UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

____________

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant To Section 13 Or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 27, 2005

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

_____________________________________________

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

Republic of Liberia

_______________________________________________

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-11884

98-0081645



(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida

33132.



(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 305-539-6000

Not Applicable

____________________________________________________

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


 

o

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

 

 

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

 

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

 

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


 


 

 

Section 2 – Financial Information


Item 2.02  

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On July 27, 2005, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. issued a press release entitled “Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings.” A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. This information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not incorporated by reference into any filing of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., whether made before or after the filing of this report, regardless of any general incorporation language in the filing.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)

Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1 – Press release entitled “ Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings” dated July 27, 2005 (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02).

 

 

 



 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 

 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 July 27, 2005

By:

/s/ LUIS E. LEON

 

 


 

 

 

Name:

Luis E. Leon

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



 

Exhibit 99.1

 

News From

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Corporate Communications Office

1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida 33132-2096

 

Contact: Lynn Martenstein or Dan Mathewes

(305) 539-6570 or (305) 539-6153

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN REPORTS RECORD SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

 

MIAMI – (July 27, 2005) – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) announced today that net income for the second quarter of 2005 was $154.5 million, or $0.71 per share. This compares to $122.2 million, or $0.58 per share, for the second quarter of 2004. Revenues for the second quarter of 2005 increased 5.3% to $1.2 billion from revenues of $1.1 billion in the second quarter of 2004. The increase in revenues was attributable to an increase in cruise ticket prices and onboard revenues. Gross Yields and Net Yields for the second quarter of 2005 increased 5.6% and 6.3% from the second quarter of 2004, respectively.

 

“Clearly we had an excellent quarter that exceeded our expectations,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. “Despite the spike in fuel prices we are pleased to report a 26% increase in earnings with no increase in capacity.”

 

The company estimates that lost revenue and costs associated with previously disclosed cancelled/modified voyages reduced second quarter 2005 earnings per share by approximately $0.05.

 

Gross Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs, on a per APCD basis, for the second quarter of 2005 increased 4.9% and 5.7%, respectively, compared to the same quarter in 2004. The increase in these costs was primarily attributable to a 37% increase in “at-the-pump” prices of fuel during the quarter. Net of hedging benefits, fuel costs accounted for 4.1 percentage points of the increase in Net Cruise Costs and represented approximately 7.3% of total revenues. Net Cruise Costs per APCD were lower than previous expectations of an increase of approximately 8%.

 

 

 

 



During the quarter, the company’s net debt to capital dropped to approximately 46.5% from 49.6%, demonstrating the company’s success in strengthening its balance sheet.


Outlook

 

 

Current consumer demand remains strong and the company continues to enjoy price increases over those experienced in the prior year. Assuming there are no external shocks and current booking trends continue, the company reaffirms its prior estimates for Net Yields to increase in the range of 6% to 7% in 2005 compared to the prior year. The company currently expects Net Yields for the third quarter of 2005 will increase by approximately 6%.

 

Fuel costs remain unpredictable. At-the-pump fuel prices increased 37% in the second-quarter of 2005 compared to the second quarter of 2004. Prices have continued to rise and are currently about 30% higher than the average price for the second half of 2004. If fuel prices for the remainder of the year remain at today’s level, the company estimates that its fuel costs (net of hedging and fuel saving initiatives) will increase approximately $32 million and negatively impact earnings per share by $0.14 compared to the company’s last guidance. Based on this fuel assumption, the company estimates that Net Cruise Costs per APCD for 2005 will increase in the range of 6% to 7% as compared to the prior year. Higher fuel costs account for approximately 4 percentage points of this increase. The company’s expectations for Net Cruise Costs excluding fuel have not changed from previous guidance despite incurring costs associated with vessel incidents.

 

Based on the aforementioned fuel assumption, the company estimates that Net Cruise Costs per APCD for the third quarter of 2005 will increase approximately 9%, compared to the same quarter in 2004. Higher fuel costs account for approximately 5 percentage points of this increase.


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Depreciation and amortization is expected to be in the range of $405 to $415 million and net interest expense is expected to be in the range of $285 to $295 million.

 

The company also announced several other factors that it expects to positively impact 2005:

 

 

First Choice Holidays PLC (“First Choice”) has called for redemption in full of its 6.75% convertible preferred shares (“Convertible Preferred Shares”) effective immediately. Upon redemption, Royal Caribbean will receive $348.0 million in cash, resulting in a gain of $44.2 million, or $0.19 per share. As a result of this redemption, the company will no longer receive dividends associated with the Convertible Preferred Shares, which were approximately $6.0 million on a quarterly basis. The decrease in dividend income is expected to negatively impact 2005 earnings per share by approximately $0.04. The decrease in dividend income will be partially offset by interest benefits resulting from the additional liquidity provided by the redemption. Accordingly, the total impact on 2005 earnings per share relating to the redemption of the First Choice Convertible Preferred Shares is expected to be an improvement of approximately $0.17.

