cruise ship stocks

7 Best Cruise Stocks to Buy Now

It's been smooth sailing for cruise stocks so far this year, thanks to tailwinds from strong travel demand.

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Cruise stock investors stand to benefit immensely if shares return to their pre-pandemic levels.

Many cruise stocks have rewarded investors year to date thanks to booming travel demand. After gloomy performances during the pandemic, cruise stocks look poised to deliver gains for investors.

Battered comps from slow travel make it easier for cruise stocks to achieve triple-digit year-over-year revenue growth. And some cruise companies have already reported that type of growth.

Do Cruise Stocks Present an Opportunity?

Many cruise stocks still have not reached their pre-pandemic prices. Carnival Corp. & PLC (ticker: CCL ), one of the best cruise stocks to buy now, is well removed from its pre-pandemic per-share range of high $40s to low $50s.

John Engle, president of Almington Capital, indicates that cruise stocks can continue to ride the momentum from current trends. "In the short term, cruise stocks may enjoy some tailwinds thanks to upbeat expectations about the summer vacation season," Engle says. "After years of struggles in the face of a global pandemic and macroeconomic uncertainty, cruise operators have been bouncing back."

Cruise stock investors stand to benefit immensely if shares return to their pre-pandemic levels. Some of these cruise stocks distributed quarterly dividend payments leading up to 2020, hiking the dividend each year.

Meanwhile, the airline industry has experienced a strong recovery as well. Delta Air Lines Inc. ( DAL ) raised its full-year outlook and reinstated its dividend. American Airlines Group Inc. ( AAL ) has also flipped back to profitability and is experiencing strong top-line growth.

The success of airlines and cruises demonstrates that more people want to travel with restrictions lifted.

Cruise Stock Risks to Keep in Mind

Although cruise stocks have delivered strong year-to-date returns and have made significant progress, the travel sector carries some risk. Some stocks are riskier than others, but Engle says some risks specifically apply to cruise stocks.

"The biggest risk for cruise stocks is sustainable profitability," says Engle. "Many cruise operators are carrying an awful lot of debt, and it is not clear whether they will be able to service it over the long run. Thin profit margins and high debt should always be a cause for concern for investors looking at cyclical industries . Even a mild recession could be enough to devastate cruise operators' bottom lines."

Cruise stocks can continue their run as long as travel demand stays strong. However, any slowdowns can hurt cruise companies that carry significant debt. Cruise stock investors should carefully monitor travel demand to gauge the risk of their investments.

Investors seeking exposure to heightened travel demand may want to consider these seven top cruise stocks:

Carnival Corp. & PLC ( CCL )

Carnival shares have more than doubled year to date as more travelers return to cruises. The company reported $4.9 billion in revenue in the second quarter, more than doubling its growth year over year. It is also the highest quarterly revenue number the corporation has ever reported. Total customer deposits also reached an all-time high of $7.2 billion, eclipsing the previous record of $6 billion in May 2019.

Carnival also reported a better-than-expected net loss of $407 million. Previous guidance suggested a second-quarter net loss between $425 million and $525 million. In a press release, Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein expressed confidence in the company's ability to continue its progress.

"With bookings and customer deposits hitting all-time highs, we are clearly gaining momentum on an upward trajectory."

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ( RCL )

Royal Caribbean shares have also doubled year to date, and the company is almost back to profitability. The company reported $2.9 billion in revenue and a $47.9 million net loss (19 cents per share) in the first quarter. Full-year guidance calls for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $4.40 to $4.80 per share.

A return to profitability can mean a dividend isn't too far away. While management said there is no plan to declare or pay dividends in the near future, a return to payouts in 2024 or 2025 would be a welcome development for investors.

Prior to the pandemic, Royal Caribbean had been a reliable dividend growth stock since 2011. During that time span, the annual dividend jumped from $0.40 per share to $3.12 per share.

Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty remains optimistic that the rising trend of cruises will hold its ground.

