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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 2 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 20 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose, GAAP earnings fell: Full-year total revenue rose 3.7% to $9.8 billion, mainly from higher Capacity Days. GAAP net income was $423.2 million against $910.3 million in 2024, with diluted EPS of $0.92. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS both rose: Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to $2.73 billion, above the $2.72 billion guidance. Adjusted EPS rose 19% to $2.11, above guidance of $2.10. Adjusted Net Income was $1.045 billion. Source
  • Gross margin per unit rose: Gross margin per Capacity Day rose 6.3% as reported and 7.1% in constant currency for the full year. Gross Cruise Costs per Capacity Day fell to about $294 from $304. Source
  • Booking environment below optimal range: Management said the company enters 2026 slightly below its optimal booking range, while longer-term demand trends remain constructive according to the release. Source
  • Caribbean capacity rise weighs on Q1: First-quarter Net Yield is guided down about 1.6% in constant currency, mainly from absorbing a 40% year-over-year rise in Caribbean capacity. Source
  • Net leverage 5.3x at year-end: Total debt was $14.6 billion and Net Debt $14.4 billion at December 31, 2025, giving Net Leverage of 5.3x. Source
  • Chidsey named CEO in February: John W. Chidsey, a director since 2025, became President and CEO in February, succeeding Harry Sommer, who also left the Board.

“As I step into this new role my initial assessment is that our strategy is sound, but execution and cross-functional alignment have fallen short.”

John W. Chidsey, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Yield, Constant Currency SourceFull year 2026approximately flat (Constant Currency); ~0.4% as reportedNew
Net Yield, Constant Currency SourceFirst quarter 2026~(1.6%) Constant Currency; ~(1.0%) as reportedNew
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day SourceFull year 2026~0.9% Constant Currency; ~1.4% as reportedNew
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day SourceFirst quarter 2026~(0.8%) Constant Currency; ~0.0% as reportedNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026~$2.95 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFirst quarter 2026~$515 millionNew
Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin SourceFirst quarter 2026~29%New
Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin SourceFull year 2026~37%New
Adjusted Net Income SourceFull year 2026~$1.12 billion (table: ~$1,116 million)New
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$2.38New
Adjusted EPS SourceFirst quarter 2026~$0.16New
Net Leverage SourceYear-end 2026~5.2xNew
Occupancy SourceFull year 2026105.7%New
Occupancy SourceFirst quarter 2026~104.2%New
Capacity Days SourceFirst quarter 2026 and full year 2026~6.39 million (Q1); ~26.25 million (full year)New
Depreciation and amortization; interest expense SourceFull year 2026D&A ~$1,085 million; interest expense, net ~$708 millionNew
Fuel consumption SourceFull year 20261,020,000 metric tonsNew
Fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges SourceFull year 2026$670New
Fuel hedging Source2026 and 202751% of 2026 consumption; 27% of 2027 consumption
Fuel price sensitivity SourceFull year 2026$0.07 Adjusted EPS per 10% change in fuel pricesNew
Newbuild-and-growth capital expenditures, gross SourceFull year 2026~$2.8 billion
Other capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026~$540 million
Sensitivity of Adjusted EBITDA and EPS to Net Yield SourceFull year 2026~$79 million EBITDA; ~$0.17 Adjusted EPS per 1% changeNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was set in this release, with Adjusted EPS expected at $2.38. Source
  • New: John W. Chidsey, a director of NCLH, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
  • Ended: Harry Sommer stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director.
  • New: The company ordered three new cruise ships, one for each brand, for delivery in 2036 and 2037. Source
  • New: The first phase of enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas, was completed. Source
  • New: Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS now exclude net foreign currency remeasurement on euro-denominated debt, applied to 2024 comparatives. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose, GAAP earnings fell: Full-year total revenue rose 3.7% to $9.8 billion, mainly from higher Capacity Days. GAAP net income was $423.2 million against $910.3 million in 2024, with diluted EPS of $0.92. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS both rose: Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to $2.73 billion, above the $2.72 billion guidance. Adjusted EPS rose 19% to $2.11, above guidance of $2.10. Adjusted Net Income was $1.045 billion. Source
  • Fourth-quarter earnings and EBITDA rose: Fourth-quarter GAAP net income was $14.3 million against $254.5 million a year earlier, with diluted EPS of $0.03. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA rose 20% to $564 million. Source
  • Information technology write-off excluded: Adjusted Net Income excludes a $95.1 million loss on writing off certain information technology assets, which the company says is not representative of day-to-day operations. Source

Yield, costs and margins

  • Net yield landed in guided range: Full-year Net Yield rose about 2.3% as reported and 2.4% in constant currency, in line with 2.4-2.5% guidance. Fourth-quarter Net Yield rose about 4.0%, against 3.5-4.0% guidance. Source
  • Gross margin per unit rose: Gross margin per Capacity Day rose 6.3% as reported and 7.1% in constant currency for the full year. Gross Cruise Costs per Capacity Day fell to about $294 from $304. Source
  • Cost excluding fuel edged up: Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day was about $162 as reported, up 1.0%, or 0.7% in constant currency, against $160 in 2024. Source
  • Fuel price rose, consumption below projections: Fuel expense was $168 million in the fourth quarter. Net-of-hedge fuel price per metric ton rose to $662 from $641, while fourth-quarter consumption of 253,000 metric tons was below projections. Source

“Our priority is to act urgently to address these gaps by improving coordination, reinforcing accountability, and strengthening financial discipline across the organization.”

