Thursday, September 20, 2007


London, Sep. 20, 2007 (PR Newswire UK Disclose delivered by Newstex) --


Carnival Corporation & plc Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings Board Re-establishes $1 Billion Share Buy Back Program Carnival Corporation & plc today reports record earnings for the thirdquarter ended August 31, 2007. The earnings of Carnival Corporation andCarnival plc have been consolidated, and this statement includes consolidatedresults on a U.S. GAAP basis. Q3 Highlights -- Q3 revenues increased by $416m or 10.7% to $4.32bn versus the prior year, driven primarily by a 9.4% increase in cruise capacity -- Q3 net revenue yields increased 2.5% compared to the prior year (flat on a constant dollar basis) -- Q3 net income (profit after tax) increased by $145m or 11.8% to $1.38bn (Q3 2006: net income of $1.23bn on revenues of $3.91bn) -- Q3 earnings per share (diluted) increased by $0.18 to $1.67 (Q3 2006: earnings per share (diluted) of $1.49) Outlook -- Net revenue yields for full year 2007 are expected to be up 1 to 2% (down 1% on a constant dollar basis), compared to last year -- Net cruise costs per ALBD for full year 2007 are expected to be up 3 to 4% (up 1 on a constant dollar basis), compared to 2006 -- Despite increases in fuel prices, full year 2007 earnings per share (diluted) expected to be in the range of $2.92 to $2.94, toward the higher end of previous guidance -- Q4 earnings per share (diluted) expected to be in the range of $0.42 to $0.44 versus $0.51 in Q4 2006 -- Board increases remaining $578 million repurchase authorization to $1 billion Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Micky Arison commenting on theseresults: 'Our earnings were up 12 percent driven largely by the successfulintroduction of new ships for both our North American and European brands intime for our peak summer season. Our North American brands enjoyed anotherstrong European season, a solid Alaska season, and a modest year over yearimprovement in revenue yields in the Caribbean. The recovery in the Caribbeanhas continued as the demand for Caribbean cruises remains strong,' Arisonsaid. 'For the balance of 2007 and into the first half of next year, bookingsare well ahead of last year.' Arison said. He cited the company's pricingstrategy of early discounts on Caribbean cruises stimulating strong bookingvolumes early in the year - a strategy now driving revenue yield improvementinto the fourth quarter. 'We've already seen Caribbean pricing improvement inthe back half of this year, and we are optimistic that it will continue intothe first half of 2008,' he added. Analyst conference call The company has scheduled a conference call with analysts at 15.00 Londontime (10:00 a.m. EDT) today to discuss its 2007 third quarter earnings. Thiscall can be listened to live, and additional information can be obtained, viaCarnival Corporation & plc's Web site at www.carnivalcorp.com andwww.carnivalplc.com. Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in theworld, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe andAustralia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, PrincessCruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line,Iberocruceros, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia. Together, these brands operate 84 ships totaling 156,000 lower berths with17 new ships scheduled to enter service between December 2007 and June 2011.Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Tours and PrincessTours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded onboth the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc isthe only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE100 indices. Carnival Corporation & plc Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings Board Re-establishes $1 Billion Share Buy Back Program MIAMI, Sept. 20 -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK)reported record net income for its third quarter ended August 31, 2007 of $1.38billion, or $1.67 diluted EPS, compared to net income for the third quarter of2006 of $1.23 billion, or $1.49 diluted EPS. Revenues for the third quarter 2007increased to $4.32 billion from $3.91 billion in the third quarter of 2006. Net income for the nine months ended August 31, 2007 was also a record at$2.05 billion, or $2.51 diluted EPS, on revenues of $9.91 billion, compared tonet income of $1.86 billion, or $2.25 diluted EPS, on revenues of $9.03billion for the same period in 2006. Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison said that thirdquarter results came in better than expected primarily due to stronger pricingon bookings taken closer to departure. 