ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD
Item 1. Business.
General
We are a global cruise company. We control and operate four global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises (collectively, our "Global Brands"). We also own a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises GmbH ("TUIC"), that operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (collectively, our "Partner Brands"). Together, our Global Brands and our Partner Brands operate a combined total of 61 ships in the cruise vacation industry with an aggregate capacity of approximately 137,930 berths as of December 31, 2020.
Our ships operate on a selection of worldwide itineraries that call on approximately 1,000 destinations on all seven continents. In addition to our headquarters in Miami, Florida, we have offices and a network of international representatives around the world, which primarily focus on sales and market development.
We compete principally by operating valued brands that offer exceptional service provided by our crew and on the basis of innovation and quality of ships, variety of itineraries, choice of destinations and price. We believe that our commitment to build state-of-the-art ships and to invest in the maintenance and upgrade of our fleet to, among other things, incorporate many of our latest signature innovations, allows us to continue to attract new and loyal repeat guests.
On January 19, 2021, we announced that we entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Azamara brand, including its three-ship fleet and associated intellectual property, to Sycamore Partners for $201 million. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.
Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968 as a partnership. Its corporate structure has evolved over the years and, the current parent corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., was incorporated on July 23, 1985 in the Republic of Liberia under the Business Corporation Act of Liberia.
COVID-19
The disruptions to our operations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”) have had, and continue to have, a material negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. The global efforts to contain the spread of the disease have resulted in travel restrictions and created significant uncertainty regarding worldwide port closures and availability. As part of the global containment effort, we implemented a voluntary suspension of our Global Brands' cruise operations beginning March 13, 2020, which has been extended through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations. As of February 23, 2021, four of our ships were operating with guests onboard.
On and effective as of October 30, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (the “Conditional Order”) that will conditionally permit cruise ship passenger operations in U.S. waters under certain conditions and using a phased approach. The Conditional Order will remain in effect until the earlier of (1) the expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency, (2) the rescission or modification by the CDC Director of the Conditional Order based on specific public health or other considerations, or (3) November 1, 2021. See Business - Regulation for further details on the Conditional Order.
Our resumption of operations will include a staggered return of the fleet to service, which will include:
•Bringing the fleet from layup status to fully operational;
•Bringing crew back to an appropriate staffing level and expected reduced load factors for a period of time; and
•Implementing health and safety protocols on ships as they resume operations and while protocols are required.
We are working with both the CDC and the Healthy Sail Panel ("HSP"), formed in June 2020 by us and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and composed of leading experts in relevant fields, including epidemiology, infectious diseases, public policy and regulation, engineering and general health safety, to prepare and develop our plan to meet the framework for the Conditional Order.
While the Conditional Order represents an important step in our return to service, many uncertainties remain as to the specifics, timing and costs of administering and implementing the requirements of the Conditional Order, some of which may be significant. Further, the Conditional Order contemplates that the CDC may issue additional requirements through technical instructions or orders as needed and that the phases described above will be further determined based on public health considerations, including the trajectory of the pandemic and the ability of cruise ship operators to successfully employ measures that mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Based on our assessment of these conditions or for other reasons, we may determine it necessary to further extend our voluntary suspension of our Global Brands’ cruise sailings which currently extends through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations.
We have undertaken several proactive measures to mitigate the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19, including significant reduction of capital expenditures and operating expenses as well as the issuance of debt and shares of our common stock. Given the current environment, we intend to continue to prioritize and bolster liquidity through cash conservation and additional financing sources, which may include the issuance of new debt (including convertible debt), refinancing of existing debt, amortization deferrals under our export-credit backed debt facilities and issuance of common stock, to ensure that we are well positioned for recovery. Additionally, we agreed with certain of our lenders that we will not pay dividends or engage in stock repurchases until the end of the third quarter of 2022. See Part II. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Policies and Recent Developments: COVID-19 and Note 1. General to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements for further details on the impact of COVID-19 on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our Global Brands
Our Global Brands include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises. We believe our Global Brands possess the versatility to enter multiple cruise market segments within the cruise vacation industry. Although each of our Global Brands has its own marketing style, as well as ships and crews of various sizes, the nature of the products sold and services delivered by our Global Brands share a common base (i.e., the sale and provision of cruise vacations). Our Global Brands also offer similar itineraries as well as similar cost and revenue components. The itineraries of Global Brands are subject to resumption of our operations and local restrictions. In addition, our Global Brands have historically sourced passengers from similar markets around the world and operated in similar economic environments with a significant degree of commercial overlap. As a result, we strategically manage our Global Brands as a single business with the ultimate objective of maximizing long-term shareholder value.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is positioned to compete in both the contemporary and premium segments of the cruise vacation industry. The brand appeals to families with children of all ages, as well as both older and younger couples, providing cruises that generally feature a casual ambiance, as well as a variety of activities and entertainment venues. We believe that the quality of the Royal Caribbean International brand allows it to achieve market coverage that is among the broadest of any of the major cruise brands in the cruise vacation industry. Royal Caribbean International’s strategy is to attract an array of vacationing guests by offering a wide variety of itineraries to destinations worldwide, including Alaska, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, the Panama Canal and New Zealand, with cruise lengths ranging from two to 24 nights. Royal Caribbean International offers multiple innovative options for onboard dining, entertainment and other onboard activities. Because of the brand’s ability to deliver extensive and innovative product offerings at an excellent value to consumers, we believe Royal Caribbean International is well positioned to attract new consumers to cruising and to continue to bring loyal repeat guests back for their next vacation.
Royal Caribbean International operates 24 ships with an aggregate capacity of approximately 84,200 berths. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, Royal Caribbean International has six ships on order with an aggregate capacity of approximately 32,400 berths. These ships consist Odyssey of the Seas, which is expected to be delivered in early 2021, Wonder of the Seas and our sixth Oasis-class ship, which are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2024, respectively, and the first three ships of a new generation, known as our Icon-class, which are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2023, and the second quarters of 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The expected delivery dates for all of our ships on order are subject to change in the event of shipyard construction delays. See Part I.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The risk factors set forth below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historical results. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. There may be additional risks that we consider not to be material, or which are not known, and any of these risks could have the effects set forth below. The ordering of the risk factors set forth below is not intended to reflect any Company indication of priority or likelihood. See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.
COVID-19 and Financial Risks
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations. The global spread of COVID-19 and the unprecedented responses by governments and other authorities to control and contain the disease, has caused significant disruptions, created new risks, and exacerbated existing risks to our business.
We have been, and will continue to be, negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts that resulted from actions taken in response to the outbreak. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: travel bans and cruising advisories and the resulting temporary suspension of our Global Brands' operations, which is expected to continue through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations; restrictions on the movement and gathering of people; social distancing measures; shelter-in-place/stay-at-home orders; and disruptions to businesses in our supply chain. In addition to the imposed restrictions affecting our business, the extent, duration, and magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the economy and consumer demand for cruising and travel is still rapidly fluctuating and difficult to predict. As such, these impacts may persist for an extended period of time or even become more pronounced, even after we are permitted to and/or begin to resume operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic also has elevated risks affecting significant parts of our business:
• Operations: Due to the global public health circumstances, we have decided to extend the suspension of sailings of our Global Brands' fleet through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations. It is uncertain as to whether we will need to suspend additional sailings and to what extent, and upon the conclusion of such suspensions, we expect a gradual return to normal sailings. The suspension of sailings and the expected reduction in demand for future cruising once we resume sailing has led to a significant decline in our revenues and cash inflows, which has required us to take cost and capital expenditure containment actions. Consequently, we have reduced and furloughed our workforce, with approximately 23% of our U.S. shoreside employee base being impacted and, except for the minimum safe manning shipboard crew required to operate the ships during the suspension of operations, our shipboard crew were notified that their contracts would end early and they would be notified about new assignments when operations resume in the future. As a result of these actions, we may be challenged in rebuilding our workforce which could further delay our return to service. In addition, we have reduced our planned capital spending through 2021, which may negatively impact our execution of planned growth strategies, particularly as it relates to investments in our ships, technology, and our expansion of land-based developments. Furthermore, we have taken actions to monitor and mitigate changes in our supply chain, and port destination availability, which may strain relationships with our vendors and port partners. On September 21, 2020, the HSP submitted its report on recommendations to the CDC, which includes more than 70 detailed recommendations to protect the public health and safety of guests, crew and the communities where cruise ships call. On October 30, 2020, the CDC issued the Conditional Order, which replaced the “no sail” order that expired on October 31, 2020. While the Conditional Order represents an important step in our return to service, many uncertainties remain as to the specifics and timing of implementation, administration and costs of the requirements of the Conditional Order, some of which may be significant. Further, the Conditional Order contemplates that the CDC may issue additional requirements through technical instructions or orders as needed and that the phases required to resume operations will be further determined based on public health considerations, including the trajectory of the pandemic and the ability of the Company and other cruise ship operators to successfully employ measures that mitigate the risk of COVID-19. In addition, the Conditional Order contains requirements that could negatively impact our results of operations, such as: laboratory testing of crew members and guests; simulated voyages; and the certification process, including implementing the required testing protocols, the prohibition on itineraries longer than seven days, and the demonstration at each port where a ship intends to dock of approval with U.S. port and local health authorities, which requires medical care agreements addressing evacuation to onshore hospitals, housing agreements with onshore facilities for isolation and quarantine of COVID-19 cases, and port agreements to limit the number of cruise ships at any single port. Our ability to meet the requirements under the Conditional Order will determine the timing and implementation of our plans to return to service which we expect to be gradual. We are currently reviewing and assessing the uncertainties relating to the Conditional Order’s requirements and are in dialogue with the CDC. Based on our assessment of these conditions or for other reasons, we may determine
it necessary to extend our voluntary suspension of our Global Brands’ cruise sailings which currently extends through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations. It is difficult to predict our ability to meet the requirements of the Conditional Order and the costs associated with compliance, some of which could be significant.
If we are unable to satisfy the requirements of the Conditional Order our operations may be negatively impacted and we could be exposed to reputational and legal risks. Due to the unprecedented and uncertain nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and CDC or Department of State guidance, it is difficult to predict the impact of further disruptions and their magnitude. The impact of further disruptions may depend on how they coincide with the timing of when we seek to resume sailing. In addition, we have never previously experienced a complete cessation of our cruising operations, and as a consequence, our ability to predict the impact of such a cessation on our brands and future prospects is limited and such impact is uncertain.
•Results of Operations: Our suspensions of sailings have materially impacted the results of our operations. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs associated with cancellations as we accommodate passengers with refunds and future cruise credits; as well as continuing to assist our crew with their return home, food, housing, and medical needs. In addition, although cruise operations are currently suspended, we have incurred and will likely continue to incur significant overhead costs associated with layup of our fleet and enhanced COVID-19 related sanitation procedures. As we cannot control adverse media coverage and we cannot predict exactly when we will resume sailing operations, we are experiencing and may continue to experience weak demand for cruising for an indeterminable length of time and we cannot predict when we will return to pre-outbreak demand or fare pricing or if we will return to such levels in the foreseeable future. In turn, these negative impacts to our financial performance have resulted and may continue to result in impairments of our long-lived and intangible assets, which has influenced our decision making relating to early disposal, sale or retirement of assets. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, we incurred impairment charges and credit losses of $1.6 billion related to the impairment of goodwill and trademarks and trade names attributable to our Silversea Cruises reporting unit, and long-lived assets as well as credit losses on mostly receivables related to our sale of property and equipment. Following the resumption of operations, our Global Brands and our Partner Brands may be subject to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Partner Brands, TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, resumed limited cruise operations outside of the U.S. in July 2020 with cruises of short durations, with reduced occupancies and with limited or no ports of call. Additionally, any future profitability will be impacted by increased debt service costs as a result of our liquidity actions.
•Liquidity: The suspension of our sailings and the reduction in demand for future cruising has adversely impacted our liquidity as we have experienced a significant increase in refunds of customer deposits while cash inflows from new or existing bookings on future sailings has reduced sharply. As a result, we have taken actions to increase our liquidity through a combination of capital and operating expense reductions and financing activities. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we executed and amended various financing arrangements, which have resulted in $10.2 billion of incremental liquidity, including:
◦a $0.6 billion increase in the capacity available under our revolving credit facilities;
◦additional liquidity of $6.7 billion through the issuance of new debt, net of repayments, and the securing of a one-year $700 million commitment for a 364-day term loan facility;
◦£300.0 million, or $409.9 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2020, of available and issued liquidity under an unsecured government commercial paper program with the Bank of England;
◦the deferral of $0.9 billion of existing debt amortization under our export-credit backed ship debt facilities through April 2021; and
◦the issuance of 22.6 million shares of common stock for approximately $1.6 billion
We also agreed with certain of our lenders that we will not pay dividends or engage in stock repurchases until the end of the third quarter of 2022. Thereafter, in the event we declare a dividend or engage in stock repurchases we will need to repay the amounts deferred under our export credit facilities. On August 24, 2020, Moody’s downgraded our senior unsecured rating from Ba2 to B2, and on August 31, 2020, S&P Global downgraded our senior unsecured rating from BB to B+. On August 24, 2020, Moody’s also downgraded the Silversea Notes from Baa3 to Ba2 and on August 31, 2020, S&P downgraded Silversea Cruises' Notes from BBB- to BB and, as a result, certain covenants of the indenture governing the Silversea Notes have been reinstated. These downgrades reduce our ability to incur secured indebtedness by reducing the amount of indebtedness that we are permitted to secure, and may negatively impact our access to, and cost of debt financing. On February 25, 2021, S&P Global further downgraded our senior unsecured rating from B+ to B, and downgraded our $3.32 billion Senior Secured Notes and Silversea Notes from BB to BB-. This downgrade has no further impact on the terms of the notes. As of December 31, 2020, we obtained an interim debt service deferral and financial covenant holiday under certain of our export-credit backed loan facilities to generate a cumulative $0.9 billion of incremental liquidity during the 12 month period ended April 2021 which is to be repaid
over a period of four years after the 12-month deferral period. During the first quarter of 2021, we amended our export credit facilities to defer $0.8 billion of amortization payments due under these export facilities. The deferred amounts will be repayable semi-annually over a five-year period starting in April 2022. Our ability to raise additional financing, whether or not secured, could be limited if our credit rating is further downgraded, and/or if we fail to comply with applicable covenants governing our outstanding indebtedness, and/or if overall financial market conditions worsen. Additionally, due to the complexity of the pandemic’s impact to the economy and uncertainty of its duration, we cannot guarantee that assumptions used to project our liquidity needs will be correct, which may result in the need for additional financing and/or may result in the inability to satisfy covenants required by our current credit facilities. If we continue to raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our shareholders could experience dilution of their ownership interest, and these securities could have rights, preferences, and privileges that are superior to that of holders of our ordinary shares. If we raise additional funds by issuing debt, we may be subject to additional limitations on our operations due to restrictive covenants, which may be more restrictive than the covenants in our existing debt agreements, and we may be required to further encumber our assets. Also, as a result of our additional debt issuances, we will require a significant amount of cash to service our debt and sustain operations. Our ability to generate cash depends on factors beyond our control and we may be unable to repay or repurchase debt at maturity. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be unable to fund our operations, or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could negatively affect our business. There is no guarantee that financing will be available in the future or that such financing will be available with similar terms or terms that are commercially acceptable to us. Further, if any government agrees to provide us with disaster relief assistance, or other assistance due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we determine it is beneficial to seek such government assistance, it may impose restrictions on executive compensation, share buybacks, dividends, prepayment of debt and other restrictions until the aid is repaid or redeemed in full, which could significantly limit our corporate activities and adversely impact our business and operations. We cannot assure you that any more such disaster relief would be available to us.
We may not be able to obtain sufficient financing or capital for our needs or may not be able to do so on terms that are acceptable or consistent with our expectations.
To fund our capital expenditures (including new ship orders), operations and scheduled debt payments, we have historically relied on a combination of cash flows provided by operations, drawdowns under available credit facilities, the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the sale of equity or debt securities in private or public securities markets. Any circumstance or event which leads to a decrease in consumer cruise spending, such as worsening global economic conditions or significant incidents impacting the cruise industry, including the COVID-19 pandemic, negatively affects our operating cash flows and currently, we have no cash flows from operations. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting suspension of our operations, these circumstances have also resulted in credit rating downgrades. See “-Adverse worldwide economic or other conditions could result in prolonged reduction in the demand for cruises and passenger spending, adversely impacting our operating results, cash flows and financial condition including potentially impairing the value of our goodwill, ships, trademarks and other assets and potentially affecting other critical accounting estimates where the change may be material to our operating results” and “-Incidents on ships, at port facilities, land destinations and/or affecting the cruise vacation industry in general, and the associated negative media coverage and publicity, could affect our reputation and impact our sales and results of operations” for more information.
Our ability to access additional funding as and when needed, our ability to timely refinance and/or replace our outstanding debt securities and credit facilities on acceptable terms and our cost of funding will depend upon numerous factors including, but not limited to, the strength of the financial markets, our recovery and financial performance, the recovery and performance of our industry in general and the size, scope and timing of our financial needs. In addition, even where financing commitments have been secured, significant disruptions in the capital and credit markets could cause our banking and other counterparties to breach their contractual obligations to us or could cause the conditions to the availability of such funding not to be satisfied. This could include failures of banks or other financial service companies to fund required borrowings under our loan agreements or to pay us amounts that may become due or return collateral that is refundable under our derivative contracts for hedging of fuel prices, interest rates and foreign currencies or other agreements. If any of the foregoing occurs for a prolonged period of time it will have a long-term negative impact on our cash flows and our ability to meet our obligations cannot be guaranteed.
Our substantial debt could adversely affect our financial condition.
We have a substantial amount of debt and significant debt service obligations. As of December 31, 2020, we had total debt of $18.9 billion. Our substantial debt could have important negative consequences for us. For example, our substantial debt could require us to dedicate a large portion of our cash flow from operations to service debt and fund repayments on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; increase our vulnerability to adverse general economic or industry conditions; limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or the industry in which we operate; place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our
competitors that have less debt; make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business, the economy or the industry in which we operate, including the current downturn related to COVID-19; limit our ability to raise additional debt or equity capital in the future to satisfy our requirements relating to working capital, capital expenditures, development projects, strategic initiatives or other purposes; restrict us from making strategic acquisitions, introducing new technologies or exploiting business opportunities; limit or restrict our ability to obtain and maintain performance bonds to cover our financial responsibility requirements in various jurisdictions for non-performance of guest travel, casualty and personal injury; make it difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt; and increase our exposure to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are (and may be in the future) at a variable rate of interest.
Despite our leverage, we may incur more debt, which could adversely affect our business.
We may incur substantial additional debt in the future. Except for the restrictions under the indentures governing our Secured Notes (as defined below) and our 9.125% Senior Guaranteed Notes due 2023 (the “Unsecured Notes”) and certain of our other debt instruments, including our unsecured bank and export credit facilities, we are not restricted under the terms of our debt instruments from incurring additional debt. Although the indentures governing the Secured Notes, the Unsecured Notes, and certain of our other debt instruments, including our unsecured bank and export credit facilities, contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional debt, these restrictions are subject to a number of significant qualifications and exceptions, and under certain circumstances the amount of debt that could be incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Our debt instruments do not and will not prevent us from incurring liabilities that do not constitute “Indebtedness” as defined therein. In the event that we execute and borrow under the $700M Liquidity Facility, the credit agreement that would govern the $700M Liquidity Facility would impose substantially similar restrictions (including the related qualifications and exceptions) as are set forth in the indenture governing the Unsecured Notes. If new debt is added to our existing debt levels, the related risks that we now face would increase. As of December 31, 2020, we have commitments for approximately $11.6 billion of debt to finance the purchase of 11 ships on order by our Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises brands, 10 of which are guaranteed by the export credit agencies in the countries in which the ships are being built. The ultimate size of each facility will depend on the final contract price (including change orders and owner’s supply) as well as fluctuations in the EUR/USD exchange rate.
The terms of existing debt financing gives, and any future preferred equity or debt financing may give, holders of any preferred securities or debt securities rights that are senior to rights of our common shareholders or impose more stringent operating restrictions on our company.
The holders of our existing debt have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock in the event of liquidation. If we incur additional debt or raise equity through the issuance of preferred stock or convertible securities, the terms of the debt or the preferred stock issued may give the holders rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock, particularly in the event of liquidation. The terms of the debt may also impose additional and more stringent restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds through the issuance of additional equity, the ownership percentage of our existing shareholders would be diluted. Debt or equity financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms.
We will require a significant amount of cash to service our debt and sustain our operations. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control, and we may not be able to generate cash required to service our debt.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on our debt service obligations or refinance our debt depends on our future operating and financial performance and ability to generate cash. This will be affected by our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, as well as general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors beyond our control, such as the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. If we cannot generate sufficient cash to meet our debt service obligations or fund our other business needs, we may, among other things, need to refinance all or a portion of our debt, obtain additional financing, delay planned capital expenditures or sell assets. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash through any of the foregoing. If we are not able to refinance any of our debt, obtain additional financing or sell assets on commercially reasonable terms or at all, we may not be able to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt.
We are subject to restrictive debt covenants that may limit our ability to finance future operations and capital needs and to pursue business opportunities and activities. In addition, if we fail to comply with any of these restrictions, it could have a material adverse effect on us.
Certain of our debt instruments, including our indentures and our unsecured bank and export credit facilities, limit our flexibility in operating our business. For example, certain of our loan agreements and indentures restrict or limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things: incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock and make other restricted payments; make investments; consummate certain asset sales; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; grant or assume certain liens; and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. Both our export credit facilities and our non-export credit facilities contain covenants that require
us, among other things, to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25x and limit our net debt-to-capital ratio to no more than 62.5%. Refer to Note 9. Debt to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements for further discussion on our covenants and existing waivers.
On August 24, 2020, Moody’s downgraded the Silversea Notes from Baa3 to Ba2 and on August 31, 2020, S&P Global downgraded Silversea Cruises' Notes from BBB- to BB and as a result, certain covenants of the indenture governing the Silversea Notes have been reinstated, the application of which had been previously suspended unless and until any such downgrade occurred. The reinstated covenants include, among other things, limitations on the ability of Silversea Cruises and its restricted subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliates (including Royal Caribbean and its subsidiaries that are not restricted subsidiaries of Silversea Cruises) and pay dividends and make other distributions from Silversea Cruises to Royal Caribbean, each of which may limit our ability to obtain funding and may decrease our operational and financial flexibility, including the ability to make upstream payments from Silversea Cruises and to provide funding support to Silversea Cruises. On February 25, 2021, S&P Global further downgraded the Silversea Cruises’ Notes from BB to BB-, which had no further impact with respect to the Silversea Cruises’ Notes. The Silversea Notes are guaranteed by the Company on a senior unsecured basis. Any event of default or acceleration of the indebtedness under the Silversea Notes could cause the borrowings under other of our debt instruments that contain cross-default provisions to be accelerated or become payable on demand.
All of these limitations are subject to significant exceptions and qualifications. Despite these exceptions and qualifications, we cannot assure you that the operating and financial restrictions and covenants in certain of our debt instruments will not adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs or engage in other business activities that may be in our interest. Any future indebtedness may include similar or other restrictive terms. In addition, our ability to comply with these covenants, and restrictions may be affected by events beyond our control. These include prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If we breach any of these covenants or restrictions, we could be in default under such indebtedness and certain of our other debt instruments and the relevant debt holders or lenders could elect to declare the debt, together with accrued and unpaid interest and other fees, if any, immediately due and payable and proceed against any collateral securing that debt. If the debt under certain of our debt instruments that we enter into were to be accelerated, our liquid assets may be insufficient to repay in full such indebtedness. Borrowings under other debt instruments that contain cross-default provisions also may be accelerated or become payable on demand. In these circumstances, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full that indebtedness and our other indebtedness then outstanding.
In addition, our ability to maintain our credit facilities may also be impacted by changes in our ownership base. More specifically, we may be required to prepay our bank financing facilities if any person acquires ownership of more than 50% of our common stock or, subject to certain exceptions, during any 24-month period, a majority of our board of directors is no longer comprised of individuals who were members of our board of directors on the first day of such period. Our public debt securities also contain change of control provisions that would be triggered by a third-party acquisition of greater than 50% of our common stock coupled with a ratings downgrade, which would require us to offer to repurchase our public debt securities in the event of such change of control.
If we elect to settle conversions of our convertible notes, if any, in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, conversions of our convertible notes may result in substantial dilution for our existing shareholders.
In 2020, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $1.725 billion in convertible notes. The notes are convertible into shares of our common stock, cash, or a combination of common stock and cash, at our election. The initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of the convertible notes is 13.8672 and 12.1212 shares of our common stock for our June and October 2020 issuances of convertible notes, respectively, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $72.11 and $82.50 per share, respectively, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. In connection with certain corporate events or if we issue a notice of tax redemption, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for holders of the convertible notes who convert their convertible notes in connection with such corporate event or whose convertible notes are called for tax redemption and who convert their convertible notes during the relevant redemption period. Prior to March 15 and August 15, 2023, the June and October convertible notes, respectively, will be convertible at the option of holders during certain periods only upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Beyond those dates, the convertible notes will be convertible at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding their maturity date. If we elect to settle conversions of our convertible notes, if any, in shares of our common stock or a combination of common stock and cash, conversions of our convertible notes may result in significant dilution to our shareholders.
We did not declare dividends on our common stock in the quarters ended June 30, 2020, September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020 and do not expect to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.
No cash dividends were declared on our common stock during the quarters ended June 30, 2020, September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020. We expect that any income received from operations will be devoted to our future operations and recovery.
We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future due to our agreement with certain of our lenders not to pay dividends until the end of the third quarter 2022. In addition, in the event we thereafter declare a dividend, we will need to repay our Debt Deferral. Payment of dividends would, in any case, depend upon our profitability at the time, cash available for those dividends, and other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly
A portion of our indebtedness bears interest at variable rates that are linked to changing market interest rates. As a result, an increase in market interest rates would increase our interest expense and our debt service obligations. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $7.1 billion of indebtedness that bears interest at variable rates. This amount represented approximately 35.5% of our total indebtedness. As of December 31, 2020, a hypothetical 1% increase in prevailing interest rates would increase our forecasted 2021 interest expense by approximately $59.4 million.
In addition, on July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. Also in 2017, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of, among other entities, large U.S. financial institutions, selected the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as the rate recommended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR ("USD LIBOR"). SOFR measures the cost of borrowing cash overnight, backed by U.S. Treasury securities. SOFR is observed and backward-looking, which stands in contrast with LIBOR under the current methodology, which is an estimated forward-looking rate and relies, to some degree, on the expert judgment of submitting panel members. On December 4, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, released a consultation disclosing its intent to cease publication of one-week and two-month USD LIBOR after December 31, 2021, but continue to publish the remaining tenors of USD LIBOR for an additional 18 months, through June 30, 2023. These remaining tenors of USD LIBOR-overnight, one-month, three-month, six-month and 12-months-encompass the tenors referenced in our borrowings and interest rate swaps. U.S. regulators continue to encourage banks to cease entering into new contracts that use USD LIBOR as a reference rate by December 31, 2021. However, uncertainty remains as many market participants await the development of term SOFR products, i.e., forward-looking rates, and benchmark providers are developing indices that might co-exist with SOFR. If LIBOR ceases to exist, the level of interest payments on the portion of our indebtedness that bears interest at variable rates would be affected, which may materially impact the amount of our interest payments under such debt. Further, if we, the agent or the lenders holding a majority of the outstanding loans or commitments under such indebtedness determine that a LIBOR rate is no longer available, that a specific date has been announced after which a LIBOR rate will no longer be made available, or that syndicated loans are being executed or amended to adopt a replacement rate, then the terms of such indebtedness will allow us and the applicable agent to amend such indebtedness to implement a replacement rate, subject to the negative consent of the lenders holding a majority of the outstanding loans or commitments. Such replacement rate will give due consideration to any evolving or then-existing conventions for similar credit facilities, which may result in different than expected interest payments.
Macroeconomic, Business, Market and Operational Risks
Adverse worldwide economic or other conditions could reduce the demand for cruises and passenger spending, adversely impacting our operating results, cash flows and financial condition including impairing the value of our goodwill, ships, trademarks and other assets and potentially affecting other critical accounting estimates where the change may be material to our operating results.
In addition to health and safety concerns, demand for cruises is affected by international, national, and local economic conditions. Weak or uncertain economic conditions may impact consumer confidence and pose a risk as vacationers postpone or reduce discretionary spending. This, in turn, may result in cruise booking slowdowns, decreased cruise prices and lower onboard revenues, even after the COVID-19 pandemic has ended and/or related health and safety concerns are reduced. Given the global nature of our business, we are exposed to many different economies and our business could be hurt by challenging conditions in any of our markets. Any significant deterioration of international, national, or local economic conditions, including those resulting from geopolitical events and/or international disputes and the current economic and employment impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in countries where many of our customers reside could result in a prolonged period of booking slowdowns, depressed cruise prices and/or reduced onboard revenues, even after the COVID-19 pandemic has ended and/or related health and safety concerns are reduced. Additionally, the continued impact of COVID-19 on the financial markets is complicated and we cannot predict its effect on geopolitical events and/or international trade policies as countries attempt to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and as they re-open their economies or re-implement lockdown measures. Additionally, uncertainties resulting from the United Kingdom’s recent exit from the European Union may impact our business.
Our operating costs could increase due to market forces and economic or geopolitical factors beyond our control.
Our operating costs, including fuel, food, payroll and benefits, airfare, taxes, insurance, and security costs, are all subject to increases due to market forces and economic or geopolitical conditions or other factors beyond our control, including as a
result of rerouting itineraries due to ports closing or not accepting passengers in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Increases in these operating costs could adversely affect our future profitability when an economic recovery begins.
Any further impairment of our goodwill, long-lived assets, equity investments and notes receivable could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
We evaluate goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable. A challenging operating environment, such as is currently being experienced under the impact of COVID-19, impacts affecting consumer demand or spending, the deterioration of general macroeconomic conditions, or other factors could result in a change to the future cash flows we expect to derive from our operations. Reductions of cash flows used in the valuation analyses may result in the recording of an impairment charge to a reporting unit’s goodwill. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, we recognized a Silversea Cruises’ goodwill impairment loss of $576.2 million. See Note 5. Goodwill to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements for further information.
Price increases for commercial airline service for our guests or major changes or reduction in commercial airline service and/or availability could adversely impact the demand for cruises and undermine our ability to provide reasonably priced vacation packages to our guests.
Many of our guests depend on scheduled commercial airline services to transport them to or from the ports where our cruises embark or disembark. Increases in the price of airfare would increase the overall price of the cruise vacation to our guests, which may adversely impact demand for our cruises. In addition, changes in the availability and/or regulations governing commercial airline services, including those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, have adversely affected and could continue to adversely affect our guests’ ability to obtain air travel, as well as our ability to transfer our guests to or from our cruise ships, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Fears of terrorist attacks, war, and other hostilities could have a negative impact on our results of operations.
Events such as terrorist attacks, war (or war-like conditions), conflicts (domestic or cross-border), civil unrest and other hostilities, including an escalation in the frequency or severity of incidents, and the resulting political instability, travel restrictions and advisories, and concerns over safety and security aspects of traveling or the fear of any of the foregoing have had, and could have in the future, a significant adverse impact on demand and pricing in the travel and vacation industry. In view of our global operations, we are susceptible to a wide range of adverse events. These events could also result in additional security measures taken by local authorities which may potentially impact access to ports and/or destinations.
Disease outbreaks and an increase in concern about the risk of illness could adversely impact our business and results from operations.
Disease outbreaks and increased concern related to illness when travelling to, from, and on our ships could cause a drop in demand for cruises, guest cancellations, travel restrictions, an unavailability of ports and/or destinations, cruise cancellations, ship redeployments and an inability to source our crew, provisions or supplies from certain places. Due to the complex and evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic we cannot predict the duration of the effect of the current pandemic, and the magnitude is dependent on the development of future events and responses from governments, other authorities, and individual consumers. Our industry, including our passengers and crew, may be subject to enhanced health and safety requirements in the future which may be costly and take a significant amount of time to implement across our fleet and we may be subject to concerns that cruises are susceptible to the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. For example, local governments may establish their own set of rules for self-quarantines and/or require proof of individuals health status prior to or upon visiting. These effects may extend beyond any resolution of the current COVID-19 pandemic through the development of a vaccine or effective therapeutic treatment, and the impact of any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, the new operating protocols we are developing and any other health protocol we may develop or that may be required by law in the future in response to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases may be costly to implement and less effective than we expected in reducing the risk of infection and spread of such disease on our cruise ships, which will negatively impact our operations and expose us to reputational and legal risks.