John W. Chidsey, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Demand and bookings

  • Booking environment below optimal range: Management said the company enters 2026 slightly below its optimal booking range, while longer-term demand trends remain constructive according to the release. Source
  • Occupancy rose in the fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter Occupancy reached 101.8%, a 100 basis point increase on 2024. Management attributes the higher load factors to the company's deployment shift. Source
  • Luxury brands report booking records: Oceania recorded record bookings after opening sales for Oceania Sonata. Regent Seven Seas recorded its strongest booking month in January, and the release says luxury brands benefit from longer booking curves. Source

Brand and deployment in the first quarter

  • Caribbean capacity rise weighs on Q1: First-quarter Net Yield is guided down about 1.6% in constant currency, mainly from absorbing a 40% year-over-year rise in Caribbean capacity. Source
  • Great Stirrup Cay first phase completed: The first phase of enhancements is complete, including a new pier, the Great Life Lagoon pool area and the Splash Harbor kid's area. Source

“Our priorities in 2026 are centered around improving financial performance, overall execution and reducing Net Leverage.”

Mark A. Kempa, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Fleet and new ships

  • Three ships ordered for 2036-2037: The company ordered three new ships, one per brand, for delivery in 2036 and 2037. It expects to add 17 ships across its brands through 2037. Source
  • Seven Seas Prestige nearing completion: Seven Seas Prestige has floated out of dry-dock for the first time and is in its final construction stages, with its debut targeted for December 2026. Source
  • Norwegian Aura open for May 2027: Norwegian Aura, the longest and largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, is open for bookings for May 2027 sailings, with 3,879 guests at double occupancy. Source
  • Oceania Sonata sales record: Oceania Sonata's launch-day bookings were 45% above the previous record for Oceania Allura. The ship accommodates 1,390 guests and sails first in August 2027. Source

2026 targets and reset

  • Unit cost discipline framed as third year: Management describes the 2026 unit-cost target as the third consecutive year of sub-inflationary unit cost performance. Source
  • Incentive pay tied to Adjusted measures: Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure for incentive compensation, and Adjusted ROIC and Adjusted EPS are also used for that purpose. Source

Capital, liquidity and leverage

  • Net leverage 5.3x at year-end: Total debt was $14.6 billion and Net Debt $14.4 billion at December 31, 2025, giving Net Leverage of 5.3x. Source
  • Year-end liquidity of $1.6 billion: Liquidity was $1.6 billion at year-end, including about $210 million of cash and $1.4 billion available under the Revolving Loan Facility. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capital spending: Net cash from operating activities was $2.09 billion in 2025, while additions to property and equipment were $3.26 billion. Source

Leadership and strategy

  • Chidsey named CEO in February: John W. Chidsey, a director since 2025, became President and CEO in February, succeeding Harry Sommer, who also left the Board.
  • Leadership team enhanced with new talent: Management says it recently enhanced its leadership team with a combination of new and tenured talent. Source
  • Chidsey's prior Board service: Chidsey was appointed to the NCLH Board in February 2025 and previously served on it from 2013 to 2022.

Coming up, as management said on 2 March 2026

  • Great Tides Waterpark debut: Norwegian Cruise Line is on track to open the Great Tides Waterpark this summer. Source
  • Seven Seas Prestige debut: Seven Seas Prestige is set to debut in December 2026, after its final construction stages. Source
  • Norwegian Aura sailings from May 2027: Norwegian Aura is available for bookings for sailings starting in May 2027. Source
  • Oceania Sonata first voyage in 2027: Oceania Sonata is set to begin its initial voyage in August 2027. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management names a misalignment between the commercial strategy and deployment at the Norwegian brand as a cause of first-quarter pressure. Source
  • Operational: The company recorded a $95.1 million write-off of certain information technology assets in 2025. Source
  • Demand: Management says bookings sit slightly below the optimal range entering 2026, and the first quarter absorbs higher Caribbean capacity. Source
  • Financial: Most euro-denominated debt is primarily unhedged, and the company expects future ship deliveries to carry euro-denominated debt. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA came in above the $2.72 billion guidance figure. Source
  • Ahead: Full-year Adjusted EPS was above the $2.10 guidance figure. Source
  • Ahead: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was above the $555 million guidance figure. Source
  • On track: Management states the Great Tides Waterpark debut remains on track for this summer. Source
  • Not stated: Fuel consumption of 253,000 metric tons was reported as below projections for the period. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.