"Leisure travel continues to strengthen as consumer spend further shifts toward experiences," Liberty said in a May 4 press release. "Demand for our brands is outpacing broader travel due to a strong rebound and an attractive value proposition."

Raised guidance also indicates the confidence leadership has in the underlying business.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ( NCLH )

NCLH stock hasn't doubled like the other cruise stocks, but it has still outperformed the market with a nearly 70% year-to-date gain. The company reported $1.8 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 31, which represents 249% year-over-year growth. Its annual revenue as of March 31 was $6.1 billion, a 426.5% increase year over year. Norwegian had a quarterly net loss of $159.3 million, or 38 cents per share.

Norwegian met or exceeded guidance on all key metrics in the first quarter. The company believes it can achieve a full-year adjusted EPS of 75 cents, an increase from its prior estimate of 70 cents. The company is going through a CEO transition, with Frank Del Rio passing the helm to Harry Sommer at the end of June. In his last press release as CEO, Del Rio informed shareholders that the company is "solidly positioned for 2023 and beyond" and has completed its post-pandemic operational recovery.

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc. ( LIND )

Lindblad Expeditions is a smaller cruise stock, with a $558 million market cap that has rewarded shareholders with a 35.6% year-to-date return as of July 17. The company reported $143.4 million in revenue in the first quarter, representing a 167% revenue increase from Q1 2019 and a 111% revenue increase from Q1 2022.

The company has growing occupancy rates and reported a quarterly net income of $621,000. That is a significant improvement from last year's net loss of $41.7 million in Q1 2022.

Leadership remains confident in the booming demand for cruise travel, setting full-year tour revenue guidance at $550 million to $575 million and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA , at $70 million to $80 million. The company has also planned a $35 million stock repurchase program.

Agilysys Inc. ( AGYS )

Agilysys provides software for the hospitality industry, giving it some exposure to cruise lines. The company also serves other sectors, such as hotels, resorts, stadiums and higher education.

Agilysys reported 21.8% year-over-year revenue growth to a record $198 million in fiscal year 2023, which ended on March 31. The company also reported $14.6 million in net income, more than doubling its growth from FY 2022. A healthy 60% of the company's total revenue is recurring, which makes it more feasible for the company to maintain profit margins.

Agilysys hasn't soared like pure-play cruise stocks. In fact, the stock is down roughly 14.3% year to date as of July 17. However, AGYS shares are up more than 300% over the past five years.

OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd. ( OSW )

OneSpaWorld Holdings provides spas, wellness and treatments on cruises and on land. Shares have jumped 28% year to date as the rising demand for cruise travel means more demand for OneSpaWorld's services.

The company reported $182.5 million in total revenues in Q1 2023. That's more than double the amount of revenue that the company generated in Q1 2022. Leonard Fluxman, OneSpaWorld's CEO, indicated back in May that second-quarter results were already looking promising.

"Our second quarter 2023 performance is off to a positive start, and we expect our favorable momentum to continue to build throughout the year," Fluxman said.

World Kinect Corp. ( WKC )

World Kinect Corp., formerly known as World Fuel Services Corp., is an energy, commodities and services company. The corporation sells more than 50 fuel products and has delivered over 18 billion gallons of fuel.

Cruise ships that need fuel to cover vast distances turn to companies like World Kinect. The return of travel helped the company generate about $59 billion in revenue in 2022.

Revenue growth decelerated in 2023, and the company also reported a 13% year-over-year decline in net income in the first quarter. Aviation and marine segments both experienced double-digit year-over-year gains in gross income, though.

Ira Birns, chief financial officer of World Kinect, emphasized the company's solid numbers in a Q1 press release: "Our balance sheet remains strong, providing significant liquidity to drive growth and continued investment in products and services that will further support our strategic priorities."

Should You Get On Board with Cruise Stocks?

Many cruise stocks have outpaced the stock market and rewarded investors in 2023. Significant travel growth has helped cruise lines hit revenue records and get closer to profitability. Many of these same stocks also offered dividends and reliably paid them for several years before the pandemic.

