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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 5 lowered, 10 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Third quarter EPS and revenue reported: Diluted EPS was $5.74 and Adjusted EPS $5.75, with total revenues of $5.1 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 billion; diluted EPS was $4.21 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year EPS raise tied to quarter: Management said the raised full-year Adjusted EPS guidance is mainly driven by third quarter performance, which more than offsets minimal fourth-quarter weather impact. Source
  • Results above company's guidance: Management said third quarter results were above guidance, mainly on higher-than-expected close-in demand and lower costs. Source
  • Close-in bookings accelerated since last call: Bookings rose on both new and like-for-like hardware since the last call, with particular acceleration for close-in sailings. Source
  • Net yields rose on hardware and onboard: Net Yields rose 2.8% as-reported and 2.4% in Constant Currency, mainly from like-for-like hardware, supported by ticket pricing and onboard spend. Source
  • Cost growth below company guidance: Excluding fuel, net cruise costs per APCD rose 4.8% as-reported, about 200 bps below guidance, which management attributed to execution and cost management. Source
  • Royal Beach Club Santorini announced: Royal Beach Club Santorini, opening summer 2026, adds an Ultimate Santorini Day, and land-based destinations rise from two to eight by 2028. Source

“We continue to see strong momentum across our business, powered by accelerated demand, growing loyalty, and guest satisfaction that is at all-time highs.”

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2025$15.58 to $15.63Raised from $15.41 to $15.55
Net Yields Sourcefull year 20253.5% to 4.0%Kept
NCC excluding fuel per APCD Sourcefull year 2025approximately 0.1% as-reported; approximately (0.1%) Constant CurrencyLowered from approximately 0.5% as-reported; approximately 0.3% Constant Currency
NCC per APCD including fuel Sourcefull year 2025approximately (1.0%) as-reported; approximately (1.2%) Constant CurrencyLowered from approximately (0.6%) as-reported; approximately (0.8%) Constant Currency
Capacity Sourcefull year 20255.5%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2025approximately $5 billionKept
Non-new ship capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2025approximately $1.5 billionLowered from $1.6 billion
Capacity change Source20266%Kept
Capacity change Source20274%Lowered from 5%
Capacity change Source20286%Kept
Adjusted EPS Source2026$17 handleNew
Capacity change Sourcefourth quarter 202510.3%New
Net Yields Sourcefourth quarter 20252.6% to 3.1% as-reported; 2.2% to 2.7% Constant CurrencyNew
NCC excluding fuel per APCD Sourcefourth quarter 2025(6.2%) to (5.7%) as-reported; (6.6%) to (6.1%) Constant CurrencyNew
NCC per APCD including fuel Sourcefourth quarter 2025(6.6%) to (6.1%) as-reported; (6.9%) to (6.4%) Constant CurrencyNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2025$2.74 to $2.79New
Fuel expense Sourcefourth quarter 2025$286 million at 438,000 metric tonsNew
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefourth quarter 2025$445 million to $455 millionNew
Net interest, excluding loss on extinguishment of debt Sourcefourth quarter 2025$245 million to $255 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2025$1,705 million to $1,715 millionRaised from $1,700 million to $1,710 million
Net interest, excluding loss on extinguishment of debt Sourcefull year 2025$945 million to $955 millionRaised from $930 million to $940 million
Fuel expense and consumption Sourcefull year 2025$1,140 million on 1,712,000 metric tonsLowered from $1,143 million on 1,718,000 metric tons
APCDs Sourcefourth quarter 202514.0 millionNew
Net Yield sensitivity Sourcefull year 2025$141 million per 1% changeKept
Fuel hedged via swaps Source202826%Raised from 16%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance raised to $15.58 to $15.63 from $15.41 to $15.55. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year cost growth excluding fuel per APCD lowered to about 0.1% as-reported from about 0.5%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Non-new ship capital expenditures lowered to about $1.5 billion from $1.6 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance started at $2.74 to $2.79. Source
  • New guidance: 2026 earnings per share guidance started, with a $17 handle. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2025 Net Yields guidance unchanged at 3.5% to 4.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year depreciation and amortization guidance raised to $1,705 million to $1,715 million. Source
  • New: Royal Beach Club Santorini announced, set to open in summer 2026 for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity guests. Source
  • New: Quarterly dividend increased 33% to $1.00 per common share, authorized by the board in September. Source
  • New: Costa Maya acquisition in Mexico closed during the third quarter. Source
  • New: Senior unsecured notes issued in October 2025, with proceeds used to finance Celebrity Xcel delivery and refinance other debt. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Third quarter EPS and revenue reported: Diluted EPS was $5.74 and Adjusted EPS $5.75, with total revenues of $5.1 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 billion; diluted EPS was $4.21 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year EPS raise tied to quarter: Management said the raised full-year Adjusted EPS guidance is mainly driven by third quarter performance, which more than offsets minimal fourth-quarter weather impact. Source
  • Results above company's guidance: Management said third quarter results were above guidance, mainly on higher-than-expected close-in demand and lower costs. Source
  • Load factor and guest count rose: Load factor was 112%, up one point; passengers carried rose 7% to 2.5 million, and new ships carry higher load factors. Source

