Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.25.3
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2025, we had liquidity of approximately $1.8 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of $166.8 million and $1.6 billion available under our Revolving Loan Facility. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to fund our obligations and expect to remain in compliance with our financial covenants for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of these financial statements.

We will continue to pursue various opportunities to optimize our liquidity, refinance future debt maturities to reduce interest expense and/or extend the maturity dates associated with our existing indebtedness. If needed, we will obtain relevant financial covenant amendments or waivers.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and, in our opinion, contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented.

Our operations are seasonal and results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year. Historically, demand for cruises has been strongest during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, which are included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the basic weighted-average number of shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income and assumed conversion of exchangeable notes by diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.

A reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share was as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2025

    

2024

    

2025

    

2024

Net income

$

419,295

$

474,932

$

408,992

$

655,721

Effect of dilutive securities - exchangeable notes

7,287

14,965

32,056

48,323

Net income and assumed conversion of exchangeable notes - Diluted EPS

$

426,582

$

489,897

$

441,048

$

704,044

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding

 

450,996,955

 

439,697,135

 

446,279,721

 

433,790,997

Dilutive effect of share awards

 

4,230,422

 

3,333,627

 

3,630,304

 

3,201,373

Dilutive effect of exchangeable notes

40,500,001

71,848,157

55,407,417

77,009,661

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

 

495,727,378

 

514,878,919

 

505,317,442

 

514,002,031

Basic EPS

$

0.93

$

1.08

$

0.92

$

1.51

Diluted EPS

$

0.86

$

0.95

$

0.87

$

1.37

Each exchangeable note (see Note 7 – “Long-Term Debt”) is individually evaluated for its dilutive or anti-dilutive impact on EPS as determined under the if-converted method. Only the interest expense and weighted average shares for exchangeable notes that are dilutive are included in the effect of dilutive securities. For the 2030 0.875% Exchangeable Notes and 2030 0.750% Exchangeable Notes, we are required to settle the principal amount in cash and have the option to settle the conversion spread in cash or shares. If the conversion value of the 2030 0.875% Exchangeable Notes and 2030 0.750% Exchangeable Notes does not exceed their conversion price for a reporting period, then the shares underlying the notes will not be reflected in the Company’s calculation of diluted EPS. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, the price of NCLH’s ordinary shares did not exceed the conversion price, and therefore, there was no impact to diluted EPS. Share awards are evaluated for a dilutive or anti-dilutive impact on EPS using the treasury stock method. For the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, a total of 0.3 million and 2.5 million shares, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, a total of 2.6 million and 6.1 million shares, respectively, have been excluded from diluted weighted-average shares outstanding because the effect of including them would have been anti-dilutive.

Segment Reporting

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which aims to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 has been applied retrospectively.

The below table includes our calculation of adjusted operating income, our significant segment expenses therein, and a reconciliation of adjusted operating income to net income before income taxes (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2025

    

2024

    

2025

    

2024

Total revenue

$

2,938,142

$

2,806,578

$

7,583,192

$

7,370,285

Cruise operating expense

Commissions, transportation and other

521,981

564,614

1,405,159

1,501,863

Onboard and other

222,002

211,753

548,544

515,496

Adjusted payroll and related (1)

349,355

331,856

1,018,655

995,587

Fuel

175,913

164,934

508,304

537,632

Food

81,866

78,096

238,777

239,850

Other

197,701

182,112

578,827

573,987

Adjusted total cruise operating expense

1,548,818

1,533,365

4,298,266

4,364,415

Other operating expense

Adjusted marketing, general and administrative (2)

370,072

342,218

1,118,554

1,023,217

Depreciation and amortization

250,832

218,428

725,889

663,762

Adjusted total other operating expense

620,904

560,646

1,844,443

1,686,979

Adjusted operating income

$

768,420

$

712,567

$

1,440,483

$

1,318,891

Adjusted operating income

$

768,420

$

712,567

$

1,440,483

$

1,318,891

Non-cash compensation (3)

(18,971)

(21,357)

(66,256)

(67,726)

Interest expense, net

(328,816)

(175,216)

(783,470)

(571,865)

Other income (expense), net

13,003

(34,146)

(167,927)

(14,113)

Net income before income taxes

$

433,636

$

481,848

$

422,830

$

665,187

(1) Excludes non-cash share-based compensation expenses related to equity awards for shipboard officers (see Note 9 – “Employee Benefits and Compensation Plans”) and non-cash deferred compensation expenses related to the crew pension plan as follows (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

2025

    

2024

    

2025

    

2024

Service cost

$

553

$

719

$

1,658

$

2,156

(2) Excludes non-cash share-based compensation expenses related to equity awards for corporate employees (see Note 9 – “Employee Benefits and Compensation Plans”).
(3) Includes non-cash deferred compensation expenses related to the crew pension plan and non-cash share-based compensation expenses related to equity awards, which are included in payroll and related expense and marketing, general and administrative expense.

Foreign Currency

The majority of our transactions are settled in U.S. dollars. We remeasure assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. The resulting gains or losses are recognized in our consolidated statements of operations within other income (expense), net. We recognized a gain of $6.8 million and a loss of $32.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and a loss of $174.2 million and a loss of $16.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, related to remeasurement of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. Remeasurements of foreign currency related to operating activities are recognized within changes in operating assets and liabilities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

The amortization of deferred financing fees is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the consolidated statements of cash flows; however, for purposes of the consolidated statements of operations they are included in interest expense, net.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information as well as certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 and will be applied on a prospective basis. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2023-09 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements other than the expanded disclosure in our notes to the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires disaggregation of certain costs and expenses, including employee compensation, and requires other improvements to disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The update may be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are evaluating the impact of ASU 2024-03 on our notes to the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-06, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (“ASU 2025-06”), which removes the prescriptive software development stages and replaces them with a probable-to-complete recognition threshold. These changes also apply to website development costs. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period. The update may be applied using a prospective, modified or retrospective transition approach. We will evaluate the impact of ASU 2025-06 on our consolidated financial statements.