Royal Caribbean Thinks It Has the Secret to Getting Newcomers on Board
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas is shown in Barcelona. The cruise line's parent company released positive third-quarter earnings Friday. Royal Caribbean International
Skift Take
Royal Caribbean reported a lot of promising news Friday, and investors were glad to hear it. Is it too soon to think the worst of this year's cruise woes are in the past?
Even as some promising markets continue to develop — or await an initial move — Royal Caribbean Cruises has taken more than 1.6 million passengers on their first-ever voyage this year.
The new-to-cruise market is key for operators, but they rarely disclose specific numbers. In a call to discuss third-quarter earnings with analysts, chairman and CEO Richard Fain revealed the figure as he spoke about the potential to grow the audience for cruising.
"That demonstrates our continued strength in this market and positions us for what we believe to be a bright future," Fain said.
The quarter was bright enough for Royal Caribbean, which owns and operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises. The Miami-based company also has an interest in several smaller European brands.
Net income was $693 million,