Incidents on ships, at port facilities, land destinations and/or affecting the cruise vacation industry in general, and the associated negative media coverage and publicity, could affect our reputation and impact our sales and results of operations.
The ownership and/or operation of cruise ships, private destinations, port facilities and shore excursions involves the risk of accidents, illnesses, mechanical failures, environmental incidents and other incidents which may bring into question safety, health, security and vacation satisfaction and can negatively impact our sales, operations and reputation. Incidents involving cruise ships, and, in particular the safety, health and security of guests and crew and the media coverage thereof, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted and could continue to impact demand for our cruises and pricing in the industry. In particular, we cannot predict the impact on our financial performance and our cash flows required for cash refunds of deposits as a result of the pause in our global fleet cruise operations, which may be prolonged, and the public’s concern
regarding the health and safety of travel, especially by cruise ship, and related decreases in demand for travel and cruising. Moreover, our ability to attract and retain guests and crew depends, in part, upon the perception and reputation of our company and our brands and the public’s concerns regarding the health and safety of travel generally, as well as regarding the cruising industry and our ships specifically. Our reputation and our business could also be damaged by continued or additional negative publicity regarding the cruise industry in general, including publicity regarding the spread of contagious disease such as COVID-19, over-tourism in key ports and destinations and the potentially adverse environmental impacts of cruising. The considerable expansion in the use of social and digital media over recent years has compounded the potential scope and reach of any negative publicity. In addition, incidents involving cruise ships may result in additional costs to our business, increasing government or other regulatory oversight and, in certain cases, potential litigation.
Significant weather, climate events and/or natural disasters could adversely impact our business and results from operations.
Natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, volcanos, wild fires), weather and/or climate events (including hurricanes and typhoons) could impact our source markets and operations resulting in travel restrictions, guest cancellations, an inability to source our crew or our provisions and supplies from certain places. We are often forced to alter itineraries and occasionally cancel a cruise or a series of cruises or to redeploy our ships due to these types of events, which could have an adverse effect on our sales, operating costs and profitability in the current and future periods. Increases in the frequency, severity or duration of these types of events could exacerbate their impact and cause further disruption to our operations or make certain destinations less desirable or unavailable impacting our revenues and profitability further. Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and on industry performance.
Our reliance on shipyards, their subcontractors and our suppliers to implement our newbuild and ship upgrade programs and to repair and maintain our ships exposes us to risks which, if realized, could adversely impact our business.
We rely on shipyards, their subcontractors and our suppliers to effectively construct our new ships and to repair, maintain, and upgrade our existing ships on a timely basis and in a cost effective manner; and there are a limited number of shipyards with the capability and capacity to build, repair, maintain and/or upgrade our ships. As such, any disruptions effecting the newbuild or fleet modernization supply chain will adversely impact our business as there are limited substitutes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to suspensions and/or slowdowns of work at certain shipyards, which impacts our ability to construct new ships when and as planned, our ability to timely and cost-effectively procure new capacity, and our ability to execute scheduled drydocks and/or fleet modernizations. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the shipyards, their subcontractors, and our suppliers have resulted in delays in our previously scheduled ship deliveries, which are currently under discussion with the shipyards. Variations from our plan could have a significant negative impact on our business operations and financial condition.
Building, repairing, maintaining and/or upgrading a ship is sophisticated work that involves significant risks. In addition, the prices of labor and/or various commodities that are used in the construction of ships can be subject to volatile price changes, including the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Shipyards, their subcontractors, and/or our suppliers may encounter financial, technical or design problems when doing these jobs. If materialized, these problems could impact the timely delivery or costs of new ships or the ability of shipyards to repair and upgrade our fleet in accordance with our needs or expectations. In addition, delays, mechanical faults and/or unforeseen incidents may result in cancellation of cruises, or, in more severe situations, delays of new ship orders, or necessitate unscheduled drydocks. Such events could result in lost revenue, increased operating expenses, or both, and thus adversely affect our results of operations.
An increase in capacity worldwide or excess capacity in a particular market could adversely impact our cruise sales and/or pricing.
Although our ships can be redeployed, cruise sales and/or pricing may be impacted by the introduction of new ships into the marketplace, reductions in cruise capacity, overall market growth and deployment decisions of ourselves and our competitors. As of December 31, 2020, a total of 105 new ships with approximately 217,600 berths were on order for delivery through 2027 in the cruise industry, including 15 ships currently scheduled to be delivered to us. The further net growth in capacity from these new ships and future orders, without an increase in the cruise industry’s demand and/or share of the vacation market, could depress cruise prices and impede our ability to achieve yield improvement. Additionally, due to our global suspension of operations and the suspension of operations by other cruise operators, cruise prices and yield improvement are further at risk depending on how, when, and where global operations resume.
In addition, to the extent that we or our competitors deploy ships to a particular itinerary/region and the resulting capacity in that region exceeds the demand, we may lower pricing and profitability may be lower than anticipated. This risk exists in emerging cruise markets, where capacity has grown rapidly over the past few years and in mature markets where excess capacity is typically redeployed. Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, including potentially impairing the value of our ships and other assets.
Unavailability of ports of call may adversely affect our results of operations.
We believe that port destinations are a major reason why guests choose to go on a particular cruise or on a cruise vacation. The availability of ports and destinations is affected by a number of factors, including industry demand and competition for key ports and destinations, existing capacity constraints, constraints related to the size of certain ships, security, financial limitations on port development, exclusivity arrangements that ports may have with our competitors, geopolitical developments and local governmental regulations; and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, port availability could also be subject to immediate change depending on local and/or onboard disease outbreaks or other government restrictions as well as limited availability when sailing resumes. In addition, higher fuel costs may adversely impact the destinations we choose to call upon on certain of our itineraries as they become too costly to include.
Increased demand and competition for key ports of call or destinations, limitations on the availability or feasibility of use of specific ports of call and/or constraints on the availability of shore excursions and other service providers at such ports or destinations could adversely affect our results of operations.
We may lose business to competitors throughout the vacation market.
We operate in the vacation market and cruising is one of many alternatives for people choosing a vacation. We therefore risk losing business not only to other cruise lines, but also to other vacation operators, which provide other leisure options, including hotels, resorts, internet-based alternative lodging sites and package holidays and tours.
We face significant competition from other cruise lines on the basis of cruise pricing, travel agent preference and also in terms of the nature of ships, services and destinations that we offer to guests. Our principal competitors within the cruise vacation industry include Carnival Corporation & plc, which owns, among others, Aida Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn; Disney Cruise Line; MSC Cruises; and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, which owns Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Our revenues are sensitive to the actions of other cruise lines in many areas including pricing, scheduling, capacity and promotions, which can have a substantial adverse impact not only on our revenues, but on overall industry revenues.
In the event that we do not effectively market or differentiate our cruise brands from our competitors or otherwise compete effectively with other vacation alternatives and new or existing cruise companies, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.
If we are unable to appropriately balance our cost management and capital allocation strategies with our goal of satisfying guest expectations, it may adversely impact our business success.
Our goals call for us to provide high quality products and deliver high quality services. There can be no assurance that we can successfully balance these goals with our cost management and capital allocation strategies. Our business also requires us to make capital allocation decisions across a broad scope of investment options with varying return profiles and time horizons for value realization. These include significant capital investment decisions such as ordering new ships, upgrading our existing fleet, enhancing our technology and/or data capabilities, and expanding our portfolio of land-based assets, based on expected market preferences, competition and projected demand. There can be no assurance that our strategies will be successful, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, our ownership and operation of older tonnage, in particular during the business disruption caused by COVID-19, has resulted in impaired asset values due to expected returns that we will not be able to recover.
Our attempts to expand our business into new markets and new ventures may not be successful.
We opportunistically seek to grow our business through, among other things, expansion into new destinations or source markets and establishment of new ventures complementary to our current offerings. These attempts to expand our business increase the complexity of our business, require significant levels of investment and can strain our management, personnel, operations and systems. In addition, we have been unable to execute our attempts to expand our business as a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as described elsewhere herein. There can be no assurance that these business expansion efforts will develop as anticipated or that we will succeed, and if we do not, we may be unable to recover our investment, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks associated with our development and operation of key land-based destination projects may adversely impact our business or results of operations.
We have invested, either directly or indirectly through joint ventures and partnerships, in a growing portfolio of key land-based projects including port and terminal facilities, private destinations and multi-brand destination projects. These investments can increase our exposure to certain key risks depending on the scope, location, and the ownership and management structure of these projects. These risks include susceptibility to weather events, exposure to local political/regulatory developments and policies, logistical challenges and human resource and labor risks; in addition to location-specific
safety, environmental, and health risks, including challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects locally where we have these projects and relationships.
Our reliance on travel agencies to sell and market our cruises exposes us to certain risks which, if realized, could adversely impact our business.
We rely on travel agencies to generate the majority of bookings for our ships. Accordingly, we must ensure that our commission rates and incentive structures remain competitive. If we fail to offer competitive compensation packages or fail to maintain our relationships, these agencies may be incentivized to sell cruises offered by our competitors to our detriment, which could adversely impact our operating results. Our reliance on third-party sellers is particularly pronounced in certain markets. In addition, the travel agent industry is sensitive to economic conditions that impact discretionary income of consumers. Significant disruptions, such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, or contractions in the industry could reduce the number of travel agencies available for us to market and sell our cruises, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, the strength of our recovery from suspended operations could be delayed if we are not aligned and partnered with key travel agencies.
Business activities that involve our co-investments with third parties may subject us to additional risks.
Partnerships, joint ventures and other business structures involving our co-investments with third parties generally include some form of shared control over the operations of the business and create additional risks, including the event that other investors in such ventures become bankrupt or otherwise lack the financial resources to meet their obligations, or could have or develop business interests, policies or objectives that are inconsistent with ours. In addition to financial risks, our co-investment activities have also presented managerial and operational risks and expose us to reputational or legal concerns. These or other issues related to our co-investments with third parties could adversely impact our operations or liquidity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pullmantur S.A. filed for reorganization under the terms of the Spanish insolvency laws. In addition, with the exception of limited sailings outside of the U.S. starting in July 2020, TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have, for the most part, suspended sailings and their operations, results of operations and liquidity have been and will continue to be adversely materially impacted. The Company may be required to continue to provide funding for these affiliated entities and it is unclear when and to what extent these entities will fully resume operations and our ability to provide such funding will be limited by the level and terms of our outstanding indebtedness. Further, due to the arrangements we have in place with our partners in these ventures, we are limited in our ability to control the strategy of these ventures if and when they resume operations, or their use of capital and other key factors to their results of operation which could adversely affect our investments and impact our results of operations.
Past or pending business acquisitions or potential acquisitions that we may decide to pursue in the future carry inherent risks which could adversely impact our financial performance and condition.
The Company, from time to time, has engaged in acquisitions (e.g., our Silversea Cruises acquisition) and may pursue acquisitions in the future, which are subject to, among other factors, the Company’s ability to identify attractive business opportunities and to negotiate favorable terms for such opportunities. Accordingly, the Company cannot make any assurances that potential acquisitions will be completed timely or at all, or that if completed, we would realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisition. Acquisitions also carry inherent risks such as, among others: (1) the potential delay or failure of our efforts to successfully integrate business processes and realizing expected synergies; (2) difficulty in aligning procedures, controls and/or policies; and (3) future unknown liabilities and costs that may be associated with an acquisition. In addition, acquisitions may also adversely impact our liquidity and/or debt levels, and the recognized value of goodwill and other intangible assets can be negatively affected by unforeseen events and/or circumstances, which may result in an impairment charge. Any of the foregoing events could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on supply chain vendors and third-party service providers who are integral to the operations of our businesses. These vendors and service providers are also affected by COVID-19 and may be unable or unwilling to deliver on their commitments or may act in ways that could harm our business.
We rely on supply chain vendors to deliver key products to the operations of our businesses around the world. Any event impacting a vendor’s ability to deliver goods of the expected quality at the location and time needed could negatively impact our ability to deliver our cruise experience. Events impacting our supply chain could be caused by factors beyond the control of our suppliers or us, including inclement weather, natural disasters, increased demand, problems in production or distribution and/or disruptions in third-party logistics or transportation systems, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any such interruptions to our supply chain could increase our costs and could limit the availability of products critical to our operations.
In order to achieve cost and operational efficiencies, we outsource to third-party vendors certain services that are integral to the operations of our global businesses, such as our onboard concessionaires, certain of our call center operations and operation of a large part of our information technology systems, which are also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are
subject to the risk that certain decisions are subject to the control of our third-party service providers and that these decisions may adversely affect our activities. A failure to adequately monitor a third-party service provider’s compliance with a service level agreement or regulatory or legal requirements could result in significant economic and reputational harm to us. There is also a risk the confidentiality, privacy and/or security of data held by third parties or communicated over third-party networks or platforms could become compromised.
The potential unavailability of insurance coverage, an inability to obtain insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates or our failure to have coverage in sufficient amounts to cover our incurred losses may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
We seek to maintain appropriate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates. We normally insure based on the cost of an asset rather than replacement value and we also elect to self-insure, co-insure, or use deductibles in certain circumstances for certain risks such as loss of use of a ship or other business interruption. The limits of insurance coverage we purchase are based on the availability of the coverage, evaluation of our risk profile and cost of coverage. We do not carry business interruption insurance and accordingly we have no insurance coverage for loss of revenues or earnings from our ships or other operations. Accordingly, we are not protected against all risks and we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred which could result in an unexpected decrease in our revenue and results of operations in the event of an incident.
We are members of four Protection and Indemnity (“P&I”) clubs, which are part of a worldwide group of 13 P&I clubs, known as the International Group of P&I Clubs (the “IG”). P&I coverage provided by the clubs is on a mutual basis and we are subject to additional premium calls in the event of a catastrophic loss incurred by any member of the 13 P&I clubs, whereby the reinsurance limits purchased by the IG are exhausted. We are also subject to additional premium calls based on investment and underwriting shortfalls experienced by our own individual insurers. Certain liabilities, costs, and expenses associated with COVID-19 cases identified on or traced to our vessels are eligible for insurance coverage under our participation in these P&I clubs.
We cannot be certain that insurance and reinsurance coverage will be available to us and at commercially reasonable rates in the future or at all or, if available, that it will be sufficient to cover potential claims. Additionally, if we or other insureds sustain significant losses, the result may be higher insurance premiums, cancellation of coverage, or the inability to obtain coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, depending on its on-going scope, and duration and the associated insurance claims volumes driven by the pandemic, may potentially impact the insurance markets we rely on for coverage and could adversely impact both the coverage options available to us in the future as well as the premium costs we are required to pay for those coverages. Such events could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
Disruptions in our shoreside or shipboard operations or our information systems may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our principal executive office and principal shoreside operations are located in Florida, and we have shoreside offices throughout the world. Actual or threatened natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes/typhoons, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires or floods), municipal lockdowns, curfews, quarantines, or similar events in these locations may have a material impact on our business continuity, reputation and results of operations. For instance, all Company shoreside operations are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has posed increased technological risks. In addition, substantial or repeated information system failures, computer viruses or cyber attacks impacting our shoreside or shipboard operations could adversely impact our business. We do not generally carry business interruption insurance for our shoreside or shipboard operations or our information systems. As such, any losses or damages incurred by us could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Liberian law could inhibit others from acquiring us, prevent a change of control, and may prevent efforts by our shareholders to change our management.
Certain provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and Liberian law may inhibit third parties from effectuating a change of control of the Company without approval from our board of directors which could result in the entrenchment of current management. These include provisions in our Articles of Incorporation that prevent third parties, other than A. Wilhelmsen AS and Cruise Associates and their permitted transferees, from acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 4.9% of our outstanding shares without the consent of our board of directors.
Compliance and Regulatory Risks
Changes in U.S. or other countries’ foreign travel policy may affect our results of operations.
Changes in U.S. foreign policy could result in the imposition of travel restrictions or travel bans on U.S. persons to certain countries or result in the imposition of U.S. travel advisories, warnings, rules, regulations or legislation that could expose us to penalties or claims of monetary damages. The timing and scope of these changes are unpredictable, and they could cause us to cancel scheduled sailings, possibly on short notice, or could result in possible litigation against us. This, in turn, could decrease
our revenue, increase our operating costs and otherwise impair our profitability. For instance, in June 2019, the U.S. government announced that cruise ships would no longer be allowed to travel between the U.S. and Cuba. This required us to change our high yielding Cuba sailings on short notice, which impacted our earnings. Moreover, in May 2019, the U.S. government activated Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996, popularly known as the Helms-Burton Act. This allowed certain individuals whose property was confiscated by the Cuban government to sue in U.S. courts anyone who “traffics” in the property in question. The activation of Title III has resulted in litigation against us and others in the tourism industry.
Additionally, in the first quarter of 2020, the U.S. Department of State, along with other governments, including Canada, issued travel advisories warning against cruise travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently imposed restrictions on those entering the U.S. and many nations imposed strict temporary restrictions on international travel. This, combined with other factors, ultimately lead to the company voluntarily suspending the sailings of our fleet globally and may limit or slow our ability to resume operations in the near term. In addition to the loss of revenues, our financial condition is affected by refund requests, future cruise credit issuances, and other costs associated with returning passengers and crew home safely. Furthermore, many countries have adopted restrictions against U.S. travelers and we currently cannot predict when those restrictions will be eased.
Growing anti-tourism sentiments and environmental concerns related to cruising could adversely impact our operations.
Certain ports and destinations are facing a surge of both cruise and non-cruise tourism which, in certain cases, has fueled anti-tourism sentiments and related countermeasures to limit the volume of tourists allowed in these destinations. In certain destinations, countermeasures to limit the volume of tourists are being contemplated and/or put into effect, including proposed limits on cruise ships and cruise passengers. Potential restrictions in ports and destinations such as Venice, Barcelona or Key West, could limit the itinerary and destination options we can offer our passengers going forward. Some environmental groups have also generated negative publicity about the environmental impact of the cruise vacation industry and are advocating for more stringent regulation of ship emissions at berth and at sea. These anti-tourism sentiments and growing environmental scrutiny of the cruise industry and any related countermeasures could adversely impact our operations and financial results and subject us to increasing compliance costs.
Environmental, labor, health and safety, financial responsibility and other maritime regulations could affect operations and increase operating costs.
The U.S. and various state and foreign government or regulatory agencies have enacted or may enact environmental regulations or policies, such as requiring the use of low sulfur fuels (e.g. IMO 2020), that could increase our direct cost to operate in certain markets, increase our cost for fuel, limit the supply of compliant fuel, cause us to incur significant expenses to purchase and/or develop new equipment and adversely impact the cruise vacation industry. While we have taken and expect to continue to take a number of actions to mitigate the potential impact of certain of these regulations, there can be no assurances that these efforts will be successful over the long term.
There is increasing global regulatory focus on climate change, greenhouse gas and other emissions. These regulatory efforts, both internationally and in the U.S. are still developing, and we cannot yet determine what the final regulatory programs or their impact will be in any jurisdiction where we do business. However, such climate change-related regulatory activity in the future may adversely affect our business and financial results by requiring us to reduce our emissions, purchase allowances or otherwise pay for our emissions. Such activity may also impact us by increasing our operating costs, including fuel costs.
In addition, we are subject to various international, national, state and local laws, regulations and treaties that govern, among other things, discharge from our ships, safety standards applicable to our ships, treatment of disabled persons, health and sanitary standards applicable to our guests, security standards on board our ships and at the ship/port interface areas, and financial responsibilities to our guests. These issues are, and we believe will continue to be, an area of focus by the relevant authorities throughout the world. This could result in the enactment of more stringent regulation of cruise ships that could subject us to increasing compliance costs in the future.
A change in our tax status under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or other jurisdictions, may have adverse effects on our income.
We and a number of our subsidiaries are foreign corporations that derive income from a U.S. trade or business and/or from sources within the U.S. In connection with the year end audit, each year, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, our U.S. tax counsel, delivers to us an opinion, based on certain representations and assumptions set forth in it, to the effect that this income, to the extent derived from or incidental to the international operation of a ship or ships, is excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code. We believe that most of our income (including that of our subsidiaries) is derived from or incidental to the international operation of ships.
Our ability to rely on Section 883 could be challenged or could change in the future. Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, including Section 883, are subject to legislative change at any time. Moreover, changes could occur in the future with
respect to the identity, residence or holdings of our direct or indirect shareholders, trading volume or trading frequency of our shares, or relevant foreign tax laws of Liberia or Bahamas, such that they no longer qualify as equivalent exemption jurisdictions, that could affect our eligibility for the Section 883 exemption. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will continue to be exempt from U.S. income tax on U.S. source shipping income in the future. If we were not entitled to the benefit of Section 883, we and our subsidiaries would be subject to U.S. taxation on a portion of the income derived from or incidental to the international operation of our ships, which would reduce our net income.
Additionally, portions of our business are operated by companies that are within the United Kingdom tonnage tax regime. Further, some of our operations are conducted in jurisdictions where we rely on tax treaties to provide exemption from taxation. To the extent the United Kingdom tonnage tax laws change or we do not continue to meet the applicable qualification requirements or if tax treaties are changed or revoked, we may be required to pay higher income tax in these jurisdictions, adversely impacting our results of operations.
As budgetary constraints continue to adversely impact the jurisdictions in which we operate, increases in income tax regulations, tax audits or tax reform affecting our operations may be imposed.
We are not a U.S. corporation and our shareholders may be subject to the uncertainties of a foreign legal system in protecting their interests.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and by the Business Corporation Act of Liberia. The provisions of the Business Corporation Act of Liberia resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the U.S. However, there are very few judicial cases in Liberia interpreting the Business Corporation Act of Liberia. While the Business Corporation Act of Liberia provides that it is to be applied and construed to make the laws of Liberia, with respect of the subject matter of the Business Corporation Act of Liberia, uniform with the laws of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions, there have been few Liberian court cases interpreting the Business Corporation Act of Liberia and we cannot predict whether Liberian courts would reach the same conclusions as United States courts. The right of shareholders to bring a derivative action in Liberian courts may be more limited than in U.S. jurisdictions. There may also be practical difficulties for shareholders attempting to bring suit in Liberia and Liberian courts may or may not recognize and enforce foreign judgments. Thus, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests with respect to actions by management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction.
General Risk Factors
Conducting business globally may result in increased costs and other risks.
We operate our business globally, which exposes us to a number of risks, including increased exposure to a wider range of regional and local economic conditions, volatile local political conditions, potential changes in duties and taxes, including changing and/or uncertain interpretations of existing tax laws and regulations, required compliance with additional laws and policies affecting cruising, vacation or maritime businesses or governing the operations of foreign-based companies, currency fluctuations, interest rate movements, difficulties in operating under local business environments, port quality and availability in certain regions, U.S. and global anti-bribery laws or regulations, imposition of trade barriers and restrictions on repatriation of earnings.
Our future growth strategies increasingly depend on the growth and sustained profitability of international markets. Factors that will be critical to our success in these markets include our ability to continue to raise awareness of our products and our ability to adapt our offerings to best suit rapidly evolving consumer demands. This risk is further heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, as authorities in many of these markets have implemented numerous measures to contain the spread and impact of COVID-19, such as travel bans and restrictions, shelter-in-place/stay-at-home orders, and other limitations on business activity, including business closures. In addition, these measures could change unpredictably and/or could be scaled up or down in response to evolving intensity or resurgence of COVID-19 in or around these markets. The execution of our planned growth strategies is dependent on meeting the governmental and regulatory measures and policies in each of these markets. Our ability to realize our future growth strategy is highly dependent on our ability to satisfy country-specific policies and requirements in order to return to service, as well as meeting the needs of region specific consumer preferences as services come back online. These factors may cause us to reevaluate some of our international business strategies.
Operating globally also exposes us to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal, regulatory and tax requirements. In many parts of the world, including countries in which we operate, practices in the local business communities might not conform to international business standards. These legal and regulatory requirements and standards may change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there may be greater uncertainty as to the interpretation and enforcement of applicable laws and regulations, including those introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot guarantee consistent interpretation, application, and enforcement of rules and regulations put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could place limits on our operations or increase our costs, as well as negatively impact our future growth strategies in our key growth
markets. We must adhere to policies designed to promote legal and regulatory compliance as well as applicable laws and regulations. However, we might not be successful in ensuring that our employees, agents, representatives and other third parties with whom we associate throughout the world properly adhere to them. In addition, we may be exposed to the risk of penalties and other liabilities if we fail to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be subject to frequent and rapid change. Failure by us, our employees or any of these third parties to adhere to our policies or applicable laws or regulations could result in penalties, sanctions, damage to our reputation and related costs, which in turn could negatively affect our results of operations and cash flows.
As a global operator, our business also may be impacted by changes in U.S. policy or priorities in areas such as trade, immigration (including any continuation of any of the immigration policies put in place by the U.S. government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) and/or environmental or labor regulations, among others. Depending on the nature and scope of any such changes, they could impact our domestic and international business operations. Any such changes, and any international response to them, could potentially introduce new barriers to passenger or crew travel and/or cross border transactions, impact our guest experience and/or increase our operating costs.
If we are unable to address these risks adequately, our financial position and results of operations could be adversely affected, including impairing the value of our ships and other assets.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, fuel prices and interest rates could affect our financial results.
We are exposed to market risk attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, fuel prices and interest rates. Significant changes in any of the foregoing could have a material impact on our financial results, net of the impact of our hedging activities and natural offsets. Our operating results have been and will continue to be impacted, often significantly, by changes in each of these factors. The value of our earnings in foreign currencies is adversely impacted by a strong U.S. dollar. In addition, any significant increase in fuel prices could materially and adversely affect our business as fuel prices not only impact our fuel costs, but also some of our other expenses, such as crew travel, freight, and commodity prices. Mandatory fuel restrictions, may also create uncertainty related to the price and availability of certain fuel types potentially impacting operating costs and the value of our related hedging instruments. Also, a significant increase in interest rates could materially impact the cost of our floating rate debt.
The loss of key personnel, our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel, or disruptions among our shipboard personnel due to strained employee relations could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our success depends, in large part, on the skills and contributions of key executives and other employees, and on our ability to recruit, develop and retain high quality personnel as well as having adequate succession plans and back-up operating plans for when critical executives are unable to serve. As demand for qualified personnel in the industry grows, we must continue to effectively recruit, train, motivate and retain our employees, both shoreside and on our ships, in order to effectively compete in our industry, maintain our current business and support our projected global growth. In addition, we may experience difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel if we reduce the levels of fixed or variable compensation that we offer (including equity compensation impacted by the trading price of our equity), whether in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 89% of our shipboard employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. A dispute under our collective bargaining agreements could result in a work stoppage of those employees covered by the agreements. We may not be able to satisfactorily renegotiate these collective bargaining agreements when they expire. In addition, existing collective bargaining agreements may not prevent a strike or work stoppage on our ships. We may also be subject to or affected by work stoppages unrelated to our business or collective bargaining agreements. Any such work stoppages or potential work stoppages could have a material adverse effect on our financial results, as could a loss of key employees, our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or disruptions among our personnel.
If we are unable to keep pace with developments in technology or technological obsolescence, including technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our operations or competitive position could become impaired.
Our business continues to demand the use of sophisticated technology and systems. These technologies and systems require significant investment and must be proven, refined, updated, upgraded and/or replaced with more advanced systems in order to continue to meet our customers’ demands and expectations. If we are unable to do so in a timely manner or within reasonable cost parameters or if we are unable to appropriately and timely train our employees to operate any of these new systems, our business could suffer. We also may not achieve the benefits that we anticipate from any new technology or system, which could result in higher than anticipated costs or impair our operating results.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a search for technology to accurately detect, either directly or indirectly, whether an individual is or has been infected with the virus or has been exposed to someone who is or might be infected. While this technology is in the early stages, as this technology continues to develop we may be faced with decisions regarding what technology to adopt for testing our passengers and employees, and what safety procedures to adopt for future
sailings. We may be unable to obtain appropriate technology in a timely manner or at all or we may incur significant costs in doing so. A failure to adopt the appropriate technology, a failure or obsolescence in the technology that we do adopt, or a failure in our safety procedures could adversely affect our results of operations.
We are exposed to cyber security attacks and data breaches, including the risks and costs associated with protecting our systems and maintaining integrity and security of our business information, as well as personal data of our guests, employees and business partners.
We are subject to cyber security attacks. These cyber attacks can vary in scope and intent from attacks with the objective of compromising our systems, networks and communications for economic gain to attacks with the objective of disrupting, disabling or otherwise compromising our maritime and/or shoreside operations. The attacks can encompass a wide range of methods and intent, including phishing attacks, illegitimate requests for payment, theft of intellectual property, theft of confidential or non-public information, installation of malware, installation of ransomware and theft of personal or business information. The breadth and scope of these attacks, as well as the techniques and sophistication used to conduct these attacks, have grown over time.
A successful cyber security attack may target us directly, or it may be the result of a third party’s inadequate care. In either scenario, the Company may suffer damage to its systems and data that could interrupt our operations, adversely impact our reputation and brand and expose us to increased risks of governmental investigation, litigation, fines and other liability, any of which could adversely affect our business. Furthermore, responding to such an attack and mitigating the risk of future attacks could result in additional operating and capital costs in systems technology, personnel, monitoring and other investments.
In addition, we are also subject to various risks associated with the collection, handling, storage and transmission of sensitive information. In the course of doing business, we collect large volumes of employee, customer and other third-party data, including personally identifiable information and individual credit data, for various business purposes. We are subject to federal, state and international laws (including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation), as well as industry standards, relating to the collection, use, retention, security and transfer of personally identifiable information and individual credit data. In many cases, these laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between the Company and its subsidiaries, and among the Company, its subsidiaries and other parties with which the Company has commercial relations. Several jurisdictions have passed laws in this area, and other jurisdictions are considering imposing additional restrictions. These laws continue to develop and may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Complying with emerging and changing international requirements has caused, and may cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices. If we fail to comply with the various applicable data collection and privacy laws, we could be exposed to fines, penalties, restrictions, litigation or other expenses, and our business could be adversely impacted.
While we continue to evolve our cyber security practices in line with our business’ reliance on technology and the changing external threat landscape, and we invest time, effort and financial resources to secure our systems, networks and communications, our security measures cannot provide absolute assurance that we will be successful in preventing or responding to all cyber security attacks. There can be no assurance that any breach or incident will not have a material impact on our operations and financial results.
Any breach, theft, loss, or fraudulent use of guest, employee, third-party or company data, could adversely impact our reputation and brand and our ability to retain or attract new customers, and expose us to risks of data loss, business disruption, governmental investigation, litigation and other liability, any of which could adversely affect our business. Significant capital investments and other expenditures could be required to remedy the problem and prevent future breaches, including costs associated with additional security technologies, personnel, experts and credit monitoring services for those whose data has been breached. Further, if we or our vendors experience significant data security breaches or fail to detect and appropriately respond to significant data security breaches, we could be exposed to government enforcement actions and private litigation.
Litigation, enforcement actions, fines or penalties could adversely impact our financial condition or results of operations and/or damage our reputation.
Our business is subject to various U.S. and international laws and regulations that could lead to enforcement actions, fines, civil or criminal penalties or the assertion of litigation claims and damages. In addition, improper conduct by our employees, agents or joint venture partners could damage our reputation and/or lead to litigation or legal proceedings that could result in civil or criminal penalties, including substantial monetary fines. In certain circumstances it may not be economical to defend against such matters and/or our legal strategy may not ultimately result in us prevailing in a matter. Such events could lead to an adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, increases in litigation pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis, including potential claims for non-refundable cash deposits. We cannot predict the quantum or outcome of any such proceedings and the impact that they will have on our financial results, but any such impact may be material. While some of these claims are covered by insurance, we cannot be certain that all of them will be, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Information about our cruise ships, including their size, may be found within the Operating Strategies - Fleet upgrade and maintenance section and the Operations - Cruise Ships and Itineraries sections in Item 1. Business. Information regarding our cruise ships under construction, estimated expenditures and financing may be found within the Future Capital Commitments and Funding Needs and Sources sections of Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Our principal executive office and principal shoreside operations are located in leased office buildings at the Port of Miami, Florida. We also lease a number of other offices in the U.S. and throughout Europe, Asia, Mexico, South America and Australia to administer our brand operations globally.
