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):

​

​

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 historically approximated 75-80%. 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our receivables from customers were $4.1 million and $15.3 million, respectively.

Beginning in March 2020, our brands launched new cancellation policies to permit our guests to cancel cruises which are not part of the Company’s temporary suspension of voyages up to 48 hours or 15 days, depending on the brand, prior to embarkation and receive a refund in the form of a credit to be applied toward a future cruise. These programs are currently in place for cruises booked through specific time periods specified by brand, and for cruises scheduled to embark through specified time periods, depending on the brand. The future cruise credit is valid for any sailing through December 31, 2022, and we may extend this offer. The future cruise credits are not contracts, and therefore, guests who have elected this option are excluded from our contract liability balance; however, the credit for the original amount paid is included in advance ticket sales.

​

Our contract liabilities are included within advance ticket sales. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our contract liabilities were $33.4 million and $1.4 billion, respectively. Of the amounts included within contract liabilities as of September 30, 2020, approximately 20% were refundable in accordance with our cancellation policies. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, $0.9 billion of revenue recognized was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period.

​

For cruise vacations that had been cancelled by us due to COVID-19, approximately $15.5 million and $160.4 million in costs to obtain these contracts, consisting of protected commissions, including those paid to employees, and credit card fees, were recognized in earnings during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.