'Our earnings were up 12 percent driven largely by the successfulintroduction of new ships for both our North American and European brands intime for our peak summer season. Our North American brands enjoyed anotherstrong European season, a solid Alaska season, and a modest year over yearimprovement in revenue yields in the Caribbean. The recovery in the Caribbeanhas continued as the demand for Caribbean cruises remains strong,' Arisonsaid. The company's European brands benefited from strong improvements inoperating results with increased revenue yields on a dollar basis due tostronger Euro and Sterling currencies. Local currency revenue yields were downagainst very strong comparisons with the previous year. Key metrics for the third quarter of 2007 were as follows: -- Net revenue yields (net revenue per available lower berth day) for Q3 2007 increased 2.5 percent (flat on a constant dollar basis) compared to the prior year. Gross revenue yields increased 2.0 percent compared to the prior year. -- Net cruise costs per available lower berth day ('ALBD') for Q3 2007 increased 3.3 percent (up 0.8 percent on a constant dollar basis) compared to the prior year. Gross cruise costs per ALBD increased 2.3 percent compared to the prior year. -- Excluding fuel, net cruise cost per ALBD on a constant dollar basis decreased 0.2 percent compared to the prior year. -- Fuel price increased 7.4 percent to $376 per metric ton compared to $350 per metric ton in the third quarter of 2006, and was in line with our previous guidance of $375 per metric ton. Repurchase Program The company has repurchased 4.5 million shares of Carnival stock forapproximately $195 million since the beginning of the third quarter. The totalamount repurchased to date under the June 2006 $1 billion authorization is$422 million. Yesterday, the board of directors increased the remaining $578million repurchase authorization to $1 billion. Repurchases will take place inthe open market or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with allapplicable laws, rules and regulations. This authorization covers bothCarnival Corporation stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange and Carnivalplc ordinary shares traded on the London Stock Exchange. Outlook On a cumulative basis, occupancy for advance bookings taken for the fourthquarter of 2007 and the first half of 2008 are ahead of last year with pricingon a current dollar basis up slightly compared to last year. 'For the balance of 2007 and into the first half of next year, bookingsare well ahead of last year,' Arison said. He cited the company's pricingstrategy of early discounts on Caribbean cruises stimulating strong bookingvolumes early in the year - a strategy now driving revenue yield improvementinto the fourth quarter. 'We've already seen Caribbean pricing improvement inthe back half of this year, and we are optimistic that it will continue intothe first half of 2008,' he added. Net revenue yields for our North American brands should see continuedimprovement in the fourth quarter based on the positive trends in theCaribbean business. The European brands are also expected to perform wellcontinuing to benefit from the strong Euro and Sterling. For the fourthquarter of 2007, the company expects earnings to be in the range of $0.42 to$0.44 per share, down from $0.51 per share in 2006 primarily as a result ofsignificantly higher fuel prices and timing of dry-dock expenses. For the 2007 full year, compared to its prior June 2007 guidance, thecompany anticipates a slight improvement in its net revenue yieldexpectations. Excluding fuel, cost guidance for the full year remainsunchanged on a constant dollar basis. Despite increases in fuel prices thecompany expects full year 2007 earnings per share to be in the range of $2.92to $2.94, toward the higher end of the company's previous guidance range of$2.85 to $2.95. On September 14, Carnival commenced the operations of its 75 percent ownedjoint venture with Orizonia Corporation for a multi-ship Spanish cruise line,Iberocruceros. The new brand is operating the 1,244-passenger Grand Mistraland the 834-passenger Grand Voyager. In June 2008, Carnival Cruise Lines'1,486-passenger Celebration will join the Iberocruceros fleet. The results ofIberocruceros will be consolidated into the company's financial statementsbeginning with the 2007 fourth quarter and have been incorporated into thecompany's fourth quarter and full year guidance. At the end of the fourth quarter Cunard Line's 90,000-ton Queen Victoria,is expected to join her sisters, Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2 which willmark the first time ever that Cunard has had three Queens in service. Selected Key Forecast Metrics: ------------------------------- Full Year 2007 Fourth Quarter 2007 Current Constant Current Constant Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Change in: Net revenue yields 1 to 2% -1% 3% 0% Net cruise cost per ALBD 3 to 4% 1% 8 to 9% 5 to 6% Full Year 2007 Fourth Quarter 2007 Fuel price per metric ton $358 $421 Fuel consumption (metric tons in thousands) 3,035 775 Currency Euro $1.35 to 1 euro $1.39 to 1 euro Sterling $1.99 to 1 pound $2.00 to 1 pound The company has scheduled a conference call with analysts at 10:00 a.m.EDT (15.00 London time) today to discuss its 2007 third quarter earnings.This call can be listened to live, and additional information can be obtained,via Carnival Corporation & plc's Web site at www.carnivalcorp.com andwww.carnivalplc.com. Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in theworld, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe andAustralia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, PrincessCruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line,Iberocruceros, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia. Together, these brands operate 84 ships totaling 156,000 lower berths with17 new ships scheduled to enter service between December 2007 and June 2011.Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Tours and PrincessTours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded onboth the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc isthe only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE100 indices. Cautionary note concerning factors that may affect future results Some of the statements contained in this earnings release are 'forward-looking statements' that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions withrespect to Carnival Corporation & plc, including some statements concerningfuture results, outlook, plans, goals and other events which have not yetoccurred. These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors fromliability provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We have tried, whenever possible,to identify these statements by using words like 'will,' 'may,' 'believe,''expect,' 'anticipate,' 'forecast,' 'future,' 'intend,' 'plan,' and 'estimate'and similar expressions. Because forward-looking statements involve risks anduncertainties, there are many factors that could cause Carnival Corporation &plc's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially fromthose expressed or implied in this earnings release. Forward-lookingstatements include those statements which may impact the forecasting ofearnings per share, net revenue yields, booking levels, pricing, occupancy,operating, financing and/or tax costs, fuel costs, costs per available lowerberth day, estimates of ship depreciable lives and residual values, outlook orbusiness prospects. These factors include, but are not limited to, thefollowing: general economic and business conditions may adversely impact thelevels of Carnival Corporation & plc's potential vacationers' discretionaryincome and this group's confidence in the U.S. and other economies and,consequently reduce Carnival Corporation & plc's cruise brands' net revenueyields; the international political climate, armed conflicts, terroristattacks and threats thereof, availability of air service and other worldevents, and their impact on the demand for cruises; conditions in the cruiseand land-based vacation industries, including competition from other cruiseship operators and providers of other vacation alternatives and increases incapacity offered by cruise ship and land-based vacation alternatives;accidents, adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, such as hurricanesand earthquakes and other incidents (including machinery and equipmentfailures or improper operation thereof) which could cause the alteration ofitineraries or cancellation of a cruise or series of cruises, and the impactof the spread of contagious diseases, affecting the health, safety, securityand/or vacation satisfaction of passengers; adverse publicity concerning thecruise industry in general, or Carnival Corporation & plc in particular, couldimpact the demand for Carnival Corporation & plc's cruises; lack of acceptanceof new itineraries, products and services by Carnival Corporation & plc'sguests; changing consumer preferences, which may, among other things,adversely impact the demand for cruises; changes in and compliance with lawsand regulations relating to environmental, health, safety, security, tax andother regulatory regimes under which Carnival Corporation & plc operate,including the implementation of U.S. regulations requiring U.S. citizens toobtain passports for sea travel to or from additional foreign destinations;the impact of changes in operating and financing costs, including changes inforeign currency exchange rates and interest rates and fuel, food, insurance,payroll and security costs; the ability of Carnival Corporation & plc toimplement its shipbuilding programs, including purchasing ships for our NorthAmerican cruise brands from European shipyards on terms that are favorable orconsistent with Carnival Corporation & plc's expectations; CarnivalCorporation & plc's