Latest news with #CelebrityXcel
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Royal Caribbean lifts full-year guidance on strong cruise bookings
Royal Caribbean raised its full-year guidance Tuesday on the back of strong cruise bookings. The company now expects 2025 earnings of between of $15.41 and $15.55 per share on an adjusted basis, up from prior EPS guidance of $14.55 to $15.55. CEO Jason Liberty noted traveler prefrences are evolving, saying more people are choosing to vacation more frequently and are opting for experience-driven travel. Royal Caribbean said 75% of consumers report they plan to spend the same amount or more on leisure travel over the next 12 months. "Our experiences are designed to meet these evolving expectations," Liberty said. Royal Caribbean reported growth in bookings during the second quarter from the prior period, especially from travelers booking closer to their departure date. It's a trend Liberty attributed to the growing number of younger cruisers, with millennials or younger generations now accounting for about half of total guests. And, they're willing to pay a premium, Liberty added. "In the weeks coming up to a sailing, the very few cabins that we would have left on each voyage, people not only were trying to get those cabins, but they were willing to pay considerably more money to ensure they get the vacation experience that they're looking for," Liberty said in an interview. The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $4.38 on revenue of $4.54 billion. Wall Street had expected earnings per share of $4.09 and revenue of $4.55 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. The cruise line's income rose to $1.2 billion, or $4.41 per share, an increase from $854 million, or $3.11 per share, a year earlier. Meanwhile, the cruise line reported capacity was up 5.8% compared to the year before, with 2.3 million guests taking a Royal Caribbean cruise during the second quarter. Still, shares of Royal Caribbean fell 5% Tuesday. The company noted bookings for its new ships launching this year, Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel, are performing well. "The strong demand we are seeing across our new ships and land-based destinations reinforces that our strategy is working and resonating with today's traveler," Liberty said.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Celebrity teases secret new space on its latest cruise ship
Celebrity Cruises has revealed details of new unique spaces on its latest vessel, Celebrity Xcel, which is scheduled to launch in November 2025. The ship will introduce seven all-new experiences, with Celebrity Cruises also keeping one new space a secret until the first sailing. An exclusive Celebrity Pool Club will offer a luxurious poolside experience with valets, private cabanas, and themed events like the 'Poolest Day Ever'. Celebrity Xcel will host the cruise line's most expansive spa to date, featuring a new Hydra Room, a Vitamin D Deck, and an expanded salon with over 120 treatments. Guests can also explore the first Celebrity Flagship store, an interactive exhibit and shop, and contribute to the ship's finalisation through the Xcel Dream Makers community.
Travel Weekly
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Celebrity Xcel's Bora will cater to brunch and date nights
Bora, an alfresco rooftop venue, will serve brunch onboard the Celebrity Xcel. It's a first for the line, as it looks to erase the boundaries between ship and shore. And in true brunch style, Bora will feature an over-the-top bloody mary bar, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of classic brunch favorites with a Mediterranean flair. In the evening, Bora will transition to a romantic rooftop restaurant designed for guests who want to dress up for a date night and dine under the stars. Bora is the second of seven culinary spaces the line has announced for the Celebrity Xcel. It is a specialty restaurant, and pricing is not yet available. Wild mushroom toast, feta, figs, Manuka honey and pickled onions served for brunch. Photo Credit: Gwen Pratesi Alfresco dining with Med in mind Bora will take the place of the Rooftop Garden Grill adjacent to the Rooftop Garden on the Edge-class ships. During a preview of Bora on the Celebrity Beyond, guests were mentally (unfortunately not physically) whisked away to the Greek Isles. Surrounded by vibrant pink bougainvillea and Santorini-inspired blue-and-white decor, Bora came to life with roaming musicians, street artists and lively music. Before we sat down for brunch, we were treated to a selection of Mediterranean-style appetizers, featuring an olive oil tasting with varietals from Italy, Greece and Spain. These were paired with a choice of several cocktails, including a classic Aperol spritz. The bloody mary bar, which Celebrity is touting as "the best at sea," offered an impressive selection of garnishes, with creative toppings like bacon doughnuts, cheese and charcuterie skewers, crispy bacon with Tajin spice, snow crab legs, mini grilled cheese sandwiches and barbecue-glazed meatballs. For bloody mary purists, there were mild and spicy versions (with or without Clamato) and traditional garnishes such as fresh and pickled vegetables and cocktail olives. At the end of brunch, there was a rousing moment when crew members danced and paraded through the restaurant, waving their napkins in the air to the popular Italian song "Bella Ciao." Guests joined in on the fun. Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge at the line's Bora event on the Celebrity Beyond. Photo Credit: Gwen Pratesi Dishes creative and familiar The menu, which is still evolving, was developed over the last 10 months by Sidney Semedo, Celebrity's senior director of culinary operations, and his team. Semedo said Bora was designed to evoke a feeling of being in the Med (and it does) with its food, presentation, staff, decor and entertainment. The restaurant will be "elegant, yet approachable and sophisticated, yet familiar," he said. Bora's menu also features opportunities for culinary exploration. Shakshuka, a dish with origins in North Africa, is a perfect example, with eggs poached in a cumin-seasoned tomato sauce served with avocado and sourdough toast. Two shareable plates on the brunch menu included lamb kofta with tabbouleh and wild mushroom toast. The croissant Benedict elevates a traditional breakfast sandwich with lemon-scented gravlax, ricotta spread and beetroot powder. But guests will still find familiar breakfast favorites, such as decadent French toast and eggs and biscuits -- again, with a Mediterranean twist. As for timing, the brunch concept neatly fills the gap between traditional breakfast hours and the traditional lunch selections that you'd find at the buffet or at the poolside Mast Grill. Couples can sleep in late (after all, it is a vacation), linger longer in their cabins or enjoy coffee on the balcony before heading up to the rooftop for brunch. On the menu at night In the evenings, Bora will become an intimate dinner setting with chef-led, tableside presentations. While Bora's brunch offerings are mostly individual and Instagrammable dishes, there's an emphasis on communal dining at night, where guests can order individual plates or a selection of shareable dishes. Specialties at Bora will include lamb tagine with saffron couscous and a selection of seafood dishes, such as seared branzino with garlic aioli, razor clams and carabinero prawns. Guests can also expect to be serenaded with Italian love songs and Greek ballads during the meal.
