3.   Revenue Recognition

Disaggregation of Revenue

Revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors in various geographical regions. Revenues by destination were as follows (in thousands):

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Amounts for the comparative three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are excluded as the information is not meaningful. North America includes the U.S., the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico. Europe includes the Baltic region, Canary Islands and Mediterranean. Asia-Pacific includes Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Other includes all other international territories.

Segment Reporting

We have concluded that our business has a single reportable segment. Each brand, Norwegian, Oceania Cruises and Regent, constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and management regularly reviews the brand level operating results and, therefore, each brand is considered an operating segment. Our operating segments have similar economic and qualitative characteristics, including similar long-term margins and similar products and services; therefore, we aggregate all of the operating segments into one reportable segment.

Although we sell cruises on an international basis, our passenger ticket revenue is primarily attributed to U.S.-sourced guests who make reservations in the U.S. Revenue attributable to U.S.-sourced guests has approximated 80-87% of total revenue over the preceding three fiscal years. No other individual country’s revenues exceed 10% in any given period.

Contract Balances

Receivables from customers are included within accounts receivable, net. As of September 30, 2022, our receivables from customers were $58.5 million.

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Our cancellation policies permit certain guests to cancel cruises booked within certain windows for specified time periods up to 15 days prior to departure or in the event of a positive COVID-19 test, and the guests will receive future cruise credits. Standard cancellation penalties apply for all sailings after September 30, 2022. Future cruise credits that

have been issued as face value reimbursement for cancelled bookings due to COVID-19 are generally valid for any sailing through June 30, 2023, and we may further extend this offer. The future cruise credits are not contracts, and therefore, guests who elected this option are excluded from our contract liability balance; however, the credit for the original amount paid is included in advance ticket sales.

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Our contract liabilities are included within advance ticket sales. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, our contract liabilities were $1.6 billion and $161.8 million, respectively. Of the amounts included within contract liabilities as of September 30, 2022, approximately 40% were refundable in accordance with our cancellation policies. Of the deposits included within advance ticket sales, the majority are refundable in accordance with our cancellation policies and it is uncertain to what extent guests may request refunds. Refunds payable to guests are included in accounts payable. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, $123.1 million of revenue recognized was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period.

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For cruise vacations that had been cancelled by us due to COVID-19, during the three months ended September 30, 2021, approximately $0.9 million, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, approximately $0.3 million and $26.9 million, respectively, in costs to obtain these contracts, consisting of protected commissions, including those paid to employees, and credit card fees, were recognized in earnings.