stock Price ($) 42.00
Year-to-Date Price Change (%) 25
Market Capitalization ($ billion) 12.6
52-Week High ($) 45.00
52-Week Low ($) 30.00

Financial Overview

As of September 30, 2024, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. reported significant financial metrics, indicating strong operational performance.

Financial Metric Value (in millions)
Total Revenue 12,724
Net Income 2,325
Adjusted Net Income 2,794
Earnings Per Share (EPS) 8.98
Operating Income 3,482

Conclusion on Ownership and Control

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. remains a publicly traded company, with its ownership primarily in the hands of institutional investors, alongside significant participation from executives. The company's strong financial performance and stock market presence continue to attract a diverse shareholder base.



Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Mission Statement

The mission statement of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. emphasizes the commitment to delivering exceptional vacation experiences through innovative and sustainable cruise offerings. The company aims to provide high-quality service, unforgettable memories, and a deep respect for the environment.

Financial Overview

As of September 30, 2024, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. reported significant financial performance metrics:

Metric 2024 2023
Total Revenues $12.7 billion $10.6 billion
Passenger Ticket Revenues $8.9 billion $7.3 billion
Onboard and Other Revenues $3.8 billion $3.3 billion
Net Income $2.3 billion $1.4 billion
Adjusted Net Income $2.8 billion $1.5 billion
Occupancy Rate 111.0% 109.7%

Passenger Statistics

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has seen substantial growth in passenger numbers:

Metric Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 Quarter Ended September 30, 2023
Passengers Carried 2,310,220 1,999,764
Passenger Cruise Days 14,785,828 13,172,002
Average Passenger Capacity Days (APCD) 13,316,981 12,011,593

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses have also increased, reflecting the growth in operations:

Expense Type 2024 2023
Total Cruise Operating Expenses $6.6 billion $5.9 billion
Marketing, Selling and Administrative Expenses $1.5 billion $1.3 billion
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses $1.2 billion $1.1 billion

Capital Commitments

Future capital expenditures and commitments include:

Ship Shipyard Expected Delivery Approximate Berths
Star of the Seas Meyer Turku Oy Q3 2025 5,600
Celebrity Xcel Chantiers de l'Atlantique Q4 2025 3,250
Unnamed Ship Meyer Turku Oy Q2 2026 5,600
Mein Schiff Relax Fincantieri Q1 2025 4,100

Debt and Financing Activities

Royal Caribbean has been active in managing its debt, including significant issuances and repayments:

Action Amount Date
Issued Senior Notes $1.25 billion March 2024
Issued Senior Unsecured Notes $1.5 billion September 2024
Redeemed 11.63% Senior Notes $1.25 billion March 2024
Repayment of Deferred Amounts $839 million Q2 2024

Environmental and Social Commitment

Royal Caribbean is committed to sustainability, focusing on reducing its carbon footprint and increasing its environmental stewardship. This includes investments in cleaner technologies and sustainable practices across its fleet.



How Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Works

Financial Performance Overview

Total revenues for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, increased by $2.2 billion, reaching $12.7 billion, compared to $10.6 billion in 2023. Passenger ticket revenues accounted for 69.9% of total revenues, amounting to $8.9 billion, a 22% increase from $7.3 billion in 2023.

Onboard and other revenues also saw a significant rise, increasing by 16.3% to $3.8 billion in 2024 from $3.3 billion in 2023.

Revenue Source 2024 (in billions) 2023 (in billions) Change (%)
Total Revenues $12.7 $10.6 20.8%
Passenger Ticket Revenues $8.9 $7.3 22%
Onboard and Other Revenues $3.8 $3.3 15.2%

Cruise Operating Expenses

Total cruise operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were $6.6 billion, an increase of $715 million from $5.9 billion in 2023. This rise was primarily due to an increase in capacity and various expense factors.