However, cruise stocks have their risks. The gains may become muted in future years as year-over-year comps become more challenging. Investors should also monitor how cruise lines cover their long-term debt and track whether the demand for travel remains this elevated.

5 of the Best Travel Stocks to Buy

Wayne Duggan June 14, 2023

Tags: Norwegian Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean Cruises , Cruises , investing , money , Carnival Corp. , Travel , Airlines , Delta Airlines , American Airlines

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3 Top Cruise Ship Stocks To Watch in 2023

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Wondering which stocks are hot on the market this year? The cruise industry has rebounded remarkably well since the pandemic, with major cruise lines returning their full fleets to service, in some cases, anticipating record-breaking bookings, according to The Washington Post.

What does this mean for stock investors? Continue reading to learn about the top three cruise stocks to watch in 2023.

Overview of the Cruise Industry

The cruise industry consists of all business entities involved with tourism and transport on cruise ships. Cruise industry operations include cruise lines, cruise ship manufacturers and entertainment companies that specialize in cruise ship entertainment.

About Cruise Lines

A cruise line is a company that operates fleets of cruise ships and sells cruise experiences to customers. An all-inclusive cruise ticket will usually include:

• A stateroom aboard the cruise ship
• A variety of entertainment
• Stops at specified travel destinations, such as port stops

Global cruise lines are a major part of the larger travel industry that includes entertainment, leisure and hospitality management. Investors may see the benefits of buying stock in the rebounded cruise line companies.

Exploring the Top 3 Cruise Ship Stocks

Although cruise ship companies have suffered financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, and the stocks are down 25% to over 50% in the last year despite consumers’ return to travel, investors can be hopeful for a strong rebound. Here’s a look at the three largest cruise line stocks based on market capitalization. As major players, they could prove to be bellwethers for cruise stocks overall.

Here’s some information about the three largest publicly traded companies in the cruise industry to help you make sound investment decisions if you choose to buy cruise line stocks in 2023.

1. Carnival Cruise Line (CCL)

Carnival once was the world’s largest cruise line operator and is now second to Royal Caribbean after the stock lost over half its value in 2022. It cruises to destinations all over the world. The cruise line’s Carnival Pride began sailing again in September 2021 — the first ship to set sail from the Baltimore cruise terminal in 18 months. This was a big deal as the world continued to reopen.

Prioritizing public health, Carnival aims to restore consumer confidence as a leading force in global economic recovery, travel and tourism. The company still has a strict vaccination and pre-cruise COVID-test policy in effect for cruises of 16 nights or more.

Although the stock is down 52.49% over the past year, it has seen a 34.99% gain since Jan. 1. In its business update for the fourth quarter of 2022, the company reported a net loss in earnings per share but noted earnings were within the range it had predicted despite challenges like high fuel prices and unfavorable currency exchange rates. While occupancy levels were still low compared to 2019, Carnival beat 2019 on some metrics, including revenue per passenger per day and total customer deposits. Advanced booked positions for 2023 are also higher compared to 2019. Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein said the momentum established last year continued into December and bodes well for 2023.

2. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)

Royal Caribbean includes three popular subsidiary cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises. Royal Caribbean has eliminated pre-cruise COVID testing and vaccination requirements for most sailings.

Prior to the pandemic, Royal Caribbean had placed orders for a number of new cruise ships, including a brand new class called the Icon Class, according to the company’s blog. Although the company had to scale back its timelines, passengers can still cruise on two new ships: Icon of the Seas and the world’s largest ship, Wonder of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean, like other stocks, declined steeply last year. However, it reported better-than-expected earnings in the third quarter of 2022, and other metrics are improving as well. “Load factors,” a measure of the number of booked passengers compared to the number needed to break even on a sailing, reached 96% overall and surpassed 100% on Caribbean sailings, according to a press release. The company expected the figure to reach 100% or more by the end of 2022. Booking volumes were better than the third quarter of 2019 in terms of future sailings, which the company attributed to eased COVID restrictions.