ability to implement its brand strategies and to continueto operate and expand its business internationally; Carnival Corporation &plc's future operating cash flow may not be sufficient to fund futureobligations and Carnival Corporation & plc may not be able to obtainfinancing, if necessary, on terms that are favorable or consistent with itsexpectations; Carnival Corporation & plc's ability to attract and retainqualified shipboard crew and maintain good relations with employee unions;continuing financial viability of Carnival Corporation & plc's travel agentdistribution system and air service providers; the impact of CarnivalCorporation & plc self-insuring against various risks and its inability toobtain insurance for certain risks at reasonable rates; disruptions and otherimpairments to Carnival Corporation & plc's information technology networks;lack of continued availability of attractive port destinations; risksassociated with the DLC structure, including the uncertainty of its taxstatus; the impact of pending or threatened litigation; and CarnivalCorporation & plc's ability to successfully implement cost reduction plans.Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actualresults. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or anyrelevant listing rules, Carnival Corporation & plc expressly disclaims anyobligation to disseminate, after the date of this release, any updates orrevisions to any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change inexpectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any suchstatements are based. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended August 31, August 31, ------------------ ----------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ------ ------ ------ ------ (in millions, except per share data) Revenues Cruise Passenger tickets $3,206 $2,894 $7,437 $6,825 Onboard and other 816 709 2,120 1,847 Other 299 302 352 357 ------ ------ ------ ------ 4,321 3,905 9,909 9,029 ------ ------ ------ ------ Costs and Expenses Operating Cruise Commissions, transportation and other 583 538 1,493 1,351 Onboard and other 146 128 366 326 Payroll and related 344 (1) 294 976 854 Fuel 288 243 762 707 Food 200 168 556 479 Other ship operating 427 398 1,229 1,135 Other 201 206 261 259 ------ ------ ------ ------ Total 2,189 1,975 5,643 5,111 Selling and administrative 363 335 1,153 1,054 Depreciation and amortization 279 255 811 727 ------ ------ ------ ------ 2,831 2,565 7,607 6,892 ------ ------ ------ ------ Operating Income 1,490 1,340 2,302 2,137 ------ ------ ------ ------ Nonoperating (Expense) Income Interest income 20 5 47 17 Interest expense, net of capitalized interest (95) (81) (273) (232) Other income (expense), net 1 (1) (17) (2) ------ ------ ------ ------ (74) (77) (226) (232) ------ ------ ------ ------ Income Before Income Taxes 1,416 1,263 2,076 1,905 Income Tax Expense, Net (39) (31) (26) (42) ------ ------ ------ ------ Net Income $1,377 $1,232 $2,050 $1,863 ====== ====== ====== ====== Earnings Per Share Basic $1.73 $1.55 $2.58 $2.32 ====== ====== ====== ====== Diluted $1.67 $1.49 $2.51 $2.25 ====== ====== ====== ====== Dividends Per Share $0.35 $0.25 $0.975 $0.75 ====== ====== ====== ====== Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - Basic 794 797 794 804 ====== ====== ====== ====== Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted 829 831 829 839 ====== ====== ====== ====== (1) Includes an $18 million expense related to the British Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund contribution. (2) Includes a $10 million expense for a non-cruise investment write-down partially offset by a $4 million gain on sale of this investment, and $5 million for a litigation reserve. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Aug. 31, Nov. 30, Aug. 31, 2007 2006 2006 ------- ------- ------- (in millions, except par values) ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $1,412 $1,163 $594 Short-term investments 341 21 21 Trade and other receivables, net 423 280 396 Inventories 297 263 278 Prepaid expenses and other 249 268 262 ------- ------- ------- Total current assets 2,722 1,995 1,551 ------- ------- ------- Property and Equipment, Net 25,134 23,458 23,263 Goodwill 3,356 3,313 3,281 Trademarks 1,334 1,321 1,311 Other Assets 642 465 460 ------- ------- ------- $33,188 $30,552 $29,866 ======= ======= ======= LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Short-term borrowings $311 $438 $567 Current portion of long-term debt 1,366 1,054 215 Convertible debt subject to current put options 1,170 220 Accounts payable 468 438 498 Accrued liabilities and other 1,212 1,149 984 Customer deposits 2,620 2,336 2,326 ------- ------- ------- Total current liabilities 7,147 5,415 4,810 ------- ------- ------- Long-Term Debt 5,735 6,355 6,556 Other Long-Term Liabilities and Deferred Income 