We believe that our facilities are adequate for our current needs and that we are capable of obtaining additional facilities as necessary.
We also operate two private destinations which we utilize as ports-of-call on certain itineraries: (i) an island we own in the Bahamas which we call CocoCay; and (ii) Labadee, a secluded peninsula that we lease on the north coast of Haiti.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
As previously reported, two lawsuits were filed against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in August 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act. The complaint filed by Havana Docks Corporation ("Havana Docks Action") alleges it holds an interest in the Havana Cruise Port Terminal and the complaint filed by Javier Garcia-Bengochea (the "Port of Santiago Action") alleges that he holds an interest in the Port of Santiago, Cuba, both of which were expropriated by the Cuban Government. The complaints further allege that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trafficked in those properties by embarking and disembarking passengers at these facilities. The plaintiffs seek all available statutory remedies, including the value of the expropriated property, plus interest, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. filed its answer to each complaint in October 2019 and on October 15, 2020, and the Court dismissed the Port of Santiago Action with prejudice on the basis that the plaintiffs in that action lacked standing to bring the claim. This decision has been appealed by the plaintiffs. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the claims alleged in both the Havana Docks Action and the Port of Santiago Action, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against them. We believe that it is unlikely that the outcome of either action will have a material adverse impact to our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that the final outcome of this case will not be material.
As previously reported, on October 7, 2020, a shareholder filed a putative class action complaint against us, and three officers, Richard Fain, Jason Liberty and Michael Bayley, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the "Court"), alleging misrepresentations relating to COVID-19 in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, seeking unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired our securities from February 4, 2020 through March 17, 2020. As previously disclosed, on October 27, 2020, a second complaint was filed by another shareholder against us and these same officers in the Court alleging the same misrepresentations relating to COVID-19. As is the case with the first action, the second action seeks unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired our securities from February 4, 2020 through March 17, 2020. On December 23, 2020, these cases were consolidated with a new lead plaintiff, Indiana Public Retirement System. We cannot predict the duration or outcome of this lawsuit at this time, although management believes the claims are without merit. Depending on how this case progresses, it could be costly to defend and could divert the attention of management and other resources from operations. Accordingly, even if ultimately resolved in our favor, this action could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. On February 25, 2021, the lead plaintiff filed with the Court a voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice.
We are also routinely involved in other claims, regulatory investigations and inquiries, and consumer complaints, including those related to COVID-19, that are typical within the travel and tourism vacation industry. The majority of these claims are covered by insurance. We believe the outcome of such claims, net of expected insurance recoveries, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations and cash flows.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "RCL."
Holders
As of February 22, 2021, there were 1,296 record holders of our common stock. Since certain of our shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of shareholders, the foregoing number is not representative of the number of beneficial owners.
Dividends
Holders of our common stock have an equal right, pro rata based on number of shares held, to share in our profits in the form of dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock if any. Holders of our common stock have no rights to any sinking fund.
There are no exchange control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our common stock by reason of our incorporation in Liberia because (1) we are and intend to maintain our status as a nonresident Liberian entity under the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000 as amended and the regulations thereunder, and (2) our ship-owning subsidiaries are not now engaged, and are not in the future expected to engage, in any business in Liberia, including voyages exclusively within the territorial waters of the Republic of Liberia. Under current Liberian law, no Liberian taxes or withholding will be imposed on payments to holders of our securities other than to a holder that is a resident Liberian entity or a resident individual or an individual or entity subject to taxation in Liberia as a result of having a permanent establishment within the meaning of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000 as amended in Liberia.
The declaration of dividends shall at all times be subject to the final determination of our board of directors that a dividend is prudent at that time in consideration of the needs of the business. In connection with securing various financial covenant waivers, we agreed with certain of our lenders not to pay dividends until the end of the third quarter of 2022. In addition, in the event we thereafter declare a dividend, we will need to repay the amounts deferred under our export credit facilities as part of the principal amortization deferrals agreed with them during 2020 and 2021. Accordingly, we did not declare a dividend during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. Refer to Note 12. Shareholders' Equity to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data for further information on dividends declared.
Share Repurchases
There were no repurchases of common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the 24-month common stock repurchase program authorized by our board of directors on May 9, 2018 had expired.
In connection with our debt covenant waivers, we agreed with certain of our lenders not to engage in stock repurchases until the end of the third quarter of 2022. In addition, in the event we engage in share repurchases, we will need to repay the amounts deferred under our export credit facilities as part of the principal amortization deferrals agreed with them during 2020 and 2021.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the total return, assuming reinvestment of dividends, on an investment in the Company, based on performance of the Company's common stock, with the total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index ("S&P 500") and the Dow Jones United States Travel and Leisure Index for a five year period by measuring the changes in common stock prices from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2020.
The stock performance graph assumes for comparison that the value of the Company's common stock and of each index was $100 on December 31, 2015 and that all dividends were reinvested. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The selected consolidated financial data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2020 and as of the end of each such year, except for Adjusted Net (Loss) Income amounts, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements and the related notes as well as in conjunction with
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
The discussion under this caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in this document, includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations for the first quarter and full year of 2021, business and industry prospects or future results of operations or financial position, made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forward-looking. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "driving" and similar expressions are intended to further identify any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations but they are based on judgments and are inherently uncertain. Furthermore, they are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, in particular, the risks discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A herein.
All forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K speak only as of the date of this document. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is organized to present the following:
•a review of our critical accounting policies and of our financial presentation, including discussion of certain operational and financial metrics we utilize to assist us in managing our business;
•a discussion of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019;
•a discussion of our business outlook, and
•a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including our future capital and contractual commitments and potential funding sources.
A discussion of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 is included in Part II. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2020, as updated by our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2020, and is incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). (Refer to Note 1. General and Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data). Certain of our accounting policies are deemed "critical," as they require management's highest degree of judgment, estimates and assumptions. We have discussed these accounting policies and estimates with the audit committee of our board of directors. We believe our most critical accounting policies are as follows:
Liquidity and COVID-19
The effects of COVID-19 have had and continue to have a material negative impact on our operations, financial results and liquidity. The full extent of the impact will be determined by the length of time COVID-19 influences our industry and our eventual gradual return to service. Given the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on our operations and global bookings, we have identified the estimation of our future liquidity requirements as a critical accounting policy.
The estimation of our future liquidity requirements includes numerous assumptions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal assumptions used to estimate our future liquidity requirements during our out-of-service period consist of:
•Expected date of return to operations;
•Expected gradual resumption of cruise operations;
•Expected lower than comparable historical occupancy levels during the resumption of cruise operations; and
•Expected incremental expenses for the resumption of cruise operations, for the maintenance of additional public health protocols and procedures for additional regulations.
The assumptions used to estimate our liquidity requirements are frequently and continuously evaluated because of the unprecedented non-operational environment we are experiencing due to COVID-19. In addition, the magnitude, duration and speed of the global pandemic continues to be uncertain. As a result, we have made reasonable estimates and judgments of the impact of COVID-19 on our liquidity within our financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods.
We have taken and will continue to take actions to improve our liquidity, including:
•Reduction of capital expenditures;
•Reduction of operating expenses (including furloughing staff and laying up vessels);
•Amending credit agreements to defer payments and covenant requirements, as well as extend maturity dates;
•Raising capital through debt and stock issuances; and
•Suspending dividend payments.
Ship Accounting
Ships represent our most significant assets and are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of ships is generally computed net of a 10%-15% projected residual value, using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset, which is generally 30-35 years. The 30-35 year useful life and 10%-15% residual value is the weighted-average of all major components of a ship. Our useful life and residual value estimates take into consideration the impact of anticipated technological changes, long-term cruise and vacation market conditions and historical useful lives of similarly-built ships. In addition, we take into consideration our estimates of the weighted-average useful lives of the ships' major component systems, such as hull, superstructure, main electric, engines and cabins. We employ a cost allocation methodology at the component level, in order to support the estimated weighted-average useful lives and residual values, as well as to determine the net cost basis of assets being replaced. Given the very large and complex nature of our ships, our accounting estimates related to ships and determinations of ship improvement costs to be capitalized require considerable judgment and are inherently uncertain. We do not have cost segregation studies performed to specifically componentize our ship systems. However, we estimate the costs, useful lives and residual values of component systems based principally on general and technical information known about major ship component systems and their lives, as well as our knowledge of the cruise vacation industry. We do not identify and track depreciation by ship component systems, but instead utilize these estimates to determine the net cost basis of assets replaced or refurbished. Improvement costs that we believe add value to our ships are capitalized as additions to the ship and depreciated over the shorter of the improvements' estimated useful lives or that of the associated ship. The estimated cost and accumulated depreciation of replaced or refurbished ship components are written
off and any resulting losses are recognized within Cruise operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
We periodically review estimated useful lives and residual values for ongoing reasonableness, considering long term views on our intended use of each class of ships and the planned level of improvements to maintain and enhance vessels within those classes. In the event a factor is identified that may trigger a change in the estimated useful lives and residual values of our ships, a review of the estimate is completed. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we completed a modernization of the Oasis of the Seas under our ship upgrade program. The level of capital investment, as well as planned investment levels in the other ships within the Oasis class, triggered a review of the estimated useful lives and residual values of the Oasis-class ships. Following a review of the estimate, considering the intended use of the vessel and assessment of the estimated lives of component assets forming the Oasis class ships, we concluded a change to the estimated lives and residual values of Oasis class ships was required. Effective fourth quarter of 2019, we revised the estimated useful lives and residual values of the Oasis-class ships from 30 years with a 15% residual value to 35 years with a 10% residual value. The change in the estimated useful lives and residual values was accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate. For further information regarding this change in accounting estimate, refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
We use the deferral method to account for drydocking costs. Under the deferral method, drydocking costs incurred are deferred and charged to expense on a straight-line basis over the period to the next scheduled drydock, which we estimate to be a period of thirty to sixty months based on the vessel's age as required by Class. Deferred drydock costs consist of the costs to drydock the vessel and other costs incurred in connection with the drydock which are necessary to maintain the vessel's Class certification. Class certification is necessary in order for our cruise ships to be flagged in a specific country, obtain liability insurance and legally operate as passenger cruise ships. The activities associated with those drydocking costs cannot be performed while the vessel is in service and, as such, are done during a drydock as a planned major maintenance activity. The significant deferred drydock costs consist of hauling and wharfage services provided by the drydock facility, hull inspection and related activities (e.g., scraping, pressure cleaning, bottom painting), maintenance to steering propulsion, thruster equipment and ballast tanks, port services such as tugs, pilotage and line handling, and freight associated with these items. We perform a detailed analysis of the various activities performed for each drydock and only defer those costs that are directly related to planned major maintenance activities necessary to maintain Class. The costs deferred are related to activities not otherwise routinely periodically performed to maintain a vessel's designed and intended operating capability. Repairs and maintenance activities are charged to expense as incurred.
We use judgment when estimating the period between drydocks, which can result in adjustments to the estimated amortization of drydock costs. If the vessel is disposed of before the next drydock, the remaining balance in deferred drydock is written-off to the gain or loss upon disposal of vessel in the period in which the sale takes place. We also use judgment when identifying costs incurred during a drydock which are necessary to maintain the vessel's Class certification as compared to those costs attributable to repairs and maintenance which are expensed as incurred.
We believe we have made reasonable estimates for ship accounting purposes. However, should certain factors or circumstances cause us to revise our estimates of ship useful lives or projected residual values, depreciation expense could be materially higher or lower. If circumstances cause us to change our assumptions in making determinations as to whether ship improvements should be capitalized, the amounts we expense each year as repairs and maintenance costs could increase, partially offset by a decrease in depreciation expense. If we had reduced our estimated average ship useful life by one year, depreciation expense for 2020 would have increased by approximately $157.3 million. If our ships were estimated to have no residual value, depreciation expense for 2020 would have increased by approximately $345.3 million. We have evaluated our estimated ship useful lives and projected residual values in light of our current environment and determined that there are no changes to these estimates based on our return to service expectations.
Business Combinations
On July 31, 2018, we acquired a 66.7% equity stake in Silversea Cruises for $1.02 billion in cash and contingent consideration. Refer to Note 3. Business Combination to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on the acquisition.
On July 9, 2020, we acquired the remaining 33.3% interest in Silversea Cruises that we did not already own (the "noncontrolling interest") from Heritage. As a result of the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, Silversea Cruises is now a wholly owned cruise brand. As consideration for the noncontrolling interest, we issued to Heritage 5.2 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Pursuant to the agreement governing the acquisition, among other things, the parties terminated any existing obligation to issue Heritage any contingent consideration, at fair value, in connection with our acquisition of a 66.7% interest in Silversea Cruises on July 31, 2018. The share purchase did not result in a change of control. The purchase was accounted for as an equity transaction and no gain or loss was recognized in earnings. Refer to Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data for further information regarding our acquisition of Silversea Cruises' noncontrolling interest.
We account for business combinations in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, by applying the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method of accounting requires that we record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the noncontrolling interest, if any, at their respective fair values at the acquisition date. Goodwill is recognized as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Significant estimates and assumptions are made by management to value such assets and liabilities based on third party valuations such as appraisals or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Although we believe that those estimates and assumptions are reasonable and appropriate, they are inherently uncertain and subject to change. If during the measurement period (not to exceed one year), additional information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date related to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, we may adjust our estimates to account for subsequent adjustments to the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date, resulting in an offsetting adjustment to the goodwill associated with the business acquired.
Uncertain tax positions and tax-related valuation allowances are initially established in connection with a business combination as of the acquisition date. Our purchase price measurement period for the Silversea Cruises 2018 acquisition was closed during 2019.
Any contingent consideration is estimated at fair value at the acquisition date. Liability-classified contingent consideration is remeasured each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings until the contingent consideration is settled.
Valuation of Goodwill, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets
We review goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at the reporting unit level annually or, when events or circumstances dictate, more frequently. The impairment review for goodwill consists of a qualitative assessment of whether it is more-likely than-not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value, and if necessary, a goodwill impairment test. Factors to consider when performing the qualitative assessment include general economic conditions, limitations on accessing capital, changes in forecasted operating results, changes in fuel prices and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
The goodwill impairment analysis consists of a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. We typically estimate the fair value of our reporting units using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which may also include a combination of a market-based valuation approach. The estimation of fair value utilizing discounted expected future cash flows includes numerous uncertainties which require our significant judgment when making assumptions of expected revenues, operating costs, marketing, selling and administrative expenses, interest rates, ship additions and retirements as well as assumptions regarding the cruise vacation industry's competitive environment and general economic and business conditions, among other factors. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model for our 2020 impairment assessments were:
•The timing of our return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions;
•Forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; and
•Weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate).
The discounted cash flow model uses the most current projected operating results for the upcoming fiscal year as a base. To that base, we add future years' cash flows based on multiple revenue and expense scenarios reflecting the impact of various return to service management assumptions beyond the base year on the reporting unit. We discount the projected cash flows using rates specific to the reporting unit based on its weighted-average cost of capital.
If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no write-down of goodwill is required. As amended by ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its net assets, an impairment is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to such reporting unit.
The impairment review for indefinite-life intangible assets can be performed using a qualitative or quantitative impairment assessment. The quantitative assessment consists of a comparison of the fair value of the asset with its carrying value. We estimate the fair value of these assets using a discounted cash flow model and various valuation methods depending on the nature of the intangible asset, such as the relief-from-royalty method, for trademarks and trade names. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model for our 2020 impairment assessments were:
•Forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate;
•Royalty rate; and
•Weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate).
If the carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. If the fair value exceeds its carrying value, the indefinite-life intangible asset is not considered impaired. Other intangible assets assigned finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Refer to Note 6. Intangible Assets to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data for further information on indefinite-life intangible assets.
We review our ships and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate, based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows, that the carrying value of these assets may not be fully recoverable. We evaluate asset impairment at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. The lowest level for which we maintain identifiable cash flows that are independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities is at the ship level for our ships. If estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of an asset, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent its carrying value exceeds fair value. Refer to Note 7. Property and Equipment to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data for further information on determination of fair value for long-lived assets.
We estimate fair value based on quoted market prices in active markets, if available. If active markets are not available, we base fair value on independent appraisals, sales price negotiations and projected future cash flows discounted at a rate estimated by management to be commensurate with the business risk. Quoted market prices are often not available for individual reporting units and for indefinite-life intangible assets. Accordingly, we estimate the fair value of a reporting unit and an indefinite-life intangible asset using an expected present value technique.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in an unprecedented global response to contain the spread and control the resurgence of the disease. These global efforts have resulted in travel restrictions and created significant uncertainty regarding worldwide port closures and availability of ports and destinations generally. As part of the global containment effort, the Company previously announced a voluntary suspension of its Global Brands' cruise operations through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations.
As a result of the developments in 2020, we performed interim impairment evaluations, in addition to our annual impairment reviews, of certain of our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and long-lived assets in connection with the preparation of our 2020 quarterly and annual financial statements, as further discussed below.
Royal Caribbean International Reporting Unit
We performed interim impairment evaluations of Royal Caribbean International’s goodwill in connection with the preparation of our quarterly financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 due to the significant impact that COVID-19 has had on our projected cash flows and triggering events identified in those quarters. Our extended suspension of our operations and the possibility of further extensions created some uncertainty in forecasting the operating results and future cash flows used in our impairment analyses. As a result of the tests, we determined that the fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 30% and 8% as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, respectively, resulting in no impairment to the Royal Caribbean International goodwill in those periods. The fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit as of March 31, 2020 was determined using a discounted cash flow model and a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach for the June 30, 2020 and November 30, 2020 assessments. We did not perform interim impairment evaluation of Royal Caribbean International's goodwill during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 as no triggering events were identified.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, we performed our annual impairment review of goodwill for Royal Caribbean International's reporting unit. We did not perform a qualitative assessment but instead proceeded directly to the goodwill impairment test. As a result of the test, we determined the fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 14% resulting in no impairment to Royal Caribbean International's goodwill. As of December 31, 2020, the carrying value of goodwill attributable to our Royal Caribbean reporting unit was $296.6 million.
Silversea Cruises Reporting Unit
We performed interim impairment evaluations of Silversea Cruises’ goodwill and trade name in connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. As a result of these analyses, we determined that the carrying value of the Silversea Cruises reporting unit exceeded its fair value. Similarly, we determined that the carrying value of Silversea Cruises’ trade name exceeded its fair value. Accordingly, upon the completion of the impairment test, we recognized impairment charges of $576.2 million and $30.8 million for goodwill and the trade name, respectively, during the
quarter ended March 31, 2020. We estimated the fair value of the Silversea Cruises reporting unit using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach. We did not perform interim impairment evaluations of Silversea Cruises' reporting unit or trade names during the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 as no triggering events were identified.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, we performed our annual impairment review of Silversea Cruises' goodwill. We did not perform a qualitative assessment but instead proceeded directly to the goodwill impairment test. As a result of the test, we determined the fair value of the Silversea Cruises reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 12%, resulting in no impairment to Silversea Cruises' goodwill. As of December 31, 2020, the carrying value of goodwill attributable to our Silversea Cruises reporting unit was $508.6 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, we performed our annual impairment review of Silversea Cruises' trade name. As a result of the quantitative test, we determined that the fair value of the Silversea Cruises' trade name exceeded its carrying value by approximately 3%, resulting in no impairment to Silversea Cruises' trade name. We will continue to closely monitor the change in fair value of the Silversea Cruises' trade name. Any further adverse developments due to COVID-19 or other events affecting the projected cash flows for Silversea Cruises may lead to further impairment of the Silversea Cruises' trade name. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying value of indefinite-life intangible assets was $321.5 million and $352.3 million, respectively, which primarily relates to the Silversea Cruises trade name.
Long-lived Assets
Events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the expected undiscounted cash flows of certain of our long-lived assets. We evaluated these assets during the year ended 2020 pursuant to our long-lived asset impairment test which resulted in an impairment charge of $464.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, to write down certain ships operated by our Global Brands to their estimated fair values. The amount also includes impairment charges for ships that our Global Brands disposed of during 2020 as well as the three Azamara ships.
We also recorded impairment charges of $171.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 for the three ships that we chartered to Pullmantur Holdings prior to the filing of the Pullmantur reorganization. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we sold the ships to third parties for amounts approximating their carrying values and no further impairment was recorded.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we also determined that certain construction in progress projects would be reduced in scope or would no longer be completed as a result of our capital cost containment measures in response to the COVID-19 impact on our liquidity. This led to an impairment charge of $91.5 million of construction in progress assets reported in Property and equipment, net.
In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2020, we identified that the undiscounted cash flows for certain right-of-use assets were less than their carrying values due to the negative impact of COVID-19. We evaluated these assets pursuant to our long-lived asset impairment test, resulting in an impairment charge of $65.9 million to write down these assets to their estimated fair values during the year ended December 31, 2020.
The combined impairment charge of $1.5 billion primarily related to our goodwill, trademarks and trade names, vessels, construction in progress, and right-of-use assets were recognized in earnings during the year ended December 31, 2020 and is reported within Impairment and credit losses within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). These impairment assessments and the resulting charges were determined based on management’s current estimates and projections using information through the time of the issuance of these financial statements. The adverse impact that COVID-19 will continue to have on our business, operating results, cash flows and overall financial condition is uncertain and may result in changes to the assumptions used in the impairment tests discussed above, which may result in additional impairments of our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and long-lived assets in the future. Refer to Risk Factors in Part 1, Item 1A. for further discussion on risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derivative Instruments
We enter into various forward, swap and option contracts to manage our interest rate exposure and to limit our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and fuel prices. These instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value and the vast majority are designated as hedges. We also use non-derivative financial instruments designated as hedges of our net investment in our foreign operations and investments. Although certain of our derivative financial instruments do not qualify or are not accounted for under hedge accounting, we do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes. We account for derivative financial instruments in accordance with authoritative guidance. Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 19. Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for more information on related authoritative guidance, the Company's hedging programs and derivative financial instruments.
On a regular basis, we enter into foreign currency forward contracts, interest rate and fuel swaps and options with third-party institutions in over-the-counter markets. We estimate the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps using expected future cash flows based on the instruments' contract terms and published forward prices for foreign currency exchange and interest rates. We value floors which are embedded within our interest rate swaps using standard option pricing models with inputs based on the options’ contract terms, such as exercise price and maturity, and readily available market data, such as forward interest rates and interest rate volatility. We apply present value techniques and LIBOR or EURIBOR-based discount rates to convert the expected future cash flows to the current fair value of the instruments.
We estimate the fair value of our fuel swaps using expected future cash flows based on the swaps' contract terms and forward prices. We derive forward prices from published forward fuel curves which in turn are based on actual market transactions and published price quotes for similar assets. We apply present value techniques and LIBOR-based discount rates to convert the expected future cash flows to the current fair value of the instruments. We also corroborate our fair value estimates using valuations provided by our counterparties.
We adjust the valuation of our derivative financial instruments to incorporate credit risk.
We believe it is unlikely that materially different estimates for the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate and fuel swaps and options would be derived from other appropriate valuation models using similar assumptions, inputs or conditions suggested by actual historical experience.
The current suspension of our cruise operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our 2020 and expected 2021 ship disposals resulted in reductions to our forecasted fuel purchases. As of December 31, 2020, we discontinued cash flow hedge accounting on 0.6 million metric tons of our fuel swap agreements maturing in 2020 and 2021, which resulted in the reclassification of a net $104.4 million loss from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Other expense during the year ended December 31, 2020. Changes in the fair value of fuel swaps for which cash flow hedge accounting was discontinued are currently recognized in Other expense each reporting period.
Future suspension of our operations or modifications to our itineraries may affect our expected forecasted fuel purchases which could result in further discontinuance of fuel swap cash flow hedge accounting and the reclassification of deferred gains or losses from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings. Refer to Risk Factors in Part 1, Item 1A. for further discussion on risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contingencies-Litigation
On an ongoing basis, we assess the potential liabilities related to any lawsuits or claims brought against us. While it is typically very difficult to determine the timing and ultimate outcome of such actions, we use our best judgment to determine if it is probable that we will incur an expense related to the settlement or final adjudication of such matters and whether a reasonable estimation of such probable loss, if any, can be made. In assessing probable losses, we take into consideration estimates of the amount of insurance recoveries, if any, which are recorded as assets when recoverability is probable. We accrue a liability when we believe a loss is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Due to the inherent uncertainties related to the eventual outcome of litigation and potential insurance recoveries, it is possible that certain matters may be resolved for amounts materially different from any provisions or disclosures that we have previously made.
Seasonality
Our revenues are seasonal based on demand for cruises. Demand is strongest for cruises during the Northern Hemisphere's summer months and holidays. In order to mitigate the impact of the winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere and to capitalize on the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere, our brands have focused on deployment to the Caribbean, Asia and Australia during that period.
Financial Presentation
Description of Certain Line Items
Revenues
Our revenues are comprised of the following:
•Passenger ticket revenues, which consist of revenue recognized from the sale of passenger tickets and the sale of air transportation to and from our ships; and
•Onboard and other revenues, which consist primarily of revenues from the sale of goods and/or services onboard our ships not included in passenger ticket prices, cancellation fees, sales of vacation protection insurance, pre- and post-cruise tours and fees for operating certain port facilities. Onboard and other revenues also include revenues we receive from independent third party concessionaires that pay us a percentage of their revenues in exchange for the right to provide selected goods and/or services onboard our ships, as well as revenues received for our
bareboat charter, procurement and management related services we perform on behalf of our unconsolidated affiliates.
Cruise Operating Expenses
Our cruise operating expenses are comprised of the following:
•Commissions, transportation and other expenses, which consist of those costs directly associated with passenger ticket revenues, including travel agent commissions, air and other transportation expenses, port costs that vary with passenger head counts and related credit card fees;
•Onboard and other expenses, which consist of the direct costs associated with onboard and other revenues, including the costs of products sold onboard our ships, vacation protection insurance premiums, costs associated with pre- and post-cruise tours and related credit card fees as well as the minimal costs associated with concession revenues, as the costs are mostly incurred by third-party concessionaires and costs incurred for the procurement and management related services we perform on behalf of our unconsolidated affiliates;
•Payroll and related expenses, which consist of costs for shipboard personnel (costs associated with our shoreside personnel are included in Marketing, selling and administrative expenses);
•Food expenses, which include food costs for both guests and crew;
•Fuel expenses, which include fuel and related delivery, storage and emission consumable costs and the financial impact of fuel swap agreements; and
•Other operating expenses, which consist primarily of operating costs such as repairs and maintenance, port costs that do not vary with passenger head counts, vessel related insurance, entertainment and gains and/or losses related to the sale of our ships, if any.
We do not allocate payroll and related expenses, food expenses, fuel expenses or other operating expenses to the expense categories attributable to passenger ticket revenues or onboard and other revenues since they are incurred to provide the total cruise vacation experience.
Selected Operational and Financial Metrics
We utilize a variety of operational and financial metrics which are defined below to evaluate our performance and financial condition. As discussed in more detail herein, certain of these metrics are non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided along with the related GAAP financial measures as we believe they provide useful information to investors as a supplement to our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted (Loss) Earnings per Share ("Adjusted EPS") represents Adjusted Net (Loss) Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. divided by weighted average shares outstanding or by diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as applicable. We believe that this non-GAAP measure is meaningful when assessing our performance on a comparative basis.
Adjusted Net (Loss) Income represents net (loss) income less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest excluding certain items that we believe adjusting for is meaningful when assessing our performance on a comparative basis. For the periods presented, these items included (i) asset impairment and credit losses recorded in 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19; (ii) equity investment impairment charges recorded in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19; (iii) currency translation losses recognized in connection with the ships that were previously chartered to Pullmantur; (iv) the estimated cash refund expected to be paid to Pullmantur guests and other expenses incurred as part of the Pullmantur S.A. reorganization; (v) restructuring charges incurred in relation to the reduction in our U.S. workforce and other initiatives expenses in 2020 and the reorganization of our international sales and marketing structure primarily in 2019; (vi) the amortization of non-cash debt discount on our convertible notes; (vii) loss on the extinguishment of debt; (viii) the amortization of the Silversea Cruises intangible assets resulting from the 2018 acquisition; (ix) the noncontrolling interest adjustment to exclude the impact of the contractual accretion requirements associated with the put option held by Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd. ("Heritage"), prior to the July 2020 noncontrolling interest purchase; (x) the change in fair value in the Silversea Cruises contingent consideration; (xi) net insurance recoveries or costs related to the collapse of the drydock structure at the Grand Bahama Shipyard involving Oasis of the Seas; (xii) transaction costs related to the 2018 Silversea Cruises acquisition; (xiii) the impairment loss and other costs related to the exit of our tour operations business; (xiv) the impairment loss related to Skysea Holding; and (xv) the impact of the change in accounting principle related to the recognition of stock-based compensation expense from the graded attribution method to the straight-line attribution method for time-based stock awards.
Available Passenger Cruise Days ("APCD") is our measurement of capacity and represents double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period, which excludes canceled cruise days and drydock days. We use this
measure to perform capacity and rate analysis to identify our main non-capacity drivers that cause our cruise revenue and expenses to vary.
Occupancy, in accordance with cruise vacation industry practice, is calculated by dividing Passenger Cruise Days by APCD. A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.
Passenger Cruise Days represent the number of passengers carried for the period multiplied by the number of days of their respective cruises.
Although discussed in prior periods, we did not report nor reconcile our Gross Yields, Net Revenues, Net Yields, Gross Cruise Costs, Net Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs Excluding Fuel, as defined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for twelve months ended December 31, 2019. Historically, we have utilized these financial metrics to measure relevant rate comparisons to other periods. However, our 2020 reduction in capacity and revenues and the shift in the nature of our running costs due to the suspension of our operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic ("COVID-19") do not allow for a meaningful comparison to the prior period metrics and as such these metrics have been excluded from this report.
Recent Developments: COVID-19
The disruptions to our operations resulting from COVID-19 have had, and continue to have, a material negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in an unprecedented global response to contain the spread of the disease. These global efforts have resulted in travel restrictions and created significant uncertainty regarding worldwide port closures and availability of ports and destinations generally. As part of the global containment effort, we previously announced a voluntary suspension of our Global Brands’ cruise operations beginning March 13, 2020, which has been extended through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations.
We continue to work with government and health authorities across the globe to address the unique public health challenges posed by COVID-19 and expect to re-start our global cruise operation in a phased manner. Notably, we resumed limited cruise operations outside of the U.S. in July and September with TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd, respectively, for a limited period. Recently, we also received approval from the Singaporean Government to resume sailings out of Singapore. As a result, Quantum of the Seas, a ship from the Royal Caribbean International fleet, resumed cruising from Singapore in December 2020. These initial cruises are and will most likely continue to take place with reduced guest occupancy, modified itineraries and enhanced health protocols developed in collaboration with governments and health authorities.
CDC Framework for Conditional Sailing Order
On and effective as of October 30, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (the “Conditional Order”) that will conditionally permit cruise ship passenger operations in U.S. waters under certain conditions and using a phased approach. The Conditional Order replaces the CDC’s No Sail Order that expired on October 31, 2020 and will remain in effect until the earlier of (1) the expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency, (2) the rescission or modification by the CDC Director of the Conditional Order based on specific public health or other considerations, or (3) November 1, 2021. See Part I. Item 1. Business - Regulation for further details on the Conditional Order.
We are working with both the CDC and the Healthy Sail Panel ("HSP"), formed in June 2020 by us and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and composed of leading experts in relevant fields, including epidemiology, infectious diseases, public policy and regulation, engineering and general health safety, to prepare and develop our plan to meet the framework for the Conditional Order. While the Conditional Order represents an important step in our return to service, many uncertainties remain as to the specifics, timing and costs of administering and implementing the requirements of the Conditional Order, some of which may be significant. Further, the Conditional Order contemplates that the CDC may issue additional requirements through technical instructions or orders as needed and that the phases described above will be further determined based on public health considerations, including the trajectory of the pandemic and the ability of cruise ship operators to successfully employ measures that mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Based on our assessment of these conditions or for other reasons, we may determine it necessary to further extend our voluntary suspension of our Global Brands’ cruise sailings which currently extends through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations.
