Carnival Share Discussion Threads

[pierre oreilly] 11/4/2017 09:31

now at Southampton waiting to disembark the carribean music cruise. it's been really fantastic cruising with world class musicians performing almost every night. p&o have this worked out very well. paid two more future cruise deposits, one for p&o the other for cunard to give them a try. its good to confirm ccl provides an excellent product.

[broadwood] 28/3/2017 16:40

Cruise ship operator Carnival reported better than expected revenue yields for the first quarter and said bookings for the rest of 2017 were well ahead of the prior year with prices rising faster than costs.
Driven by increased demand, particularly for Caribbean jaunts, For the first quarter ended 28 February, the London- and New York-listed group posted adjusted net income of $279m and earnings per share of $0.38, which was down 7% and 3% on a very strong equivalent period last year.

Statutory results, which include a positive $73m of unrealised gains and losses on fuel derivatives and other items in 2017 and $159m of losses for 2016, saw net income increase almost 150% to $352m and EPS up 167% to $0.48.

Quarterly net revenue yields in constant currency increased 3.8% compared to Q1 in the prior year, well up on December's 1.5-2.5% guidance range.

On the outlook for the year, management said cumulative advance bookings for the remainder of 2017 were "well ahead of the prior year at considerably higher prices".

For the full year, net revenue yields in constant currency are expected to be up approximately 3.0% compared to the prior year.

In parallel, excluding fuel, net costs per available lower berth day in constant currency are expected to be up approximately 1.0% compared to the prior year.

Therefore, full year adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $3.50-3.70, compared to $3.45 last year.

Though in the second quarter, adjusted EPS is expected to fall to a range of $0.43-0.47, compared to $0.49 last year due to unfavourable changes in fuel prices and currency exchange rates.

"We are off to a good start delivering another quarter of operational improvement on top of a very strong first quarter last year," said chief executive Arnold Donald.

"Our performance was driven by increased demand, particularly for our core Caribbean itineraries, leading to higher year-over-year ticket prices which enabled us to overcome the significant negative impact of both fuel and currency to exceed the high end of our guidance range."

He said there was less inventory remaining for sale in 2017 compared to the prior year, resulting in increased earnings guidance.

"We are clearly benefiting from our efforts to increase cruise consideration through guest experience innovations, creative marketing, and public relations programs. We are reaching consumers through multiple touch points and laying the foundation for continued earnings improvement and sustained double digit returns on invested capital," he said.

[broadwood] 28/3/2017 15:21

Company has just announced bookings are up. We might just join them.

[pierre oreilly] 02/3/2017 09:39

Well the share price is continuing it's substantial general rise. The buybacks help of course. If the price of my next cruise is anything to go by then prices are hardening too. From my early booking offer, the price on a late booking is up 30% from the same source, plus I got free parking which isn't now being offered. If that is general, then we can expect bumper profit increases next results time. I'm not sure what net effect the weak pound has.

[broadwood] 23/2/2017 08:23

Considering the share has gone xd this morning, the rise ,so far, is remarkable.

[pierre oreilly] 10/1/2017 21:10

Well Carnival holds some pretty upmarket brands don't they? Isn't Seabourn in that exact same sector? Surely they, and other brands, must pick up some of those who've lost a cruise i should imagine. Fred Olson seem to think they can tempt some with a 25% discount (maybe Carnival should match that).

[wad collector] 10/1/2017 19:00

Out too early ; ah well , sell and no regrets....

[grahamburn] 10/1/2017 17:29

Egypt, Middle East and Turkey etc have become less popular - or even off the schedules. Their prime market was people wishing to delve into "antiquities".

Doubt if Carnival brands will benefit much from their demise (or its sister brand, Voyages of Discovery) as the client profile is quite different - upmarket, sophisticated travellers looking for all-inclusive professionally-led tours etc.

[pierre oreilly] 10/1/2017 17:06

With Swan Hellenic (?) going belly up there'll be a few more people looking for someone else to give them a cruise. Maybe not so good for those after a last minute cruise though with less unbooked cabins I would expect.What went wrong with the very well established swan Hellenic?

