Royal Caribbean Cruises today provided a business update and the company’s response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company said it estimates its cash burn to be, on average, in the range of approximately $250 million to $275 million per month during a suspension of operations. Royal Caribbean also said it expects to incur a net loss on both a US GAAP and adjusted basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 and the 2020 fiscal year.

“These are unprecedented times for all of us. Travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders are important to slowing the spread of the virus, but they have severely impacted our operations,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO. “We are taking decisive actions to prioritize the safety of our guests and crew while protecting our fleet and bolstering liquidity.” 

As part of the global containment effort for COVID-19, the company previously announced a voluntary suspension of its global cruise operations from March 13 through at least June 11, 2020. Continued disruptions to travel and port operations in various regions may result in further suspensions.

“Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our guests and crew during the suspension period and when we resume operations,” said Mr. Fain. “The Company’s fleet is now either in port or at anchor and we have developed strict protocols to protect our crew that is still onboard our ships.”

The company has been developing a comprehensive and multi-faceted program to address the unique public health challenges posed by COVID-19. This includes, among other things, enhanced screening, upgraded cleaning and disinfection protocols and plans for social distancing. 

Update on Bookings

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, the company started the year in a strong booked position and at higher prices on a prior year comparable basis. Given the impact of COVID-19, booking volumes for the remainder of 2020 are meaningfully lower than the same time last year at prices that are down low-single digits, the company announced.

Due to the suspension in sailings, booking trends reflect elevated cancellations for 2020 and more typical levels for 2021 and beyond. Although still early in the booking cycle, the booked position for 2021 is within historical ranges when compared to same time last year with 2021 prices up mid-single digits compared to 2020.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $2.4 billion in customer deposits. This includes approximately $0.8 billion of future cruise credits related to previously announced voyage cancellations through June 11, 2020.

“Since late January, we have undertaken several proactive measures to mitigate the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19.” said Jason T. Liberty, executive vice president and CFO. “Our focus is on bolstering liquidity through significant cost cutting, capital spend reductions, and other cash conservation measures. In addition, the Company is considering additional financing sources. We continue to evaluate all options available to us to further enhance liquidity.”

As of April 30, 2020, the Company had liquidity of approximately $2.3 billion all in the form of cash and cash equivalents. On May 4, 2020 the company increased the 364-day senior secured credit facility and drew $150 million, further enhancing the company’s liquidity profile.

Reduced Operating Expenses

Royal Caribbean has taken significant actions to reduce operating expenses during the suspension of its global cruise operations:
• Significantly reduced ship operating expenses, including crew payroll, food, fuel, insurance and port charges.
• The company’s ships are currently transitioning into various levels of layup with several ships in the fleet transitioning into cold layup, further reducing operating expenses.
• Eliminated or significantly reduced marketing and selling expenses for the remainder of 2020.
• Reduced workforce by approximately 26 percent of more than 5,000 shoreside employees in the US.
• Suspended travel for shoreside employees and instituted hiring freeze across the organization.

The company said estimates that its average ongoing ship operating expenses and administrative expenses is approximately $150 million to $170 million per month during the suspension of operations. The company may seek to further reduce this average monthly requirement under a prolonged non-revenue scenario.

Reduced Capital Expenditures

Since the last earnings call, the company has identified approximately $3.0 billion and $1.4 billion of capital expenditure reductions or deferrals in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The 2020 reductions and deferrals are comprised of:

• $1.2 billion, of non-newbuild, discretionary capital expenditures and
• $1.8 billion in reduced spend or deferred installment payments for newbuild related payments which the Company is currently finalizing.

The company believes COVID-19 has impacted shipyard operations and will result in delivery delays of ships previously planned for delivery in 2020 and 2021.

Debt Maturities, New Financings and Other Liquidity Actions

Since the last earnings call, the company has taken several additional actions to further improve its liquidity position and manage cash flow:

• Increased the capacity under its revolving credit facilities by $0.6 billion, and fully drew on both facilities.
• Entered into a $2.35 billion 364-day senior secured credit facility with an option to extend (secured by 28 ships with a net book value of approximately $12 billion as of March 31, 2020).
• Obtained a $0.8 billion, 12-month debt amortization and financial covenant holiday from certain export-credit backed facilities.
• Amended its non-export-credit backed bank facilities to incorporate a 12-month financial covenant holiday.
• Agreed with its lenders that it will not pay dividends or engage in stock repurchases.

The company estimates its cash burn to be, on average, in the range of approximately $250 million to $275 million per month during a suspension of operations

This range includes ongoing ship operating expenses, administrative expenses, and debt service expense, hedging costs, expected necessary capital expenditures (net of committed financings in the case of newbuilds) and excludes cash refunds of customer deposits as well as cash inflows from new and existing bookings.

“On March 10, 2020, the company withdrew its first quarter and full-year 2020 guidance. The magnitude, duration and speed of COVID-19 remains uncertain. As a consequence, we cannot estimate the impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial condition or near or longer-term financial or operational results with reasonable certainty, but we expect to incur a net loss on both a US GAAP and adjusted basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 and the 2020 fiscal year; the extent of which will depend on the timing and extent of our return to service,” the company said, in a press release.