Royal Caribbean Reports First Quarter 2007 Earnings

MIAMI, May 1 /PRNewswire/ --

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL; Oslo) today announced net income for the first quarter 2007 of US$8.8 million, or US$0.04 per share compared to earlier guidance of US$0.03 to US$0.08 per share. The company also reaffirmed its full year 2007 earnings per share guidance of US$3.05 to US$3.20.

Pullmantur Impact

As the company had anticipated, the acquisition of Pullmantur and other timing changes caused significant changes in the seasonality of company earnings. These changes make comparisons between individual quarters less meaningful (especially for the first year of the acquisition) but have little impact on the profitability of the year as a whole. In particular, Pullmantur's business is highly seasonal with very strong summer months but very weak winter months. In addition, the company is including Pullmantur results on a two month lag. Together, these changes significantly diminished the company's reported earnings in the first quarter, and are expected to do so again in the second quarter, but are expected to commensurately improve earnings in the third and fourth quarters. Pullmantur's Tour Division adds revenues and costs without any corresponding capacity, and, as such, inflates Yeild and Net Cruise Cost figures.

Weaker Revenues Offset By Lower Costs

The demand environment, especially in the Caribbean, has been weaker than expected. At the same time, cost control has been good, offsetting the revenue decline.

First quarter 2007 Net Yields on a comparable basis (i.e. excluding Pullmantur) decreased 4.2%, which was below guidance of down 2% to 3%. Commenting on the revenue environment, Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer said, "After a strong Fall performance, close-in bookings in the first quarter required more aggressive price promotions than we experienced throughout the last year."

Fain continued, "On the other hand, cost performance was better than our prior guidance due to cost control initiatives." Net Cruise Costs per APCD, on a comparable basis and excluding fuel, increased 2.5% for the quarter versus previous guidance of an increase around 4%. Including fuel, these costs increased 1.5%. Previous guidance was for an increase of 2% to 3%. Fuel costs per APCD decreased 2.8% year-over-year, with "at-the-pump" fuel prices averaging US$372 per metric ton for the first quarter 2007, compared to the previously assumed figure of US$361 per metric ton and US$417 per metric ton in the first quarter 2006.

"We continued several key strategic initiatives, including the revitalization of Majesty of the Seas, enhancing our international sales and marketing infrastructure, and expanding our fleet further into Europe and Latin America, while prudently finding ways to control our costs," Fain said.

Including Pullmantur, the company's Net Yields decreased 3.4% and Net Cruise Costs increased 5.4%. Pullmantur's cruise division performed consistently with previous guidance, while the tour division generated higher revenue and higher expenses than previous guidance; however the net impact of these differences was immaterial.

For the first quarter 2006, the company reported net income of US$119.5 million, or US$0.55 per share, which included a net gain of US$36 million, or US$0.16 per share, related to the partial settlement of a lawsuit. Revenues for the first quarter 2007 increased to US$1.2 billion from revenues of US$1.1 billion in the first quarter 2006.

Outlook For The Rest Of The Year

The softer Caribbean pricing environment continues through the Spring, and is of a somewhat greater magnitude than forecasted back in February. However, the revenue picture for the balance of the year appears more encouraging. Although it is too early to provide specific predictions for the upcoming Fall/Winter season, load factors and pricing are both ahead of same time last year for the fourth quarter and into the first quarter of 2008.

Fortunately, the company's cost control efforts have been more successful than forecasted, offsetting the revenue deterioration through reductions in operating and other expenses.

Fain continued, "While we are disappointed that the revenue environment is more challenging than anticipated, I am very proud of the way our management team is mitigating the effect through improvements in efficiency. I am particularly pleased that we expect to reduce unit costs while still moving forward with some very important strategic initiatives. These efforts have allowed us to maintain our previous guidance despite lower revenues and higher fuel prices."

The company provided the following estimates for the full year and second quarter 2007. The "Comparable" estimates exclude Pullmantur, while the "Including Pullmantur" estimates are for the entire combined group.