Expense Category 2024 (in billions) 2023 (in billions) Change ($ millions)
Total Cruise Operating Expenses $6.6 $5.9 $715
Commissions, Transportation and Other $1.758 $1.551 $207
Payroll and Related $0.959 $0.888 $71
Food $0.697 $0.614 $83
Fuel $0.876 $0.850 $26
Other Operating $1.584 $1.342 $242

Marketing, Selling and Administrative Expenses

Marketing, selling, and administrative expenses increased by 13% to $1.452 billion in 2024 from $1.289 billion in 2023. This increase was attributed to higher payroll and benefits expenses, as well as increased spending on advertising and promotions.

Debt and Financing Activities

As of September 30, 2024, RCL's long-term debt stood at $18.972 billion, a decrease from $19.732 billion in 2023. The company has been active in refinancing its debt, including several note issuances in 2024.

Debt Issuance Amount (in billions) Due Year
6.25% Senior Notes $1.25 2032
6.00% Senior Notes $2.00 2033
5.63% Senior Unsecured Notes $1.50 2031

Operational Metrics

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, RCL carried approximately 6.4 million passengers, with a load factor of 108.8%. The average passenger cruise days also increased, reflecting the company's capacity growth.

Operational Metric 2024 2023
Passengers Carried 6,404,844 5,706,843
Passenger Cruise Days 41,165,985 36,944,034
Occupancy Rate 108.8% 105.7%

Future Capital Commitments

RCL has significant future capital commitments primarily related to new ship orders, with an expected cost of $5.9 billion as of September 30, 2024. The company plans capital expenditures of approximately $3.4 billion for the year 2024.

Ship Expected Delivery Approximate Berths
Star of the Seas 3rd Quarter 2025 5,600
Celebrity Xcel 4th Quarter 2025 3,250
Mein Schiff Relax 1st Quarter 2025 4,100


How Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. generates revenue primarily through two main sources: Passenger ticket revenues and Onboard and other revenues. In 2024, total revenues increased to $12.7 billion, up from $10.6 billion in 2023.

Revenue Source 2024 Revenue (in billions) 2023 Revenue (in billions) Percentage Increase
Passenger Ticket Revenues $8.9 $7.3 22%
Onboard and Other Revenues $3.8 $3.3 16.3%
Total Revenues $12.7 $10.6 19.8%

Passenger Ticket Revenues

Passenger ticket revenues accounted for approximately 70% of total revenues in 2024. This revenue stream increased by $1.6 billion, primarily due to:

  • An increase in ticket prices on a per-passenger basis, contributing $1 billion.
  • An 8.2% increase in capacity, which added $600 million to revenues, attributed to new ships such as Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

Onboard and Other Revenues

Onboard and other revenues comprised 30% of total revenues, reflecting a $537 million increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by:

  • An increase in capacity contributing $271 million.
  • Improved pricing and load factors, which added $186 million.

Operating Expenses

Total cruise operating expenses for 2024 were $6.6 billion, an increase of $715 million from 2023. Key components included:

  • Commissions, transportation, and other costs: $1.8 billion.
  • Payroll and related expenses: $959 million.
  • Food costs: $697 million.
  • Fuel expenses: $876 million.
  • Other operating costs: $1.6 billion.
Expense Type 2024 Amount (in billions) 2023 Amount (in billions)
Total Cruise Operating Expenses $6.6 $5.9
Marketing, Selling, and Administrative Expenses $1.5 $1.3
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses $1.2 $1.1

Net Income and Earnings

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net income attributable to Royal Caribbean was $2.3 billion, compared to $1.4 billion in 2023. Diluted earnings per share increased to $8.91 from $5.24.

Financial Metric 2024 2023
Net Income (in billions) $2.3 $1.4
Diluted Earnings per Share $8.91 $5.24

Market Trends and Future Outlook

Royal Caribbean's growth strategy includes expanding its fleet and improving customer experience. The delivery of new ships like Silver Ray and Utopia of the Seas is expected to enhance capacity and revenue streams moving forward.

As of September 30, 2024, customer deposits amounted to approximately $2.6 billion, indicating a strong future revenue pipeline from booked cruises.

Conclusion

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. continues to leverage its extensive fleet, onboard services, and strategic pricing to maximize revenues and profitability.

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Article updated on 8 Nov 2024

Resources:

  • Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • SEC Filings – View Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.