Update on Bookings
Booking activity for the second half of 2021 is aligned with our anticipated resumption of cruises. Pricing on these bookings is higher than 2019 both including and excluding the dilutive impact of future cruise credits (FCCs). While the brands are still in the process of opening for sale the remainder of their 2022/2023 seasons, first and second quarter 2022 sailings have been open for some time. Cumulative advance bookings for the first half of 2022 are within historical ranges and at higher prices. This was achieved with minimal sales and marketing spend, which we believe highlights a strong long-term demand for cruising.
Since our last quarterly filing, approximately 75% of bookings made for 2021 are new and the rest are due to the redemption of FCCs and our “Lift & Shift” program. We continue to provide guests who were booked on a suspended sailing with the option to request a refund, to receive an FCC, or to “lift and shift” their booking to the following year.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $1.8 billion in customer deposits of which approximately 50% are FCCs and the rest are related to new bookings. Approximately 53% of the guests booked on cancelled sailings since our suspension of operations have requested cash refunds.
Update on Recent Liquidity Actions and Ongoing Uses of Cash
As of December 31, 2020, we had liquidity of approximately $4.4 billion in the form of cash and cash equivalents of $3.7 billion and a $0.7 billion one-year commitment through August 12, 2021, for a 364-day term loan facility. As of December 31, 2020, our revolving credit facilities were fully utilized through a combination of amounts drawn and letters of credit issued under the facilities. Given the current environment, we continue to prioritize and bolster liquidity through significant cost and capital expenditure reductions, cash conservation and additional financing sources, as described below, to ensure that we are well positioned for recovery.
Reduced Operating Expenses
We have taken significant actions to reduce operating expenses during the suspension of our global cruise operations. In particular, we:
•significantly reduced ship operating expenses, including crew payroll, food, fuel, insurance and port charges;
•further reduced operating expenses as the Company’s ships transitioned during the year into various levels of layup;
•eliminated or significantly reduced marketing and selling expenses in 2020;
•reduced and furloughed our workforce, with approximately 23% of our US shoreside employee base being impacted; and
•suspended travel for shoreside employees and instituted a hiring freeze across the organization.•
We may seek to further reduce our average monthly expenses under a further prolonged non-revenue scenario and during the restart of operations. This includes consideration of additional vessels heading to cold layup as well as further assessment of our shoreside workforce, including those coming back from furlough.
Reduced Capital Expenditures
Since the start of February 2020, we have identified approximately $4.2 billion of total capital expenditure reductions or deferrals in 2020 and 2021. The reductions or deferrals of capital expenditures are comprised of the following:
•$1.4 billion of non-newbuild, discretionary capital expenditures; and
•$2.8 billion in reduced spend or deferred installment payments for newbuild related payments which we are currently finalizing.
COVID-19 has impacted shipyard operations which have and will continue to result in delays of our previously contracted ship deliveries. During 2021, the Company expects the delivery of Odyssey of the Seas and Silver Dawn during the first and fourth quarters, respectively. As it relates to 2022, the Company has two ship deliveries scheduled: Wonder of the Seas and Celebrity Beyond. The exact durations of the ship delivery delays are currently under discussion with the impacted shipyards.
Debt Maturities, New Financings and Other Liquidity Actions
Since the start of February 2020, we have taken several additional actions to further improve our liquidity position and manage cash flow. In particular, we:
• increased the capacity under our unsecured revolving credit facilities by $0.6 billion, and fully drew on both facilities;
• entered into a $2.35 billion 364-day senior secured loan agreement in March of 2020, which was repaid in May of 2020 with proceeds from the $3.32 billion senior secured notes ("Secured Notes") discussed below;
• issued $3.32 billion in Secured Notes, of which $1.0 billion is due in 2023 and $2.32 billion is due in 2025. The previously mentioned $2.35 billion, 364-day senior secured loan was repaid in its entirety with a portion of the proceeds of these notes. The Secured Notes are unconditionally guaranteed by Celebrity Cruises Holdings Inc., Celebrity Cruises Inc. and certain of our wholly-owned vessel-owning subsidiaries. $1.66 billion of the obligations under the Secured Notes and the related guarantees are secured by first priority security interests in collateral, which includes certain of our material intellectual property, a pledge of 100% of the equity interests of certain of our vessel-owning subsidiaries and mortgages on the 28 vessels owned by such subsidiaries;
• secured deferrals of existing debt amortization under our export-credit backed debt facilities which increased the Company’s liquidity by an additional $1.5 billion;
•issued $1.0 billion senior guaranteed notes (“Unsecured Notes”) maturing 2023;
•issued $1.725 billion senior convertible notes maturing 2023;
•qualified for a government commercial paper program by the Bank of England and issued £300.0 million, or approximately $409.9 million, of unsecured commercial paper thereunder;
•secured a commitment for a $700.0 million 364-day term loan facility available for draw any time prior to August 12, 2021;
•issued approximately 22.6 million shares of common stock for approximately $1.6 billion; and
• agreed with certain of our lenders that we will not pay dividends or engage in stock repurchases until at least the end of the third quarter of 2022.
Expected debt maturities for 2021 are $0.4 billion, assuming completion of a remaining $0.4 billion in ship principal amortization deferrals. We estimate our cash burn to be, on average, in the range of approximately $250 million to $290 million per month during a prolonged suspension of operations. This range includes all interest expenses, ongoing ship operating expenses, administrative expenses, hedging costs, expected necessary capital expenditures (net of committed financings in the case of newbuilds) and excludes changes in customer deposits, commissions, principal repayments, and fees and collateral postings related to financing and hedging activities.
As we return our fleet into service, we have incurred, as it relates to existing operations, and will incur incremental spend as we bring the ships out of their various levels of layup, return the crew to our vessels, take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the recommended protocols and gear up our sales and marketing activities.
We continue to identify and evaluate further actions to enhance our liquidity and support our recovery. These include and are not limited to further reductions in capital expenditures, operating expenses and administrative costs and additional financings, and refinancings.
Both our non-export credit agency facilities and our export credit agency (“ECA”) facilities contain covenants that require us, among other things, to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25x and limit our net debt-to-capital ratio to no more than 62.5%, and under certain facilities, to maintain minimum shareholders’ equity. During the course of 2020, we amended our export credit facilities, substantially all of our non-export credit facilities totaling an outstanding amount of $11.2 billion as of December 31, 2020, and our credit card processing agreements in order to waive the applicable financial covenants through and including the fourth quarter of 2021. The remainder of our credit facilities with financial covenants (totaling $130 million as of December 31, 2020) benefit from a financial covenant waiver through and including the first quarter of 2021. Certain of these amended agreements impose a monthly-tested liquidity covenant. As of December 31, 2020, the minimum liquidity requirement was $350.0 million. Pursuant to these amendments, we have also agreed that we will not pay cash dividends or effectuate share repurchases during the waiver period unless we are in compliance with the fixed charge coverage covenant as of the end of the most recently completed quarter for the duration of the waiver period.
During the first quarter of 2021, we amended $4.9 billion of our non-export credit facilities and certain of our credit card processing agreements to extend the waiver of the financial covenants through and including the third quarter of 2022 or, if earlier, that date falling after January 1, 2022 on which we elect to comply with the modified covenants. In addition, pursuant to the amendments, we have modified the manner in which such covenants are calculated (temporarily in certain cases and permanently in others) as well as the levels at which our net debt to capitalization covenant will be tested during the period commencing immediately following the end of the waiver period and continuing through the end of 2023. The amendments also increase the monthly-tested minimum liquidity covenant to $500 million for the duration of the waiver period (subject to reduction to $350 million, if we raise at least $500 million of additional capital). Pursuant to these amendments, the restrictions on paying cash dividends and effectuating share repurchases were extended through and including the third quarter of 2022.
As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the applicable minimum liquidity covenant and we estimate that we will be in compliance for at least the next twelve months. Refer to Note 9. Debt for further information regarding our debt covenants.
During the first quarter of 2021, we also amended $6.2 billion of our export credit facilities to extend the waiver of the financial covenants through and including at least the end of the third quarter of 2022. These amendments also allow for the deferral of up to $1.1 billion of principal payments due between April 2021 and April 2022 subject to the satisfaction of various conditions precedent. As of February 19, 2021, the conditions precedent have been satisfied for 13 of the 15 amended facilities, which will allow us to defer $0.8 billion of amortization payments due during this period. There can be no assurances that the conditions precedent will be met for the remaining two facilities. The deferred amounts will be repayable semi-annually over a
five-year period starting in April 2022. Pursuant to these amendments, we have agreed to implement the same liquidity covenant that applies in our non-export credit facilities. The amendments also provide for mandatory prepayment of the deferred amounts upon the taking of certain actions. Subject to a number of carve-outs, these include, but are not limited to, issuance of dividends, completion of share repurchases, issuances of debt other than for crisis and recovery purposes, the making of loans and the sale of assets other than at arm’s length.
In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, we entered into amendments to our drawn and undrawn ECA facilities to provide for the issuance of guarantees in satisfaction of existing obligations under these facilities. Following issuance, which in the case of the undrawn facilities, will occur once the debt is drawn, the guarantees will be released under certain circumstances as other debt is repaid or refinanced on an unsecured and unguaranteed basis. In connection with and following the issuance of the guarantees, the guarantor subsidiaries are restricted from issuing additional guarantees in favor of lenders, other than those lenders who are party to the ECA facilities, and certain of the guarantor subsidiaries are restricted from incurring additional debt. In addition, the ECA facilities will benefit from guarantees to be issued by intermediary parent companies of subsidiaries that take delivery of any new vessels subject to export-credit backed financing.
Executive Overview
During 2020, the world was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the containment effort resulting from the global pandemic, we implemented a voluntary suspension of our cruise operation beginning March 13, 2020, which has been extended through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations. As a result, we cancelled almost 2,000 sailings that were originally scheduled to sail in 2020.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our focus has been on the safety and well-being of our guests and crew, the care of our fleet, and the strength of our liquidity position. We repatriated 46,998 crew members, moved our whole fleet into various level of lay-up and formed an expert panel with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, called the Healthy Sail Panel ("HSP"), to develop a comprehensive set of enhanced health and safety protocols. Based on the detailed scientific recommendations of the HSP we were able to successfully resume operations in Singapore, with Quantum of the Seas, and in Europe with TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd.
Since the suspension of our global cruise operation, we have taken aggressive actions to enhance our liquidity, preserve cash and obtain additional financing. During 2020, we raised approximately $9.3 billion of new capital through a combination of bond issuances, common stock public offerings and other loan facilities. We also reduced our steady-state monthly cruise operating expenses by approximately 80% and reduced the 2020 capital expenditures by $3.0 billion. In addition, in the second quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, we amended our export credit facilities to allow for the deferral of $1.5 billion of principal amortization through April 2022. We also amended over $11 billion of commercial bank and export credit facilities to provide covenant waivers through at least the third quarter of 2022. Given the current environment, we continue to prioritize and bolster our liquidity, working to ensure we are well positioned for recovery. Our average cash burn rate continues to be within the range of $250 million - $290 million per month during this prolonged suspension of operations, despite increased interest expenses from additional financing.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we executed several measures to structurally reduce our cost base, realign our capital allocation and improve our scale and margins. Besides working on reducing our G&A expenses and streamlining our procurement efforts, we successfully divested three of our oldest and less efficient ships, Empress of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas and Celebrity Xperience and are assisting in the reorganization in Spanish courts of Pullmantur Cruceros. We also acquired the remaining share of Silversea without impacting our liquidity and expanded our joint-venture with TUI Cruises to include Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Despite disruptions in shipyard operations, we successfully took delivery of three new ships - Celebrity Apex, Silver Moon and Silver Origin. Moreover, in January 2021, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners in an all-cash transaction which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. The deal includes Azamara’s three-ship fleet and associated intellectual property. By reshaping our fleet’s efficiency and the corporations’ cost structure we are aligning our company to better support our operating leverage and earnings growth during our recovery.
As the pandemic persists, we will continue to search for further opportunities in our operations. As important, we are also focusing on our healthy return-to-service program, as well as returning to financial health.
We continue to work and collaborate with the HSP, epidemiological and policy experts, health authorities and various governments around the globe to ensure a healthy and safe return to cruising for guests, crew and the communities we visit. Regarding the resumption of operations out of the U.S., we continue to prepare and develop our plan to meet the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overall, and due to the challenges posed by the pandemic, we expect to re-start our global cruise operation in a phased manner with reduced guest occupancy, modified itineraries and enhanced health and safety protocols.
Results of Operations
In addition to the items discussed above under "Executive Overview," significant items for 2020 include:
•Our Net (Loss) Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Adjusted Net (Loss) Income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $(5.8) billion and $(3.9) billion, or $(27.05) and $(18.31) per share on a diluted basis, respectively, as compared to Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Adjusted Net Income of $1.9 billion and $2.0 billion, or $8.95 and $9.54 per share on a diluted basis, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2019.
•Total revenues, excluding the effect of changes in foreign currency rates, decreased by $8.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 reflecting the volume impact of our cancelled sailings during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
•The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to our passenger ticket and onboard and other revenue transactions, denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar, resulted in a decrease in total revenues of $22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
•Total cruise operating expenses, excluding the effect of changes in foreign currency rate, decreased by $3.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 due to our cancelled sailings in 2020.
•The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to our cruise operating expenses, denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar, resulted in a decrease in total operating expenses of $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
•During the year ended December 31, 2020, as a result of the current and expected ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and cash flows, we recorded total impairment and credit losses of $1.6 billion. The impairment charges related to our goodwill, trademarks and trade names, long-lived assets, including right-of-use assets, and credit losses related to our notes receivable.
•Our consolidated results of operations include Silversea Cruises’ results of operations on a three-month reporting lag from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 in our consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 and from the date of acquisition of July 31, 2018 to September 30, 2018 in our consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018. Refer to Note 1. General to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements for further information on this three-month reporting lag.
•During the year ended December 31, 2020, we executed and amended various financing arrangements, as summarized below. Refer to Note 9. Debt and Note 12. Shareholders' Equity, to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data for further information on the following underlying financing transactions:
•a $0.6 billion increase in the capacity available under our revolving credit facilities;
•additional liquidity of $6.8 billion through the issuance of new debt, including convertible debt, net of repayments, and the securing of a one-year $700 million commitment for a 364-day term loan facility;
•£300.0 million, or $409.9 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2020, of available and issued liquidity under an unsecured government commercial paper program with the Bank of England;
•the deferral of $0.9 million of existing debt amortization under our export-credit backed ship debt facilities through April 2021, which will be paid over a period of four years after the deferral period; and
•22.6 million shares of common stock for approximately $1.6 billion.
We reported Net Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Adjusted Net Income, earnings per share and Adjusted Earnings per Share as shown in the following table (in thousands, except per share data):
(1) Represents asset impairment and credit losses recorded in 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
(2) Represents equity investment asset impairment, primarily for our investment in Grand Bahama Shipyard, recorded in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
(3) Represents currency translation losses recognized in connection with the ships sold in 2020 that were previously chartered to Pullmantur. Refer to Note 8. Other Assets to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information.
(4) Represents the amortization of non-cash debt discount on our convertible notes.
(5) Represents estimated cash refunds expected to be paid to Pullmantur guests and other expenses incurred as part of the Pullmantur S.A. reorganization.
(6) In 2020, amount includes net insurance recoveries related to the collapse of the drydock structure at the Grand Bahama Shipyard involving Oasis of the Seas. In 2019, amount includes incidental costs, net of insurance recoveries, of $14.5 million related to the collapse of the drydock structure at the Grand Bahama Shipyard involving Oasis of the Seas, which were reported primarily within Other operating expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2019; and $20.7 million regarding the Grand Bahama incident involving one of its drydocks, included in Equity investment income within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2019. Refer to Note 8. Other Assets to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for information.
(7) In 2020, represents the loss on the extinguishment of the $2.35 billion 364-day senior secured term loan. In 2019, represents the loss on the extinguishment of the $700 million 364-day loan related to the 2018 Silversea Cruises acquisition and the remaining balance of the unsecured term loan originally incurred in 2010 to purchase Allure of the Seas.
(8) Related to the 2018 Silversea Cruises acquisition. Refer to Note 1. General and Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for information on the Silversea Cruises acquisition.
(9) Represents restructuring charges incurred in relation to the reduction in our U.S. workforce and other initiatives expenses in 2020 and the reorganization of our international sales and marketing structure primarily in 2019. Refer to Note 20. Restructuring Charges to our consolidated financial statements under item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on the restructuring activities.
(10) Adjustment made to exclude the impact of the contractual accretion requirements associated with the put option held by Silversea Cruises Group Ltd.'s noncontrolling interest. Refer to Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on noncontrolling interest.
(11) Represents an impairment loss related to Skysea Holding recorded in 2018.
(12) In 2014, we created a tour operations business that focused on developing, marketing and selling land based tours around the world through an e-commerce platform. During the second quarter of 2018, we decided to cease operations and exit this business. As a result, we incurred exit costs, primarily consisting of fixed asset impairment charges and severance expense.
(13) In January 2018, we elected to change our accounting policy from the graded attribution method to the straight-line attribution method for time-based stock awards. Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on our accounting policy.
The following table presents operating results as a percentage of total revenues for the last three years:
Selected statistical information is shown in the following table:
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(1) We acquired Silversea Cruises on July 31, 2018 and report their results on a three-month reporting lag. As a result, 2020 figures include October 2019 through September 2020 Silversea Cruises amounts, 2019 figures include October 2018 through September 2019 Silversea Cruises amounts and 2018 figures include August and September 2018 Silversea Cruises amounts. Refer to Note 1. General and Note 3. Business Combination to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on the three-month reporting lag.
Outlook
On March 10, 2020, we withdrew our full-year 2020 guidance due to the heightened impact and uncertainty of changes in the magnitude, duration and geographic reach of COVID-19. The magnitude, duration and speed of COVID-19 and related disruptions remain uncertain. As a consequence, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the impact of COVID-19 on its business, financial condition or near or longer-term financial or operational results. The adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our revenues, consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial condition has been and will continue to be material in 2021. We expect to incur a net loss on both a US GAAP and adjusted basis for our first quarter of 2021, the extent of which will depend on many factors including the timing and extent of our return to service. See Recent Developments: COVID-19 - Update on Bookings for further indication of the booking environment for 2021 and 2022.
Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2019
In this section, references to 2020 refer to the year ended December 31, 2020 and references to 2019 refer to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Revenues
Total revenues for 2020 decreased $8.7 billion, or 79.8%, to $2.2 billion from $11.0 billion in 2019.
Passenger ticket revenues comprised 68.1% of our 2020 total revenues. Passenger ticket revenues decreased by $6.4 billion, or 80.9% from 2019. The decrease was primarily due to a 79.4% decrease in capacity driven by our cancelled sailings resulting from the suspension of our global fleet operations since mid-March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Passenger ticket revenues also decreased by $15.7 million due to the unfavorable effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to our revenues in currencies other than the United States dollar.
The remaining 31.9% of 2020 total revenues was comprised of Onboard and other revenues, which decreased $2.4 billion, or 77.2%. The decrease in Onboard and other revenues was primarily due to the 79.4% decrease in capacity noted above.
Additionally, Onboard and other revenues includes, to a much lesser extent, the unfavorable effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to our onboard and other revenues denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar of $6.4 million.
Onboard and other revenues included concession revenues of $76.0 million in 2020 and $363.8 million in 2019.
Cruise Operating Expenses
Total cruise operating expenses for 2020 decreased $3.3 billion, or 54.4%, to $2.8 billion in 2020 from $6.1 billion in 2019. The majority of the decrease was due to the 79.4% decrease in capacity noted above as a result of our cancelled sailings, including:
•a $1.3 billion decrease in Commissions, transportation and other primarily due to lower commission and variable passenger tax expenses;
•a $482.6 million decrease in Onboard and other expenses mostly due to lower shore excursion costs and beverage costs;
•a $463.5 million decrease in Other operating expenses mostly due to lower port fees and a decrease in ship maintenance and consumable costs;
•a $422.2 million decrease in Food expenses;
•a $326.9 million decrease in Fuel expenses;
•a $290.8 million decrease in Payroll and related expenses resulting from reduced onboard staffing levels; and
•the favorable effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to our expense transactions denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar of $11.2 million.
Marketing, Selling and Administrative Expenses
Marketing, selling and administrative expenses for 2020 decreased $359.6 million, or 23.1% to $1.2 billion from $1.6 billion in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction and deferral of global sales and marketing activities due to the suspension of our operations.
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses
Depreciation and amortization expenses for 2020 increased $33.3 million, or 2.7%, to $1.3 billion. The increase was primarily due to the additions of Celebrity Apex and Silver Origin in the first and second quarters of 2020, respectively, and a full year of depreciation in 2020 for Spectrum of the Seas. Additionally, the increase is also attributable to new shipboard additions in 2019 associated with our ship modernization projects and additions related to our shoreside projects.
Impairment and Credit Losses
For the year ended December 31, 2020, as a result of the current and expected ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and cash flows, we recorded total impairment and credit losses of $1.6 billion, most of which was recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2020, related to the impairment of goodwill, intangibles, long-lived assets and credit losses related to the sale of our property and equipment.
Other Income (Expense)
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized, increased $435.7 million, or 106.7%, to $844.2 million in 2020 from $408.5 million in 2019. The increase was primarily due to new debt issuances in 2020, a higher average balance on our revolver balances and a loss on extinguishment of the $2.35 billion senior secured term loan of $41.1 million.
Equity investment (loss) income decreased $444.3 million, or 192.3%, to a loss of $213.3 million in 2020 from income of $231.0 million in 2019 mainly due to losses reported by our equity investments as a result of the adverse impact of COVID-19 on their operations and earnings and a $39.7 million impairment charge of equity investments, recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2020, primarily for our investment in Grand Bahama Shipyard.
Other expense was $137.1 million in 2020 compared to $24.5 million in 2019. The increase in expense of $112.6 million includes recognition of a deferred currency translation adjustment loss of $69.0 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 related to the 2016 sale of our majority interest in the Pullmantur brand. We recognized the deferred currency translation loss in 2020 as we no longer have significant involvement in Pullmantur's operations. We also recognized $21.6 million of expense during the second quarter of 2020, approximating the estimated total cash refund expected to be paid to Pullmantur guests and other expenses incurred as part of a settlement agreement with our joint venture partner as part of the brand's reorganization Refer to Note 8. Other Assets to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data for further information on our investment in Pullmantur. In addition, we recorded a net $92.0 million loss related to the change in fair value of mostly fuel swap derivative instruments with no hedge accounting. These expenses were partially offset by income of $45.1 million for the change in contingent consideration payable in 2020 to Heritage, the former minority shareholder of Silversea Cruises, and a decrease of $47.6 million in net tax expense mostly attributable to the suspension in our operations.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive income in 2020 was $58.4 million compared to Other comprehensive loss of $170.0 million in 2019. The change of $228.4 million in 2020 was primarily due to a Gain on cash flow derivative hedges in 2020 of $38.0 million compared to a Loss on cash flow derivative hedges of $151.3 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts in 2020 compared to a decrease in fair value of our foreign currency contracts in 2019.
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018
A discussion of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 is included in Part II. Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2020, as updated by our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2020, and is incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.
Future Application of Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources and Uses of Cash
As a result of the COVID-19 impact on our business, including the suspension of global sailings, we have experienced a decrease in bookings and an increase in customer deposit refunds since the first quarter of 2020, which has significantly affected our liquidity and cash flow.
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities decreased $7.4 billion to cash used of $(3.7) billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, compared to cash provided of $3.7 billion in 2019. The current disruptions to our business led to a decrease in collections from our guests as well as an increase of refunds to guests for cancelled sailings during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $237.2 million to $3.7 billion in 2019 compared to $3.5 billion in 2018. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to an increase in proceeds from customer deposits, an increase in cash receipts from onboard spending and a decrease in fuel costs in 2019 compared to 2018. Additionally, dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates decreased by $92.9 million.
Net cash used in investing activities decreased $0.9 billion to $2.2 billion in 2020 compared to $3.1 billion in 2019. The decrease in investing activities was primarily attributable to a decrease in capital expenditures of $1.1 billion.
Net cash used in investing activities decreased $1.4 billion to $3.1 billion in 2019 compared to $4.5 billion in 2018. The decrease was primarily attributable to the $916.1 million of cash paid for the acquisition of Silversea Cruises, net of cash acquired, in 2018, which did not recur in 2019 and a decrease in capital expenditures of $635.4 million due mostly to the delivery of two more ships in 2018 compared to 2019, partially offset by higher fleet modernization costs in 2019 compared to 2018.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $9.3 billion in 2020 compared to Net cash used in financing activities of $0.7 billion in 2019. The change was primarily attributable to an increase in debt proceeds of $10.0 billion in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, and $1.4 million in proceeds from common stock issuances on 2020. These proceeds were partially offset by net repayments of commercial paper of $1.1 billion during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 compared to net borrowings of commercial paper of $0.6 billion during the same period in 2019.
Net cash used by financing activities was $0.7 billion in 2019 compared to Net cash provided in financing activities of $1.2 billion in 2018. The change was primarily attributable to a decrease in debt proceeds of $5.1 billion in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to a decrease in borrowings on our revolving credit facilities and less unsecured term loan borrowings resulting from less ship deliveries in 2019 and the financing of the acquisition of Silversea Cruises in 2018. This decrease in proceeds was partially offset by a decrease in repayments of debt of $2.9 billion and a decrease in stock repurchases of $475.5 million in 2019 compared to 2018.
Future Capital Commitments
Capital Expenditures
Our future capital commitments consist primarily of new ship orders. As of December 31, 2020, we have two Oasis-class ships, one Quantum-class ship, and three ships of a new generation, known as our Icon-class, on order for our Royal Caribbean International brand with an aggregate capacity of approximately 32,400 berths. As of December 31, 2020, we have two Edge-class ships on order for our Celebrity Cruises brand, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 6,500 berths. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, we have three ships on order for our Silversea Cruises brand with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,750 berths. Refer to Item 1. Business-Operations for further information on our ships on order. For the 15 ships on order we have committed financing arrangements in place covering 80% of the cost of the ship, almost all of which include sovereign financing guarantees. Additionally, we have an agreement in place with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build an additional Edge-class ship for delivery in 2025, which is contingent upon completion of conditions precedent and financing.
As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate cost of our ships on order, not including any ships on order by our Partner Brands and the Silversea Cruises ships that remain contingent upon final documentation and financing, was approximately $14.2 billion, of which we had deposited $684.8 million as of such date. Approximately 66.3% of the aggregate cost was exposed to fluctuations in the Euro exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments and Note 19. Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Decreased demand for cruising as a result of concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and is expected to continue to have, a material impact on our cash flows, liquidity and financial position. In order to preserve liquidity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we deferred a significant portion of our planned 2020 and 2021 capital expenditures. As of December 31, 2020, we anticipate overall full year capital expenditures, based on our existing ships on order, will be approximately $2.1 billion for 2021. These amounts do not include any ships on order by our Partner Brands.
Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2020, our contractual obligations were as follows (in thousands):
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(1) We are obligated under noncancelable operating leases primarily for preferred berthing arrangements, real estate and shipboard equipment. Amounts represent contractual obligations with initial terms in excess of one year.
(2) Debt obligations mature at various dates through fiscal year 2032 and bear interest at fixed and variable rates. Interest on variable-rate debt is calculated based on forecasted debt balances, including the impact of interest rate swap agreements, using the applicable rate at December 31, 2020. Debt denominated in other currencies is calculated based on the applicable exchange rate at December 31, 2020.
(3) Amounts primarily represent future commitments with remaining terms in excess of one year to pay for our usage of certain port facilities, marine consumables, services and maintenance contracts. Included in the 1-3 year figure is estimated cash collateral of $181.1 million that we are required to deliver on or before July 18, 2021 in connection with our Port of Miami terminal operating lease. See Note 10. Leases to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements for further information on the collateral requirement
(4) Amounts are based on contractual installment and delivery dates for our ships on order. Included in these figures are $9.4 billion in final contractual installments, which have committed financing. COVID-19 has impacted shipyard operations which have and will result in delays for our previously contracted ship deliveries. The exact duration of the ship delivery delays are currently under discussion with the impacted shipyards. Amounts do not include potential obligations which remain subject to cancellation at our sole discretion or any agreements entered for ships on order that remain contingent upon completion of conditions precedent. Additionally, amounts do not include activity related to Silversea Cruises, including ships placed on order, if any, during the three-month reporting lag period.
(5) In June 2020, RCL Cruises Ltd., we established a commercial paper facility under the Joint HM Treasury and Bank of England’s COVID Corporate Financing Facility commercial paper program in an aggregate principal amount up to £300.0 million. Refer to Note 9. Debt to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data to our consolidated financial statements for further information.
(6) Debt denominated in other currencies is calculated based on the applicable exchange rate at December 31, 2020. In addition, debt obligations presented above are net of debt issuance costs of $314.8 million as of December 31, 2020.
(7) Amounts represent capital lease obligations with initial terms in excess of one year.
(8) Amounts represent fees payable to sovereign guarantors in connection with certain of our export credit debt facilities and facility fees on our revolving credit facilities.
Please refer to Funding Needs and Sources below for discussion on the planned funding of the above contractual obligations.
As a normal part of our business, depending on market conditions, pricing and our overall growth strategy, we continuously consider opportunities to enter into contracts for the building of additional ships. We may also consider the sale of ships or the purchase of existing ships. We continuously consider potential acquisitions and strategic alliances. If any of these were to occur, they would be financed through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the issuance of additional shares of equity securities or through cash flows from operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
TUI Cruises has entered into various ship construction and credit agreements that include certain restrictions on each of our and TUI AG's ability to reduce our current ownership interest in TUI Cruises below 37.55% through May 2033.
Some of the contracts that we enter into include indemnification provisions that obligate us to make payments to the counterparty if certain events occur. These contingencies generally relate to changes in taxes, increased lender capital costs and other similar costs. The indemnification clauses are often standard contractual terms and are entered into in the normal course of business. There are no stated or notional amounts included in the indemnification clauses and we are not able to estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments, if any, under these indemnification clauses. We have not been required to make any payments under such indemnification clauses in the past and, under current circumstances, we do not believe an indemnification obligation is probable.
We have a residual value guarantee associated with our operating lease of a terminal at Port of Miami in Miami, Florida that approximates a percentage of cost of the asset as of the inception of the lease. We consider the possibility of incurring costs associated with the residual value guarantee to be remote. Also in connection with the Port of Miami terminal operating lease, we are required to deliver on or before July 18, 2021, cash collateral in an amount equal to the lesser of our residual value guarantee or the aggregate balance of the lessors' terminal construction debt, estimated at $181.1 million as of December 31, 2020. The collateral is to be issued to an escrow agent and pledged to the benefit of the terminal construction debt lenders until all amounts due by us under the lease have been paid in full.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, our senior unsecured ratings from Moody’s and S&P have been downgraded and are currently B2 and B, respectively. These downgrades reduce our ability to incur secured indebtedness by reducing the amount of indebtedness that we are permitted to secure, and may negatively impact our access to, and cost of, debt financing. Additionally, as a result of Moody’s downgrade of the Silversea Notes from Baa3 to Ba2 on August 31, 2020 and S&P’s downgrade of Silversea Cruises' Notes from BBB- to BB on August 31, 2020, certain covenants of the indenture governing the Silversea Notes have been reinstated. On February 25, 2021, S&P Global further downgraded the Silversea Cruises Notes from BB to BB-, which had no further impact with respect to the Silversea Cruises’ Notes.
The Company also has agreements with its credit card processors relating to customer deposits received by the Company for future voyages. These agreements allow the credit card processors to require, under certain circumstances, including breach
of the financial covenants, the existence of other material adverse changes, excessive chargebacks, and other triggering events, the Company to maintain a reserve that can be satisfied by posting collateral.