Full Year 2007 Second Quarter 2007 Including Including Comparable Pullmantur Comparable Pullmantur Capacity 5.0% 12.2% 6.3% 12.6% Net Yields Flat 2% (1%) Flat Net Cruise Costs per APCD (2%) 3% (3%) Flat Net Cruise Costs per APCD, excluding Fuel Flat 5% (1%) 3%

Collectively, the company will have a 12.2% increase in capacity in 2007, driven by Pullmantur, the April delivery of Liberty of the Seas, and a full year of Freedom of the Seas.

For the full year 2007, the company now forecasts that Net Yields will increase in the range around 2% compared to 2006, and on a comparable basis to be around flat. For the second quarter 2007, the company currently forecasts Net Yields to be around flat, and on a comparable basis to decrease in a range around 1%, compared to the second quarter 2006.

Net Cruise Costs per APCD for the full year 2007 are expected to increase in a range around 3% compared to the prior year, and on a comparable basis to decrease in a range around 2%. Net Cruise Costs per APCD for the second quarter 2007 are expected to be around flat, and on a comparable basis to be down in a range around 3%.

Net Cruise Costs per APCD, excluding fuel, for the full year 2007 are expected to increase in a range around 5% compared to the prior year, and on a comparable basis to be around flat. Net Cruise Costs per APCD, excluding fuel, for the second quarter 2007 are expected to increase in a range around 3%, and on a comparable basis to be down in a range around 1%.

(All currency in US Dollars unless otherwise noted) Full Year 2007 Second Quarter 2007 Fuel Price/Metric Ton (Current) $412 $412 Fuel Consumption (Metric Tons) 1,230,000 305,000 Fuel Percentage Hedged 50% 56%

The company does not forecast fuel prices and its cost guidance for fuel is based on a current "at-the-pump" price of US$412 per metric ton. This is higher than the February 5, 2007 figure, and represents a negative impact of US$0.05 per share versus the company's previous guidance. Additionally, the company is currently 50% and 56% hedged for the balance of the year and second quarter 2007, respectively. A 10% change in the market price of fuel results in US$18 million and US$5 million changes in fuel costs, for the full year and second quarter 2007, respectively, after taking into account existing hedges.

Depreciation and amortization for the full year 2007 is expected to be US$490 million to US$510 million, and for the second quarter 2007 to be US$120 million to US$125 million. Interest expense for the full year 2007 is expected to be US$325 million to US$345 million, and for the second quarter 2007 to be US$83 million to US$88 million.

Based on these estimates, and assuming that fuel prices remain at today's level, the company is maintaining its full year 2007 earnings per share guidance at US$3.05 to US$3.20, and expects second quarter 2007 earnings per share to be US$0.59 to US$0.63.

As of March 31, 2007, liquidity was US$1.2 billion, comprised of US$0.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents and US$1.0 billion in available credit on the company's revolving credit agreement.

Projected capital expenditures for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 are estimated to be US$1.2 billion, US$1.8 billion, US$2.0 billion, US$2.1 billion, and US$0.3 billion, respectively. Projected capacity increases for the same five years are estimated at 12.2%, 8.4%, 7.5%, 11.6%, and 5.8%, respectively.

The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today to discuss its earnings. This call can be heard, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company's investor relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com.

Terminology

Available Passenger Cruise Days ("APCD")

APCDs are our measurement of capacity and represent double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period.

Gross Yields

Gross Yields represent total revenues per APCD.

Net Yields

Net Yields represent Gross Yields less commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses per APCD. We utilize Net Yields to manage our business on a day-to-day basis and believe that it is the most relevant measure of our pricing performance because it reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant variable costs. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Yields to projected Net Yields due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.

Gross Cruise Costs

Gross Cruise Costs represent the sum of total cruise operating expenses plus marketing, selling and administrative expenses.

Net Cruise Costs

Net Cruise Costs represent Gross Cruise Costs excluding commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, we believe changes in Net Cruise Costs to be the most relevant indicator of our performance. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Cruise Costs to projected Net Cruise Costs due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.

Passenger Cruise Days

Passenger Cruise Days represent the number of passengers carried for the period multiplied by the number of days of their respective cruises.