Bookings and demand

  • Close-in bookings accelerated since last call: Bookings rose on both new and like-for-like hardware since the last call, with particular acceleration for close-in sailings. Source
  • 2026 bookings at higher rates: 2026 bookings are well above prior-year rates, with year-over-year rate growth at the high end of historical ranges. Source
  • Booked load factors within historical ranges: Booked load factors for 2025 and 2026 remain within historical ranges, at the record rates management describes. Source
  • Management encouraged by pricing environment: Management said it continues to be encouraged by demand and pricing for its vacation experiences. Source

“We believe our strong balance sheet allows us the flexibility to continue to invest in growth and innovation, expand capital return to shareholders, and maintain investment grade balance sheet metrics,”

Naftali Holtz, chief financial officer, Royal Caribbean Group

Onboard spend and products

  • Onboard and pre-cruise spend higher: Onboard and pre-cruise spend continues to exceed prior years through greater participation at higher prices, management said. Source
  • Digital channels dominate pre-cruise sales: Nearly 90% of pre-cruise purchases were made through digital channels, and about half of third quarter onboard revenue was booked before sailing. Source
  • Star of the Seas and Celebrity River sold well: Management cited the launch of Star of the Seas and the response to Celebrity River, where all initially available deployment sold out almost immediately. Source

Costs, yields and margins

  • Net yields rose on hardware and onboard: Net Yields rose 2.8% as-reported and 2.4% in Constant Currency, mainly from like-for-like hardware, supported by ticket pricing and onboard spend. Source
  • Cost growth below company guidance: Excluding fuel, net cruise costs per APCD rose 4.8% as-reported, about 200 bps below guidance, which management attributed to execution and cost management. Source
  • Gross margin yields rose 3.8%: Gross Margin Yields rose 3.8% as-reported, while Gross Cruise Costs per APCD rose 2.7% as-reported versus the third quarter of 2024. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reported: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 44.6% in the quarter, compared with 44.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Fuel price and consumption in quarter: Net bunker price was $694 per metric ton on consumption of 428,000 metric tons; third quarter fuel expense was $297 million. Source

“Looking ahead, while it's still early in the planning process, our strong booked position gives us confidence for 2026 and beyond.”

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty

Fuel, capacity and fleet

  • Third quarter capacity up 2.9%: Capacity rose 2.9% year over year, and management said the fourth-quarter increase reflects Star of the Seas introduced in the third quarter. Source
  • Fleet of 68 ships: The company operates 68 ships across five brands, travelling to all seven continents. Source
  • Hedge cost per metric ton: The hedge portfolio's average cost is about $480 per metric ton for 2025, $474 for 2026, $393 for 2027 and $416 for 2028. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Liquidity and shareholder returns: Liquidity was $6.8 billion at September 30, 2025, and the company has returned $1.6 billion to shareholders since July 2024 through dividends and repurchases. Source
  • Buybacks and remaining authorization: The company repurchased about 1.3 million shares in the quarter and had about $345 million remaining under its current authorization at September 30. Source
  • Rating actions after October notes: S&P moved its rating view on the company to Positive and affirmed BBB-; Fitch upgraded the company to BBB with a Stable view. Source
  • Debt maturities schedule: Scheduled debt maturities as of June 30, 2025 were $0.5 billion for the rest of 2025, $3.1 billion in 2026, $2.7 billion in 2027 and $3.2 billion in 2028. Source

Strategy and destinations

  • Royal Beach Club Santorini announced: Royal Beach Club Santorini, opening summer 2026, adds an Ultimate Santorini Day, and land-based destinations rise from two to eight by 2028. Source
  • Perfecta targets tied to 2026 expectation: The CEO said the 2026 expectation positions the company well to achieve its 2027 Perfecta targets, which set 20% Adjusted EPS compound growth versus 2024 and ROIC of 17% or higher. Source
  • Investing in ships, destinations and technology: Management said ships, destinations, technology and AI are meant to strengthen loyalty, attract new travelers and win share of the vacation market. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 October 2025

  • Royal Beach Club Bahamas launch this December: Management said the first Royal Beach Club experience is readying to launch in The Bahamas this December. Source
  • Celebrity Xcel enters service mid-November: Celebrity Xcel is due in mid-November and is one driver of the 10.3% fourth-quarter capacity increase. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Passengers carried, third quarter Source2,466,039
Load factor (occupancy) Source112.1%
Capacity change (APCD) Source2.9%
Net Yields change Source2.8% as-reported; 2.4% Constant Currency
Net Yields per APCD Source$301.58
Fuel consumption Source428,000 metric tons
Bunker price net of hedging Source$694 per metric ton
Fleet Source68 ships

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: The temporary closure of an exclusive Labadee, Haiti destination was extended on an unplanned basis, affecting fourth-quarter results. Source
  • External: Fourth-quarter Net Yield growth is marginally affected by weather events, alongside the Labadee closure extension. Source
  • Financial: The company does not forecast fuel prices; its fuel cost calculations use current at-the-pump prices, net of hedging, so fuel cost moves with those prices. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the quarter's Net Yield growth was driven by like-for-like hardware, as it had expected. Source
  • Ahead: Cost growth was nearly 200 bps below the company's guidance, which management attributed to execution. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the 2026 expectation positions the company to achieve its 2027 Perfecta targets, without stating a status. 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.