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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 11 lowered, 9 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance moved to $17.73 to $17.87 from $17.10 to $17.50 in April, which the company linked to the stronger second quarter and improved expectations for the rest of the year. Source
  • Second quarter ahead of guidance: Management said results were above its guidance, citing close-in demand, lower costs and favorable joint venture performance. Source
  • Revenue up 6%, full-year growth trimmed: Second-quarter revenue was $4.8 billion, up 6%, with load factor at 110%. Full-year revenue growth is now expected at 9%, down from roughly 10%. Source
  • Third-quarter Adjusted EPS guided: Third-quarter Adjusted EPS is guided to $6.26 to $6.36, a range first given in this release, based on current fuel prices, rates and exchange rates. Source
  • Geopolitics dented select bookings: Bookings for select itineraries saw a modest, near-term impact from prolonged geopolitical activity, and the full-year guidance incorporates that impact. Source
  • Legend of the Seas launched: Legend of the Seas was delivered in the second quarter and launched earlier this month as the third ship in the Icon class. Source
  • Capital spending cut to $4.7 billion: Full-year capital expenditures are now about $4.7 billion, from $5 billion in April, mostly for the new ship order book and land-based destinations. Non-new ship spending is $1.6 billion, down from $1.8 billion. Source

“We expect another year of approximately double-digit growth in revenue and earnings, driven by consumers' preference for our leading brands”

Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$17.73 to $17.87Raised from $17.10 to $17.50
Revenue growth Sourcefull year 20269%Lowered from roughly 10%
Net Yields, as-reported Sourcefull year 20262.35% to 2.85%Lowered from 2.3% to 3.3%
Net Yields, constant currency Sourcefull year 20261.75% to 2.25%
Net Cruise Costs per APCD excluding fuel, as-reported Sourcefull year 2026approximately 0.4%Lowered from approximately 0.5%
Net Cruise Costs per APCD excluding fuel, constant currency Sourcefull year 2026approximately flatKept
Net Cruise Costs per APCD including fuel, as-reported Sourcefull year 2026approximately 1.7%Lowered from approximately 1.9%
Net Cruise Costs per APCD including fuel, constant currency Sourcefull year 2026approximately 1.4%Lowered from approximately 1.5%
Fuel expense Sourcefull year 2026$1,338 millionLowered from $1,349 million
Fuel consumption Sourcefull year 20261,756,000 metric tonsRaised from 1,755,000 metric tons
Capacity change vs. 2025 Sourcefull year 20266.6%Lowered from 6.7%
APCDs Sourcefull year 202656.9 millionKept
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026$1,905 to $1,915 millionLowered from $1,910 to $1,920 million
Net interest, excluding loss on extinguishment of debt Sourcefull year 2026$980 to $990 millionLowered from $985 to $995 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $4.7 billionLowered from approximately $5 billion
Non-new ship related capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$1.6 billionLowered from $1.8 billion
Net Yields Sourcethird quarter 2026approximately flat as-reported and in constant currencyNew
Total revenue growth Sourcethird quarter 20268%New
Net Cruise Costs per APCD including fuel Sourcethird quarter 20260.3% to 0.8% as-reported; 0.4% to 0.9% constant currencyNew
Net Cruise Costs per APCD excluding fuel Sourcethird quarter 2026(1.7)% to (1.2)% as-reported; (1.6)% to (1.1)% constant currencyNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcethird quarter 2026$6.26 to $6.36New
APCDs and capacity change Sourcethird quarter 202614.9 million APCDs; capacity change 8.5%New
Depreciation and amortization Sourcethird quarter 2026$485 to $495 millionNew
Net interest, excluding loss on extinguishment of debt Sourcethird quarter 2026$255 to $265 millionNew
Fuel expense Sourcethird quarter 2026$362 million at 441,000 metric tonsNew
Capacity changes Source2027, 2028 and 20294%, 6% and 7%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance was raised to $17.73 to $17.87 from $17.10 to $17.50. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year revenue growth guidance was lowered to 9% from roughly 10%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year Net Cruise Costs per APCD including fuel were lowered to about 1.7% as reported from about 1.9%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year fuel expense guidance was lowered to $1,338 million from $1,349 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year capacity change guidance was lowered to 6.6% from 6.7%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year capital expenditures guidance was lowered to about $4.7 billion from $5 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Non-new ship related capital expenditures guidance was lowered to $1.6 billion from $1.8 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter guidance was added, including Adjusted EPS of $6.26 to $6.36; the April release had given second-quarter guidance only. Source
  • New: Icon VII now has committed financing in place; the April release described its order as subject to closing conditions including financing. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance moved to $17.73 to $17.87 from $17.10 to $17.50 in April, which the company linked to the stronger second quarter and improved expectations for the rest of the year. Source
  • Second quarter ahead of guidance: Management said results were above its guidance, citing close-in demand, lower costs and favorable joint venture performance. Source
  • Revenue up 6%, full-year growth trimmed: Second-quarter revenue was $4.8 billion, up 6%, with load factor at 110%. Full-year revenue growth is now expected at 9%, down from roughly 10%. Source
  • Third-quarter Adjusted EPS guided: Third-quarter Adjusted EPS is guided to $6.26 to $6.36, a range first given in this release, based on current fuel prices, rates and exchange rates. Source
  • Net income and Adjusted EBITDA: Net income was $1.1 billion, or $4.20 diluted per share, against $4.41 a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 billion, a 37.9% margin against 40.8%. Source

