Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Earnings Up 27 Percent for 2015

norwegian escape
2015 saw the launch of Norwegian Escape (pictured), NCLH's largest ship to date. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: NCLH) reports that its earnings rose 27 percent for 2015. The company has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2015. 

In addition to the earnings growth for all of 2015, earnings were also up 42 percent for the fourth quarter. Constant Currency Adjusted Net Yield also rose, 7.4 percent for the fourth quarter and 3.7 percent for 2015. NCLH also reported that 2015 saw the launch of its largest ship to date, the Norwegian Escape, as well as the announcement of customized newbuild ships dedicated to the China market, set to launch in mid-2017. 

What's next? Looking ahead, NLCH reports a strong booked position for this year's Wave Season, with more than 50 percent of its overall 2016 inventory already sold -- significantly ahead of this time last year. Early 2017 trends are also encouraging, as NCLH's current booked position for the first half of that year is approximately 30 percent higher compared to the same time last year, on a capacity increase of approximately 5 percent. 

Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said that the Caribbean, Alaska and Bermuda markets are performing strongly, which is offsetting softness in the Mediterranean region caused by geopolitical events over the past few months. NCLH suspended calls in Turkey through 2016 for all three of its brands following a terrorist attack at a major tourist attracting in Istanbul

A strengthening U.S. dollar is also reducing anticipated earnings in the Mediterranean, Del Rio said. 

2016 will also see two new ships for 2016: Sirena for Oceania Cruises, set to debut in March with its first sailing in late April, and Seven Seas Explorer, the first newbuild for Regent Seven Seas Cruises in over 13 years, set to debut in the third quarter.