 

Royal Caribbean has been an important investor in First Choice for the last five years and has a successful joint venture cruise line with them, Island Cruises. This venture continues to do well and will be expanding later this year with the addition of Horizon.


The company also announced today that it has called for a partial redemption of its Liquid Yield Option Notes due February 2, 2021 (“LYONs”) equal to approximately $182 million of the accreted balance of outstanding LYONs. The LYONs will be redeemed on a pro rata basis and the redemption date is August 11, 2005. Notices of redemption are being mailed to holders of the LYONs today.

 

The LYONs called for redemption are convertible into shares of the company’s common stock at a conversion rate of 11.7152 shares per LYON. The company expects that most holders of LYONs will choose to convert their portion of LYONs to be redeemed into common stock of the company rather than be redeemed for cash. If all the LYONs called for redemption were to be converted into common shares of


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the company’s stock, this would result in the issuance of approximately 4.5 million shares. For those holders of LYONs who choose not to convert, the company will pay the redemption price in cash equal to the LYON’s original issue price plus accrued original issue discount accreted through and including August 11, 2005. The redemption price is $474.64 per LYON.

 

The company also announced today that, following the redemption date of the LYONs, it expects to implement an orderly program to repurchase up to $250 million of its common stock, which could include open market purchases, an accelerated share repurchase program, or a tender offer.

 

The total impact of the First Choice, LYONs and share repurchase transactions is expected to be neutral to 2006 earnings per share.

 

Based upon the expectations and assumptions relating to fuel prices contained in this outlook section, management expects full year 2005 earnings per share to be in the range of $2.70 to $2.80 and third quarter 2005 earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.45 to $1.50.

 

Looking forward to the 2006 booking environment, demand for products of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises remains strong. The company continues to generate solid demand for its products, resulting in pricing that is ahead of its level at the same time last year. While the company does not have enough visibility to provide specific yield guidance for 2006, demand remains stronger than at the same time last year and early indications point to a positive yield environment.

 


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The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. eastern daylight time today to discuss its earnings. This call can be listened to live or on a delayed basis, on the company’s investor relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com.

 

Terminology and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

 

Available Passenger Cruise Days (“APCD”)

Available Passenger Cruise Days are the company’s 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. The company utilizes Net Yields to manage its business on a day-to-day basis and believes that it is the most relevant measure of its pricing performance because it reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant variable costs. The company has 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, the company does 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 the company’s ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, the company believes changes in Net Cruise Costs to be the most relevant indicator of its performance. The company has 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, the company does not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.


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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 vacation industry practice, is calculated by dividing Passenger Cruise Days by APCD. A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a combined total of 29 ships in service and two under construction and one on firm order. The company also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe through its cruise-tour division. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

 

Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek” and similar expressions are intended to identify these 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. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: 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), our ability to obtain financing on terms that are favorable or consistent with our expectations, changes in our stock price or principal stockholders, the impact of changes in operating and financing costs (including changes in foreign currency, interest rates, fuel, food, payroll, insurance and security costs), weather, the implementation of regulations in the United States requiring United States citizens to obtain passports for travel to additional foreign destinations, 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

(####)


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ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Second Quarter Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 


 


 

2005

2004

 

2005

2004

 



 



Passenger ticket revenues

$ 887,952

$ 844,554

 

$ 1,760,624

$ 1,634,647

Onboard and other revenues

315,290

298,445

 

610,695

570,036

 



 



Total revenues

1,203,242

1,142,999

 

2,371,319

2,204,683

 



 



Cruise operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions, transportation      and other

212,099

206,552

 

425,671

410,456

Onboard and other

80,189

77,294

 

141,143

135,177

Payroll and related

126,287

123,987

 

254,072

239,929

Food

65,216

65,755

 

132,784

131,591

Other operating

257,125

233,843

 

494,628

444,677

 



 



Total cruise operating              expenses

740,916

707,431

 

1,448,298

1,361,830

Marketing, selling and administrative expenses

148,962

143,321

 

310,492

293,559

Depreciation and amortization     expenses

99,975

97,661

 

199,737

194,240

 



 



Operating Income

213,389

194,586

 

412,792

355,054

 



 



Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

1,398

1,333

 

3,845

2,782

Interest expense, net of interest      capitalized

(68,742)

(77,146)

 

(144,031)

(152,886)

Other income

8,449

3,386

 

17,231

13,055

 



 



 

(58,895)

(72,427)

 

(122,955)

(137,049)

 



 



Net Income

$ 154,494

$ 122,159

 

$ 289,837

$ 218,005

 



 



Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$ 0.76

$ 0.61

 

$ 1.43

$ 1.10

 



 



Diluted

$ 0.71

$ 0.58

 

$ 1.34

$ 1.05

 



 



Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

202,989

198,786

 

202,308

198,106

 



 



Diluted

235,970

234,381

 

236,091

233,986

 



 