To ensure its continued performance improvement, Royal Caribbean has implemented a three-year initiative. Goals the company expects to reach by 2025 include exceeding 2019 earnings and returns on invested capital.

3. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH)

Coming in as the third-largest cruise line in the world, Norwegian has a fleet of 18 ships that sail to more than 300 global destinations. The company planned to expand its fleet by six ships between 2022 and 2027.

Norwegian has no COVID testing or vaccination requirements, although destinations might have requirements of their own. This gives Norwegian the same edge Royal Caribbean has over Carnival, which requires vaccines and pre-cruise COVID tests for longer sailings.

The cruise line reached a major milestone during the third quarter of 2022, the most recent reported, with positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, for the first time since the pandemic began. Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., noted that the cruise line’s 2023 booked position equaled 2019’s record levels despite record-high pricing. Norwegian expects historical-level occupancy by mid-2023.

What To Consider Before Investing In Cruise Stocks

People waited anxiously to resume their vacations aboard cruise ships, but even after cruise lines resumed sailing, COVID restrictions and the risk of being stuck overseas in the event of infection made many would-be travelers leery about booking. Now that most of those restrictions have been lifted and the major cruise lines are reporting strong demand, the cruise industry might be a great place to invest despite economic uncertainty and ongoing challenges due to COVID.

Savvy investors concentrate on industries and businesses that they know, so they can understand and thoroughly research before buying stock . Sound investing involves learning companies’ business models and how they compare to other companies in the same industry.

With as much knowledge as possible about the cruise ship industry and how well the cruise lines are positioned, well-educated investors have a leg up over other investors.

What’s the Deal on Cruise Line Stocks Today?

Despite being one of the hardest-hit industries by the pandemic, cruise line stocks could be poised to rebound. Recovery thus far has been uneven, however , and the industry still faces significant challenges stemming from the pandemic.

Good To Know The 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report indicates that the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia/Pacific regions account for the three largest markets of the world’s cruise capacity. However, a number of cruise lines canceled Asia cruises for 2022.

As the focus on responsible tourism gains momentum in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cruise industry continues its commitment to a healthier and prosperous future. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines are making strides to come back with a vengeance.

Will investors get a good return on their investment in these cruise line stocks? Time will tell.

Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.

Data is accurate as of Jan. 18, 2023, and is subject to change .

This article has been updated with additional reporting since its original publication.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy .

• The Washington Post. 2022. "Cruises are smashing records despite covid on board: ‘Life goes on.’"
• The Maritime Executive. 2022. "Carnival Projects Full Fleet Operations and Return to Profitability."

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• Norwegian Cruise Line-stock
• News for Norwegian Cruise Line

Charting New Waters: Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Ambitious Plans For Eight Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd  (NYSE:NCLH) has unveiled a total of eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths to be built across three brands.

The company also launched the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its Caribbean port of call. 

The strategy is expected to boost Norwegian Cruise’s product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036.

After the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, the cruise operator is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036.

Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. 

Finally, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said President and CEO Harry Sommer.

The company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80% of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships.

The new pier development in the Bahamas is set to begin in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of about $150 million.

Stifel  analyst Steven Wieczynski reiterated a Buy rating on the shares with a price target of $25.

NCLH now has 13 ships on order over the next 12 years for a combined 41,000 berths, representing about 65% capacity growth, noted the analyst.

With a historically smaller fleet, the company has been building new ships more aggressively versus peers in order to enter/serve certain markets.

Over the next decade this will not only give NCLH the biggest growth story within the cruise industry but will also allow them to continue entering new markets with minimal cannibalization to their fleet, the analyst noted.

Owning cruise stocks when supply growth has been low for an extended period of time, as per the analyst. While the headline of eight ships might make investors panic, the analyst urged them to look at the fine print.

Overall, according to the analyst, the positives surely outweigh the negatives.

Price Action : NCLH shares are trading lower by 2.35% at $18.93 on the last check Tuesday.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Norwegian Cruise Line News MORE

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