Occupancy

Occupancy, in accordance with cruise industry practice, is calculated by dividing Passenger Cruise Days by APCDs. A percentage of 100% or higher indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Pullmantur. The company has a combined total of 34 ships in service and seven under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and Latin America. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es or www.rclinvestor.com.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Such factors include general economic and business conditions, vacation industry competition, including cruise vacation industry competition, changes in vacation industry capacity, including over capacity in the cruise vacation industry, the impact of tax laws and regulations affecting our business or our principal shareholders, the impact of changes in other laws and regulations affecting our business, the impact of pending or threatened litigation, the delivery of scheduled new ships, emergency ship repairs, negative incidents involving cruise ships including those involving the health and safety of passengers, reduced consumer demand for cruises as a result of any number of reasons, including geo-political and economic uncertainties, the unavailability of air service, armed conflict, terrorist attacks and the resulting concerns over safety and security aspects of traveling, the impact of the spread of contagious diseases, our ability to obtain financing on terms that are favorable or consistent with our expectations, changes in our stock price or principal shareholders, the impact of changes in operating and financing costs, including changes in foreign currency, interest rates, fuel, food, payroll, insurance and security costs, the implementation of regulations in the United States requiring United States citizens to obtain passports for travel to additional foreign destinations, weather, and other factors described in further detail in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition, certain financial measures in this news release constitute non-GAAP financial measures as defined by Regulation G. A reconciliation of these items can be found on our investor relations website at www.rclinvestor.com.

Financial Tables Follow

(All currency in US Dollars unless otherwise noted) ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) Quarter Ended March 31, ------------------------- 2007 2006 ----------- ----------- Passenger ticket revenues $ 870,416 $ 842,263 Onboard and other revenues 352,710 304,273 ----------- ----------- Total revenues 1,223,126 1,146,536 ----------- ----------- Cruise operating expenses Commissions, transportation and other 219,685 202,265 Onboard and other 66,403 59,852 Payroll and related 137,280 117,334 Food 73,185 65,700 Fuel 117,334 112,743 Other operating 227,454 172,240 ----------- ----------- Total cruise operating expenses 841,341 730,134 Marketing, selling and administrative expenses 186,184 173,192 Depreciation and amortization expenses 115,958 102,159 ----------- ----------- Operating Income 79,643 141,051 ----------- ----------- Other income (expense) Interest income 4,500 1,576 Interest expense, net of interest capitalized (80,480) (57,663) Other income 5,162 34,535 ----------- ----------- (70,818) (21,552) ----------- ----------- Net Income $ 8,825 $ 119,499 =========== =========== Earnings Per Share: Basic $ 0.04 $ 0.57 =========== =========== Diluted $ 0.04 $ 0.55 =========== =========== Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding: Basic 212,322 211,372 =========== =========== Diluted 214,005 230,695 =========== =========== STATISTICS Quarter Ended March 31, ------------------------- 2007 2006 ----------- ----------- Occupancy 103.7% 105.1% Passenger Cruise Days 6,029,987 5,574,349 APCD 5,816,046 5,303,570 ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data) As of ------------------------------ March 31, December 31, 2007 2006 ------------- ------------ (unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 199,616 $ 104,520 Trade and other receivables, net 207,020 185,886 Inventories 80,781 76,969 Prepaid expenses and other assets 206,951 134,529 ------------- ------------ Total current assets 694,368 501,904 Property and equipment - at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization 11,468,214 11,429,106 Goodwill 732,099 721,514 Other assets 799,391 740,564 ------------- ------------ $13,694,072 $13,393,088 ============= ============ Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 523,142 $ 373,422 Accounts payable 194,271 193,794 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 443,717 408,209 Customer deposits 1,178,095 896,943 ------------- ------------ Total current liabilities 2,339,225 1,872,368 Long-term debt 4,845,962 5,040,322 Other long-term liabilities 412,818 388,823 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity Common stock ($.01 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 222,741,581 and 222,489,872 shares issued) 2,227 2,225 Paid-in capital 2,911,274 2,904,041 Retained earnings 3,616,186 3,639,211 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (10,380) (30,802) Treasury stock (10,996,013 and 10,985,927 common shares at cost) (423,240) (423,100) ------------- ------------ Total shareholders' equity 6,096,067 6,091,575 ------------- ------------ $13,694,072 $13,393,088 ============= ============

