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Iran conflict, oil prices threaten to dent cruise line profits

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Iran conflict, oil prices threaten to dent cruise line profits

The Carnival Miracle cruise ship is anchored in the Pacific Ocean near Kailua Bay during a 15-day cruise, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Jan. 14, 2024.

Kevin Carter | Getty Images

The global cruise industry is reporting record demand and renewed consumer enthusiasm, but the leaders helming the world’s largest cruise companies say the sector is also facing some of the most complex challenges it has seen in decades.

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“We are not an alternative vacation anymore. We are a vacation,” Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein said during a keynote panel Tuesday at Seatrade Global, a cruise industry conference.

As demand rises, passengers are getting younger; one-third of cruise travelers are now under 40, according to the 2026 State of the Cruise Industry report released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). One-third of trips are multi-generational, often families traveling together. And nearly a third of cruisers take vacations by ship multiple times a year, according to the report.

The cruise industry hosted 37 million passengers worldwide last year and anticipates reaching 42 million annually by 2029, CLIA found.

“That mainstream demand sets us up very well for volatility,” Weinstein said.

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A resilient business in an uncertain world

At least six cruise ships remain stranded in the Persian Gulf by the impasse at the Strait of Hormuz. One of them is the MSC Euribia.

Though roughly 1,500 passengers were safely evacuated amid Dubai airport shutdowns and missile warnings after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran in late February, there are still some crew on board to maintain the vessel.

“Obviously, we live day by day. The situation is very fluid,” said MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago during the Seatrade Global keynote.

Already the shutdown of marine traffic in the Strait has disrupted itineraries in the Middle East and southern Europe. Threats of blockades, mines on the sea floor and on-and-off-again negotiations are keeping cruise executives guessing about when they can move their ships.

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“Morning is one thing, lunchtime is another, dinner is another again,” Vago said of the numerous and often conflicting announcements from government leaders. “We need to stay cool and actually be ready to move out as soon as the possibility and opportunity comes back.”

Despite these challenges, cruise executives argue the industry has never been better positioned to absorb shocks.

“Every crisis we’ve faced — financial, geopolitical or health-related — we adapted,” Carnival’s Weinstein said. “There’s no reason to believe it will be different this time.”

Fuel costs, sustainability and the push to use less

Fuel price volatility has once again put energy strategy front and center for the cruise industry, particularly for Carnival, which does not hedge fuel prices.

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“Nobody asks us about hedging when prices are low,” Weinstein said. “But our strategy has been consistent: use less fuel.” 

The cruise industry aims to have net zero emissions by 2050, but CEOs agree that they can’t achieve that goal solely by conserving fuel.

Industry leaders see biofuels, green methanol and synthetic liquid natural gas (produced by combining captured carbon with hydrogen) as the most promising solutions to meet their fuel needs.

Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero on ship building in America

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said cruise lines are already investing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in technology and energy innovation, but availability of alternative fuels remains the bottleneck.

“It’s not about what we want to use,” Liberty said. “It’s about what’s scalable and available.” 

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“We’re going to have heavy competition with other sectors for those fuels as well. There’s no guarantee we get them,” added Bud Darr, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association.

Tailwinds for growth

Even as the industry navigates choppy seas, cruise companies are looking for their next avenues for growth.

Technological advances in artificial intelligence are being used to reduce food waste, plot routes and itineraries and increase efficiency. Cruise line executives say the most important application is to reduce friction in the guest experience.

“A more flexible work environment has been a big demand driver for us,” Liberty said. Most Royal Caribbean ships now host a Starlink connection for fast internet aboard.

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Private destinations, the exclusive ports or islands owned or controlled by a cruise line, continue to be a priority for investment. Royal Caribbean, for instance, currently has three private destinations on its itineraries but will have eight by 2028.

It’s developing a major land-based hub in Puerto Williams, Chile, to reduce or eliminate the amount of time passengers to Antarctica have to spend transiting the punishing seas of the Drake Passage.

And the luxury segment, though a small percentage of the overall industry, is growing rapidly. Customers are increasingly interested in exploring health, wellness and longevity — and those trends are showing up in their vacation habits, too.