Executed amendments are in place for the majority of these providers, waiving reserve requirements tied to breach of our financial covenants through at least March 31, 2022 or September 30, 2022 depending on the agreement, and as such, we do not anticipate any incremental collateral requirements for the processors covered by these waivers in the next 12 months. We have a $75.0 million held in reserve with a processor where the agreement was amended in the first quarter of 2021, such that future proceeds will be withheld in reserve, of which the maximum projected exposure is approximately $200.0 million. The amount and timing are dependent on future factors that are uncertain, such as the date we return to operations, volume and value of future deposits and whether we transfer our business to other processors. If we require additional waivers on the credit card processing agreements and are not able to obtain them, this could lead to the termination of these agreements or the trigger of reserve requirements.
Certain of our surety agreements with third party providers for the benefit of certain agencies and associations that provide travel related bonds allow the surety to request collateral in the form of cash or letters of credit. As of December 31, 2020, we have posted collateral in the amount of approximately $91 million.
As of December 31, 2020, other than the items described above, we are not party to any other off-balance sheet arrangements, including guarantee contracts, retained or contingent interest, certain derivative instruments and variable interest entities, that either have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial position.
Funding Needs and Sources
Historically, we relied on a combination of cash flows provided by operations, draw-downs under our available credit facilities, the incurrence of additional debt and/or the refinancing of our existing debt and the issuance of additional shares of equity securities to fund our obligations. The impact of COVID-19 resulted in our previously announced voluntary suspension
of Global Brands' cruise operations from March 13, 2020, which has been extended through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations. This suspension of operations has strained our sources of cash flow and liquidity, causing us to take actions resulting in reductions in our operating expenses, reductions in our capital expenses and new financings and other liquidity actions.
The Company continues to identify and evaluate further actions to improve its liquidity. These include, and are not limited to, further reductions in capital expenditures, operating expenses and administrative costs and additional financings. See further discussion on these liquidity actions at Recent Developments : COVID-19.
We have significant contractual obligations of which our debt service obligations and the capital expenditures associated with our ship purchases represent our largest funding needs. As of December 31, 2020, we had $11.6 billion of committed financing for our ships on order.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $3.9 billion in contractual obligations due through December 31, 2021, of which approximately $1.3 billion relates to debt maturities, $0.9 billion relates to interest on debt and $1.3 billion relates to progress payments on our ship orders and the final installments payable due upon the delivery of Odyssey of the Seas.
As of December 31, 2020, we had liquidity of $4.4 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $3.7 billion and a $0.7 billion one-year commitment for a 364-day term loan facility. As of December 31, 2020, our revolving credit facilities were fully utilized through a combination of amounts drawn and letters of credit issued under the facilities. In connection with our debt covenant waiver extensions, we agreed with certain of our lenders not to pay dividends or engage in stock repurchases. Refer to Note 12. Shareholders' Equity to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements for further information.
Based on our assumptions and estimates and our financial condition, we believe that the liquidity resulting from the actions mentioned above will be sufficient to fund our liquidity requirements over at least the next twelve months from the issuance of these financial statements. However, there is no assurance that our assumptions and estimates are accurate due to possible unknown variables related to this unprecedented suspension of our operations and, as such, there is inherent uncertainty in our ability to predict future liquidity requirements. Refer to Note 1. General, Management’s Plan and Liquidity, to our consolidated financial statements under Item 1. Financial Statements for further information.
Under certain of our agreements, the contractual interest rate, facility fee and/or export credit agency fee vary with our debt rating. On August 24, 2020, Moody’s downgraded our senior unsecured rating from Ba2 to B2, and on August 31, 2020, S&P Global downgraded our senior unsecured rating from BB to B+, thereby increasing the contractual interest rate, facility fee and export credit agency fee across various facilities. On February 25, 2021, S&P Global further downgraded our senior unsecured rating from B+ to B, which had no further financial impact.
If any person acquires ownership of more than 50% of our common stock or, subject to certain exceptions, during any 24-month period, a majority of our board of directors is no longer comprised of individuals who were members of our board of directors on the first day of such period, we may be obligated to prepay indebtedness outstanding under our credit facilities, which we may be unable to replace on similar terms. Our public debt securities also contain change of control provisions that would be triggered by a third-party acquisition of greater than 50% of our common stock coupled with a ratings downgrade. If this were to occur, it would have an adverse impact on our liquidity and operations.
Debt Covenants
Both our export credit facilities and our non-export credit facilities contain covenants that require us, among other things, to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25x and limit our net debt-to-capital ratio to no more than 62.5%, and under certain facilities, to maintain a minimum level of shareholders' equity. The fixed charge coverage ratio is calculated by dividing net cash from operations for the past four quarters by the sum of dividend payments plus scheduled principal debt payments in excess of any new financings for the past four quarters. Our minimum net worth and maximum net debt-to-capital calculations exclude the impact of Accumulated other comprehensive loss on Total shareholders’ equity.
As of December 31, 2020, financial covenant testing on our export-credit and non-export credit facilities totaling $11.2 billion of, and our credit card processing agreements was waived through the fourth quarter of 2021 following amendments to the agreements during 2020.
During the first quarter of 2021, we further amended $4.9 billion of our non-export credit facilities and $6.2 billion of our export credit facilities, and certain credit card processing agreements, to extend the waiver of our financial covenants through and including at least the third quarter of 2022.
In addition, pursuant to the amendments for the non-export credit facilities, we have modified the manner in which such covenants are calculated, temporarily in certain cases and permanently in others, as well as the levels at which our net debt to
capitalization covenant will be tested during the period commencing immediately following the end of the waiver period and continuing through the end of 2023.
The amendments impose a monthly-tested minimum liquidity covenant of $500.0 million for the duration of the waiver period, subject to reduction to $350.0 million if we raise at least $500.0 million of additional capital, which can be satisfied through previously undrawn facilities. In addition, the amendments to the non-export credit facilities place restrictions on paying cash dividends and effectuating share repurchases through the end of the third quarter of 2022, while the export credit facility amendments require us to prepay any deferred amounts if we elect to issue dividends or complete share repurchases. As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the applicable minimum liquidity covenant and we estimate that we will be in compliance for at least the next twelve months.
In addition to the above, during 2020, we amended our Port of Miami Terminal "A" operating lease agreement to increase the lien basket in line with our debt facilities. In the first quarter of 2021, we also amended this lease to obtain a financial covenant waiver through the end of the third quarter of 2022, on the same terms as apply to the non-export credit facilities. As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the amended covenants under the lease agreement.
Any further covenant waivers may lead to increased costs, increased interest rates, additional restrictive covenants and other available lender protections as may be agreed with our lenders. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain additional waivers in a timely manner, or on acceptable terms. If we require additional waivers and are not able to obtain them or repay the debt facilities, this would lead to an event of default and potential acceleration of amounts due under all of our outstanding debt and derivative contracts.
If we require additional waivers on the credit card processing agreements and are not able to obtain them, this could lead to the termination of these agreements or the trigger of reserve requirements.
Dividends
During the first quarter of 2020 we declared a cash dividend on our common stock of $0.78 per share which was paid in the second quarter of 2020.
During the second quarter of 2020, we agreed with certain of our lenders not to pay dividends or engage in common stock repurchases for so long as our debt covenant waivers are in effect. In addition, in the event we declare a dividend or engage in share repurchases, we will need to repay the amounts deferred under our export credit facilities as part of the principal amortization deferral provided in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. Accordingly, we did not declare any additional dividends during 2020.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Instruments and Other
General
We are exposed to market risk attributable to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and fuel prices. We try to mitigate these risks through a combination of our normal operating and financing activities and through the use of derivative financial instruments pursuant to our hedging practices and policies. The financial impact of these hedging instruments is primarily offset by corresponding changes in the underlying exposures being hedged. We achieve this by closely matching the amount, term and conditions of the derivative instrument with the underlying risk being hedged. Although certain of our derivative financial instruments do not qualify or are not accounted for under hedge accounting, our objective is not to hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes. Refer to Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments to our consolidated financial statements under
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Our Consolidated Financial Statements and Quarterly Selected Financial Data are included beginning on page of this report.
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon such evaluation, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that those controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") rules and forms.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our management, with the participation of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as stated in its report, which is included herein on page.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d) during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
It should be noted that any system of controls, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system will be met. In addition, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, there is only reasonable assurance that our controls will succeed in achieving their goals under all potential future conditions.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements
Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data and are included beginning on page of this report.
(1)Financial Statement Schedules
None.
(1)Exhibits
Exhibits 10.90 through 10.111 represent management compensatory plans or arrangements.
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
Interactive Data File
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ JASON T. LIBERTY
Jason T. Liberty Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and duly authorized signatory)
February 26, 2021
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 26, 2021.
/s/ RICHARD D. FAIN
Richard D. Fain
Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ JASON T. LIBERTY
Jason T. Liberty
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ HENRY L. PUJOL
Henry L. Pujol
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
*
John F. Brock
Director
*
Stephen R. Howe Jr.
Director
*
William L. Kimsey
Director
*
Maritza G. Montiel
Director
*
Ann S. Moore
Director
*
Eyal M. Ofer
Director
*
William K. Reilly
Director
*
Vagn O. Sørensen
Director
*
Donald Thompson
Director
*
Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen
Director
*
Amy C. McPherson
Director
*
*By: /s/ JASON T. LIBERTY
Jason T. Liberty, as Attorney-in-Fact
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for leases in 2019.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Emphasis of Matter
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the impact to the Company’s global bookings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a material negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and liquidity. Further, in April 2022, approximately $1.0 billion of long- term debt will need to be refinanced or extended should the commencement of operations be delayed beyond management’s current estimate. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans to mitigate these matters are also described in Note 1.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Impairment Assessments - Royal Caribbean International & Silversea Cruises Reporting Units Goodwill and Silversea Cruises Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset Trade Name
As described in Notes 2, 5 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance was $809.5 million and the indefinite-lived intangible assets balance was $321.5 million as of December 31, 2020. The Royal Caribbean International reporting unit goodwill was $296.6 million, the Silversea Cruises reporting unit goodwill was $508.6 million and the Silversea Cruises’ indefinite-lived intangible asset trade name was $318.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. Management reviews goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at the reporting unit level and asset level, respectively, annually or, when events or circumstances dictate, more frequently. The impairment analysis consists of a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit or asset with its carrying value.
The impact of COVID-19 on management’s operating plans and projected cash flows resulted in the completion of (i) an interim impairment assessment for the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, and the Silversea Cruises reporting unit as of March 31, 2020; and (ii) an interim impairment assessment in respect to the Silversea Cruises trade name as of March 31, 2020. As a result of management’s interim impairment assessments, management recognized a goodwill impairment charge associated with the Silversea Cruises reporting unit of $576.2 million and an impairment charge of $30.8 million charge for the Silversea Cruises trade name for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. As of November 30, 2020, management performed the annual goodwill impairment reviews and determined no incremental impairment losses existed at the date of this annual assessment for the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit or the Silversea Cruises reporting unit and trade name. The fair value of the Silversea Cruises reporting unit was determined by management using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach for all periods assessed. The fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit as of March 31, 2020 was determined using a discounted cash flow model and a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach for the June 30, 2020 and November 30, 2020 assessments. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses that support the Silversea Cruises and Royal Caribbean International reporting units’ impairment assessments consisted of the timing of management’s return to service; changes in market conditions; and port or other restrictions; forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; and the weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate). Management estimates the fair value of the intangible assets using a discounted cash flow model and various valuation methods depending on the nature of the intangible asset, such as the relief-from-royalty method for trade names. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses that support the Silversea Cruises trade name impairment
assessments consisted of forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; the royalty rate; and the weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate).
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessments of the Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises reporting units and the indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessments of the Silversea Cruises trade name is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the fair value estimates; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate, and the discount rate for the goodwill and trade name impairment assessments; and the royalty rate assumption for the trade name impairment assessments; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessments, including controls over the valuation of the Royal Caribbean International & Silversea Cruises reporting units and Silversea Cruises trade name. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimates; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted future cash flow model, market based valuation approach and the relief-from-royalty model; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the fair value estimates; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; and the discount rate for the goodwill and the trade name impairment assessments and the royalty rate assumption for the Silversea Cruises trade name impairment assessments. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and the terminal growth rate involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the reporting unit and trade name; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of discounted cash flow model, relief-from-royalty and market based valuation approach and the discount rates and royalty rate assumptions.
Certain Ship Impairment Assessments
As described in Notes 2 and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated ships and ship improvements balance was $32.0 billion as of December 31, 2020. Management reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate, based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows, that the carrying value of these assets may not be fully recoverable. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s expected future operating cash flows and management’s decision to dispose of certain vessels, resulted in management identifying impairment triggers for certain vessels. Management estimated the recoverability of certain vessels using undiscounted cash flow analyses at interim dates throughout 2020 and again at December 31, 2020. A number of vessels were found to have net carrying values in excess of their estimated undiscounted future cash flows, and as such, were subject to fair value assessments. Management determined fair value of the vessels based on intended use of the identified vessels, and as such, management used a combination of discounted cash flows, replacement cost, scrap and residual value techniques to estimate fair value. Consequently, management recognized $635.5 million of impairment losses during the year ended 2020. The suspension of operations and the possibility of further suspensions create uncertainty in forecasting undiscounted cash flows, which are used by management to determine if a vessel is at risk of impairment. Management’s principal assumptions used in the undiscounted cash flows consisted of the timing of management’s return to service; changes in market conditions; and port or other restrictions; forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, and occupancy rates; and management’s intended use of the vessel for its remaining useful life.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to certain ship impairment assessments is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in developing the undiscounted cash flow analyses for the ships with triggering events; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, and occupancy rates and management’s intended use of the vessel for its remaining useful life.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s ship impairment assessments, including controls over the analysis of the Company’s ships that were subject to undiscounted cash flow impairment analyses. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for developing the undiscounted cash flow estimates for certain ships with triggering events; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the undiscounted cash flow methods; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the analyses; and (iv) evaluating the significant assumptions used by management related to forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, and occupancy rates, and management’s intended use of the vessel for its remaining useful life. Evaluating management’s assumptions involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the Company, (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data, and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit.
Liquidity - Impact of COVID-19
As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company voluntarily suspended its global cruise operations effective March 13, 2020, and this suspension remains in effect through at least April 30, 2021 for most of its cruise operations. The suspension of operations and the impact to the Company’s global bookings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a material negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and liquidity, which may be prolonged beyond containment of the disease. Management has and will continue undertaking several proactive measures to mitigate the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19, including reduction of capital expenditures and operating expenses (reduction and furloughing of workforce and laying up of vessels), issuing of debt and shares of our common stock, amending of credit agreements to defer payments and covenant requirements and suspending of dividend payments. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had liquidity of $4.4 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $3.7 billion and a $0.7 billion one-year commitment for a 364-day term loan facility. Based on management’s actions described above, and management’s assumptions regarding the impact of COVID-19 and the suspension of operations, as well as the Company’s present financial condition, management believes the available liquidity will be sufficient to fund the Company’s obligations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements. The principal assumptions used by management’s to estimate future liquidity requirements consist of (i) the expected date of return to operations; (ii) the expected resumption of operations; (iii) the expected occupancy levels; and (iv) the expected incremental expenses for the resumption of guest cruise operations for the maintenance of additional public health protocols and complying with additional regulations.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s liquidity is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when evaluating the uncertainty related to the effects of COVID-19 on the Company’s financial results and liquidity, which impacts the Company’s forecasted financial results and estimated liquidity requirements to satisfy its obligations; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s liquidity assessment to satisfy obligations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of internal controls relating to management’s assessment of the Company’s liquidity. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for forecasting financial results and liquidity within one year from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements, (ii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the forecast; and (iii) evaluation of management’s liquidity assessment and their disclosure in the consolidated financial statements regarding having sufficient liquidity to satisfy its obligations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Miami, Florida February 26, 2021
We have served as the Company’s auditor since at least 1989, which includes periods before the Company became subject to SEC reporting requirements. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor of the Company.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
___________________________________________________________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED
___________________________________________________________________
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
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Note 1. General
Description of Business
We are a global cruise company. We own and operate four global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises (collectively, our "Global Brands"). We also own a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises GmbH ("TUIC"), that operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (collectively, our "Partner Brands"). On June 30, 2020, TUIC acquired Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a luxury and expedition brand for German-speaking guests, from TUI AG for approximately €1.2 billion, or $1.3 billion as of the purchase date. See Note 8. Other Assets for further information on the acquisition. We account for our investments in our Partner Brands under the equity method of accounting. Together, our Global Brands and our Partner Brands operate a combined 61 ships as of December 31, 2020. Our ships offer a selection of worldwide itineraries that call on more than 1,000 destinations on all seven continents.
In 2020, Pullmantur Holdings S.L. ("Pullmantur Holdings"), in which we own a 49% non-controlling interest, and certain of its other subsidiaries filed for reorganization in Spain under the terms of the Spanish insolvency laws (the "Pullmantur reorganization") due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company. The Pullmantur brand has cancelled all of its scheduled ship operations. We suspended equity method accounting for Pullmantur Holdings during the second quarter of 2020. Refer to Note 8. Other Assets for further information regarding Pullmantur's reorganization filing and its impact to the Company.
On July 9, 2020, we acquired the remaining 33.3% interest in Silversea Cruises that we did not already own (the "noncontrolling interest") from Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd. ("Heritage"). As a result of the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, Silversea Cruises is now a wholly owned cruise brand. As consideration for the noncontrolling interest, we issued to Heritage 5.2 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Pursuant to the agreement governing the acquisition, among other things, the parties terminated any existing obligation to issue Heritage any contingent consideration, at fair value, in connection with our acquisition of a 66.7% interest in Silversea Cruises on July 31, 2018. The share purchase did not result in a change of control. The purchase was accounted for as an equity transaction and no gain or loss was recognized in earnings. See Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further information regarding our acquisition of the noncontrolling interest.
On January 19, 2021, we announced that we entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Azamara brand, including its three-ship fleet and associated intellectual property to Sycamore Partners in an all-cash carve-out transaction for $201.0 million. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.
Management's Plan and Liquidity
As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we voluntarily suspended our global cruise operations effective March 13, 2020 and this suspension remains in effect through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations.
We are working with both the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and the Healthy Sail Panel (“HSP”), formed in June 2020 by us and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and composed of leading experts in relevant fields, including epidemiology, infectious diseases, public policy and regulation, engineering and general health safety, to prepare and develop a plan to meet the requirements of the CDC’s Framework for the Conditional Sailing Order (the “Conditional Order”). The Conditional Order permits cruise ship passenger operations in U.S. waters under certain conditions and following the establishment of certain protocols and procedures, with the order remaining in effect until the earlier of (1) the expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency; (2) the CDC Director rescinds or modifies the Conditional Order based on specific public health or other considerations, or (3) November 1, 2021.
Many uncertainties remain as to the specifics, timing and costs of administering and implementing the requirements of the Conditional Order, some of which may be significant, as well as the extent of any additional requirements the CDC may issue as it provides further guidance on the requirements of the Conditional Order. We expect to re-start our global cruise operations in a phased manner once we fulfill the requirements of the Conditional Order, with cruises having reduced guest occupancy, modified itineraries and enhanced health and safety protocols. Based on our assessment of these conditions or for other reasons, we may determine it necessary to further extend our voluntary suspension of our Global Brands’ cruise sailings which currently extends through at least April 30, 2021, for most of our cruise operations. As such, we believe the suspension of our operations
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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and the impact to our global bookings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a material negative impact on our results of operations and liquidity, which may be prolonged beyond containment of the disease.
As of December 31, 2020, we had liquidity of $4.4 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $3.7 billion and a $0.7 billion one-year commitment for a 364-day term loan facility. As of December 31, 2020, our revolving credit facilities were fully utilized through a combination of amounts drawn and letters of credit issued under the facilities.
As of December 31, 2020, financial covenant testing on our amended export-credit and non-export credit facilities, totaling and outstanding principal amount of $11.2 billion, and on our credit card processing agreements, was waived through the fourth quarter of 2021 following amendments to the agreements during 2020.
During the first quarter of 2021, we further amended $4.9 billion of our non-export credit facilities and $6.2 billion of our export credit facilities, and certain credit card processing agreements to extend the waiver of our financial covenants through and including at least the third quarter of 2022. In addition, during the first quarter of 2021, we amended our export credit facilities to defer an additional $0.8 billion of principal payments due under these export facilities between April 2021 and March 2022. Pursuant to the covenant amendments for the non-export facilities and certain of the credit card processing agreements, we have modified the manner in which such covenants are calculated, temporarily in certain cases and permanently in others, as well as the levels at which our net debt to capitalization covenant will be tested during the period commencing immediately following the end of the waiver period and continuing through the end of 2023. The amendments also impose a monthly-tested minimum liquidity covenant of $500.0 million for the duration of the waiver period subject to reduction to $350.0 million if we raise at least $500.0 million of additional capital, which can be satisfied through previously undrawn facilities. In addition, the amendments place restrictions on paying cash dividends and effectuating share repurchases through at least the end of the third quarter of 2022. As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the applicable minimum liquidity covenant and we estimate that we will be in compliance for at least the next twelve months. Refer to Note 9. Debt for further information regarding our debt covenants.
Significant events affecting travel, including COVID-19 and our suspension of operations, typically have an impact on the booking pattern for cruise vacations, with the full extent of the impact generally determined by the length of time the event influences travel decisions. The estimation of our future liquidity requirements includes numerous assumptions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal assumptions used to estimate our future liquidity requirements consist of:
•Expected date of return to operations;
•Expected gradual resumption of cruise operations;
•Expected lower than comparable historical occupancy levels during the resumption of cruise operations; and
•Expected incremental expenses for the resumption of cruise operations, for the maintenance of additional public health protocols and procedures for additional regulations.
There can be no assurance that our assumptions and estimates are accurate due to possible variables, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties associated with the CDC’s interpretation and application of the requirements in the Conditional Order and subsequent changes to those requirements, our ability to meet these requirements , some of which may be significant, and whether efforts by other countries to contain the disease will further restrict our ability to commence operations. We have and will continue undertaking several proactive measures to mitigate the financial and operational impacts of COVID-19, including reduction of capital expenditures and operating expenses (reduction and furloughing of workforce and laying up of vessels), issuing of debt and shares of our common stock, amending of credit agreements to defer payments and covenant requirements and suspending of dividend payments.
Based on these actions and our assumptions regarding the impact of COVID-19 and our suspension of operations, as well as our present financial condition, we believe that our available liquidity as described above will be sufficient to fund our obligations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance of these financial statements. Beyond the next 12 months, in April 2022, approximately $1.0 billion of long- term debt will need to be refinanced or extended should the commencement of operations be delayed beyond the summer of 2021, in order to maintain the Company's liquidity position. We are working on refinancing or negotiating extension of the obligation, which we expect to have completed in advance of the April 2022 due date. There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in completing the refinancing or extension necessary to meet its obligations beyond twelve months from the issuance of these financial statements on terms acceptable to the Company. If the Company is unable to maintain the required minimum level of liquidity or negotiate its minimum liquidity requirements, it could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.
Any further covenant waivers may lead to increased costs, increased interest rates, additional restrictive covenants and other available lender protections as may be agreed with our lenders. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain additional waivers in a timely manner, or on acceptable terms. If we require additional waivers and are not able to obtain them
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or repay the debt facilities, this would lead to an event of default and potential acceleration of amounts due under all of our outstanding debt and derivative contracts.
The Company also has agreements with its credit card processors relating to customer deposits received by the Company for future voyages. These agreements allow the credit card processors to require, under certain circumstances, including breach of the financial covenants, the existence of other material adverse changes, excessive chargebacks, and other triggering events, the Company to maintain a reserve that can be satisfied by posting collateral.
Executed amendments are in place for the majority of these providers, waiving collateral posting and reserve requirements tied to breach of our financial covenants through at least March 31, 2022 or September 30, 2022 depending on the agreement, and as such, we do not anticipate any incremental collateral requirements for the processors covered by these waivers in the next 12 months. We have approximately $75.0 million held in reserve with a processor where the agreement was amended in the first quarter of 2021, such that future proceeds will be withheld in reserve, of which the maximum exposure is approximately $200.0 million. The amount and timing are dependent on future factors that are uncertain, such as the date we return to operations, volume and value of future deposits and whether we transfer our business to other processors. If we require additional waivers on the credit card processing agreements and are not able to obtain them, this could lead to the termination of these agreements or the trigger of reserve requirements.
Basis for Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Estimates are required for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with these principles. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for a discussion of our significant accounting policies.
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. We consolidate entities over which we have control, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest of greater than 50%, and variable interest entities where we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. Refer to Note 8. Other Assets for further information regarding our variable interest entities. We consolidate the operating results of Silversea Cruises on a three-month reporting lag to allow for more timely preparation of our consolidated financial statements. With the exception of the October 2020 delivery of the Silver Moon which is reported in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, no material events or other transactions involving Silversea Cruises have occurred from September 30, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 7. Property and Equipment, and Note 9. Debt for further information on the delivery of Silver Moon.
For affiliates we do not control but over which we have significant influence on financial and operating policies, usually evidenced by a direct ownership interest from 20% to 50%, the investment is accounted for using the equity method.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenues and Expenses
Deposits received on sales of passenger cruises are initially recorded as customer deposit liabilities on our balance sheet. Customer deposits are subsequently recognized as passenger ticket revenues, together with revenues from onboard and other goods and services and all associated cruise operating expenses of a voyage. For further information on revenue recognition, refer to Note 4. Revenues.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and marketable securities with original maturities of less than 90 days.
Inventories
Inventories consist of provisions, supplies and fuel carried at the lower of cost (weighted-average) or net realizable value.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. We capitalize interest as part of the cost of acquiring certain assets. Improvement costs that we believe add value to our ships are capitalized as additions to the ship, the useful lives of the improvements are estimated and depreciated over the shorter of the improvements' estimated useful lives or that of the associated ship, and the replaced assets are disposed of on a net cost basis. The estimated cost and accumulated depreciation of replaced or refurbished ship components are written off and any resulting losses are recognized in
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Cruise operating expenses. Liquidated damages received from shipyards as a result of the late delivery of a new ship are recorded as reductions to the cost basis of the ship.
Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. The useful lives of our ships are generally 30-35 years, net of a 10%-15% projected residual value. The 30-35-year useful life and 10%-15% residual value are based on the weighted-average of all major components of a ship. Our useful life and residual value estimates take into consideration the impact of anticipated technological changes, long-term cruise and vacation market conditions and historical useful lives of similarly-built ships. In addition, we take into consideration our estimates of the weighted-average useful lives of the ships' major component systems, such as hull, superstructure, main electric, engines and cabins. We employ a cost allocation methodology at the component level, in order to support the estimated weighted-average useful lives and residual values, as well as to determine the net cost basis of assets being replaced. Given the very large and complex nature of our ships, our accounting estimates related to ships and determinations of ship improvement costs to be capitalized require considerable judgment and are inherently uncertain. Depreciation for assets under capital leases is computed using the shorter of the lease term or related asset life.
Depreciation of property and equipment is computed utilizing the following useful lives:
We periodically review estimated useful lives and residual values for ongoing reasonableness, considering long term views on our intended use of each class of ships and the planned level of improvements to maintain and enhance vessels within those classes. In the event a factor is identified that may trigger a change in the estimated useful lives and residual values of our ships, a review of the estimate is completed. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we completed a modernization of the Oasis of the Seas under our ship upgrade program. We spent $538.0 million under this ship upgrade program for the year ended December 31, 2019, with the Oasis of the Seas representing approximately $170.0 million. As a result of this capital investment and future planned investments in our Oasis-class ships, we performed a review of the estimated useful lives and residual values of Oasis-class ships, concluding in a change to the estimate. Effective fourth quarter of 2019, we revised the estimated useful lives of our Oasis-class ships from 30 years with a 15% residual value to 35 years with a 10% residual value. The change in the estimated useful lives and residual values was accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate. The 35-year useful life with a 10% residual value is based on revised estimates of the weighted-average useful life of all major ship components for the Oasis-class ships. The change in estimate is consistent with our recent investments in and long term future plans to continue to invest in the upgrade of these ships, resulting in the use of certain ship components longer than originally estimated. In determining the change in estimated useful life and residual value, we utilized quantitative and qualitative analysis, including historical and projected usage patterns, industry benchmarks, planned maintenance programs and projected operational and financial performance of the class. The change allows us to better match depreciation expense with the periods these assets are expected to be in use. For the year ended December 31, 2019, this change increased operating income and net income by approximately $4.6 million and increased earnings per share by $0.02 per share on a basic and diluted basis.
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate, based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows, that the carrying value of these assets may not be fully recoverable. For purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss, long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. The lowest level for which we maintain identifiable cash flows that are independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities is at the ship level for our ships. If estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying value of an asset, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent its carrying value exceeds fair value. Refer to Note 7. Property and Equipment for further information on determination of fair value for long-lived assets.
We use the deferral method to account for drydocking costs. Under the deferral method, drydocking costs incurred are deferred and charged to expense on a straight-line basis over the period to the next scheduled drydock, which we estimate to be a period of thirty to sixty months based on the vessel's age as required by Class. Deferred drydock costs consist of the costs to drydock the vessel and other costs incurred in connection with the drydock which are necessary to maintain the vessel's Class certification. Class certification is necessary in order for our cruise ships to be flagged in a specific country, obtain liability
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insurance and legally operate as passenger cruise ships. The activities associated with those drydocking costs cannot be performed while the vessel is in service and, as such, are done during a drydock as a planned major maintenance activity. The significant deferred drydock costs consist of hauling and wharfage services provided by the drydock facility, hull inspection and related activities (e.g., scraping, pressure cleaning, bottom painting), maintenance to steering propulsion, thruster equipment and ballast tanks, port services such as tugs, pilotage and line handling, and freight associated with these items. We perform a detailed analysis of the various activities performed for each drydock and only defer those costs that are directly related to planned major maintenance activities necessary to maintain Class. The costs deferred are related to activities not otherwise routinely periodically performed to maintain a vessel's designed and intended operating capability. Repairs and maintenance activities are charged to expense as incurred.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. We review goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually or, when events or circumstances dictate, more frequently. The impairment review for goodwill consists of a qualitative assessment of whether it is more-likely-than-not that a reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value, and if necessary, a goodwill impairment test. Factors to consider when performing the qualitative assessment include general economic conditions, limitations on accessing capital, changes in forecasted operating results, changes in fuel prices and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. If the qualitative assessment demonstrates that it is more-likely-than-not that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, it is not necessary to perform the goodwill impairment test. We may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to step one, for any reporting unit, in any period. On a periodic basis, we elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed to step one to corroborate the results of recent years' qualitative assessments. We can resume the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any subsequent period.
The goodwill impairment analysis consists of a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. We typically estimate the fair value of our reporting units using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which may also include a combination of a market-based valuation approach. The estimation of fair value utilizing discounted expected future cash flows includes numerous uncertainties which require our significant judgment when making assumptions of expected revenues, operating costs, marketing, selling and administrative expenses, interest rates, ship additions and retirements as well as assumptions regarding the cruise vacation industry's competitive environment and general economic and business conditions, among other factors. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model for our 2020 impairment assessments were: (i) the timing of our return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions; (ii) forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; and (iii) weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate). The discounted cash flow model uses the most current projected operating results for the upcoming fiscal year as a base. To that base, we add future years' cash flows based on multiple revenue and expense scenarios reflecting the impact of various return to service management assumptions beyond the base year on the reporting unit. We discount the projected cash flows using rates specific to the reporting unit based on its weighted-average cost of capital. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no write-down of goodwill is required. As amended by ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its net assets, an impairment is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to such reporting unit.
Intangible Assets
In connection with our acquisitions, we have acquired certain intangible assets to which value has been assigned based on our estimates. Intangible assets that are deemed to have an indefinite life are not amortized, but are subject to an annual impairment test, or when events or circumstances dictate, more frequently. The impairment review for indefinite-life intangible assets can be performed using a qualitative or quantitative impairment assessment. The quantitative assessment consists of a comparison of the fair value of the asset with its carrying value. We estimate the fair value of these assets using a discounted cash flow model and various valuation methods depending on the nature of the intangible asset, such as the relief-from-royalty method for trademarks and trade names. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flows model for our 2020 impairment assessments were: (i) forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; (ii) royalty rate; and (iii) weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate). If the carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. If the fair value exceeds its carrying value, the indefinite-life intangible asset is not considered impaired.
