Norwegian Dawn Update
Immaterial Impact Expected on Q2 and Full Year Earnings
MIAMI, May 20, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:NCLH), (NCL Corporation Ltd., "the Company") will hold a conference call today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time with an update on Norwegian Dawn. The toll-free dial in number is (866) 393-0674, for international participants (970) 315-0304. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously via the Company's Investor Relations website, www.nclhltdinvestor.com. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same site for 30 days following the call.
As previously announced, on Tuesday, May 19 at approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Norwegian Dawn experienced a temporary malfunction of its steering system while departing Bermuda, causing the ship to sail slightly off course, resulting in the vessel making contact with the sea bed. There were no injuries and all guests and crew are safe.
With the high-tide yesterday evening, the ship was floated and moved to a nearby anchorage position where it remained overnight. The ship remained fully operational with the full complement of onboard services available to guests.
This morning, a thorough assessment of Norwegian Dawn was completed by Norwegian's technical operations team, an independent dive team, and DNVGL inspectors, representing the ship's classification society, while the ship was alongside in Heritage Wharf, Bermuda. The team confirmed the structural integrity of the ship and the technical issue which caused the steering malfunction was identified and corrected. The ship is expected to be cleared by the Bermuda Shipping Registry and DNV to depart at 3:00 p.m. today and arrive in Boston on Friday as planned. Norwegian Dawn's next voyage will depart as scheduled on Friday, May 22.
The impact on earnings per share as a direct result of the incident is expected to be immaterial and has no impact on the company's second quarter and full year guidance provided in its most recent earnings release.
About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:NCLH) is a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise lines spanning market segments from contemporary to luxury under the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.
These brands operate a combined 21 ships with approximately 40,000 lower berths visiting more than 420 destinations worldwide. The Company's brands will introduce six ships through 2019.
Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising, which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility on the most contemporary ships at sea. Oceania Cruises is the market leader in the upper-premium cruise segment featuring the finest cuisine at sea, elegant accommodations, impeccable service and destination-driven itineraries. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the market leader in the luxury cruise segment with all-suite accommodations, highly personalized service and the industry's most inclusive luxury experience featuring round-trip air, fine wines and spirits and unlimited shore excursions among its numerous included amenities.
Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "expect," "anticipate," "goal," "project," "plan," "believe," "seek," "will," "may," "forecast," "estimate," "intend," "future," and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, which are not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements reflect Norwegian's current expectations, and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Among the important risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are the effects of costs incurred in connection with the Acquisition of Prestige; the ability to realize, or delays in realizing, the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition of Prestige; the assumption of certain potential liabilities relating to Prestige's business; the diversion of management's attention away from operations as a result of the integration of Prestige's business; the effect that the Acquisition of Prestige may have on employee relations and on our ability to retain key personnel; the adverse impact of general economic conditions and related factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels of unemployment, underemployment and the volatility of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions of these conditions that decrease the level of disposable income of consumers or consumer confidence; the risks associated with operating internationally, including changes in interest rates and/or foreign currency exchange rates; changes in fuel prices and/or other cruise operating costs; our efforts to expand our business into new markets; our substantial indebtedness, including the ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, and to generate the necessary amount of cash to service our existing debt; restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our flexibility in operating our business; the significant portion of our assets pledged as collateral under our existing debt agreements and the ability of our creditors to accelerate the repayment of our indebtedness; our ability to incur significantly more debt despite our substantial existing indebtedness; the impact of volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; adverse events impacting the security of travel, such as terrorist acts, acts of piracy, armed conflict and threats thereof and other international events; the impact of the spread of epidemics and viral outbreaks; the impact of any future changes relating to how external distribution channels sell and market our cruises; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services to certain of our ships and certain other services; the impact of delays in our shipbuilding program and ship repairs, maintenance and refurbishments; the impact of any future increases in the price of, or major changes or reduction in, commercial airline services; the impact of seasonal variations in passenger fare rates and occupancy levels at different times of the year; the effect of adverse incidents involving cruise ships and our ability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; the impact of any breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology and other networks; our ability to keep pace with developments in technology; the impact of amendments to our collective bargaining agreements for crew members and other employee relation issues; the continued availability of attractive port destinations; the impact of pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate; the control of our business by our Sponsors; and other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed by each of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ("NCLH") and NCL Corporation Ltd. ("NCLC") with the SEC and subsequent filings by NCLH and NCLC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. In addition, certain financial measures in this website constitute non-GAAP financial measures as defined by Regulation G. A reconciliation of these items can be found on the Company's web site at www.nclhltdinvestor.com.
CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact
Andrea DeMarco
(305) 468-2463
InvestorRelations@ncl.com
Media Contact
Jason Lasecki
PublicRelations@ncl.com
Released May 20, 2015
