Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd NCLH

Norwegian Continues to Benefit From Consumers' Appetite for Travel

Coronavirus-induced changes in consumer behavior with regard to travel had altered the economic performance of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, affecting its ability to generate excess economic rents. However, as consumers returned to cruising after the 15-month sailing halt that ended in July 2021, they regained their appetite for travel, bolstered by the value proposition the holiday provides. With ships fully deployed at historical occupancy levels, pricing surpassed prepandemic levels in 2023, and pricing momentum has persisted into 2024. While Norwegian could intermittently see pricing competition in periods of macroeconomic distress, we believe its freestyle offering and attractive itineraries will keep passengers engaged with the brand. On the cost side, while higher oil prices and unfavorable foreign exchange could elevate costs at times, we expect management will focus on extracting further efficiencies as the business continues to scale. Over time, we expect both pricing and costs to normalize at low-single-digit rates.