Other intangible assets assigned finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.
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Contingencies - Litigation
On an ongoing basis, we assess the potential liabilities related to any lawsuits or claims brought against us. While it is typically very difficult to determine the timing and ultimate outcome of such actions, we use our best judgment to determine if it is probable that we will incur an expense related to the settlement or final adjudication of such matters and whether a reasonable estimation of such probable loss, if any, can be made. In assessing probable losses, we take into consideration estimates of the amount of insurance recoveries, if any, which are recorded as assets when recoverability is probable. We accrue a liability when we believe a loss is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Due to the inherent uncertainties related to the eventual outcome of litigation and potential insurance recoveries, it is possible that certain matters may be resolved for amounts materially different from any provisions or disclosures that we have previously made.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred except those costs which result in tangible assets, such as brochures, which are treated as prepaid expenses and charged to expense as consumed. Advertising costs consist of media advertising as well as brochure, production and direct mail costs.
Media advertising was $138.1 million, $309.4 million and $255.7 million, and brochure, production and direct mail costs were $69.1 million, $156.0 million and $133.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Derivative Instruments
We enter into various forward, swap and option contracts to manage our interest rate exposure and to limit our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and fuel prices. These instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value and the vast majority are designated as hedges. We also use non-derivative financial instruments designated as hedges of our net investment in our foreign operations and investments. Although certain of our derivative financial instruments do not qualify or are not accounted for under hedge accounting, our objective is not to hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
At inception of the hedge relationship, a derivative instrument that hedges the exposure to changes in the fair value of a firm commitment or a recognized asset or liability is designated as a fair value hedge. A derivative instrument that hedges a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability is designated as a cash flow hedge.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges are offset against changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments. Gains and losses on derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss until the underlying hedged transactions are recognized in earnings. The foreign currency transaction gain or loss of our non-derivative financial instruments and the changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as hedges of our net investment in foreign operations and investments are recognized as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss along with the associated foreign currency translation adjustment of the foreign operation or investment. In certain hedges of our net investment in foreign operations and investments, we exclude forward points from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and we amortize the related amounts directly into earnings.
On an ongoing basis, we assess whether derivatives used in hedging transactions are "highly effective" in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flow of hedged items. For our net investment hedges, we use the dollar offset method to measure effectiveness. For all other hedging programs, we use the long-haul method to assess hedge effectiveness using regression analysis for each hedge relationship. The methodology for assessing hedge effectiveness is applied on a consistent basis for each one of our hedging programs (i.e., interest rate, foreign currency ship construction, foreign currency net investment and fuel). For our regression analyses, we use an observation period of up to three years, utilizing market data relevant to the hedge horizon of each hedge relationship. High effectiveness is achieved when a statistically valid relationship reflects a high degree of offset and correlation between the changes in the fair values of the derivative instrument and the hedged item. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge or hedge accounting is discontinued, any change in fair value of the derivative since the last date at which it was determined to be effective is recognized in earnings.
Cash flows from derivative instruments that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges are classified in the same category as the cash flows from the underlying hedged items. In the event that hedge accounting is discontinued, cash flows
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subsequent to the date of discontinuance are classified within investing activities. Cash flows from derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are classified as investing activities.
We consider the classification of the underlying hedged item’s cash flows in determining the classification for the designated derivative instrument’s cash flows. We classify derivative instrument cash flows from hedges of benchmark interest rate or hedges of fuel expense as operating activities due to the nature of the hedged item. Likewise, we classify derivative instrument cash flows from hedges of foreign currency risk on our newbuild ship payments as investing activities.
Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions
We translate assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries whose functional currency is the local currency, at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. We translate revenues and expenses at weighted-average exchange rates for the period. Equity is translated at historical rates and the resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is reflected as a separate component of Shareholders' equity. Exchange gains or losses arising from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved are immediately included in our earnings, except for certain liabilities that have been designated to act as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation or investment. Exchange gains (losses) were $(1.5) million, $0.4 million and $57.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and were recorded within Other income (expense). The majority of our transactions are settled in United States dollars. Gains or losses resulting from transactions denominated in other currencies are recognized in income at each balance sheet date.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
We monitor our credit risk associated with financial and other institutions with which we conduct significant business and, to minimize these risks, we select counterparties with credit risks acceptable to us and we seek to limit our exposure to an individual counterparty. Credit risk, including but not limited to counterparty nonperformance under derivative instruments, our credit facilities and new ship progress payment guarantees, is not considered significant, as we primarily conduct business with large, well-established financial institutions, insurance companies and export credit agencies many of which we have long-term relationships with and which have credit risks acceptable to us or where the credit risk is spread out among a large number of counterparties. As of December 31, 2020, we had $26.9 million counterparty credit risk exposure under our derivative instruments which was limited to the cost of replacing the contracts in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to the contracts, the majority of which are currently our lending banks. As of December 31, 2019, we had no counterparty credit risk exposure under our derivative instruments. We do not anticipate nonperformance by any of our significant counterparties. In addition, we have established guidelines we follow regarding credit ratings and instrument maturities to maintain safety and liquidity. We do not normally require collateral or other security to support credit relationships; however, in certain circumstances this option is available to us.
(Loss) Earnings Per Share
Basic (loss) earnings per share is computed by dividing Net (Loss) Income attributable to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share incorporates the incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock options and conversion of potentially dilutive securities.
Stock-Based Employee Compensation
We measure and recognize compensation expense at the estimated fair value of employee stock awards. Compensation expense for awards and the related tax effects are recognized as they vest. We use the estimated amount of expected forfeitures to calculate compensation costs for all outstanding awards.
Segment Reporting
As of December 31, 2020, we controlled and operated four global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises. We also own a 50% joint venture interest in TUIC, that operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. We believe our brands possess the versatility to enter multiple cruise market segments within the cruise vacation industry. Although each of these brands has its own marketing style as well as ships and crews of various sizes, the nature of the products sold and services delivered by these brands share a common base (i.e., the sale and provision of cruise vacations). Our brands also have similar itineraries as well as similar cost and revenue components. In addition, our brands source passengers from similar markets around the world and operate in similar economic environments with a significant degree of commercial overlap. As a result, our brands have been aggregated as a single reportable segment based on the similarity of their economic characteristics, types of consumers, regulatory environment, maintenance requirements, supporting systems and processes as well as products and services provided. Our Chairman and Chief Executive
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Officer has been identified as the chief operating decision-maker and all significant operating decisions including the allocation of resources are based upon the analyses of the Company as one segment. Refer to Note 4. Revenues for passenger ticket revenue information by geographic area.
Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2019, we adopted the guidance codified in Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 842, Leases ("ASC 842") using the modified retrospective approach and elected the optional transition method, which allows entities to initially apply the standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Upon adoption, we applied the guidance to all existing leases.
For leases with a term greater than 12 months, the new guidance requires the lease rights and obligations arising from the leasing arrangements, including operating leases, to be recognized as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Upon adoption of the new guidance, the most significant impact was the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities relating to operating leases in the amounts of $801.8 million and $820.5 million, respectively, reported within Operating lease right-of-use assets and Long-term operating lease liabilities, respectively, with the current portion of the liability reported within Current portion of operating lease liabilities, in our consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019. Accounting for finance leases remained substantially unchanged and continues to be reported within Property and equipment, net and Long-term debt, with the current portion of the debt reported within Current portion of debt, in our consolidated balance sheets. There was no cumulative effect of applying the new standard and accordingly there was no adjustment to our retained earnings upon adoption. The comparative information presented has not been recast and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. For further information on leases, refer to Note 10. Leases.
This guidance did not have a material impact to our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), consolidated statements of cash flows and our debt-covenants calculations under our current agreements.
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326); Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU, along with subsequent ASUs issued to clarify certain of its provisions, introduces new guidance which makes substantive changes to the accounting model for financial assets subject to credit losses that are measured at amortized cost, as well as certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. The updates include the introduction of a new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model that is based on expected rather than incurred losses. On January 1, 2020, we adopted these updates using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01, Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivative and Hedging (Topic 815), which clarifies the interaction of rules for equity securities, the equity method of accounting, and forward contracts and purchase options on certain types of securities. The guidance clarifies how to account for the transition into and out of the equity method of accounting when considering observable transactions under the measurement alternative. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim reporting periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the guidance during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The adoption did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides optional expedients and exceptions to the current guidance on contract modifications and hedging relationships to ease the financial reporting burdens of the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. Subsequently, in January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which presents amendments to clarify that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. The guidance in both ASUs was effective upon issuance and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), which simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments. The guidance removes certain accounting models which separate the embedded conversion features from the host contract for convertible instruments, requiring bifurcation only if the convertible debt feature qualifies as a derivative under ASC 815 or for convertible debt issued at a substantial premium. The ASU removes certain settlement conditions required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, permitting more contracts to qualify for it.
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In addition, the guidance eliminates the treasury stock method to calculate diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments and requires the use of the if-converted method. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim reporting periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted no earlier than the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2020. The guidance is expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements given the recent issuance of convertible notes, however, we are still evaluating the extent of the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we separately presented Amortization of debt discounts and premiums, which includes amortization of commercial paper notes discount, in our consolidated statements of cash flows. As a result, the prior year amortization amounts were reclassified from Other, net within Operating Activities to conform to the current year presentation. Also for the year ended December 31, 2020, we no longer separately presented Proceeds from exercise of common stock options in our consolidated statements of cash flows. As a result, the prior year amounts were reclassified to Other, net within Financing Activities to conform to the current year presentation.
Note 3. Business Combination
On July 31, 2018, we acquired a 66.7% equity stake ("the 2018 acquisition") in Silversea Cruise Holding Ltd. ("Silversea Cruises"), an ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line, from Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd. ("Heritage"), previously known as Silversea Cruises Group Ltd.
The purchase price for the 2018 acquisition consisted of $1.02 billion in cash, net of assumed liabilities, and contingent consideration due to Heritage for which any obligation was terminated upon our acquisition of the noncontrolling interest in 2020. The fair value of the contingent consideration at the time of the 2018 acquisition was $44.0 million. Changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration were recorded in our results of operations, if any, in the period of the change prior to its termination. Refer to Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments for further information on the valuation of the contingent consideration.
To finance a portion of the 2018 acquisition purchase price, we drew in full on a $700 million unsecured credit agreement and the remainder of the transaction consideration was financed through the use of our revolving credit facilities.
We have accounted for the Silversea Cruises acquisition under the provisions of ASC 805, Business Combinations. The purchase price for the 2018 acquisition was allocated based on estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, with the excess allocated to goodwill. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes and consisted primarily of the opportunity to expand our cruise operations in strategic growth areas. Our purchase price allocation was final during 2019. There were no material measurement period adjustments recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019.
On July 9, 2020, we acquired the remaining 33.3% interest in Silversea Cruises that we did not already own (the "noncontrolling interest") from Heritage. As a result of the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, Silversea Cruises is now a wholly owned cruise brand. As consideration for our acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, we issued to Heritage 5.2 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Pursuant to the agreement governing the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, among other things, the parties terminated any existing obligation to issue Heritage any contingent consideration, at fair value, in connection with the 2018 acquisition. The share purchase did not result in a change of control. The purchase was accounted for as an equity transaction and no gain or loss was recognized in earnings. Refer to Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information regarding our acquisition of the noncontrolling interest.
For reporting purposes, we included Silversea Cruises’ results of operations on a three-month reporting lag from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 in our consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020; from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 in our consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 and from the July 31, 2018 date of acquisition through September 30, 2018 in our consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018. We have included Silversea Cruises' balance sheets as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Refer to Note 1. General for further information on this three-month reporting lag.
Note 4. Revenues
Revenue Recognition
Revenues are measured based on consideration specified in our contracts with customers and are recognized as the related performance obligations are satisfied.
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The majority of our revenues are derived from passenger cruise contracts which are reported within Passenger ticket revenues in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Our performance obligation under these contracts is to provide a cruise vacation in exchange for the ticket price. We satisfy this performance obligation and recognize revenue over the duration of each cruise, which generally range from two to 24 nights.
Passenger ticket revenues include charges to our guests for port costs that vary with passenger head counts. These type of port costs, along with port costs that do not vary by passenger head counts, are included in our operating expenses. The amounts of port costs charged to our guests and included within Passenger ticket revenues on a gross basis were $125.0 million,$666.8 million and $611.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Our total revenues also include Onboard and other revenues, which consist primarily of revenues from the sale of goods and services onboard our ships that are not included in passenger ticket prices. We receive payment before or concurrently with the transfer of these goods and services to passengers during a cruise and recognize revenue at the time of transfer over the duration of the related cruise.
As a practical expedient, we have omitted disclosures on our remaining performance obligations as the duration of our contracts with customers is less than a year.
Disaggregated Revenues
The following table disaggregates our total revenues by geographic regions where we provide cruise itineraries (in thousands):
(1)Includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
(2)Includes Southeast Asia (e.g., Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines), East Asia (e.g., China and Japan), South Asia (e.g., India and Pakistan) and Oceania (e.g., Australia and Fiji Islands) regions.
(3)Includes European countries (e.g., the Nordics, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom).
(4)Includes revenues primarily related to cancellation fees, vacation protection insurance and pre- and post-cruise tours and fees for operating certain port facilities. Amounts also include revenues related to our bareboat charter, procurement and management related services we perform on behalf of our unconsolidated affiliates. Refer to Note 8. Other Assets for more information on our unconsolidated affiliates.
Passenger ticket revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on where the reservation originates. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, our guests were sourced from the following areas:
(1)No other individual country's revenue exceeded 10% for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
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Customer Deposits and Contract Liabilities
Our payment terms generally require an upfront deposit to confirm a reservation, with the balance due prior to the cruise. Deposits received on sales of passenger cruises are initially recorded as Customer deposits in our consolidated balance sheets and subsequently recognized as passenger ticket revenues during the duration of the cruise. Additionally, refunds payable to guests who have elected cash refunds for cancelled sailings are recorded in Accounts Payable. ASC 606, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, defines a “contract liability” as an entity’s obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the entity has received consideration from the customer. We do not consider customer deposits to be a contract liability until the customer no longer retains the unilateral right, resulting from the passage of time, to cancel such customer's reservation and receive a full refund.
The current reduction in demand for cruising due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented low level of advance bookings and the associated customer deposits received. At the same time, we experienced significant cancellations beginning in the second half of March 2020, which has led to issuance of refunds to customers, while other customers have been rebooked on future cruises or received credits in lieu of cash refunds.
As of December 31, 2020, refunds due to customers mostly as a result of booking cancellations were $95.8 million compared to $9.8 million as of December 31, 2019 and are included within Accounts payable in our consolidated balance sheets. Customer deposits also include deposits related to cancelled cruises prior to the election of a cash refund by guests. Due to the uncertainty around our return to sailing and the future demand for cruising, we are unable to estimate the amount of the December 31, 2020 customer deposits that will be recognized in earnings compared to amounts that will be refunded to customers or issued as a credit for future travel through the end of 2021. Customer deposits presented in our consolidated balance sheets include contract liabilities of $124.8 million and $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Contract Receivables and Contract Assets
Although we generally require full payment from our customers prior to their cruise, we grant credit terms to a relatively small portion of our revenue sourced in select markets outside of the United States. As a result, we have outstanding receivables from passenger cruise contracts in those markets. We also have receivables from credit card merchants for cruise ticket purchases and goods and services sold to guests during cruises that are collected before, during or shortly after the cruise voyage. In addition, we have receivables due from concessionaires onboard our vessels. These receivables are included within Trade and other receivables, net in our consolidated balance sheets.
We have contract assets that are conditional rights to consideration for satisfying the construction services performance obligations under a service concession arrangement. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, our contract assets were $53.7 million and $55.5 million, respectively, and were included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Given the short duration of our cruises and our collection terms, we do not have any other significant contract assets.
Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer
Prepaid travel agent commissions are an incremental cost of obtaining contracts with customers that we recognize as an asset and include within Prepaid expenses and other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Prepaid travel agent commissions were $1.1 million and $163.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Our prepaid travel agent commissions at December 31, 2019 were expensed and reported primarily within Other operating in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Note 5. Goodwill
The impact of COVID-19 on our operating plans and projected cash flows resulted in the completion of interim impairment assessments in respect of certain reporting units as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, in addition to our annual goodwill impairment assessment performed as of November 30, 2020. Refer to Note 1. General for further information regarding COVID-19 and its impact to the Company.
As a result of our evaluations, we determined that the fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit exceeded its carrying value as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 by approximately 30% and 8%, respectively, resulting in no impairment to the Royal Caribbean International goodwill in those periods. We did not perform an interim impairment evaluation of Royal Caribbean International's goodwill during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 as no triggering events were identified. In respect to the Silversea Cruises reporting unit, we determined the carrying value of the reporting unit
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exceeded its fair value as of March 31, 2020. Accordingly, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $576.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. We did not perform interim impairment evaluations of Silversea Cruises' reporting unit during the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 as no triggering events were identified.
As of November 30, 2020, we performed our annual goodwill impairment reviews and determined no incremental impairment losses existed at the date of this annual assessment. We determined the fair value of the Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximately 14% and 12% respectively at the date of this annual assessment.
The suspension of operations, as further discussed in Note 1. General, and possibility of further suspensions create uncertainty in forecasting operating cash flows. The fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit as of March 31, 2020 was determined using a discounted cash flow model and a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach for the June 30, 2020 and November 30, 2020 assessments. For the Silversea reporting unit a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach was used for all periods assessed. This requires the use of assumptions that are subject to risk and uncertainties. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses that support our Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises reporting unit impairment assessments consisted of:
•The timing of our return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions;
•Forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; and
•Weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate).
The adverse impact COVID-19 will continue to have on our business, operating results, cash flows and overall financial condition is uncertain and may result in changes to the assumptions used in the impairment tests discussed above, which may result in impairments to these assets in the future.
The carrying value of goodwill attributable to our Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises reporting units and the changes in such balances during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
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(1)In 2018, we acquired a 66.7% equity stake in Silversea Cruises. Our controlling interest purchase price allocation was final during 2019. In 2020, we acquired the remaining 33.3% minority interest, making Silversea Cruises a wholly owned brand. Refer to Note 1. General, Note 3. Business Combination, and Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further information.
(2)In 2019, we purchased the photo operations onboard our ships from our former concessionaire. The acquisition was accounted for as a business purchase combination using the purchase method of accounting which requires the use of fair value measurements. The business combination, including purchase transaction and assets acquired, was immaterial to our consolidated financial statements.
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Note 6. Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of finite and indefinite life assets and are reported within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
The impact of COVID-19 on our operating plans and projected cash flows resulted in the completion of an interim impairment assessment for the Silversea Cruises trade name as of March 31, 2020, in addition to our annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment performed as of November 30, 2020. Refer to Note 1. General for further information regarding COVID-19 and its impact to the Company.
As a result of our evaluation, we determined the carrying value of the Silversea Cruises trade name exceeded its fair value as of March 31, 2020. Accordingly, we recognized an impairment charge of $30.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. We did not perform interim impairment evaluations of Silversea Cruises' trade name during the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 as no triggering events were identified.
As of November 30, 2020, we performed our annual trade name impairment review and determined no incremental impairment losses existed at the date of this annual assessment. We determined the fair value of the Silversea Cruises trade name exceeded its carrying value by approximately 3% at the date of this annual assessment. The adverse impact COVID-19 will continue to have on our business, operating results, cash flows and overall financial condition is uncertain and may result in changes to the assumptions used in the impairment tests discussed above. In addition, further suspension beyond 2021 or changes to our planned ship deliveries could adversely impact our expected occupancy rates and may result in additional impairment charges of the Silversea Cruises trade name in the future.
The suspension of operations, as further discussed in Note 1. General, and possibility of further suspensions create uncertainty in forecasting operating cash flows. The determination of our trade name fair values using a discounted cash flow model and various valuation methods depending on the nature of the intangible asset, such as the relief-from-royalty method, require the use of assumptions that are subject to risk and uncertainties. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses that support the Silversea Cruises trade name impairment assessments consisted of:
•Forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate;
•Royalty rate; and
•Weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate).
The following is a summary of our intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands, except weighted average amortization period), with Silversea Cruises' trade name representing approximately $318.7 million of the indefinite-lived intangible asset balance:
(1) Primarily relates to the Silversea Cruises trade name.
The following is a summary of our intangible assets as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands, except weighted average amortization period):
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(1) Primarily relates to the Silversea Cruises trade name.
The estimated future amortization for finite-life intangible assets for each of the next five years is as follows (in thousands):
Note 7. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):
(1)Amount includes accumulated depreciation and amortization for assets in service.
Ships under construction include progress payments for the construction of new ships as well as planning, design, capitalized interest and other associated costs. We capitalized interest costs of $59.1 million, $56.5 million and $49.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
During 2020, we took delivery of Celebrity Apex, Silver Origin and Silver Moon. Refer to Note 9. Debt for further information on the financings for Celebrity Apex and Silver Moon. The October 2020 Silversea Cruises delivery and related financing for the Silver Moon was reported in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, regardless of the three month reporting lag for Silversea Cruises, due to the materiality of the transaction.
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During the first quarter 2020, we determined that the lease for Silver Explorer, operated by Silversea Cruises and previously classified as a finance lease, was an operating lease based on modification of the terms of the lease. Accordingly, Silver Explorer is included within Operating lease right-of use assets, Current portion of operating lease liabilities, and Long term lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 10. Leases for further information.
During 2019, we took delivery of Spectrum of the Seas and Celebrity Flora. Refer to Note 9. Debt for further information. During 2019 Silversea Cruises terminated the operating lease for Silver Discover.
Long-lived Assets impairments
We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate potential impairment losses exist. The impact of COVID-19 on our expected future operating cash flows, as well as decisions to dispose of certain vessels, resulted in the identification of impairment triggers for certain vessels. Refer to Note 1. General for further information regarding COVID-19 and its impact to the Company.
We estimated the recoverability of certain vessels using undiscounted cash flow analyses at interim dates throughout 2020 and again at December 31,2020. A number of vessels were found to have net carrying values in excess of their estimated undiscounted future cash flows and, as such, were subject to fair value assessments. Fair value was determined based on our intended use of the identified vessels and, as such, we used a combination of discounted cash flows, replacement cost, scrap and residual value techniques to estimate fair value. Differences between the estimated fair values and the net carrying values were recorded as an impairment charge within the period the loss was identified. Consequently, we recorded $635.5 million of impairment losses during the year ended 2020. Included in this amount are $171.3 million impairment losses recorded for the three ships that we chartered to Pullmantur Holdings, prior to its filing for reorganization. Refer to Note 8. Other Assets for further information regarding Pullmantur's reorganization. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we sold the ships previously chartered to Pullmantur Holdings to third parties for amounts approximating their carrying values and no further impairment was recorded. Also included in the $635.5 million impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2020, is a $166.8 million impairment charge for the three Azamara ships to be included in the sale of the Azamara brand that is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.
The suspension of operations, as discussed in Note 1. General, and the possibility of further suspensions create uncertainty in forecasting undiscounted cash flows, which are used to determine if a vessel is at risk of impairment and in estimating the fair value of our ships. Our principal assumptions used in our undiscounted cash flows consisted of:
•The timing of our return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions;
•Forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, and occupancy rates; and
•Intended use of the vessel for the remaining useful life.
The adverse impact COVID-19 will continue to have on our business, operating results, cash flows and overall financial condition is uncertain and may result in changes to the assumptions used in the impairment tests discussed above, which may result in additional impairments to these assets in the future.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we also determined that certain construction in progress projects would be reduced in scope or would no longer be completed as a result of our capital cost containment measures in response to the COVID-19 impact on our liquidity. This led to an impairment charge of $91.5 million of construction in progress assets.
These impairment charges were reported within Impairment and Credit Losses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Note 8. Other Assets
A Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") is an entity in which the equity investors have not provided enough equity to finance the entity's activities or the equity investors (1) cannot directly or indirectly make decisions about the entity's activities through their voting rights or similar rights; (2) do not have the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity; (3) do not have the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (4) have voting rights that are not proportionate to their economic interests and the entity's activities involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest.
We have determined that TUI Cruises GmbH ("TUIC"), our 50%-owned joint venture, which operates the brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, is a VIE. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of TUIC. We believe that the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TUIC’s economic performance are shared between ourselves and TUI AG, our joint venture partner. All the significant operating and financial decisions of TUIC require the
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consent of both parties, which we believe creates shared power over TUIC. Accordingly, we do not consolidate this entity and account for this investment under the equity method of accounting.
On June 30, 2020, TUIC acquired Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a luxury and expedition brand for German-speaking guests, from TUI AG for approximately €1.2 billion, or approximately $1.3 billion as of the purchase date. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises operates two luxury liners and two smaller expedition ships. We and TUI AG each made an equity contribution of €75.0 million, or approximately $84.2 million to TUIC to fund a portion of the purchase price, the remainder of which was financed by third-party financing.
As of December 31, 2020, the net book value of our investment in TUIC was $538.4 million, primarily consisting of $387.5 million in equity and a loan of €118.9 million, or approximately $145.5 million, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, the net book value of our investment in TUIC was $598.1 million, primarily consisting of $443.1 million in equity and a loan of €133.2 million, or approximately $149.5 million, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2019. The loan, which was made in connection with the sale of Splendour of the Seas in April 2016, accrues interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum and is payable over 10 years. This loan is 50% guaranteed by TUI AG and is secured by a first priority mortgage on the ship. The majority of these amounts were included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. TUIC has various ship construction and financing agreements which include certain restrictions on each of our and TUI AG’s ability to reduce our current ownership interest in TUIC below 37.55% through May 2033. Our investment amount and outstanding term loan are substantially our maximum exposure to loss in connection with our investment in TUIC.
In March 2009, we sold Celebrity Galaxy to TUI Cruises for €224.4 million, or $290.9 million as of the sale date, to serve as the original Mein Schiff 1. Due to the related party nature of this transaction, the gain on the sale of the ship of $35.9 million was deferred and was being recognized over the remaining life of the ship which was estimated to be 23 years. In April 2018, TUI Cruises sold the original Mein Schiff 1 and as a result we accelerated the recognition of the remaining balance of the deferred gain, which was $21.8 million. This amount is included within Other income (expense) in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2018.
We determined that Pullmantur Holdings, in which we have a 49% noncontrolling interest and Springwater Capital LLC has a 51% interest, is a VIE for which we are not the primary beneficiary as we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance. In 2020, Pullmantur Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries filed for reorganization under the terms of the Spanish insolvency laws due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the companies. We suspended the equity method of accounting for Pullmantur Holdings during the second quarter of 2020 as we do not intend to fund the entity's future losses and lost our ability to exert significant influence over the entity's activities as a result of the reorganization process.
In connection with the reorganization, we terminated the agreements chartering three of our ships to Pullmantur Holdings and sold the ships to third parties during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 for amounts approximating their carrying values. Refer to Note 7. Property and Equipment for further discussion on the impact of the ships' sale on our consolidated financial statements. In addition, we recognized a loss of $69.0 million within Other expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income, during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 representing deferred currency translation adjustment losses, net of hedging, as we no longer had significant involvement in the Pullmantur operation.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2020, we entered into an agreement with Springwater Capital LLC to settle the guarantees previously issued by them and for costs that we incurred as a result of Pullmantur S.A.'s reorganization. As part of this settlement, we agreed to provide Pullmantur guests the option to apply their paid deposits toward a Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises sailing, or request a cash refund. An amount of $21.6 million, approximating the estimated total cash refund expected to be paid to Pullmantur guests and other expenses incurred as part of the reorganization, was recorded in Other expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020, we did not have any exposure to credit loss in Pullmantur Holdings. As of December 31, 2019, our maximum exposure to loss in Pullmantur Holdings was $49.7 million, consisting of loans and other receivables. These amounts were included within Trade and other receivables, net and Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
We have determined that Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. ("Grand Bahama"), a ship repair and maintenance facility in which we have a 40% noncontrolling interest, is a VIE. This facility serves cruise and cargo ships, oil and gas tankers and offshore units. We utilize this facility, among other ship repair facilities, for our regularly scheduled drydocks, ship upgrades and certain emergency repairs as may be required. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we made payments of $0.2 million. and $45.7 million, respectively, to Grand Bahama for ship repair and maintenance services. We have determined
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that we are not the primary beneficiary of this facility, as we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the facility's economic performance. Accordingly, we do not consolidate this entity.
Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to our business, we evaluated whether our equity method investments were other than temporarily impaired. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we performed an impairment evaluation on our investment in Grand Bahama. As a result of the evaluation, we did not deem our investment balance to be recoverable and recorded an impairment charge of $30.1 million bringing our investment balance to zero. The impairment assessment and the resulting charge on our equity method investment in Grand Bahama were determined based on management’s estimates and projections. We are currently recognizing our share of equity method losses against the carrying value of our loans receivable from Grand Bahama.
For further information on the measurements used to estimate the fair value of our equity investments, refer to Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments.
As of December 31, 2020, we had exposure to credit loss in Grand Bahama consisting of $19.1 million in loans. Our loans to Grand Bahama mature between December 2020 and March 2026 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.0% to 3.75%, capped at 5.75% for the majority of the outstanding loan balance. Interest payable on the loans is due on a semi-annual basis. We did not receive principal and interest payments during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we received principal and interest payments of $8.6 million. The loan balances are included within Trade and other receivables, net and Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
We monitor credit risk associated with the loans through our participation on Grand Bahama’s board of directors along with our review of Grand Bahama’s financial statements and projected cash flows. Effective April 1, 2020, we placed the loans in non-accrual status based on our review of Grand Bahama's projected cash flows which have been adversely affected by impacts to their operations caused by the 2019 crane accident related to Oasis of the Seas, Hurricane Dorian and most recently, COVID-19. During the year ended December 31, 2020, no credit losses were recorded related to these loans.
In April 2019, Grand Bahama experienced an incident involving one of its drydocks where Oasis of the Seas was undergoing maintenance. The damage from the incident resulted in a write-off of the related drydock by Grand Bahama. Our equity investment income for the year ended December 31, 2019 reflects our equity share of the write-off and other incidental expenses. Grand Bahama's management is working with its insurance underwriter to determine coverage under their existing policies.
The following tables set forth information regarding our investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting, including the entities discussed above, (in thousands):
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2019, TUI Cruises paid us dividends totaling €170.0 million, or approximately $190.3 million, based on the exchange rates at the time of the transactions. The amounts included in the table above are net of tax withholdings.
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(1) Included within Trade and other receivables, net in our consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Included within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
We also provide ship management services to TUI Cruises GmbH and provided management services to Pullmantur Holdings (which filed for reorganization in Spain in June 2020) and Skysea Holding (which ceased cruising operations in September 2018). Additionally, we bareboat chartered to Pullmantur Holdings the vessels previously operated by its brands, which were retained by us following the sale of our 51% interest in Pullmantur Holdings. These bareboat charters were
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terminated when Pullmantur Holdings filed for reorganization in Spain. We recorded the following as it relates to these services in our operating results within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) (in thousands):
Summarized financial information for our affiliates accounted for under the equity method of accounting was as follows (in thousands):
Credit Losses
We reviewed our notes receivable for credit losses in connection with the preparation of our financial statements. In evaluating the credit loss allowance, management considered factors such as historical loss experience, the types of loans and the amount of loans in the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, peer group information and prevailing economic conditions. Based on these credit loss estimation factors, during the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded a loss provision of $187.1 million primarily on notes receivable of approximately $81.6 million related to our previous sales of property and equipment to third parties and on receivables of approximately $103.5 million mostly related to loans and other receivables due from Pullmantur Holdings. We also wrote-off a credit loss allowance amount of $107.3 million during 2020, primarily due to loans and other receivables related to Pullmantur Holdings.
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The following table summarizes our credit loss allowance related to receivables for the year ended December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
Our credit loss allowance balance for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily related to a $81.6 million loss provision recognized during 2020 on notes receivable related to our previous sale of property and equipment mostly to third parties.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 9. Debt
Debt consists of the following (in thousands):
(1)Interest rates based on outstanding loan balance as of December 31, 2020 and, for variable rate debt, include either LIBOR or EURIBOR plus the applicable margin.