Smaller ships and river cruising accommodate specialized interests in eco-tourism, off-the-beaten path (not yet discovered by social media influencers) locales and culinary or artistic aficionados.

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Social-media driven demand in tourism has also sparked backlash from some destinations, overwhelmed by the crowds. The cruise industry is working with destinations on what it calls managed, predictable tourism.

Vago said MSC worked with Dubrovnik, Croatia, for example, to coordinate the flow of visitors to the medieval town, which wants the tourism spending but without destruction of quality of life for residents.

“Many of these coastal communities actually appreciate that. We plan in advance. We create itineraries three years in advance,” Vago said.

“The strength of this industry is its ability to evolve without losing its soul,” Liberty said. “That soul is hospitality.”

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Leadership change and fresh perspective

At Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the challenge for new CEO John Chidsey is righting the ship.

In his first earnings call, just days after taking the helm, Chidsey acknowledged the company had committed numerous missteps.

Margins are under pressure. Shares have been volatile. Critics have questioned a push to expand cruise itineraries in the Caribbean before Norwegian’s private island was fully completed.

Earlier this year, Elliott Investment Management took an activist stake in Norwegian, which may have provided impetus for the board to make a leadership change.

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Chidsey told CNBC Elliott’s goals align with his own and that he intends to create a culture of accountability and urgency where teams are working together rather than separated into silos.

New Norwegian Cruise Line CEO John Chidsey on taking the helm

The Seatrade conference was a cruise industry debut for Chidsey, formerly the CEO of Subway, Burger King and Avis.

When asked what a “sandwich guy knows about cruising,” Chidsey didn’t miss a beat, insisting he’s a “turnaround guy not a sandwich guy.”

“I knew nothing about fast food when I went there. I think having a fresh set of eyes is really what Norwegian needs. And it’s all about execution,” he said.

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Baby formula recalled after toxin found, FDA says

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Baby formula recalled after toxin found, FDA says

A baby formula brand has recalled three batches after a toxin was discovered, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to the FDA’s report on Saturday, The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) voluntarily recalled its imported a2 Platinum Premium USA label infant formula for children between 0 and 12 months after additional testing found cereulide.

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The recall highlights potential safety risks tied to cereulide contamination, a toxin that can cause vomiting and is difficult to eliminate once present in food products, raising concerns for parents of infants who rely on formula.

Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus that is primarily responsible for the “emetic” or vomiting type of food poisoning. It is notoriously difficult to eliminate because it can withstand high cooking temperatures and the acidic environment of the human stomach.

POPULAR POTATO CHIPS RECALLED DUE TO SALMONELLA FEARS

Baby formula can

The a2 Milk Company voluntarily recalled its imported a2 Platinum Premium USA label infant formula. (FDA / Unknown)

A total of 63,078 units were affected, with an estimated 16,428 units sold to consumers. 

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The affected batches were only sold in the U.S. through the brand’s website, Amazon and Meijer stores.

“Importation rights expired on December 31st, 2025, and the Product has been discontinued and removed from sale prior to the initiation of the recall,” the FDA’s report read.

The recalled formula was sold in 31.7 oz tins with use-by dates of July 15, 2026, January 15, 2027, and January 21, 2027. Batch numbers include 2210269454, 2210324609 and 2210321712.

FROZEN PIZZA SOLD AT WALMART, ALDI RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA CONCERNS

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Baby formula with a mother and child in background.

No illnesses have currently been reported as a result of the formula. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

A representative for a2MC did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are urged to throw out affected batches or return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.

Baby drinks from milk bottle

Customers are urged to either discard the affected formula or to return it to its place of purchase in exchange for a full refund. (iStock / iStock)

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This recall follows a similar incident earlier this year, when Nestle, Danone and Lactalis pulled infant formula products over potential cereulide contamination, according to a prior FOX Business report.

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Gun Makers Reach Cooperation Pact After Months of Tense Proxy Battle

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Gun Makers Reach Cooperation Pact After Months of Tense Proxy Battle

Sturm, Ruger said it has entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Beretta, following a months-long and at times contentious dispute over governance, strategy and board control.

The agreement marks a de-escalation between two of the world’s most storied gun makers.

Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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Wall Street advances as AI chip stocks surge

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Wall Street advances as AI chip stocks surge

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have notched record high closes, ‌lifted by Intel and other AI-related stocks, as a US-Iran ceasefire held firm and investors focused on strong quarterly earnings.

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Form 144 Andersons For: 5 May

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Form 144 Andersons For: 5 May

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Anthropic stock sought in trade for $8M Bay Area real estate deal

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Anthropic stock sought in trade for $8M Bay Area real estate deal

An investment banker is offering up about $8 million in Bay Area real estate, including a nearly $5 million house, in exchange for stock options for AI giant Anthropic ahead of the company’s potential initial public offering (IPO).

Storm Duncan, the founder of tech investment bank Ignatious, is proposing a deal that would see him exchange a four-bedroom, five-bath estate in Mill Valley in exchange for Anthropic shares, as the company reportedly explores an IPO this year, Realtor.com reported.

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Duncan’s 4,372-square-foot home was built in 2005 and has views across San Francisco Bay as well as of the surrounding, while also featuring an infinity pool and chef’s kitchen area. Realtor.com’s automated valuation models put a $4.8 million price tag on the home, while Duncan says his 11-acre property next door is worth about $4 million and would be included in a deal.

Anthropic, the creator of AI assistant Claude, is looking to secure financing based on a valuation of close to $1 trillion, according to reports, though Duncan is basing his proposed deal on an $800 billion valuation for the tech startup.

NYC LOST MORE RESIDENTS ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS IN 2025 AS AMERICANS FLEE HIGH-COST BLUE CITIES

The San Francisco skyline

A Bay Area tech investor is looking to swap about $8 million in real estate for Anthropic stock ahead of a possible IPO. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Duncan is hoping to make a deal with an Anthropic employee who has a large number of shares in the company that are currently illiquid, as the company hasn’t gone public and transfers of shares are subject to restrictions. While he already holds about $1 million in Anthropic shares, he wants to increase his exposure to the company.

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He told Realtor.com that he sees the deal as potentially appealing to a younger Anthropic employee who could be on track to have a large amount of valuable stock in the AI company that they want to diversify out of, adding that ahead of the IPO it would allow them to lower their tax basis. 

CALIFORNIA BUILT MORE HOMES THAN PEOPLE OVER SIX YEARS – SO WHY IS HOUSING STILL SO TIGHT?

The Claude app by Anthropic

Anthropic is the creator of the Claude AI assistant. (Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Duncan told the outlet that it’s a “diversification play for me, too. Less exposure to real estate, more exposure to AI. And I think Anthropic is demonstrating that it will have the most fundamental value.”

The property hasn’t been listed with agencies or the multiple listing service, according to the report, but launched a LinkedIn page for it and has received some genuine inquiries so far that haven’t led to a sale.

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THESE 8 US HOUSING MARKETS FAVOR BUYERS

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

Duncan’s multi-million dollar property he’s offering in the swap is located in the Bay Area. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Duncan said in the report that he would structure the deal so that shares would be transferred after the lockup period concludes.

He said that he’s realistic about the possibility of finding the right buyer who has Anthropic shares worth millions of dollars, but he thought it’s worth a shot, explaining that he thinks “it’s a less than 50% chance that something happens,” in part because a “home is a very emotional purchase.”

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Running With Thieves prepares to open Henderson pub

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Running With Thieves prepares to open Henderson pub

Running With Thieves is preparing to open its third planned hospitality venue in Henderson, ahead of its Port Hedland site, as it looks to capitalise on the growing defence precinct workforce.

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Pershing Square USA’s Poor Debut Highlights the Risks of Closed-End Funds

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Pershing Square USA’s Poor Debut Highlights the Risks of Closed-End Funds

Pershing Square USA’s Poor Debut Highlights the Risks of Closed-End Funds

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Axsome Therapeutics COO Mark Jacobson sells $1.08m in stock

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Axsome Therapeutics COO Mark Jacobson sells $1.08m in stock

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Upstart Holdings, Inc. 2026 Q1 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (NASDAQ:UPST) 2026-05-05

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

This article was written by

Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team

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DigitalOcean (DOCN) Soars 36% on Massive Q1 Earnings Beat and AI Cloud Momentum

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Costco

NEW YORK — DigitalOcean Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DOCN) shares exploded more than 35% Tuesday morning, surging to around $147.61 after the cloud infrastructure company reported blockbuster first-quarter 2026 results that far exceeded Wall Street expectations and highlighted accelerating AI-driven growth.

