Ahead of its conference call with investors, Royal Caribbean announced better than expected financial results for the third fiscal quarter and increased its earnings outlook for the full year 2012.

Royal Caribbean reported third quarter net income of $367.8 million, or $1.68 per share, versus income of $399.0 million, or $1.82 per share, in the third quarter of 2011.

Helping Royal Caribbean's financials for the quarter were stronger than expected close-in bookings, including Europe.  NCC excluding fuel were also better than anticipated and increased 2.0% on a Constant-Currency basis (declined 0.2% As-Reported).

Royal Caribbean Richard Fain commented on the news, "The strong third quarter certainly validates our confidence in our business model.Strong close-in demand and our focus on costs drove substantially better results than expected. I am especially gratified that we are still seeing price increases in a year marked by so many external pressures."

Royal Caribbean also increased its guidance for full year earnings per share by $0.15 to a range of $1.85 to $1.95. This increase has been mainly driven by stronger than anticipated revenue (+$0.06 per share) and expense reduction (+$0.06 per share). The remaining $0.03 per share improvement is principally due to currency benefits net of oil price increases.

Many of our readers have been concerned about their cruises this weekend aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships.  Royal Caribbean has issued the following statement at 6:00pm eastern time.

Royal Caribbean International is closely monitoring the path and progress of Hurricane Sandy to ensure guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises, and to make certain our ships steer clear of the storm. The safety of our guests and crew is always our foremost concern.

At this time, given Hurricane Sandy's current location and projected path, Royal Caribbean has not altered the itineraries of any ship that departs this Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. However, we encourage guests sailing on Majesty of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas monitor this website for any additional updates.

If you have not done so already, we strongly suggest guests complete their online check-in as soon as possible, including the section on your preferred method of contact while traveling.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again tomorrow, Thursday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m. E.S.T. 

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, was recognized by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) South Florida with the chapter’s Hospitality Legend award.

Freed oversees Royal Caribbean's sales department as well as Royal Caribbean's Trade Support and Services division. She also leads the Loyal to You Always committment to the travel agent community.

Carmen Ackerman, President of HSMAI South Florida, presented Freed with the award during the association's Best in Hospitality banquet to benefit the HSMAI South Florida scholarship fund for future hospitality leaders.

In her community, Vicki serves on the board of the Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO) and she is a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County. Previously, she served on the Florida Commission on Tourism for ten years, the board of directors for the South Florida Chapter of Make-a-Wish Foundation for nine years and the board of directors for the Association for Travel Marketing Executives.

Tropical Storm Sandy is causing Royal Caribbean to change its itineraries for the world's largest cruise ship.

Allure of the Seas will not stop at Falmouth, Jamaica on Wednesday.  Instead, Allure of the Seas will stay at sea.

The United States National Hurricane Center expects Tropical Storm Sandy to turn into a hurricane as it nears Jamaica on Wednesday.

Royal Caribbean has made no other itinerary changes to its cruise ships yet but we will post any updates here as soon as we hear anything.

In celebration of National Cruise Vacation Week, Royal Caribbean is launching a new week-long sale to customers considering a cruise to Europe.

Royal Caribbean is offering up to $100 in onboard credit for those booking a cruise in Europe by October 28.  The deal is valid on itineraries of seven nights or longer departing in 2013 (including trans-Atlantic cruises).

Those that book a balcony or suite cabin will receive a $100 onboard credit per cabin.  If you book an inside or ocean-view cabin, you will receive $50 in onboard credit.  

The sale is available to residents of the United States and Canada only.

Last week Royal Caribbean formally announced it was revamping its main dining room choices by investing in a multi-million dollar upgrade.  Today we know a little more about the changes coming to dinner.

Royal Caribbean is investing in the complimentary dining program to increase the variety of menu choices in the main dining room, and in particular, the inclusion of dishes with regional influences reflective of the destinations Royal Caribbean ships sail to; improved choices for guests with dietary restrictions; and even more enticing presentation. 

The exact changes are as follows: 

• The main dining room menu has been revamped to offer a greater variety of choice.
• Royal Caribbean’s much-loved favorites such as aged hand-cut Manhattan steak, escargot bourguignonne, shrimp cocktail and crème brulee, are now available every night.?
• To cater to its growing global clientele, Royal Caribbean will add more international food options in the dining room with a renewed focus on authenticity.
• Good news for dessert lovers – Royal Caribbean will offer a new “hot from the oven” blueberry peach crumble, sticky bread and butter pudding and sumptuous carrot cake.
• To better cater to those with special dietary needs, Royal Caribbean will introduce more heart-healthy, gluten-free and lactose-free food options. It has enlisted a registered and licensed dietician and nutrition consultant to evaluate existing menus, create new offerings for guests with dietary restrictions, and shape the cruise line’s current gluten-free and lactose-free program into a more guest-friendly experience.?
• All low calorie, gluten-free and lactose-free options will be clearly identified with respective menu icons as well as menu selections that can be modified to fit these requirements for guests.? In addition to the new menu designations, Royal Caribbean is rolling out new daily gluten-free bread offerings, available on request in all venues, including specialty restaurants.
• All of the new main dining menu offerings will include upgraded entrees such rack of lamb, surf & turf, beef sliders and daily entrée dinner salads.
• As part of the investment, the cruise line will continue to focus on training which includes a sous chef certification program with the American Culinary Federation and a new wait staff training curriculum targeting the new menus, standards training, and allergen and dietary programs.
• Guests also will notice a change in the physical menu with a new fresh design featuring the cruise line’s international culinary team.

Royal Caribbean's Executive Vice President of Operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo commented on the big investiment, "In today's food-aware culture, the palettes of our guests have evolved and they have come to expect, not only a variety of choices, but cuisine of the highest quality, made with the freshest of ingredients. In recent years, we have introduced many new specialty dining concepts and in this next evolution we are expanding the options in our main dining room with even more variety, allowing us to cater to our international guests while offering them the highest quality dining on land or at sea.”

Ricardo Amaral has been promoted to Vice President of Royal Caribbean Latin America.  

Amaral was promoted after his great work with Royal Caribbean in Brazil and the surrounding region.  The move is part of a restructuring within Royal Caribbean, which has a focus on the international market.  International sales now represent 50% of total sales for the cruise giant.

"I am delighted with this new opportunity and proud to see Brazil in a prominent position on the international stage and in operation company in the world, "said Amaral. Ricardo Amaral.