(2)Includes $1.9 billion facility due in 2024 and $1.6 billion facility due in 2022, each of which accrue interest at LIBOR plus 1.30%, which interest rate was 1.54%, as of December 31, 2020 and each is subject to a facility fee of 0.20%.
(3)At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the weighted average interest rate for total debt was 6.02% and 3.99%, respectively.
In March 2020, we increased the capacity of our $1.7 billion and $1.2 billion unsecured revolving credit facilities due in 2024 and 2022, by $200 million and $400 million, respectively, utilizing their respective accordion features. As of December 31, 2020, our aggregate revolving borrowing capacity was $3.5 billion and was fully utilized through a combination of amounts drawn and letters of credit issued under the facilities. Certain of our surety agreements with third party providers for the benefit of certain agencies and associations that provide travel related bonds allow the surety to request collateral in the form of cash or letters of credit. As of December 31, 2020, we have posted collateral in the amount of approximately $91 million.
In March 2020, we took delivery of Celebrity Apex. To finance the purchase, we borrowed $722.2 million under a previously committed unsecured term loan which is 100% guaranteed by BpiFrance Assurance Export, the official export credit agency of France. The loan amortizes semi-annually over 12 years and bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.23% per annum. In the second quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, we amended the agreement to defer the payment of all principal payments due between April 2020 and March 2022. The deferred amounts will be repayable starting in 2022 over a five year period.
In March 2020, we borrowed $2.2 billion pursuant to a 364-day senior secured term loan agreement. In May 2020, this secured term loan was increased by an additional $150 million through the exercise of the accordion feature. The increased secured term loan balance was repaid with proceeds from the $3.32 billion Secured Notes (as described below) issued in May 2020. This secured term loan would have matured 364 days after funding and could have been extended at our option for an additional 364 days subject to customary conditions, including the payment of a 1.00% extension fee. Interest accrued at
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
LIBOR plus a margin of 2.25% which would have increased to 2.50% and 2.75% at 180 days and 365 days, respectively, after funding. We would have also been required to pay a duration fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate loan principal amount every 60 days. Additionally, two of our board members each purchased a participation interest equal to $100 million. The repayment of this secured term loan in May 2020 resulted in a total loss on the extinguishment of debt of $41.1 million, which was recognized within Interest expense, net of interest capitalized within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
In May 2020, we issued $3.32 billion of senior secured notes (the "Secured Notes") for net proceeds of approximately $3.2 billion. We repaid the $2.35 billion, 364-day senior secured term loan in its entirety with a portion of the proceeds of the Secured Notes. $1.0 billion of the notes accrue interest at 10.875% and mature in 2023 (the "2023 Secured Notes"). The remaining $2.32 billion of the Secured Notes accrue interest at 11.5% and mature in 2025 (the "2025 Secured Notes"). The Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Celebrity Cruises Holdings Inc., Celebrity Cruises Inc., and certain of our wholly-owned vessel-owning subsidiaries. $1.66 billion of the obligations under the Secured Notes and the related guarantees are secured by first priority security interests in the collateral (which generally includes certain of our material intellectual property, a pledge of 100% of the equity interests of certain of our vessel-owning subsidiaries, the collateral account established pursuant to the indenture governing the Secured Notes (the "Secured Notes Indenture"), mortgages on the 28 vessels owned by such subsidiaries, and an assignment of insurance and earnings in respect of such vessels, subject to permitted liens and certain exclusions and release provisions), subject to certain adjustments after the date of issuance based on our debt rating as of the date of issuance and our lien basket amount in certain of our credit facilities. Prior to March 1, 2023, we may, at our option, redeem some or all of the 2023 Secured Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest plus the applicable “make-whole premium” described in the Secured Notes Indenture. On or after March 1, 2023, we may, at our option, redeem some or all of the 2023 Secured Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2023 Secured Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. Prior to June 1, 2022, we may, at our option, redeem some or all of the 2025 Secured Notes at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest plus the applicable “make-whole premium” described in the Secured Notes Indenture. On or after June 1, 2022, we may, at our option, redeem some or all of the 2025 Secured Notes at the applicable redemption prices set forth in the Secured Notes Indenture. In addition, on or prior to June 1, 2022, we may, at our option, redeem up to 40% of the 2025 Secured Notes with the proceeds from certain equity offerings at the redemption price listed in the Secured Notes Indenture. In addition, we may redeem all, but not part, of the Secured Notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events set forth in the Secured Notes Indenture.
In June 2020, we issued $1.0 billion of senior unsecured notes which accrue interest at 9.125% and mature in 2023. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by RCI Holdings LLC, which owns 100% of the equity interests in certain of our wholly-owned vessel-owning subsidiaries.
In June 2020, we issued $1.15 billion of convertible notes which accrue interest at 4.25% and mature in 2023. The notes are convertible into our shares of common stock, cash, or a combination of common stock and cash, at our election. The initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of the convertible notes is 13.8672 shares of our common stock, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $72.11 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Prior to March 15, 2023, the convertible notes will be convertible at the option of holders during certain periods, and only under the following conditions:
•during any calendar quarter after September 30, 2020, if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day;
•the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes is less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of our common stock and the conversation rate for ten consecutive trading days (in which case the notes are convertible at any time during the five business day period following the 10 consecutive trading day period);
•if we call the notes for a tax redemption; or
•upon the occurrence of specified corporate events.
On or after March 15, 2023, the convertible notes will be convertible at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding their maturity date.
Holders of the convertible notes may require us, upon the occurrence of certain events that constitute a fundamental change under the indenture, to offer to repurchase the convertible notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
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We allocated $907.9 million of the convertible notes' proceeds, net of debt issue costs, to Long-term debt and $209.0 million to Paid-in-capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We recognized the equity component by ascribing the difference between the proceeds and the fair value of the convertible notes' debt component to Paid-in-capital and the corresponding debt discount will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible notes using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. The fair value of the convertible notes' debt component was determined utilizing a present value calculation. Debt issuance costs on the convertible notes were allocated to the debt and equity components in proportion to the allocation of proceeds to those components. We incurred total debt issue costs of $33.1 million on the issuance of the debt and allocated $6.2 million to Paid-in-capital. Debt issuance costs attributable to debt will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible notes.
In October 2020, we issued $575 million of senior convertible notes which accrue interest at 2.875% and mature in 2023. The notes are convertible into shares of our common stock, cash, or a combination of common stock and cash, at our election. The initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of the convertible notes is 12.1212 shares of our common stock, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $82.50 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Prior to August 15, 2023, the convertible notes will be convertible at the option of holders during certain periods, and only under the following conditions:
•during any calendar quarter after December 31, 2020, if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day;
•the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes is less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of our common stock and the conversation rate for ten consecutive trading days (in which case the notes are convertible at any time during the five business day period following the ten consecutive trading day period);
•if we call the notes for a tax redemption; or
•upon the occurrence of specified corporate events.
On or after August 15, 2023, the convertible notes will be convertible at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding their maturity date.
Holders of the convertible notes may require us, upon the occurrence of certain events that constitute a fundamental change under the indenture, to offer to repurchase the convertible notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
We allocated $463.0 million of the convertible notes' proceeds, net of debt issue costs, to Long-term debt and $101.9 million to Paid-in-capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We recognized the equity component by ascribing the difference between the proceeds and the fair value of the convertible notes' debt component to Paid-in-capital and the corresponding debt discount will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible notes using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. The fair value of the convertible notes' debt component was determined utilizing a present value calculation. Debt issuance costs on the convertible notes were allocated to the debt and equity components in proportion to the allocation of proceeds to those components. We incurred total debt issue costs of $10.1 million on the issuance of the debt and allocated $1.8 million to Paid-in-capital. Debt issuance costs attributable to debt will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible notes.
The net carrying value of the liability component of the convertible notes was as follows:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The interest expense recognized related to the convertible notes was as follows:
In June 2020, RCL Cruises Ltd., our subsidiary that operates and manages our business in the United Kingdom, established a commercial paper facility for the purpose of issuing short-term, unsecured Sterling-denominated notes that are eligible for purchase under the Joint HM Treasury and Bank of England’s COVID Corporate Financing Facility commercial paper program in an aggregate principal amount up to £300.0 million. The maturities of the commercial paper notes can vary by note, but cannot exceed 364 days from the date of issuance. As of December 31, 2020, we had £300.0 million, or approximately $409.9 million, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020, of commercial paper notes outstanding under this program.
In August 2020, we secured a binding commitment from Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc. for a $700 million term loan facility. We may draw on the facility at any time prior to August 12, 2021. Once drawn, the loan will bear interest at LIBOR + 3.75% and will mature 364 days from funding. The facility will be guaranteed by RCI Holdings, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary that owns the equity interests in subsidiaries that own seven of our vessels. We have the ability to increase the capacity of the facility by an additional $300 million from time to time subject to the receipt of additional or increased commitments and the issuance of guarantees from additional subsidiaries.
In October 2020, we took delivery of Silver Moon. To finance the purchase, Silversea Cruise Holding Ltd., our wholly owned subsidiary, borrowed $300 million under a previously committed unsecured term loan facility, guaranteed by us, to pay a portion of the ship's contract price. The loan is due and payable at maturity in June 2028, provided however, that each lender may elect to cause us to repay the outstanding amount of any advances held by such lender on June 2026 upon 90 days advance notice. The loan amortizes semi-annually starting six months after funding, with 1/24th of the outstanding principal payable every six months and the balance payable upon maturity. Interest on the loan currently accrues at LIBOR plus 2.00%. The financing to purchase Silver Moon is reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheet for the year ended December 31, 2020.
During 2020, we amended certain export-credit backed ship debt facilities to benefit from a 12-month debt amortization deferral (the "Debt Deferral"). Under the Debt Deferral, deferred debt amortization of approximately $0.9 billion will be paid over a period of 4 years after the 12-month deferral period. The Debt Deferral was offered by certain export credit agencies as a result of the current impact to cruise-line borrowers as a result of COVID-19. During the first quarter of 2021, we further amended our export-credit backed ship debt facilities and deferred an additional $0.8 billion of principal payments due under these export facilities between April 2021 and March 2022. The new amounts being deferred are scheduled to be repaid over a five year period starting in April 2022.
Except for the financings incurred to acquire Celebrity Flora, Azamara Pursuit and Silver Moon, all of our unsecured ship financing term loans are guaranteed by the export credit agency in the respective country in which the ship is constructed. As of December 31, 2020, in consideration for these guarantees, depending on the financing arrangement, we pay to the applicable export credit agency (1) a fee of 2.97% per annum based on the outstanding loan balance semi-annually over the term of the loan (subject to adjustments based upon our credit ratings) or (2) an upfront fee of 2.35% to 2.37% of the maximum loan amount. We amortize the fees that are paid upfront over the life of the loan and those that are paid semi-annually over each respective payment period. Prior to the loan being drawn, we present these fees within Other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Once the loan is drawn, such fees are classified as a discount to the related loan, or contra-liability account, within Current portion of debt or long-term debt. In our consolidated statements of cash flows, we classify these fees within Amortization of debt issuance costs.
Both our export credit facilities and our non-export credit facilities totaling an outstanding principal amount of approximately $11.2 billion as of December 31, 2020 contain covenants that, among other things, require us to maintain financial ratios, including in certain cases, a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25x and/or minimum shareholders' equity and limit our net debt-to-capital ratio.
During 2020, we amended all of our export credit facilities, all of our non-export credit facilities and certain of our credit card processing agreements which contain financial covenants, with the exception of a $130.0 million term loan due 2023, to
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
extend the financial covenant waiver through and including the fourth quarter of 2021. The $130.0 million term loan, which remains subject to a covenant waiver through the end of the first quarter of 2021, is prepayable at any time without penalty.
During the first quarter of 2021, we amended $4.9 billion of our non-export credit facilities and certain of our credit card processing agreements to extend the waiver of the financial covenants through and including the third quarter of 2022 or, if earlier, that date falling after January 1, 2022 on which we elect to comply with the modified covenants. In addition, pursuant to the amendments, we have modified the manner in which such covenants are calculated (temporarily in certain cases and permanently in others) as well as the levels at which our net debt to capitalization covenant will be tested during the period commencing immediately following the end of the waiver period and continuing through the end of 2023. The amendments also increase the monthly-tested minimum liquidity covenant to $500 million for the duration of the waiver period (subject to reduction to $350 million if we raise at least $500 million of additional capital). As of the date of these financial statements, we were in compliance with the applicable minimum liquidity covenant. Pursuant to these amendments, the restrictions on paying cash dividends and effectuating share repurchases were extended through and including the third quarter of 2022.
During the first quarter of 2021, we also amended $6.2 billion of our export credit facilities to extend the waiver of the financial covenants through and including at least the end of the third quarter of 2022. These amendments also allow for the deferral of up to $1.1 billion of principal payments due between April 2021 and April 2022 subject to the satisfaction of various conditions precedent. As of February 19, 2021, the conditions precedent have been satisfied for 13 of the 15 amended facilities, which will allow us to defer $0.8 billion of amortization payments due during this period. There can be no assurances that the conditions precedent will be met for the remaining two facilities. The deferred amounts will be repayable semi-annually over a five-year period starting in April 2022. Pursuant to these amendments, we have agreed to implement the same liquidity covenant that applies in our non-export credit facilities. The amendments also provide for mandatory prepayment of the deferred amounts upon the taking of certain actions. Subject to a number of carveouts, these include, but are not limited to, issuance of dividends, completion of share repurchases, issuances of debt other than for crisis and recovery purposes, the making of loans and the sale of assets other than at arm’s length
In the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, we entered into amendments to our drawn and undrawn ECA facilities to provide for the issuance of guarantees in satisfaction of existing obligations under these facilities. Following issuance (which, in the case of the undrawn facilities, will occur once the debt is drawn), the guarantees will be released under certain circumstances as other debt is repaid or refinanced on an unsecured and unguaranteed basis. In connection with and following the issuance of the guarantees, the guarantor subsidiaries are restricted from issuing additional guarantees in favor of lenders (other than those lenders who are party to the ECA facilities), and certain of the guarantor subsidiaries are restricted from incurring additional debt. In addition, the ECA facilities will benefit from guarantees to be issued by intermediary parent companies of subsidiaries that take delivery of any new vessels subject to export-credit backed financing.
For information related to the covenants in our Port of Miami Terminal "A" operating lease agreement, refer to Note 10. Leases.
Under certain of our agreements, the contractual interest rate, facility fee and/or export credit agency fee vary with our debt rating. On August 24, 2020, Moody’s downgraded our senior unsecured rating from Ba2 to B2, and on August 31, 2020, S&P Global downgraded our senior unsecured rating from BB to B+. On February 25, 2021, S&P Global further downgraded our senior unsecured rating from B+ to B.
In April 2019, we amended our $1.4 billion unsecured revolving credit facility due in 2020 to extend the termination date through April 2024, increase the facility size to $1.7 billion and reduce pricing. The interest rate and facility fee vary with our senior debt rating set at LIBOR plus 1.0% per annum and 0.125% per annum, respectively. These amendments did not result in the extinguishment of debt. In addition, in May 2019, we amended our $1.15 billion unsecured revolving credit facility due in 2022 to reduce pricing to match pricing on our $1.7 billion unsecured revolving credit facility due in 2024.
In April 2019, we entered into and drew in full on an unsecured three-year term loan agreement in the amount of $1.0 billion. The loan accrues interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin, which varies with our senior debt rating set at 1.075% per annum. Proceeds of this loan were used to repay the $700 million 364-day loan due July 2019 related to the acquisition of Silversea Cruises and the remaining balance of the unsecured term loan originally incurred in 2010 to purchase Allure of the Seas. The repayment of these loans resulted in a total loss on the extinguishment of debt of $6.3 million, which was recognized within Other (expense) income within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019.
In April 2019, we took delivery of Spectrum of the Seas. To finance the purchase, we borrowed $908.0 million under a previously committed unsecured term loan which is 95% guaranteed by Euler Hermes Aktiengesellschaft, the official export credit agency of Germany. The loan amortizes semi-annually over 12 years and bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.45% per
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annum. In the second quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, we amended the agreement to defer the payment of all principal payments due between April 2020 and March 2022. The deferred amounts will be repayable starting in 2022 over a five year period.
In May 2019, we took delivery of Celebrity Flora. The purchase was financed through an unsecured term loan facility entered into in November 2017 in an amount up to €80.0 million, or approximately $97.9 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, we had fully drawn on this facility. The loan is due and payable at maturity in November 2024. Interest on the loan accrues at a floating rate based on EURIBOR plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin varies with our debt rating and was 1.195% as of December 31, 2019.
In June 2018, we established a commercial paper program pursuant to which we may issue short-term unsecured notes from time to time in an aggregate amount of up to $1.2 billion, which was increased to $2.9 billion in August 2019. The commercial paper issued is backstopped by our revolving credit facilities. As of December 31, 2019 we had $1.4 billion of commercial paper notes outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 2.19% and a weighted average maturity of approximately 21 days. We terminated this commercial paper program as of August 5, 2020.
Following is a schedule of annual maturities on our total debt net of debt issuance costs, and including finance leases and commercial paper, as of December 31, 2020 for each of the next five years (in thousands):
Note 10. Leases
Operating leases
Our operating leases primarily relate to preferred berthing arrangements, real estate and shipboard equipment and are included within Operating lease right-of-use assets, and Long-term operating lease liabilities with the current portion of the liability included within Current portion of operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. We recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. During the first quarter of 2020, we determined that the lease for Silver Explorer, operated by Silversea Cruises and previously classified as a finance lease, was an operating lease based on modification of the terms of the lease. The operating lease for Silver Explorer will expire in 2023.
In June 2019, the Company entered into a new master lease agreement (“Master Lease”) with Miami-Dade County relating to the buildings and surrounding land located at its Miami headquarters, which are classified as finance leases in accordance with ASC 842. Prior to entering into the Master Lease, the buildings were classified as operating lease assets. The finance lease for the buildings and land will expire in 2072, which includes an initial 43 years lease term and two five-year options to extend the lease. We consider the possibility of exercising the two five-year options reasonably certain.
For some of our real estate leases and berthing agreements, we do have the option to extend our current lease term. For those lease agreements with renewal options, the renewal periods for real estate leases range from one to 10 years and the renewal periods for berthing agreements range from one year to 20 years. Generally, we do not include renewal options as a component of our present value calculation for berthing agreements. However, for certain real estate leases, we include them.
We have a residual value guarantee associated with our Port of Miami Terminal "A" operating lease agreement ("Port of Miami terminal lease") that approximates a percentage of the cost of the asset as of the inception of the lease. We consider the possibility of incurring costs associated with the residual value guarantee to be remote.
Also in connection with the Port of Miami terminal lease, we are required to deliver on or before July 18, 2021, cash collateral in an amount equal to the lesser of our residual value guarantee or the aggregate balance of the lenders' terminal
construction debt, estimated at $181.1 million as of December 31, 2020. The collateral is to be returned when all amounts due by us under the lease have been paid in full.
During the second quarter of 2020, we amended our Port of Miami terminal lease to increase the lien basket in line with our debt facilities. We further amended this lease in the first quarter of 2021 to and obtain a financial covenant waiver through the third quarter of 2022. This obligation is prepayable at any time without penalty. As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the amended covenants under the lease agreement.
As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments. We estimate our incremental borrowing rates based on LIBOR and U.S. Treasury note rates corresponding to lease terms increased by the Company’s credit risk spread and reduced by the estimated impact of collateral. We used the incremental borrowing rate as of the adoption date for operating leases that commenced prior to that date. In addition, we have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. However, for berthing agreements, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
Commencing in 2016 when we sold our 51% interest in the Pullmantur brand to Pullmantur Holdings, and continuing through the quarter ended June 30, 2020, we bareboat chartered to Pullmantur Holdings the vessels operated by the Pullmantur brand. On June 22, 2020, Pullmantur S.A., a subsidiary of Pullmantur Holdings, filed for reorganization in Spain, at which time we terminated these bareboat charters. See Note 8. Other Assets for further discussion of Pullmantur Holdings. We accounted for the bareboat charters of these vessels as operating leases for which we were the lessor.
Finance Leases
Silversea Cruises operates the Silver Whisper, under a finance lease. The finance lease for the Silver Whisper will expire in 2022, subject to an option to purchase the ship. The total aggregate amount of the finance lease liabilities recorded for this ship was $31.5 million and $55.6 million at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The lease payments on the Silver Whisper are subject to adjustments based on the LIBOR rate.
Supplemental balance sheet information for leases was as follows (in thousands):
The components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):
In addition, certain of our berth agreements include variable lease costs based on the number of passengers berthed. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, we had $24.3 million of variable lease costs recorded within Commission, transportation and other in our consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss).
Weighted average of the remaining lease terms and weighted average discount rates are as follows:
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows (in thousands):
As of December 31, 2020, maturities related to lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
Operating lease payments do not include any costs related to options to extend lease terms as none are reasonably certain of being exercised.
Under ASC 840, Leases, future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases, primarily for offices, warehouses and motor vehicles, as of December 31, 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
Total expense for operating leases, primarily for offices, warehouses and motor vehicles amounted to $32.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
In July 2016, we executed an agreement with Miami Dade County (“MDC”), which was simultaneously assigned to Sumitomo Banking Corporation (“SMBC”), to lease land from MDC and construct a new cruise terminal of approximately 170,000 square feet at PortMiami in Miami, Florida, which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2018 and serves as a homeport. During the construction period, SMBC funded the costs of the terminal’s construction and land lease. Once the terminal was substantially completed, we commenced operating and leasing the terminal from SMBC for a five-year term. We determined that the lease arrangement between SMBC and us should be accounted for as an operating lease.
Right-of-use assets impairments
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we identified that the undiscounted cash flows for certain right-of-use assets were less than their carrying values due to the negative impact of COVID-19. We evaluated these assets pursuant to our long-lived asset impairment test, resulting in an impairment charge of $65.9 million to write down these assets to their estimated fair values during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
In connection with the 2018 Silversea Cruises acquisition, we recorded redeemable noncontrolling interest due to the put options held by the noncontrolling interest shareholder. At the date of the 2018 acquisition, the estimated fair value of the noncontrolling interest was based on 33.3% of Silversea Cruises' equity value, which was determined based on the transaction price paid for 66.7% of Silversea Cruises in the 2018 acquisition.
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On July 9, 2020, we acquired the remaining 33.3% noncontrolling interest in Silversea Cruises from Heritage in exchange for 5.2 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Pursuant to the agreement governing the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, among other things, the parties terminated any existing obligation to issue Heritage any contingent consideration, at fair value, in connection with our acquisition of a 66.7% interest in Silversea Cruises in 2018. The purchase of the noncontrolling interest was accounted for as an equity transaction during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and no gain or loss was recognized in earnings. The carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest was adjusted to zero and the difference between the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest and the fair value of the consideration paid was recognized as additional paid in capital.
The noncontrolling interest's share in the net earnings (loss) and contractual accretion requirements associated with the put options, for periods prior to our acquisition of the noncontrolling interest, are included in Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of December 31, 2019, the noncontrolling interest shareholder's interest is presented as Redeemable noncontrolling interest and is classified outside of shareholders' equity in our consolidated balance sheets.
The following table presents changes in the redeemable noncontrolling interest as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
Note 12. Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock Issued
During October 2020, we issued 9.6 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price of $60.00 per share. We received net proceeds of $557.4 million from the sale of our common stock, after deducting the underwriters’ discount and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.
During December 2020, we issued 13.0 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at an average price of $76.65 per share. We received net proceeds of $994.6 million after deducting the underwriters’ discount and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. Of the total proceeds, $868.6 million was received as of December 31, 2020 and the remainder was received in January of 2021.
Dividends Declared
During the first quarter of 2020 we declared a cash dividend on our common stock of $0.78 per share which was paid in the second quarter of 2020.
During the second quarter of 2020, we agreed with certain of our lenders not to pay dividends or engage in common stock repurchases for so long as our debt covenant waivers are in effect. In addition, in the event we declare a dividend or engage in share repurchases, we will need to repay the amounts deferred under our export credit facilities as part of the Debt Deferral. Accordingly, we did not declare a dividend during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2020. Pursuant to amendments made to these agreements during the first quarter of 2021, the restrictions on paying cash dividends and effectuating share repurchases were extended through and including the third quarter of 2022.
During the fourth and third quarters of 2019, we declared a cash dividend on our common stock of $0.78 per share which was paid in the first quarter of 2020 and fourth quarter of 2019, respectively. During the first and second quarters of 2019, we declared a cash dividend on our common stock of $0.70 per share which was paid in the second and third quarters of 2019, respectively.
Common Stock Repurchase Program
During the quarter ended on June 30, 2020, the 24-month common stock repurchase program authorized by our board of directors on May 9, 2018 had expired. In connection with our debt covenant waivers, we agreed with our lenders not to engage
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in stock repurchases for so long as our debt covenant waivers are in effect. Effective in the first quarter of 2021, the agreement with our lenders to suspend stock repurchases is extended through the third quarter of 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased 0.9 million shares of our common stock under this program, for a total of $99.6 million, in open market transactions that were recorded within Treasury stock in our consolidated balance sheets.
Note 13. Stock-Based Employee Compensation
We currently have awards outstanding under one stock-based compensation plan, our 2008 Equity Plan, which provides for awards to our officers, directors and key employees. The plan consists of a 2008 Equity Plan, as amended, provides for the issuance of up to 14,000,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to grants of (i) incentive and non-qualified stock options, (ii) stock appreciation rights, (iii) stock awards (including time-based and/or performance-based stock awards) and (iv) restricted stock units (including time-based and performance-based restricted stock units). During any calendar year, no one individual (other than non-employee members of our board of directors) may be granted awards of more than 500,000 shares and no non-employee member of our board of directors may be granted awards with a value in excess of $500,000 at the grant date. Options and restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2020 generally vest in equal installments over four years from the date of grant. In addition, performance shares and performance share units generally vest in three years. With certain limited exceptions, awards are forfeited if the recipient ceases to be an employee before the shares vest.
Prior to 2012, our officers received a combination of stock options and restricted stock units. Beginning in 2012, our officers instead receive their long-term incentive awards through a combination of performance share units and restricted stock units. Each performance share unit award is expressed as a target number of performance share units based upon the fair market value of our common stock on the date the award is issued. The actual number of shares underlying each award (not to exceed 200% of the target number of performance share units) will be determined based upon the Company's achievement of a specified performance target range. In 2020, we issued a target number of 245,417 performance share units, which will vest approximately three years following the award issue date. The performance payout of these grants will be based on return on our invested capital ("ROIC") and earnings per share ("EPS") for the year ended December 31, 2022, as may be adjusted by the Talent and Compensation Committee of our board of directors in early 2023 for events that are outside of management's control.
Beginning in 2016, our senior officers meeting certain minimum age and service criteria receive their long-term incentive awards through a combination of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. The restricted stock awards are subject to both performance and time-based vesting criteria while the restricted stock units are subject only to time-based vesting criteria. Each restricted stock award is issued in an amount equal to 200% of the target number of shares underlying the award based upon the fair market value of our common stock on the date the award is issued. Declared dividends accrue (but do not get paid) on the restricted stock awards during the vesting period, with the accrued amounts to be paid out following vesting only on the number of shares underlying the award which actually vest based on satisfaction of the performance criteria. The actual number of shares that vest (not to exceed 200% of the shares) will be determined based upon the Company's achievement of a specified performance target range. In 2020, we issued 260,924 restricted stock awards, representing 200% of the target number of shares underlying the award, all of which are considered issued and outstanding from the date of issuance, however; grantees will only retain those shares earned as the result of the Company achieving the performance goals during the measurement period. The performance payout of the 2020 awards will be based on ROIC and EPS for the year ended December 31, 2022, as may be adjusted by the Talent and Compensation Committee of our board of directors in early 2023 for events that are outside of management's control.
On January 24, 2018, the Company issued a one-time bonus award for all non-officer employees. These awards vest, in equal installments, over the 3 years following the award issue date. For shoreside eligible employees, awards were issued as equity-settled restricted stock units. As of December 31, 2020, these awards have fully vested.
We also provide an Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") to facilitate the purchase by employees of up to 1,300,000 shares of common stock in the aggregate. Offerings to employees are made on a quarterly basis. Subject to certain limitations, the purchase price for each share of common stock is equal to 85% of the average of the market prices of the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the first business day of the purchase period and the last business day of each month of the purchase period. During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, 184,936, 91,586 and 74,100 shares of our common stock were purchased under the ESPP at a weighted-average price of $48.08, $98.20 and $97.50, respectively.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Total compensation expense recognized for employee stock-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was as follows (in thousands):
The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The estimated fair value of stock options, less estimated forfeitures, is amortized over the vesting period using the graded-vesting method. We did not issue any stock options during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Stock option activity and information about stock options outstanding are summarized in the following table:
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(1)The intrinsic value represents the amount by which the fair value of stock exceeds the option exercise price.
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $1.5 million, $8.1 million and $11.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, there was no unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to stock options granted under our stock incentive plan.
Restricted stock units are converted into shares of common stock upon vesting or, if applicable, are settled on a one-for-one basis. The cost of these awards is determined using the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant, and compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. Restricted stock activity is summarized in the following table:
The weighted-average estimated fair value of restricted stock units granted during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $112.13 and $122.12, respectively. The total fair value of shares released on the vesting of restricted stock units during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $31.2 million, $30.8 million, and $33.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, we had $42.3 million of total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to restricted stock unit grants, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.15 years.
Performance share units are converted into shares of common stock upon vesting on a one-for-one basis. We estimate the fair value of each performance share when the grant is authorized and the related service period has commenced. We remeasure
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
the fair value of our performance shares in each subsequent reporting period until the grant date has occurred, which is the date when the performance conditions are satisfied. We recognize compensation cost over the vesting period based on the probability of the service and performance conditions being achieved adjusted for each subsequent fair value measurement until the grant date. If the specified service and performance conditions are not met, compensation expense will not be recognized and any previously recognized compensation expense will be reversed. Performance share units activity is summarized in the following table:
The weighted-average estimated fair value of performance share units granted during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $87.39 and $97.98, respectively. The total fair value of shares released on the vesting of performance share units during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $24.6 million, $23.0 million and $27.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, we had $7.0 million of total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to performance share unit grants, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.32 year.
The shares underlying our restricted stock awards to age and service eligible senior officers are issued as of the grant date in an amount equal to 200% of the target number of shares. Following the vesting date, the restrictions will lift with respect to the number of shares for which the performance criteria was met and any excess shares will be canceled. Dividends will accrue on the issued restricted shares during the vesting period, but will not be paid to the recipient until the awards vest and the final number of shares underlying the award is determined, at which point, the dividends will be paid in cash only on the earned shares. We estimate the fair value of each restricted stock award when the grant is authorized and the related service period has commenced. We remeasure the fair value of these restricted stock awards in each subsequent reporting period until the grant date has occurred, which is the date when the performance conditions are satisfied. We recognize compensation cost over the vesting period based on the probability of the service and performance conditions being achieved adjusted for each subsequent fair value measurement until the grant date. If the specified service and performance conditions are not met, compensation expense will not be recognized, any previously recognized compensation expense will be reversed, and any unearned shares will be returned to the Company. Restricted stock awards activity is summarized in the following table:
The weighted-average estimated fair value of restricted stock awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $118.08 and $129.23, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, we had $2.2 million of total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to restricted stock award grants, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.37 years.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 14. (Loss) Earnings Per Share
A reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
There were approximately 282,118 antidilutive shares for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to no antidilutive shares for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Since the Company expects to settle in cash the principal outstanding under our convertible notes that mature in 2023, we currently use the treasury stock method when calculating their potential dilutive effect, if any. While no shares of the convertible notes are currently convertible, they would be anti-dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Note 15. Retirement Plan
We maintain a defined contribution plan covering shoreside employees. Effective January 1, 2016, we commenced annual, non-elective contributions to the plan on behalf of all eligible participants equal to 3% of participants' eligible earnings. Remaining annual contributions to the plan are discretionary and are based on fixed percentages of participants' salaries and years of service, not to exceed certain maximums. Contribution expenses were $18.4 million, $21.2 million and $18.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Note 16. Income Taxes
We are subject to corporate income taxes in countries where we have operations or subsidiaries. We and the majority of our ship-operating and vessel-owning subsidiaries are currently exempt from U.S. corporate income tax on U.S. source income from the international operation of ships pursuant to Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code. Regulations under Section 883 have limited the activities that are considered the international operation of a ship or incidental thereto. Accordingly, our provision for U.S. federal and state income taxes includes taxes on certain activities not considered incidental to the international operation of our ships.