DigitalOcean (DOCN) Soars 36% on Massive Q1 Earnings Beat and
DigitalOcean (DOCN) Soars 36% on Massive Q1 Earnings Beat and AI Cloud Momentum

The stock, which closed Monday at roughly $108, jumped as much as 38.55% intraday on heavy volume as investors cheered record revenue, strong customer expansion and upbeat guidance tied to its expanding “agentic inference cloud” platform. The move added billions to the company’s market capitalization in a single session.

DigitalOcean reported first-quarter revenue of $257.9 million, up 22% year-over-year and well above analyst estimates of approximately $249.8 million. Non-GAAP earnings per share reached $0.44, crushing consensus forecasts of $0.27. The company also posted robust growth in key metrics, including million-dollar customer ARR surging 179% and AI customer ARR jumping 221%.

AI and Inference Cloud Driving Surge

Management highlighted strong traction in its AI-native offerings, including the recently launched Inference Engine. The company noted that AI workloads are becoming a significant growth driver, with customers reporting substantial cost savings and performance improvements compared to larger cloud providers.

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Annual run-rate revenue reached $1.032 billion, up 22% year-over-year. Net income attributable to common stockholders stood at $16 million. Executives expressed confidence in continued momentum, citing demand from startups and enterprises building AI applications on the platform.

Raised Guidance Fuels Optimism

DigitalOcean also provided optimistic forward-looking commentary, reinforcing investor enthusiasm. The strong beat and positive tone on AI opportunities triggered widespread analyst upgrades and price target increases in recent weeks, setting the stage for Tuesday’s breakout.

Company Transformation and Strategy

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DigitalOcean has evolved from a developer-friendly VPS provider into a specialized cloud platform focused on simplicity, affordability and high-performance AI inference. Its agentic inference cloud targets workloads that require fast, cost-effective model deployment — a sweet spot as AI adoption accelerates among smaller companies and startups.

The company operates a global network optimized for low-latency applications and has been winning business from customers seeking alternatives to hyperscale providers like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. Recent product launches and acquisitions have strengthened its position in the fast-growing inference market.

Analyst and Market Reaction

Wall Street responded positively to the results. Multiple firms raised price targets following the report, with several highlighting DigitalOcean’s ability to capture AI market share while maintaining disciplined growth. The stock’s dramatic move reflects both the earnings surprise and broader enthusiasm for AI infrastructure plays.

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Volume surged as retail and institutional investors piled in. The rally marks one of the largest single-day percentage gains for the stock in recent memory and pushes it to fresh all-time highs.

Valuation and Outlook

Even after today’s surge, analysts see further upside potential given the company’s growth trajectory. However, the rapid move also raises questions about near-term valuation and the risk of profit-taking. DigitalOcean trades at a premium multiple, reflecting expectations of sustained high growth in the AI cloud sector.

For the remainder of 2026, the company expects continued expansion in its core business and AI offerings. Investors will watch upcoming quarters for evidence of sustained momentum and margin trends as the company invests in capacity.

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Broader Context

DigitalOcean’s performance comes amid a strong period for select cloud and AI infrastructure names. While larger hyperscalers dominate headlines, smaller, specialized providers like DigitalOcean are carving out niches with better economics for certain workloads. Tuesday’s reaction underscores investor appetite for companies delivering tangible AI growth.

As the earnings season progresses, DigitalOcean’s results provide a positive data point for the broader technology sector. The company’s focus on developer experience and cost efficiency continues to resonate in a market seeking practical AI solutions.

The stock’s explosive move on Tuesday highlights the market’s reward for companies that execute well in high-growth areas. Whether this momentum sustains will depend on future delivery, but the Q1 report has clearly energized investors and reaffirmed DigitalOcean’s position as a rising player in the cloud and AI infrastructure landscape.

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