Demand and bookings

  • Booked at record prices: Management said the company is booked at record prices, with booking volumes above last year and load factors steady across the vacation portfolio. Source
  • Geopolitics dented select bookings: Bookings for select itineraries saw a modest, near-term impact from prolonged geopolitical activity, and the full-year guidance incorporates that impact. Source
  • Onboard and destination spending cited: Onboard and destination spending was described as a continuing benefit, supported by product enhancements and more targeted pre-cruise engagement. Source

“Its successful debut represents another important milestone in the execution of our innovation pipeline as we continue to redefine the vacation experience.”

Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group

Yields and pricing

  • Net yields up 1.9% in quarter: Net Yields rose 1.9% as reported and 1.2% in constant currency, while Gross Margin Yields fell 5.6% as reported. Management said yield growth exceeded guidance, mainly on close-in demand. Source
  • Third-quarter yields guided flat: Third-quarter Net Yields are expected to be about flat, which the company links to continued healthy demand and pricing at record levels. Source
  • Full-year yield range narrowed: Full-year Net Yields are now expected to rise 2.35% to 2.85% as reported, a narrower range with a lower midpoint than April's 2.3% to 3.3%. Source

Costs, fuel and hedging

  • Second-quarter costs helped by timing: Net cruise costs excluding fuel per APCD rose 4.4% as reported and 3.9% in constant currency. Management attributed the better-than-expected cost result mainly to expense timing. Source
  • Full-year fuel expense trimmed: Full-year fuel expense is now $1,338 million on 1,756,000 metric tons, against $1,349 million previously. The company does not forecast fuel prices and uses current at-the-pump rates. Source
  • Swap hedges average cost per ton: The swap portfolio's average cost is about $474 per metric ton for 2026 and $405 for 2027, with 58% and 53% of forecast consumption hedged. Source
  • Full-year cost growth guided lower: Full-year net cruise costs per APCD including fuel are now expected to rise about 1.7% as reported and 1.4% in constant currency, down from 1.9% and 1.5% in April. Source

“While still very early, booking trends for 2027 are encouraging and pacing ahead of historical levels, including for itineraries where demand was impacted by geopolitical developments this year.”