Additionally, one of our ship-operating subsidiaries is subject to tax under the tonnage tax regime of the United Kingdom. Under this regime, income from qualifying activities is subject to corporate income tax, but the tax is computed by reference to the tonnage of the ship or ships registered under the relevant provisions of the tax regimes (the "relevant shipping profits"), which replaces the regular taxable income base. Income from activities not considered qualifying activities, which we do not consider significant, remains subject to United-Kingdom corporate income tax.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we had an income tax benefit of approximately $15 million primarily driven by items not qualifying under Section 883. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, income tax expense was $32.6 million and $20.9 million, respectively, for items not qualifying under Section 883, tonnage tax and income taxes for the remainder of our subsidiaries. Income taxes are recorded within Other income (expense). In addition, all interest expense and penalties related to income tax liabilities are classified as income tax expense within Other income (expense).
For a majority of our subsidiaries, we do not expect to incur income taxes on future distributions of undistributed earnings. Accordingly, no deferred income taxes have been provided for the distribution of these earnings. Where we do expect to incur income taxes on future distributions of undistributed earnings, we have provided for deferred taxes, which we do not consider significant to our operations.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had deferred tax assets for U.S. and foreign net operating losses (“NOLs”) of approximately $41.2 million. We have provided a valuation allowance for approximately $28.6 million of these NOLs. $18.3 million of the NOLs are subject to expire between 2021 and 2030.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities and corresponding valuation allowances related to our operations were not material as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
We regularly review deferred tax assets for recoverability based on our history of earnings, expectations of future earnings, and tax planning strategies. Realization of deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income to support the amount of deferred taxes. A valuation allowance is recorded in those circumstances in which we conclude it is not more-likely-than-not we will recover the deferred tax assets prior to their expiration.
Note 17. Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The following table presents reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
During the year ended December 31, 2020, a $69.0 million net loss was recorded within Other expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. The amount was recognized in earnings in connection with the Pullmantur reorganization, as we no longer have significant involvement in the Pullmantur operations and these amounts were previously deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. The net loss consisted of a $92.6 million loss resulting from the recognition of a currency translation adjustment, partially offset by the recognition of a deferred $23.6 million foreign exchange gain related to the Pullmantur net investment hedge. Of the $69.0 million loss, $34.3 million and $34.7 million was released from Accumulated other comprehensive loss during the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments
Fair Value Measurements
The estimated fair value of our financial instruments that are not measured at fair value, categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy, are as follows (in thousands):
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(1)Inputs based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Valuation of these items does not entail a significant amount of judgment.
(2)Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the liability, either directly or indirectly. For unsecured revolving credit facilities and unsecured term loans, fair value is determined utilizing the income valuation approach. This valuation model takes into account the contract terms of our debt such as the debt maturity and the interest rate on the debt. The valuation model also takes into account the creditworthiness of the Company.
(3)Inputs that are unobservable. The Company did not use any Level 3 inputs as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(4)Consists of cash and marketable securities with original maturities of less than 90 days.
(5)Consists of unsecured revolving credit facilities, senior notes, senior debentures, term loans and convertible notes. These amounts do not include our capital lease obligations or commercial paper.
Other Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued interest, accrued expenses and commercial paper approximate fair value as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents information about the Company's financial instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
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(1)Inputs based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Valuation of these items does not entail a significant amount of judgment.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(2)Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. For foreign currency forward contracts, interest rate swaps and fuel swaps, fair value is derived using valuation models that utilize the income valuation approach. These valuation models take into account the contract terms, such as maturity as well as other inputs, such as foreign exchange rates and curves, fuel types, fuel curves and interest rate yield curves. Derivative instrument fair values take into account the creditworthiness of the counterparty and the Company.
(3)Inputs that are unobservable.
(4)Consists of foreign currency forward contracts, interest rate swaps and fuel swaps. Refer to the "Fair Value of Derivative Instruments" table for breakdown by instrument type.
(5)Consists of foreign currency forward contracts, interest rate swaps and fuel swaps. Refer to the "Fair Value of Derivative Instruments" table for breakdown by instrument type.
(6)Any obligation under the contingent consideration related to the 2018 Silversea Cruises acquisition was terminated during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 as a result of our purchase of the remaining 33.3% non-controlling interest in Silversea Cruises. In prior periods, the contingent consideration was estimated by applying a Monte-Carlo simulation method using our closing stock price along with significant inputs not observable in the market, including the probability of achieving the milestones and estimated future operating results. The Monte-Carlo simulation is a generally accepted statistical technique used to generate a defined number of valuation paths in order to develop a reasonable estimate of fair value. Refer to Note 1. General, Note 3. Business Combination, and Note 11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for further information on the Silversea Cruises acquisitions. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, we recorded income for the change in fair value of the contingent consideration of $45.1 million within Other (expense) income in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
The reported fair values are based on a variety of factors and assumptions. Accordingly, the fair values may not represent actual values of the financial instruments that could have been realized as of December 31, 2020 or 2019, or that will be realized in the future, and do not include expenses that could be incurred in an actual sale or settlement.
Nonfinancial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
The following table presents information about the Company’s nonfinancial instruments recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis (in thousands):
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(1) We estimated the fair value of the Silversea Cruises reporting unit using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model in combination with a market based valuation approach. The principal assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model were (i) the timing of our return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions; (ii) forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; and (iii) weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate). The discounted cash flow model used our 2020 projected operating results as a base. To that base we added future years’ cash flows through 2030 assuming multiple revenue and expense scenarios that reflect the impact of different global economic environments for this period on the Silversea Cruises' reporting unit. We assigned a probability to each revenue and expense scenario. We discounted the projected cash flows using rates specific to the Silversea Cruises' reporting unit based on its weighted-average cost of capital, which was determined to be 12.75%. The fair value of Silversea Cruises’ goodwill was estimated as of March 31, 2020, the date the asset was last impaired.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(2) Amount represents the Silversea Cruises trade name which makes up the majority of our indefinite-life intangible assets, totaling $321.5 million. We estimated the fair value of our the Silversea Cruises trade name using a discounted cash flow model and the relief-from-royalty method and used a discount rate of 13.25%. Significant inputs in performing the fair value assessment for the trade name were (i) forecasted net revenues, primarily the timing of returning to normalized operations, occupancy rates from existing and expected ship deliveries, including options, and terminal growth rate; (ii) the royalty rate of 3.0%; and (iii) weighted average cost of capital (i.e., discount rate). The fair value of the Silversea Cruises trade name was estimated as of March 31, 2020, the date the asset was last impaired.
(3) Impairments primarily relate to certain vessels during 2020. In addition, certain construction in progress projects generated impairments during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and quarter ended December 31, 2020. For the vessels impaired during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we estimated the fair value of two of our vessels using a blended indication from the income and cost approaches and the fair value of the remaining vessels was estimated primarily based on their orderly liquidation values. For the vessels impaired during the quarter ended June 30, 2020, we estimated the fair value of the vessels using a modified market approach based on the carrying values and orderly liquidation values of the vessels. For the vessels impaired during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, we estimated the fair value of the three Azamara vessels using a market approach. A significant input in performing the fair value assessments for these vessels was management's expected use of the vessels, which takes into consideration forecasted operating results. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and quarter ended December 31, 2020, construction in progress assets were impaired due to a reduction in scope or the decision to not complete the projects. The impairment was calculated based on orderly liquidation values. The fair value of these assets were estimated as of the date the asset was last impaired.
(4) Impairments to our right-of-use assets relate to certain of our berthing arrangements and a ship operating lease. We estimated the fair value of the berthing arrangements using estimated projected discounted cash flows and the fair value of the ship operating lease was estimated using a market approach. The fair value of the berthing arrangements was estimated as of March 31, 2020, the date these assets were last impaired. A significant input in performing the fair value assessments for these assets was our expected passenger headcount. The fair value of the ship operating lease was estimated as of December 31, 2020, the date this asset was last impaired, and significant inputs in performing the fair value assessment using the market approach for this asset were the expected rate of return and remaining lease payments.
(5) We estimated the fair value of our other than temporarily impaired equity-method investments using a discounted cash flow model. A significant input in performing the fair value assessments for these assets was forecasted operating results for these investments. The fair value of these equity-method investments was estimated as of March 31, 2020, the date these assets were last impaired. For further information on our equity method investments, refer to Note 8. Other Assets.
Master Netting Agreements
We have master International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) agreements in place with our derivative instrument counterparties. These ISDA agreements generally provide for final close out netting with our counterparties for all positions in the case of default or termination of the ISDA agreement. We have determined that our ISDA agreements provide us with rights of setoff on the fair value of derivative instruments in a gain position and those in a loss position with the same counterparty. We have elected not to offset such derivative instrument fair values in our consolidated balance sheets.
See Credit Related Contingent Features for further discussion on contingent collateral requirements for our derivative instruments.
The following table presents information about the Company’s offsetting of financial assets under master netting agreements with derivative counterparties (in thousands):
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The following table presents information about the Company’s offsetting of financial liabilities under master netting agreements with derivative counterparties (in thousands):
Concentrations of Credit Risk
We monitor our credit risk associated with financial and other institutions with which we conduct significant business and, to minimize these risks, we select counterparties with credit risks acceptable to us and we seek to limit our exposure to an individual counterparty. Credit risk, including but not limited to counterparty nonperformance under derivative instruments, our credit facilities and new ship progress payment guarantees, is not considered significant, as we primarily conduct business with large, well-established financial institutions, insurance companies and export credit agencies many of which we have long-term relationships with and which have credit risks acceptable to us or where the credit risk is spread out among a large number of counterparties. As of December 31, 2020, we had counterparty credit risk exposure under our derivative instruments of $26.9 million, which was limited to the cost of replacing the contracts in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to the contracts, the majority of which are currently our lending banks. We do not anticipate nonperformance by any of our significant counterparties. In addition, we have established guidelines we follow regarding credit ratings and instrument maturities to maintain safety and liquidity. We do not normally require collateral or other security to support credit relationships; however, in certain circumstances this option is available to us.
Derivative Instruments
We are exposed to market risk attributable to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and fuel prices. We try to mitigate these risks through a combination of our normal operating and financing activities and through the use of derivative financial instruments pursuant to our hedging practices and policies. The financial impact of these hedging instruments is primarily offset by corresponding changes in the underlying exposures being hedged. We achieve this by closely matching the notional amount, term and conditions of the derivative instrument with the underlying risk being hedged. Although certain of our derivative financial instruments do not qualify or are not accounted for under hedge accounting, our objective is not to hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
We enter into various forward, swap and option contracts to manage our interest rate exposure and to limit our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and fuel prices. These instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value and the vast majority are designated as hedges. We also use non-derivative financial instruments designated as hedges of our net investment in our foreign operations and investments.
At inception of the hedge relationship, a derivative instrument that hedges the exposure to changes in the fair value of a firm commitment or a recognized asset or liability is designated as a fair value hedge. A derivative instrument that hedges a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows related to a recognized asset or liability is designated as a cash flow hedge.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges are offset against changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments. Gains and losses on derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss until the underlying hedged transactions are recognized in earnings. The foreign currency transaction gain or loss of our non-derivative financial instruments and the changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as hedges of our net investment in foreign operations and investments are recognized as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss along with the associated foreign currency translation adjustment of the foreign operation or investment, with the amortization of excluded components affecting earnings.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
On an ongoing basis, we assess whether derivatives used in hedging transactions are "highly effective" in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flow of hedged items. For our net investment hedges, we use the dollar offset method to measure effectiveness. For all other hedging programs, we use the long-haul method to assess hedge effectiveness using regression analysis for each hedge relationship. The methodology for assessing hedge effectiveness is applied on a consistent basis for each one of our hedging programs (i.e., interest rate, foreign currency ship construction, foreign currency net investment and fuel). For our regression analyses, we use an observation period of up to three years, utilizing market data relevant to the hedge horizon of each hedge relationship. High effectiveness is achieved when a statistically valid relationship reflects a high degree of offset and correlation between the changes in the fair values of the derivative instrument and the hedged item. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge or hedge accounting is discontinued, any change in fair value of the derivative since the last date at which it was determined to be effective is recognized in earnings.
Cash flows from derivative instruments that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges are classified in the same category as the cash flows from the underlying hedged items. In the event that hedge accounting is discontinued, cash flows subsequent to the date of discontinuance are classified within investing activities. Cash flows from derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are classified as investing activities.
We consider the classification of the underlying hedged item’s cash flows in determining the classification for the designated derivative instrument’s cash flows. We classify derivative instrument cash flows from hedges of benchmark interest rate or hedges of fuel expense as operating activities due to the nature of the hedged item. Likewise, we classify derivative instrument cash flows from hedges of foreign currency risk on our newbuild ship payments as investing activities.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates primarily relates to our debt obligations including future interest payments. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately 64.5% and 62.1%, respectively, of our debt was effectively fixed. We use interest rate swap agreements to modify our exposure to interest rate movements and to manage our interest expense.
Market risk associated with our fixed rate debt is the potential increase in fair value resulting from a decrease in interest rates. We use interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert a portion of our fixed-rate debt to a floating-rate basis to manage this risk. At December 31, 2020, we maintained interest rate swap agreements on the following fixed-rate debt instruments:
These interest rate swap agreements are accounted for as fair value hedges.
Market risk associated with our long-term floating rate debt is the potential increase in interest expense from an increase in interest rates. We use interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert a portion of our floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis to manage this risk. At December 31, 2020, we maintained interest rate swap agreements on the following floating-rate debt instruments:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(1) Interest rate swap agreements hedging the Euro-denominated term loan for Harmony of the Seas include EURIBOR zero-floors matching the hedged debt EURIBOR zero-floor. Amount presented is based on the exchange rate as of December 31, 2020.
(2) Interest rate swap agreements hedging the term loan of Odyssey of the Seas include LIBOR zero-floors matching the debt LIBOR zero-floor. The effective dates of the $460.0 million and $191.7 million interest rate swap agreements are October 2020 and October 2022, respectively. The anticipated unsecured term loan for the financing of Odyssey of the Seas was initially expected to be drawn in October 2020. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 to shipyard operations, there is a delay in the ship delivery.
These interest rate swap agreements are accounted for as cash flow hedges.
The notional amount of interest rate swap agreements related to outstanding debt and our current unfunded financing arrangements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $3.4 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Derivative Instruments
Our primary exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk relates to our ship construction contracts denominated in Euros, our foreign currency denominated debt and our international business operations. We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to manage portions of the exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates. As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate cost of our ships on order, was $14.2 billion, of which we had deposited $684.8 million as of such date. These amounts do not include any ships placed on order that are contingent upon completion of conditions precedent and/or financing, any ships on order by our Partner Brands and any ships on order placed by Silversea Cruises during the reporting lag period. Refer to Note 19. Commitments and Contingencies, for further information on our ships on order. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately 66.3% and 65.9%, respectively, of the aggregate cost of the ships under construction was exposed to fluctuations in the Euro exchange rate. Our foreign currency forward contract agreements are accounted for as cash flow or net investment hedges depending on the designation of the related hedge.
On a regular basis, we enter into foreign currency forward contracts and, from time to time, we utilize cross-currency swap agreements and collar options to minimize the volatility resulting from the remeasurement of net monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than our functional currency or the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we maintained an average of approximately $364.0 million of these foreign currency forward contracts. These instruments are not designated as hedging instruments. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, changes in the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts resulted in gains (losses) of $(19.0) million, $1.4 million and $(62.4) million, respectively, which offset gains (losses) arising from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies in those same years of $(1.5) million, $0.4 million and $57.6 million, respectively. These amounts were recognized in earnings within Other income (expense) in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
We consider our investments in our foreign operations to be denominated in relatively stable currencies and of a long-term nature. As of December 31, 2020, we maintained foreign currency forward contracts and designated them as hedges of a portion of our net investments primarily in TUI Cruises of €245.0 million, or approximately $299.7 million based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. These forward currency contracts mature in October 2021.
The notional amount of outstanding foreign exchange contracts, excluding the forward contracts entered into to minimize remeasurement volatility, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $3.1 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively.
Non-Derivative Instruments
We also address the exposure of our investments in foreign operations by denominating a portion of our debt in our subsidiaries' and investments' functional currencies and designating it as a hedge of these subsidiaries and investments. We had designated debt as a hedge of our net investments primarily in TUI Cruises of €215.0 million, or approximately $263.0 million, as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, we had designated debt as a hedge of our net investments primarily in TUI Cruises of €319.0 million, or approximately $358.1 million.
Fuel Price Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in fuel prices relates primarily to the consumption of fuel on our ships. We use fuel swap agreements to mitigate the financial impact of fluctuations in fuel prices.
Our fuel swap agreements are generally accounted for as cash flow hedges. In the case that our hedged forecasted fuel consumption is not probable of occurring, hedge accounting will be discontinued and the related accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss will be reclassified to Other income (expense) immediately. For hedged forecasted fuel consumption that remains possible of occurring, hedge accounting will be discontinued and the related accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss will
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remain in accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss until the underlying hedged transactions are recognized in earnings or the related hedged forecasted fuel consumption is deemed probable of not occurring.
The current suspension of our cruise operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our 2020 and expected 2021 ship disposals resulted in reductions to our forecasted fuel purchases. As of December 31, 2020, we discontinued cash flow hedge accounting on 0.6 million metric tons of our fuel swap agreements maturing in 2020 and 2021, which resulted in the reclassification of a net $104.4 million loss from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Other expense during the year ended December 31, 2020. Changes in the fair value of fuel swaps for which cash flow hedge accounting was discontinued are currently recognized in Other expense each reporting period.
Future suspension of our operations or modifications to our itineraries may affect our expected forecasted fuel purchases which could result in further discontinuance of fuel swap cash flow hedge accounting and the reclassification of deferred gains or losses from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings. Refer to Risk Factors in Part 1, Item 1A. for further discussion on risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At December 31, 2020, we have hedged the variability in future cash flows for certain forecasted fuel transactions occurring through 2023. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had the following outstanding fuel swap agreements:
At December 31, 2020 there was $13.1 million of estimated unrealized net loss associated with our cash flow hedges pertaining to fuel swap agreements to be reclassified to earnings from Accumulated other comprehensive loss within the next twelve months when compared to none at December 31, 2019. Reclassification is expected to occur as the result of fuel consumption associated with our hedged forecasted fuel purchases.
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The fair value and line item caption of derivative instruments recorded within our consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):
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(1)Accounting Standard Codification 815-20 "Derivatives and Hedging."
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The location and amount of gain or (loss) recognized in income on fair value and cash flow hedging relationships were as follows (in thousands):
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The carrying value and line item caption of non-derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments recorded within our consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):
The effect of derivative instruments qualifying and designated as hedging instruments and the related hedged items in fair value hedges on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) was as follows (in thousands):
The fair value and line item caption of derivative instruments recorded within our consolidated balance sheets for the cumulative basis adjustment for fair value hedges were as follows (in thousands):
The effect of derivative instruments qualifying and designated as cash flow hedging instruments on the consolidated financial statements was as follows (in thousands):
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The table below represents amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness for our net investment hedging instruments for which the difference between changes in fair value and periodic amortization is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (in thousands):
The effect of non-derivative instruments qualifying and designated as net investment hedging instruments on the consolidated financial statements was as follows (in thousands):
The effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the consolidated financial statements was as follows (in thousands):
Credit Related Contingent Features
Our current interest rate derivative instruments require us to post collateral if our Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s credit ratings fall below specified levels. Specifically, under most of our agreements, if on the fifth anniversary of executing a derivative instrument, or on any succeeding fifth-year anniversary, our credit ratings for our senior unsecured debt is rated below BBB- by Standard & Poor’s and Baa3 by Moody’s, then the counterparty will periodically have the right to demand that we post collateral in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the net market value of all derivative transactions with such counterparty that have reached their fifth year anniversary, to the extent negative, and (ii) the applicable minimum call amount.
The amount of collateral required to be posted will change as, and to the extent, our net liability position increases or decreases by more than the applicable minimum call amount. If our credit rating for our senior unsecured debt is subsequently equal to or above BBB- by Standard & Poor’s or Baa3 by Moody’s, then any collateral posted at such time will be released to us and we will no longer be required to post collateral unless we meet the collateral trigger requirement, generally, at the next fifth-year anniversary.
As of December 31, 2020, our senior unsecured debt credit rating was B+ by Standard & Poor's and B2 by Moody's. As of December 31, 2020, seven of our interest rate derivative hedges had a term of at least five years requiring us to post collateral of $57.3 million to satisfy our obligations under our interest rate derivative agreements, taking into account collateral waivers issued by certain banks. On February 25, 2021, Standard & Poor's further downgraded our senior unsecured debt credit rating from B+ to B. We believe the maximum additional collateral we may need to provide under these agreements in the next twelve months is approximately $33.3 million.
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Note 19. Commitments and Contingencies
Ship Purchase Obligations
Our future capital commitments consist primarily of new ship orders. As of December 31, 2020, we had one Quantum-class ship, two Oasis-class ships and three ships of a new generation, known as our Icon-class, on order for our Royal Caribbean International brand with an aggregate capacity of approximately 32,400 berths. As of December 31, 2020, we had two Edge-class ships on order for our Celebrity brand with an aggregate capacity of approximately 6,500 berths. Additionally as of December 31, 2020, we had three ships on order with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,750 berths for our Silversea Cruises brand. The following provides further information on recent developments with respect to our ship orders.
In September 2019, Silversea Cruises entered into two credit agreements, guaranteed by us, for the unsecured financing of the first and second Evolution-class ships for an amount of up to 80% of each ship's contract price through facilities to be guaranteed 95% by Euler Hermes, the official export credit agency of Germany. The maximum loan amount under each facility is not to exceed the United States dollar equivalent of €351.6 million in the case of the first Evolution-class ship and €359.0 million in the case of the second Evolution-class ship, or approximately $430.1 million and $439.2 million, respectively, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Each loan, once funded, will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following the delivery of each ship. At our election, interest on each loan will accrue either (1) at a fixed rate of 4.14% and 4.18%, respectively (inclusive of the applicable margin) or (2) at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 0.79% and 0.83%, respectively. The first and second Evolution-class ships will each have a capacity of approximately 600 berths.
In December 2019, we entered into a credit agreement for the unsecured financing of the sixth Oasis-class ship for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price through a facility to be guaranteed 100% by BpiFrance Assurance Export, the official export credit agency of France. Under the financing arrangement, we have the right, but not the obligation, to satisfy the obligations to be incurred upon delivery and acceptance of the ship under the shipbuilding contract by assuming, at delivery and acceptance, the debt indirectly incurred by the shipbuilder during the construction of the ship. The maximum loan amount under the facility is not to exceed the United States dollar equivalent of €1.3 billion, or approximately $1.6 billion based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loan will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of the ship. Interest on the loan will accrue at a fixed rate of 3.00% (inclusive of margin). The sixth Oasis-class ship will have a capacity of approximately 5,700 berths.
In December 2019, we entered into a credit agreement for the unsecured financing of the third Icon-class ship for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price. Finnvera plc, the official export credit agency of Finland, has agreed to guarantee 95% of the substantial majority of the financing, with a smaller portion of the financing to be 95% guaranteed by Euler Hermes, the official German export credit agency. The maximum loan amount under the facility is not to exceed the United States dollar equivalent of €1.4 billion, or approximately $1.7 billion based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loan, once funded, will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following the delivery of the ship. Approximately 60% of the loan will accrue interest at a fixed rate of 3.29%. The balance of the loan will accrue interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus 0.85%. The third Icon-class ship will have a capacity of approximately 5,600 berths.
During 2017, we entered into credit agreements for the unsecured financing of the two Icon-class ships for up to 80% of each ship’s contract price. For each ship, the official Finnish export credit agency, Finnvera plc, has agreed to guarantee 100% of a substantial majority of the financing to the lenders, with a smaller portion of the financing to be 95% guaranteed by Euler Hermes, the official German export credit agency. The maximum loan amount under each facility is not to exceed €1.4 billion, or approximately $1.7 billion, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Interest on approximately 75% of each loan will accrue at a fixed rate of 3.56% and 3.76% for the first and the second Icon-class ships, respectively, and the balance will accrue interest at a floating rate ranging from LIBOR plus 1.10% to 1.15% and LIBOR plus 1.15% to 1.20% for the first and the second Icon-class ships, respectively. Each loan will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of each ship. The first and second Icon-class ships will each have a capacity of approximately 5,600 berths.
During 2017, we entered into credit agreements for the unsecured financing of the third and fourth Edge-class ships and the fifth Oasis-class ship for up to 80% of each ship’s contract price through facilities to be guaranteed 100% by Bpifrance Assurance Export, the official export credit agency of France. Under these financing arrangements, we have the right, but not the obligation, to satisfy the obligations to be incurred upon delivery and acceptance of each ship under the shipbuilding contract by assuming, at delivery and acceptance, the debt indirectly incurred by the shipbuilder during the construction of each ship. The maximum loan amount under each facility is not to exceed €684.2 million in the case of the third Edge-class ship and the United States dollar equivalent of €714.6 million and €1.1 billion in the case of the fourth Edge-class ship and fifth Oasis-class ship, or approximately $874.2 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loans will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of each ship. Interest on the loans will accrue at a fixed rate of 1.28% for the third Edge-class ship and at a fixed rate of 3.18% for both, the fourth Edge-class ship and
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the fifth Oasis-class ship. The third and fourth Edge-class ships, each of which will have a capacity of approximately 3,250 berths. The fifth Oasis-class ship will have a capacity of approximately 5,700 berths.
During 2015, we entered into a credit agreement for the unsecured financing of Odyssey of the Seas for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price, through a facility to be guaranteed 95% by Euler Hermes, official export credit agency of Germany. Hermes has agreed to guarantee to the lender payment of 95% of the financing. The ship will have a capacity of approximately 4,200 berths. This credit agreement makes available to us an unsecured term loan in an amount up to the United States dollar equivalent of €777.5 million, or approximately $951.2 million, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loan will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of the ship. At our election, prior to delivery of the ship, interest on the loans will accrue either (1) at a fixed rate of 3.45% (inclusive of the applicable margin) or (2) at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 0.95%.
Our future capital commitments consist primarily of new ship orders. As of December 31, 2020, our Global and Partner Brands have the following ships on order. COVID-19 has impacted shipyard operations which have and may continue to result in delays of our previously contracted ship deliveries. As of December 31, 2020, the expected dates that the ships on order are expected to be delivered, subject to change in the event of construction delays, and their approximate berths are as follows:
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(1) The revenue impact from Silversea Cruises' new ships will be recognized on a three month reporting lag from when the ships enter service. Refer to Note 1. General for further information.
In addition, as of December 31, 2020, we have an agreement in place with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build an additional Edge-class ship for delivery in 2025, which is contingent upon completion of conditions precedent and financing.
As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate cost of our ships on order, not including any ships on order by our Partner Brands and the Silversea Cruises ships that remain contingent upon final documentation and financing, was approximately $14.2 billion, of which we had deposited $684.8 million as of such date. Approximately 66.3% of the aggregate cost was exposed to fluctuations in the Euro exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments for further information.
Litigation
As previously reported, two lawsuits were filed against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in August 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act. The complaint filed by Havana Docks Corporation ("Havana Docks Action") alleges it holds an interest in the Havana Cruise Port Terminal and the complaint filed by Javier Garcia-Bengochea (the "Port of Santiago Action") alleges that he holds an interest in the Port of Santiago, Cuba, both of which were expropriated by the Cuban Government. The complaints further allege that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trafficked in those properties by embarking and disembarking passengers at these facilities. The plaintiffs seek all available statutory remedies, including the value of the expropriated property, plus interest, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. filed its answer to each complaint in October 2019 and on October 15, 2020, and the Court dismissed the Port of Santiago Action with prejudice on the basis that the plaintiffs in that action lacked standing to bring the claim. This decision has been appealed by the plaintiffs. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the claims alleged in both the Havana Docks Action and the Port of Santiago Action, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against them. We believe that it is unlikely that the outcome of either action will have a material adverse impact to our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that the final outcome of this case will not be material.
As previously reported, on October 7, 2020, a shareholder filed a putative class action complaint against us, and three officers, Richard Fain, Jason Liberty and Michael Bayley, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the "Court"), alleging misrepresentations relating to COVID-19 in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, seeking unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired our securities from February 4, 2020 through March 17, 2020. As previously disclosed, on October 27, 2020, a second complaint was filed by another shareholder against us and these same officers in the Court alleging the same misrepresentations relating to COVID-19. As is the case with the first action, the second action seeks unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired our securities from February 4, 2020 through March 17, 2020. On December 23, 2020, these cases were consolidated with a new lead plaintiff, Indiana Public Retirement System. We cannot predict the duration or outcome of this lawsuit at this time, although management believes the claims are without merit. Depending on how this case progresses, it could be costly to defend and could divert the attention of management and other resources from operations. Accordingly, even if ultimately resolved in our favor, this action could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. On February 25, 2021, the lead plaintiff filed with the Court a voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice.
We are routinely involved in other claims, regulatory investigations and inquiries, and consumer complaints, including those related to COVID-19, that are typical within the travel and tourism industry. The majority of these claims are covered by insurance. We believe the outcome of such claims, net of expected insurance recoveries, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations and cash flows.
Other
Some of the contracts that we enter into include indemnification provisions that obligate us to make payments to the counterparty if certain events occur. These contingencies generally relate to changes in taxes, increased lender capital costs and other similar costs. The indemnification clauses are often standard contractual terms and are entered into in the normal course of business. There are no stated or notional amounts included in the indemnification clauses and we are not able to estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments, if any, under these indemnification clauses. We have not been required to make any payments under such indemnification clauses in the past and, under current circumstances, we do not believe an indemnification in any material amount is probable.
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If any person acquires ownership of more than 50% of our common stock or, subject to certain exceptions, during any 24-month period, a majority of our board of directors is no longer comprised of individuals who were members of our board of directors on the first day of such period, we may be obligated to prepay indebtedness outstanding under our credit facilities, which we may be unable to replace on similar terms. Our public debt securities also contain change of control provisions that would be triggered by a third-party acquisition of greater than 50% of our common stock coupled with a ratings downgrade. If this were to occur, it would have an adverse impact on our liquidity and operations.
At December 31, 2020, we have future commitments to pay for our usage of certain port facilities, marine consumables, services and maintenance contracts as follows (in thousands):
Note 20. Restructuring Charges
Centralization of Global Sales and Marketing Structure
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we implemented a strategy related to the restructuring and centralization of our international sales and marketing structure. Activities related to this strategy focused on moving from a multi-brand sales model to a brand dedicated sales model, which resulted in the consolidation of some of our international offices and personnel reorganization among our sales and marketing teams. The personnel reorganization resulted in the recognition of a liability for one-time termination benefits during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. We also incurred contract termination costs related to the closure of some of our international offices and other related costs consisting of legal and consulting fees to implement this initiative. As a result of these actions, we incurred restructuring exit costs of $12.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, which were reported within Marketing, selling and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of December 31, 2020, we incurred $22.7 million restructuring costs as it relates to the restructuring activities of this strategy.
The following table summarizes our restructuring exit costs (in thousands):
Operating Expense Reduction in Workforce
In April 2020, we reduced our US shoreside workforce by approximately 23% through permanent layoffs. We incurred severance costs of $28.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
The following table summarizes our restructuring costs as it relates to the April 2020 reduction in our workforce (in thousands):
Note 21. Quarterly Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)
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(1)Our revenues are seasonal based on the demand for cruises. Demand is strongest for cruises during the Northern Hemisphere's summer months and holidays.
(2)Total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 includes a charge of $67.9 million that was recorded to Onboard and other revenues to correct cancellation revenue, for certain immaterial bookings, that was incorrectly recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2020. The charge is offsetting cancellation and other revenue recognized during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and was considered immaterial to our financial statements.