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited, in thousands) Quarter Ended March 31, ---------------------------- 2007 2006 ----------- ----------- Operating Activities Net income $ 8,825 $ 119,499 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 115,958 102,159 Accretion of original issue discount on debt 414 8,267 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in trade and other receivables, net (20,499) 12,995 Increase in inventories (3,682) (1,224) Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets (64,816) (40,149) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable 279 (9,818) Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities 40,832 (14,896) Increase in customer deposits 280,038 165,436 Other, net 2,521 1,619 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities 359,870 343,888 ----------- ----------- Investing Activities Purchases of property and equipment (152,173) (135,898) Purchases of notes from First Choice Holidays PLC - (100,000) Other, net (7,359) (1,355) ----------- ----------- Net cash used in investing activities (159,532) (237,253) ----------- ----------- Financing Activities Net proceeds from issuance of debt 1,308,519 125,000 Debt issuance costs (8,754) - Repayments of debt (1,374,088) (80,581) Dividends (34,390) (31,753) Proceeds from exercise of common stock options 3,107 16,739 Other, net 177 10,552 ----------- ----------- Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (105,429) 39,957 ----------- ----------- Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 187 - ----------- ----------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 95,096 146,592 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 104,520 125,385 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 199,616 $ 271,977 =========== =========== Supplemental Disclosure Cash paid during the period for: Interest, net of amount capitalized $ 43,622 $ 50,236 =========== =========== ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. NON-GAAP RECONCILING INFORMATION (unaudited) Gross Yields and Net Yields were calculated as follows (in thousands, except APCD and Yields): Quarter Ended March 31, ----------------------------- 2007 2006 ------------ ------------ Passenger ticket revenues $ 870,416 $ 842,263 Onboard and other revenues 352,710 304,273 ------------ ------------ Total revenues 1,223,126 1,146,536 ============ ============ Less: Commissions, transportation and other 219,685 202,265 Onboard and other 66,403 59,852 ------------ ------------ Net revenues $ 937,038 $ 884,419 ============ ============ APCD 5,816,046 5,303,570 Gross Yields $210.30 $216.18 Net Yields $161.11 $166.76 Gross Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs were calculated as follows (in thousands, except APCD and costs per APCD): Quarter Ended March 31, ----------------------------- 2007 2006 ------------ ------------ Total cruise operating expenses $ 841,341 $ 730,134 Marketing, selling and administrative expenses 186,184 173,192 ------------ ------------ Gross Cruise Costs 1,027,525 903,326 ============ ============ Less: Commissions, transportation and other 219,685 202,265 Onboard and other 66,403 59,852 ------------ ------------ Net Cruise Costs $ 741,437 $ 641,209 ============ ============ APCD 5,816,046 5,303,570 Gross Cruise Costs per APCD $ 176.67 $ 170.32 Net Cruise Costs per APCD $ 127.48 $ 120.90 Net Debt-to-Capital was calculated as follows (in thousands): Quarter Ended March 31, ----------------------------- 2007 2006 ------------ ------------ Long-term debt, net of current portion $ 4,845,962 $ 3,592,772 Current portion of long-term debt 523,142 595,653 ------------ ------------ Total debt 5,369,104 4,188,425 Less: Cash and cash equivalents 199,616 271,977 ------------ ------------ Net Debt $ 5,169,488 $ 3,916,448 ============ ============ Total shareholders' equity, "Capital" $ 6,096,067 $ 5,694,709 Debt 5,369,104 4,188,425 ------------ ------------ Debt and Capital 11,465,171 9,883,134 ============ ============ Debt-to-Capital 46.8% 42.4% Net Debt 5,169,488 3,916,448 ------------ ------------ Net Debt and Capital $11,265,555 $ 9,611,157 ============ ============ Net Debt-to-Capital 45.9% 40.7%

Web site: http://www.royalcaribbean.com