Royal Caribbean Group raised its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings guidance on October 27 after reporting third-quarter revenue up nine per cent year on year to $5.6 billion.
Net income for the quarter ended September 30 rose to $1.7 billion from $1.6 billion a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $6.57, above the company's own guidance of $6.26–$6.36.
The company now expects full-year adjusted EPS of $17.85–$17.95, compared with the $17.73–$17.87 range it issued in July.
Higher anticipated fuel costs and adverse currency movements partly offset the improvement.
Capacity rose eight per cent and load factor reached 112.4 per cent, with 2,676,480 passengers carried. Net yields increased 0.9 per cent as reported, supported by demand in Europe and the Caribbean that exceeded expectations in the near term.
Net cruise costs excluding fuel per available passenger cruise day (APCD) fell 1.9 per cent as reported, which the company attributed to expenses shifting into the fourth quarter.
"Demand...remains strong, and while it is still early, 2027 bookings are pacing ahead of historical levels at higher rates," said chairman and CEO Jason Liberty.
The group forecasts fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $3.48–$3.58 and capacity growth of five per cent. Third-quarter bunker pricing, net of hedging, was $778 per tonne, up from $694 a year earlier.