Travel Weekly
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Celebrity Xcel to have a cooler pool and a game room for grownups
Celebrity Cruises provided additional plans about the Celebrity Xcel, including an upgraded pool experience and an adult game room. The pool experience, which the line is calling the Celebrity Pool Club, will include attendants at the Xcel's primary pool deck who will offer chilled towels, sunscreen and other poolside items, and dedicated storage space for personal belongings. The pool will also have more shade than other Celebrity ships, the line said. The poolside cabanas will be "enhanced" for guests who, Celebrity said, "choose to go VIP for the day." An all-day party on the final day of the Caribbean sailings called Poolest Day Ever will include music, pop-up shows, pool games and drinks. Celebrity is also introducing the party to the rest of its fleet during Caribbean sailings this year. The Xcel's game lounge for grownups The game lounge will be called Attic at The Club and will offer arcade games, billiards, darts, shuffleboard and foosball. Private spaces for group activities like golf simulators and karaoke will also be available to book. Celebrity said Attic was designed with adults in mind but will be open to all ages. The ship will also have what Celebrity said is the fleet's largest spa, with features like a Hydra Room, a pool with heated lounge chairs and jets, and a sundeck, dubbed the Vitamin D Deck, which will only be available to guests booking the spa's thermal suite. Another new space on the Xcel will be the Celebrity Flagship store, which will serve as both a gift shop and an interactive exhibition space with Celebrity trivia and artifacts. Other previously announced venues aboard Celebrity Xcel include a specialty brunch restaurant and the Bazaar, which will host crafts, festivals and entertainment that pay homage to the destinations the ship visits.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Realistic is Royal Caribbean's 20% EPS CAGR Goal Through 2027?
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) has set an ambitious goal to grow adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at a 20% compound annual rate through 2027. The company is relying on a balanced approach that includes moderate capacity growth, yield improvement and cost control. Its Perfecta Performance Program is structured around these priorities and also targets a return on invested capital in the high teens. In the first quarter of 2025, Royal Caribbean's adjusted earnings and revenues increased 53.1% and 7.3%, respectively, year over year. The performance was supported by high close-in demand and higher pricing, with strong onboard spending also contributing. For 2025, the company expects adjusted EPS to grow approximately 28%, with guidance now in the range of $14.55 to $15.55. Management attributes this outlook to better-than-expected first-quarter results, as well as favorable foreign exchange and fuel rates. A solid booking position and steady cost execution also support the company's confidence in meeting its full-year targets. The company continues to follow its proven formula of moderate capacity growth, moderate yield growth and strong cost control. Upcoming ship launches like Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel, combined with new destination offerings such as Royal Beach Club Nassau, are expected to enhance pricing power and guest volumes during the second half of the year. These efforts are further supported by improved booking tools, rising digital engagement and operational flexibility across key markets. With consistent demand trends, a stable balance sheet and a focused long-term strategy, RCL appears well positioned to achieve its multi-year EPS growth goal through 2027. Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is seeing broad-based strength across its business, driven by sustained demand, higher booking volumes and disciplined cost management. Backed by solid performance, the company raised its fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to approximately $1.97, indicating a 39% increase from $1.42 in fiscal 2024. Strategic focus on fleet optimization, new ship additions and global marketing efforts continues to support growth as Carnival looks to capture rising international demand. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is progressing on its fleet transformation and cost-efficiency strategy. For 2025, Norwegian Cruise expects adjusted EPS of $2.05, implying a 13% increase from $1.82 in 2024. New capacity additions like Norwegian Aqua and upgrades to digital tools are enhancing guest experience and supporting upsell opportunities. While Norwegian Cruise operates at a smaller scale, its continued focus on fleet management and disciplined cost control is helping strengthen the earnings outlook. Shares of Royal Caribbean have gained 57% in the past three months compared with the industry's growth of 26.6%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, Royal Caribbean trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.73X, significantly up from the industry's average of 2.45X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 30.8% and 14.5%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2025 have increased in the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research RCL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Carnival Corporation (CCL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