[wad collector] 09/1/2017 13:49

After holding for a few yrs , time to leave here for me ; 4230 will see me out. Looks a bit toppy though admit a long term hold is also a good option.

[optimist] 22/12/2016 10:18

wad collector

It probably costs you as much as a cruise as well ;)

[wad collector] 22/12/2016 09:06

I have platinum status on Southern Rail ; sometimes the train even turns up....

[pentangle] 21/12/2016 22:33

I have Elite status on Princess which I don't think expires - free laundry! Interestingly P&O nights count towards Princess status but not vice versa.

[grahamburn] 21/12/2016 17:16

optimist

P & O points never expire either. However, the top two tiers (designed mainly for regular passengers) work on a rolling three year basis for the number of nights on board (Baltic 80 nights, Ligurian 200 night once you have more than 2,500 points - ie 500 above the standard top tier Caribbean level). Inevitably, therefore, unless one takes a long cruise within a three period or have, say, 3 x 14 nighters a year, then one will often revert to the standard top tier level or go in and out of it on a regular basis.

As I said before the additional "benefits" are really quite marginal so really not too bothered one way or the other.

[pierre oreilly] 21/12/2016 15:47

Hi Graham, yes rules are rules, but often it's worth a try. I don't mind really, having looked at the benefits on the bottom tier there aren't really any which i'd benefit from. I think the next tiers benefit we get a glass of champagne, so nothing really to write home about! I suppose i could have fitted in a 2 or 3 nighter to Amsterdam or somewhere if there really were some decent benefits. Oh well, looks like a while until i reach a tier with anything worthwhile, like priority boarding, early arrival, special meal and drinks first thing (so I've been told).

I forgot to mention i do have some lowly club status with msc, and i thought p&o might match that (i think they used to but not any more). I must say, they do like you to have spent an awful lot before they give you a bowl of fruit and a pair of 50p slippers! As a shareholder, that's good business i suppose.

[optimist] 21/12/2016 15:07

grahamburn

Sail with Cunard, their points never expire.

[grahamburn] 21/12/2016 14:19

Rules are rules, Pierre. (Reckon your broker wouldn't "waive a few pence off the share price you wanted" just because you asked - slightly different, I know, but you get the drift!)

Come January, we lose our second to top tier status (Baltic) as a long cruise commenced in January 2014 comes off our tally so we drop below those critical 80 nights on board in the past 3 years. (I could argue that as we didn't come back until the end of April, the cut off point should be then, but rules are rules! Later next year when we've cruised again, we'll pop back into that tier.

Fortunately, we never lose the Caribbean status which, in reality is worth fair more the two higher tiers, as it's worth that crucial 10% off everything spent on board or on excursions. Baltic tier benefits are cosmetic as are the Ligurian top tier benefits (extra lunches with officers, more free laundry etc)

PS Tempus in the Times today has Carnival as an avoid as the price is fully up with results in light of the less positive prospects in 2017.

[pierre oreilly] 21/12/2016 12:29

Excellent results. Bought before just to get the perks, but bough a lot more today based on those really great results and the forecasts for the future.

I'm one day off the p&o basic pacific membership level and wrote to ask them if they'd kindly waive the extra day, but they didn't want to shift an inch. Quite hard i thought since the next cruise is for 24 days. Oh well.

[broadwood] 20/12/2016 14:59

Strong results and forward statement.

[wad collector] 17/11/2016 09:12

£40 breached today ; I think that is an ATH . Thanks Donald. Possibly.

[pierre oreilly] 17/10/2016 23:40

Impressed with p&o's booking systems. I booked a P&O Carribean cruise today through the cheapest agency i could find, and in no time the agent had our details and confirmation of our £200 obc from p&o for the future cruise down payment we made on our last cruise. That on an early saver fare too. There's also £150 obc to go on for the shareholder perk once i apply for it. It's a sort of diy extra divi payment, making the total returns (price appreciation, divis and obc) from the minimum share purchase pretty impressive.

[pierre oreilly] 28/9/2016 10:09

Berenberg today reaffirms its buy investment rating on Carnival PLC (LON:CCL) and raised its price target to 4200p (from 4100p).

[tlobs2] 28/9/2016 09:01

Happy days :-)