Naftali Holtz, Chief Financial Officer, Royal Caribbean Group

Fleet and capacity

  • Legend of the Seas launched: Legend of the Seas was delivered in the second quarter and launched earlier this month as the third ship in the Icon class. Source
  • Fleet grows to 71 ships: The company now operates 71 ships, up from 69 in the April release, sailing to more than 1,000 destinations. Source
  • Second-quarter capacity up 5%: Capacity rose 5% year over year in the second quarter, to 13.6 million APCDs. Full-year capacity change is now 6.6%, down from 6.7%. Source

Regions and joint ventures

  • Joint venture equity income lower: Equity investment income was $67 million in the quarter, against $107 million a year earlier. The company lists joint ventures among the factors behind results above guidance. Source
  • Regional bookings named in April: The April release said Mediterranean bookings were moderating after geopolitical developments. This release describes only select itineraries without naming regions.
  • Mediterranean bookings rebounding: The April release said Mediterranean bookings were rebounding for limited remaining inventory, and that these itineraries mainly affect the second and third quarters.

Capital, liquidity and shareholder returns

  • Liquidity at $6.9 billion: Liquidity was $6.9 billion at June 30, including cash and undrawn revolver capacity. The revolving facility rose by $250 million in July to $6.6 billion total capacity. Source
  • Shareholder returns above $600 million: The company returned over $600 million in the quarter: $199 million of buybacks for 0.8 million shares and $404 million of dividends. $805 million of authorization remains. Source
  • Capital spending cut to $4.7 billion: Full-year capital expenditures are now about $4.7 billion, from $5 billion in April, mostly for the new ship order book and land-based destinations. Non-new ship spending is $1.6 billion, down from $1.8 billion. Source
  • Debt maturities by year: Scheduled debt maturities at June 30 are $0.9 billion for 2026, $2.7 billion for 2027, $3.4 billion for 2028, $1.2 billion for 2029 and $1.3 billion for 2030. Source

Strategy, loyalty and destinations

  • Loyalty and technology to deepen engagement: Management said loyalty and technology platforms are meant to deepen guest engagement, raise repeat rates and capture more of a $2 trillion global vacation market. Source
  • Perfecta targets tracked: The company reports a 23% Adjusted EPS CAGR over the first two years of its Perfecta program, which targets 20% from 2024 to 2027 and ROIC in the high teens by 2027. Source
  • Royal ONE card added to loyalty: The April release cited the recent introduction of the Royal ONE credit card as a step to enhance the loyalty ecosystem.

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • River cruising starts in 2027: The company will enter river cruising in 2027 with Celebrity River Cruises. Source
  • Private destinations rise to eight: The company is expanding private destinations from three to eight by 2028 through its Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club collections. Source
  • Capacity steps for 2027 to 2029: Capacity is expected to change 4% in 2027, 6% in 2028 and 7% in 2029, before any ship sales or additions the company may elect. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Passengers carried (second quarter) Source2,399,066
APCDs, capacity (second quarter) Source13,572,396
Load factor (second quarter) Source110%
Net Yields (second quarter, per unit) Source$288.95
Fuel expense (second quarter) Source$355 million
Bunker price, net of hedging (second quarter) Source$839 per metric ton
Fuel consumption (second quarter) Source422,000 metric tons
Fleet Source71 ships

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Prolonged geopolitical activity has had a modest, near-term effect on bookings for select itineraries, and the full-year guidance reflects it. Source
  • External: Fuel expense guidance uses current at-the-pump prices net of hedging, and the company does not forecast fuel prices. Source
  • Financial: Sensitivities given: a 1% currency change is $8 million for the third quarter and $14 million for the rest of 2026; a 10% fuel price change is $13 million and $26 million. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter results were better than its guidance, which the April release set at $3.83 to $3.93 Adjusted EPS. Source
  • Ahead: Net Yield growth came in above the April guidance, which management attributed mainly to better than expected close-in demand. Source
  • Met: The April release expected delivery of Legend of the Seas in the second quarter; the company reports that delivery took place during that quarter. 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.