Is Norwegian Cruise Line Going Bust?

By Robert Palmer

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), like many other cruise companies, has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. With travel restrictions and health concerns, the cruise industry has been put on hold since early 2020. As a result, many people are wondering if NCL is going bust.

What is happening to Norwegian Cruise Line?

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a global cruise company that operates three brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. According to their website, they have 28 ships with over 59,000 berths.

Due to the pandemic, all of NCL’s voyages were suspended in March 2020. Since then, they have extended their suspension several times. As of now, they plan to resume operations on May 31st, 2021 for some ships and in July for others.

Is Norwegian Cruise Line going bankrupt?

As of now, NCL has not filed for bankruptcy. However, they did announce in November 2020 that they were exploring options to raise additional capital through debt or equity offerings. They also secured a $675 million investment from L Catterton and other investors.

In February 2021, they announced a public offering of $500 million senior notes due in 2026 to raise additional capital.

While NCL has taken steps to secure funding during this uncertain time for the industry, there is no guarantee that they will be able to weather the storm without facing financial difficulties in the future.

What are the challenges facing Norwegian Cruise Line?

The biggest challenge facing NCL is uncertainty about when they will be able to resume operations at full capacity. Even when travel restrictions are lifted and vaccines become more widely available, there may still be hesitancy among passengers to book cruises due to health concerns.

In addition to this, NCL has a significant amount of debt. As of September 2020, their total long-term debt was $6.7 billion. This makes them vulnerable if they are unable to generate enough revenue to meet their financial obligations.

What is NCL doing to overcome these challenges?

NCL has implemented a number of measures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew when they do resume operations. These include enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures, social distancing measures, and pre-boarding health screenings.

They have also introduced new policies to give passengers more flexibility in booking and cancelling cruises. For example, they have extended their Peace of Mind policy which allows guests to cancel up to 15 days before departure for any reason and receive a full refund.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Norwegian Cruise Line is facing significant challenges due to the pandemic and uncertainty about the future of the industry, they have not filed for bankruptcy and are taking steps to secure funding and implement safety measures for when they do resume operations. However, as with many companies in the travel industry, there is no guarantee that they will be able to fully recover from this crisis without facing financial difficulties in the future.