Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.23.1
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

9.   Commitments and Contingencies

Ship Construction Contracts

For the Oceania Cruises brand, the first Allura Class Ship, Oceania Cruises’ Vista, at approximately 67,000 Gross Tons and with 1,200 Berths, was delivered in April 2023. We refer you to Note 12 – “Subsequent Event” for additional information. For the Norwegian brand, we have five Prima Class Ships on order, each ranging from approximately 143,500 to 169,000 Gross Tons with 3,100 or more Berths, with currently scheduled delivery dates from 2023 through 2028. For the Regent brand, we have an order for one Explorer Class Ship to be delivered in 2023, which will be approximately 55,000 Gross Tons and 750 Berths. For the Oceania Cruises brand, we have an order for one additional Allura Class Ship to be delivered in 2025, which will be approximately 67,000 Gross Tons and 1,200 Berths. The impacts of COVID-19 on the shipyards where our ships are under construction (or will be constructed), Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, initiatives to improve environmental sustainability and modifications the Company plans to make to its newbuilds and/or other macroeconomic events have resulted in delays in expected ship deliveries. These and other impacts could result in additional delays in ship deliveries in the future, which may be prolonged.

The combined contract prices of the eight ships on order for delivery, including Oceania Cruises’ Vista, as of March 31, 2023 was approximately €7.0 billion, or $7.6 billion based on the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of March 31, 2023. We have obtained export credit financing which is expected to fund approximately 80% of the contract price of each ship and related financing premiums, subject to certain conditions. We do not anticipate any contractual breaches or cancellations to occur. However, if any such events were to occur, it could result in, among other things, the forfeiture of prior deposits or payments made by us and potential claims and impairment losses which may materially impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

After giving effect to amendments for our ships on order subsequent to March 31, 2023, minimum annual payments for non-cancelable ship construction contracts with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year were as follows (in thousands):

Year

    

Amount

Remainder of 2023

$

2,273,090

2024

276,055

2025

 

1,872,552

2026

 

1,303,221

2027

 

1,228,119

2028

 

1,143,925

Thereafter

 

Total minimum annual payments

$

8,096,962

In connection with the increases in our ship construction contracts, our export-credit backed facilities were increased such that 80% of the contract price and our related financing premiums are financed. This financing includes increases in the Company’s export-credit agency backed commitments of approximately €1.7 billion through 2028 to finance improvements, changes and modifications to certain newbuilds, owners’ supplies associated with preparing these ships to enter service and related financing premiums.

Litigation

Investigations

In March 2020, the Florida Attorney General announced an investigation related to the Company’s marketing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the announcement of the investigation by the Florida Attorney General, we received notifications from other attorneys general and governmental agencies that they are conducting similar investigations. The Company is cooperating with these ongoing investigations, the outcomes of which cannot be predicted at this time.

Helms-Burton Act

On August 27, 2019, two lawsuits were filed against Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996, also known as the Helms-Burton Act. The complaint filed by Javier Garcia-Bengochea (the “Garcia-Bengochea Matter”) alleges that he holds an interest in the Port of Santiago, Cuba, and the complaint filed by Havana Docks Corporation (the “Havana Docks Matter”) alleges it holds an interest in the Havana Cruise Port Terminal, both of which were expropriated by the Cuban Government. The complaints further allege that the Company “trafficked” in those properties by embarking and disembarking passengers at these facilities, as well as profiting from the Cuban Government’s possession of the property. The plaintiffs seek all available statutory remedies, including the value of the expropriated property, plus interest, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. On September 1, 2020, the district court in the Garcia-Bengochea Matter entered an order staying all case deadlines and administratively closed the case pending the outcome of an appeal in a related case brought by the same plaintiff, in which the district court granted another cruise line defendant judgment on the pleadings. As to the appeal in the related case, in November 2022, the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion affirming the dismissal and, on February 8, 2023, issued its mandate to the district court. After the April 10, 2023 deadline for filing a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court passed in the related appeals with the plaintiff taking no action there, on April 19, 2023, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed with prejudice the action against the Company. In the Havana Docks Matter, after various motions challenging the sufficiency of plaintiff’s complaint were resolved and voluminous discovery was completed, both sides filed motions for summary judgment. On March 21, 2022, the court issued an order granting plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability and denying the Company’s cross-motion for summary judgment. The court scheduled a trial on determination of damages only for November 2022. The plaintiff elected to seek what the court ruled to be its baseline statutory damage amount, which was the amount of the certified claim plus interest, trebled and with attorneys’ fees. Given this, there was no fact issue to be tried, and the matter was removed from the trial calendar. On December 30, 2022, the court entered a final judgment of approximately $112.9 million and, on January 23, 2023, the Company filed a notice of appeal from that judgment. On April 12, 2023, the Company posted a sufficient supersedeas bond with the court to prevent any efforts by the plaintiff to collect on the judgment pending the appeal. For the Havana Docks Matter, we believe that the likelihood of loss is reasonably possible but not probable at this time; therefore, no liability has been recorded. The ability to make such estimates and judgments can be affected by various factors including, among other things: lack of legal precedent, stage of the proceedings, legal uncertainties inherent within the litigation process, availment of appellate remedies, and involvement of numerous parties. We continue to believe we have meritorious defenses to the Havana Docks Matter. However, if the plaintiff prevails in the final outcome of this matter, there may be a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows.

Other

We are a party to a claim against a vendor which resulted in a verdict of approximately $159 million in favor of the Company in October 2022. At this time, there can be no assurance that the Company will ultimately prevail in the final outcome of this claim as the vendor filed a notice of appeal and posted a bond with the court in February 2023. No receivable has been recognized.

In the normal course of our business, various other claims and lawsuits have been filed or are pending against us. Most of these claims and lawsuits are covered by insurance and, accordingly, the maximum amount of our liability is typically limited to our deductible amount. Nonetheless, the ultimate outcome of these claims and lawsuits that are not covered by insurance cannot be determined at this time. We have evaluated our overall exposure with respect to all of our threatened

and pending litigation and, to the extent required, we have accrued amounts for all estimable probable losses associated with our deemed exposure. We are currently unable to estimate any other potential losses beyond those accrued, as discovery is not complete nor is adequate information available to estimate such range of loss or potential recovery. However, based on our current knowledge, we do not believe that the aggregate amount or range of reasonably possible losses with respect to these matters will be material to our consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. We intend to vigorously defend our legal position on all claims and, to the extent necessary, seek recovery.

Other Contingencies

The Company also has agreements with its credit card processors that govern approximately $3.1 billion in advance ticket sales at March 31, 2023 that have been received by the Company relating to future voyages. These agreements allow the credit card processors to require under certain circumstances, including the existence of a material adverse change, excessive chargebacks and other triggering events, that the Company maintain a reserve which would be satisfied by posting collateral. Although the agreements vary, these requirements may generally be satisfied either through a percentage of customer payments withheld or providing cash funds directly to the card processor. Any cash reserve or collateral requested could be increased or decreased. As of March 31, 2023, we had cash reserves of approximately $577.6 million with credit card processors, of which approximately $77.3 million is recognized in accounts receivable, net and approximately $500.3 million in other long-term assets. We may be required to pledge additional collateral and/or post additional cash reserves or take other actions that may adversely affect our liquidity.