598 572 621 Shareholders' Equity Common stock of Carnival Corporation; $0.01 par value; 1,960 shares authorized; 642 shares at 2007, 641 shares at November 2006 and 640 shares at August 2006 issued 6 6 6 Ordinary shares of Carnival plc; $1.66 par value; 226 shares authorized; 213 shares at 2007 and 2006 issued 354 354 354 Additional paid-in capital 7,577 7,479 7,438 Retained earnings 12,878 11,600 11,402 Accumulated other comprehensive income 885 661 522 Treasury stock; 18 shares at 2007 and November 2006 and 17 shares at August 2006 of Carnival Corporation and 45 shares at 2007 and 42 shares at 2006 of Carnival plc, at cost (1,992) (1,890) (1,843) ------- ------- ------- Total shareholders' equity 19,708 18,210 17,879 ------- ------- ------- $33,188 $30,552 $29,866 ======= ======= ======= CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC SELECTED INFORMATION Three Months Nine Months Ended August 31, Ended August 31, ------------------ ---------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ------ ------ ------ ------ (in millions, except statistical information) STATISTICAL INFORMATION Passengers carried (in thousands) 2,203 2,012 5,785 5,237 (1) Occupancy percentage 111.1% 111.0% 106.4% 107.0%(2) Fuel cost per metric ton (3) $376 $350 $337 $341 CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash from operations $1,122 $943 $3,212 $2,828 Capital expenditures $246 $699 $2,376 $2,182 SEGMENT INFORMATION Revenues Cruise $4,022 $3,603 $9,557 $8,672 Other 399 380 468 449 Intersegment elimination (100) (78) (116) (92) ------ ------ ------ ------ $4,321 $3,905 $9,909 $9,029 ====== ====== ====== ====== Operating expenses Cruise $1,988 $1,769 $5,382 $4,852 Other 301 284 377 351 Intersegment elimination (100) (78) (116) (92) ------ ------ ------ ------ $2,189 $1,975 $5,643 $5,111 ====== ====== ====== ====== Selling and administrative expenses Cruise $355 $324 $1,129 $1,023 Other 8 11 24 31 ------ ------ ------ ------ $363 $335 $1,153 $1,054 ====== ====== ====== ====== Depreciation and amortization Cruise $271 $246 $785 $702 Other 8 9 26 25 ------ ------ ------ ------ $279 $255 $811 $727 ====== ====== ====== ====== Operating income Cruise $1,408 $1,264 $2,261 $2,095 Other 82 76 41 42 ------ ------ ------ ------ $1,490 $1,340 $2,302 $2,137 ====== ====== ====== ====== (1) Passengers carried in first quarter of 2006 does not include any passengers for the three ships chartered to the Military Sealift Command in connection with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. (2) Occupancy percentage in first quarter of 2006 includes the three ships chartered to the Military Sealift Command at 100% occupancy. (3) Fuel cost per metric ton is calculated by dividing the cost of our fuel by the number of metric tons consumed. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Gross and net revenue yields were computed by dividing the gross or net revenues, without rounding, by ALBDs as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (in millions, except ALBDs and yields) Cruise revenues Passenger tickets $3,206 $2,894 $7,437 $6,825 Onboard and other 816 709 2,120 1,847 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross cruise revenues 4,022 3,603 9,557 8,672 Less cruise costs Commissions, transportation and other (583) (538) (1,493) (1,351) Onboard and other (146) (128) (366) (326) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cruise revenues (1) $3,293 $2,937 $7,698 $6,995 ========== ========== ========== ========== ALBDs (2) 14,150,152 12,937,155 40,338,081 37,116,575 ========== ========== ========== ========== Gross revenue yields (1) $284.20 $278.50 $236.91 $233.64 ========== ========== ========== ========== Net revenue yields (1) $232.68 $227.06 $190.83 $188.44 ========== ========== ========== ========== Gross and net cruise costs per ALBD were computed by dividing the gross or net cruise costs, without rounding, by ALBDs as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- (in millions, except ALBDs and costs per ALBD) Cruise operating expenses $1,988 $1,769 $5,382 $4,852 Cruise selling and administrative expenses 355 324 1,129 1,023 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross cruise costs 2,343 2,093 6,511 5,875 Less cruise costs included in net cruise revenues Commissions, transportation and other (583) (538) (1,493) (1,351) Onboard and other (146) (128) (366) (326) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net cruise costs (1) $1,614 $1,427 $4,652 $4,198 ALBDs (2) 14,150,152 12,937,155 40,338,081 37,116,575 ========== ========== ========== ========== Gross cruise costs per ALBD (1) $165.52 $161.83 $161.40 $158.29 ========== ========== ========== ========== Net cruise costs per ALBD (1) $114.00 $110.38 $115.32 $113.09 ========== ========== ========== ========== NOTES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (1) We use net