STATISTICS

Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,


2005 2004 2005 2004




Occupancy       106.9 %   106.2 %   106.3 %   105.2 %
Passenger Cruise Days       5,664,615     5,639,115     11,437,572     11,151,164  
APCD       5,296,700     5,312,326     10,758,712     10,601,862  

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ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

As of

 


 

June 30,

December 31,

 

2005

2004

 



 

(unaudited)

 

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

$      298,028

 

 

$      628,578

Trade and other receivables, net

82,933

84,899

Inventories

67,544

60,260

Prepaid expenses and other assets

130,201

86,869

 



Total current assets

578,706

860,606

Property and equipment — at cost less accumulated

depreciation and amortization

 

10,153,424

 

10,193,443

Goodwill — less accumulated amortization of $138,606

278,561

278,561

Other assets

580,847

631,474

 



 

$11,591,538

$11,964,084

 



Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

Current liabilities

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$      404,575

 

$      905,374

Accounts payable

178,508

162,973

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

321,166

330,073

Customer deposits

1,152,612

875,082

 



Total current liabilities

2,056,861

2,273,502

Long-term debt

4,330,355

4,826,570

Other long-term liabilities

103,203

59,492

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

Shareholders’ equity

Common stock ($.01 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 205,925,976 and 201,253,140 shares issued)

 

 

2,059

 

 

2,012

Paid-in capital

2,342,051

2,206,157

Retained earnings

2,770,124

2,533,265

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(4,558)

71,363

Treasury stock (616,728 and 596,556 common shares at cost)

(8,557)

(8,277)

 



Total shareholders’ equity

5,101,119

4,804,520

 



 

$11,591,538

$11,964,084

 



 

 

 

 


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ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited, in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

June 30,

 

 


 

 

2005

2004

 



 

 

Operating Activities

Net income

 

$ 289,837

 

$ 218,005

Adjustments:

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

199,737

194,240

 

Accretion of original issue discount on debt

26,606

25,401

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

Increase in trade and other receivables, net

(1,410)

(5,686)

 

Increase in inventories

(7,284)

(11,518)

 

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

(37,066)

(43,192)

 

Increase in accounts payable

14,885

6,555

 

(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

(3,194)

19,112

 

Increase in customer deposits

277,530

307,227

 

Other, net

11,601

244

 

 



 

Net cash provided by operating activities

771,242

710,388

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

Purchases of property and equipment

(152,451)

(476,002)

 

Purchases of short-term investments

(56,500)

(538,694)

 

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

56,500

311,950

 

Other, net

(7,850)

(3,951)

 

 



 

Net cash used in investing activities

(160,301)

(706,697)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Repayments of long-term debt, net

(900,492)

(93,724)

 

Net proceeds from issuance of debt

-

225,000

 

Dividends

(54,807)

(54,321)

 

Proceeds from exercise of common stock options

15,319

55,329

 

Other, net

(1,511)

13,532

 

 



 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(941,491)

145,816

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(330,550)

149,507

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

628,578

330,086

 

 



 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$298,028

$479,593

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

 

 

Interest, net of amount capitalized

$ 125,293

$ 131,623

 

 



 

 

 


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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

Six Months Ended

 

June 30,

June 30,

 



 

2005

2004

2005

2004

 





Passenger ticket revenues

$887,952

$844,554

$1,760,624

$ 1,634,647

Onboard and other revenue

315,290

298,445

610,695

570,036

 





Total revenues

1,203,242

1,142,999

2,371,319

2,204,683

 





Less:

Commissions, transportation and other

212,099

206,552

425,671

410,456

Onboard and other

80,189

77,294

141,143

135,177

 





Net revenues

$910,954

$859,153

$1,804,505

$1,659,050

 





 

APCD

5,296,700

5,312,326

10,758,712

10,601,862

Gross Yields

$ 227.17

$ 215.16

$ 220.41

$ 207.95

Net Yields

$ 171.99

$ 161.73

$ 167.73

$ 156.49

 

Gross Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs were calculated as follows (in thousands, except APCD and costs per APCD):


 

Quarter Ended

Six Months Ended

 

June 30,

June 30,

 



 

2005

2004

2005

2004

 





Total cruise operating expenses

$740,916

$707,431

$1,448,298

$1,361,830

Marketing, selling and administrative    expenses

148,962

143,321

310,492

293,559

 





Gross Cruise Costs

889,878

850,752

1,758,790

1,655,389

 





Less:

Commissions, transportation and other

212,099

206,552

425,671

410,456

Onboard and other

80,189

77,294

141,143

135,177

 





Net Cruise Costs

$597,590

$566,906

$1,191,976

$1,109,756

 





 

APCD

5,296,700

5,312,326

10,758,712

10,601,862

Gross Cruise Costs per APCD

$ 168.01

$ 160.15

$ 163.48

$ 156.14

Net Cruise Costs per APCD

$ 112.82

$ 106.72

$ 110.79

$ 104.68


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