cruise revenues per ALBD ('net revenue yields') and netcruise costs per ALBD as significant non-GAAP financial measures of our cruisesegment financial performance. We believe that net revenue yields arecommonly used in the cruise industry to measure a company's cruise segmentrevenue performance. This measure is also used for revenue managementpurposes. In calculating net revenue yields, we use 'net cruise revenues'rather than 'gross cruise revenues.' We believe that net cruise revenues is amore meaningful measure in determining revenue yield than gross cruiserevenues because it reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our mostsignificant variable costs, which are travel agent commissions, cost of airtransportation and certain other variable direct costs associated with onboardand other revenues. Substantially all of our remaining cruise costs arelargely fixed once our ship capacity levels have been determined, except forthe impact of changing prices. Net cruise costs per ALBD is the most significant measure we use tomonitor our ability to control our cruise segment costs rather than grosscruise costs per ALBD. In calculating net cruise costs, we exclude the samevariable costs that are included in the calculation of net cruise revenues.This is done to avoid duplicating these variable costs in these two non-GAAPfinancial measures. We have not provided estimates of future gross revenue yields or futuregross cruise costs per ALBD because the reconciliations of forecasted netcruise revenues to forecasted gross cruise revenues or forecasted net cruisecosts to forecasted cruise operating expenses would require us to forecast,with reasonable accuracy, the amount of air and other transportation coststhat our forecasted cruise passengers would elect to purchase from us (the'air/sea mix'). Since the forecasting of future air/sea mix involves severalsignificant variables that are relatively difficult to forecast and therevenues from the sale of air and other transportation approximate the costsof providing that transportation, management focuses primarily on forecasts ofnet cruise revenues and costs rather than gross cruise revenues and costs.This does not impact, in any material respect, our ability to forecast ourfuture results, as any variation in the air/sea mix has no material impact onour forecasted net cruise revenues or forecasted net cruise costs. As such,management does not believe that this reconciling information would bemeaningful. In addition, because a significant portion of Carnival Corporation & plc'soperations utilize the Euro or Sterling to measure their results and financialcondition, the translation of those operations to our U.S. dollar reportingcurrency results in increases in reported U.S. dollar revenues and expenses ifthe U.S. dollar weakens against these foreign currencies, and decreases inreported U.S. dollar revenues and expenses if the U.S. dollar strengthensagainst these foreign currencies. Accordingly, we also monitor these two non-GAAP financial measures assuming the current period currency exchange rateshave remained constant with the prior year's comparable period rates, or on a'constant dollar basis,' in order to remove the impact of changes in exchangerates on our non-U.S. dollar cruise operations. We believe that this is auseful measure indicating the actual growth of our operations in a fluctuatingcurrency exchange rate environment. On a constant dollar basis, net cruiserevenues and net cruise costs would be $3.21 billion and $1.57 billion for thethree months ended August 31, 2007 and $7.50 billion and $4.53 billion for thenine months ended August 31, 2007, respectively. On a constant dollar basis,gross cruise revenues and gross cruise costs would be $3.92 billion and $2.28billion for the three months ended August 31, 2007 and $9.30 billion and $6.33billion for the nine months ended August 31, 2007, respectively. In addition,our non-U.S. dollar cruise operations' depreciation and net interest expensewere impacted by the changes in exchange rates for the three and nine monthsended August 31, 2007, compared to the prior year's comparable periods. (2) Available lower berth days is a standard measure of passengercapacity for the period. It assumes that each cabin we offer for saleaccommodates two passengers. ALBDs are computed by multiplying passengercapacity by revenue-producing ship operating days in the period.SOURCE Carnival Plc -0- 09/20/2007 /CONTACT: Media, US, Tim Gallagher of Carnival Corporation & plc,+001-305-599-2600, ext. 16000, or UK, Sophie Fitton or Sophie Brand, both ofBrunswick Group, +44 (0) 20 7404 5959, or Investor Relations, US and UK, BethRoberts, +001-305-406-4832, all of Carnival Corporation & plc/ /Web site:  http://www.carnivalcorp.com  http://www.carnivalplc.com / (CCL CUK)END


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