ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD
6-K, 2000-11-06
WATER TRANSPORTATION
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<PAGE>   1
                                    FORM 6-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                      PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



FOR THE MONTH OF               OCTOBER, 2000
                 ----------------------------------------

                          ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                    1050 CARIBBEAN WAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33132
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)


         [INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT FILES OR WILL FILE
ANNUAL REPORTS UNDER COVER FORM 20-F OR FORM 40-F.]

                  FORM 20-F      X                 FORM 40-F
                               -----                          -----

         [INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT BY FURNISHING THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM IS ALSO THEREBY FURNISHING THE INFORMATION TO
THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULE 12g3-2(b) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934.]

                  YES                              NO           X
                               -----                          -----

         [IF "YES" IS MARKED INDICATE BELOW THE FILE NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THE
REGISTRANT IN CONNECTION WITH RULE 12g-3-2(b): 82 _____].



<PAGE>   2
                                          News from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.


                                       Contact: Lynn Martenstein (305) 539-6573
                                                Michael Sheehan  (305) 539-6572
                                                Erin Williams    (305) 539-6153



                                     For Immediate Release




         ROYAL CARIBBEAN REPORTS RECORD THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS

MIAMI - October 18, 2000 - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL)
announced record third-quarter results today. Net income increased 18.5% to
$201.5 million, or $1.04 per share, in the third quarter of 2000, compared to
$170.0 million, or $0.92 per share, in the same quarter of 1999.

         Revenues were $835.2 million for the third quarter of 2000, as compared
with $734.5 million for the same quarter in 1999. The increase in revenues is
attributable to a 17.9% increase in capacity primarily as a result of VOYAGER OF
THE SEAS and MILLENNIUM joining the fleet. Occupancy for the quarter was 109.7%,
up slightly from last year's 109.0%. Net revenue yields (net revenue per
available passenger cruise day) declined by about 1%. The company's profit
margins improved during the quarter as compared to 1999. Approximately $6 to $8
million of this improvement can be attributable to the timing of certain
marketing and other expenses, which will now be incurred in the fourth quarter
of 2000.

         Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 increased 20.2%
to $415.3 million, or $2.15 per share, compared to $345.5 million, or $1.88 per
share for the same period last year. Revenues were $2.2 billion for the nine
months ended September 30, 2000, compared to $2.0 billion for the same period in
1999. Capacity was up 14.8%, while occupancy was slightly higher at 105.9%,
compared to 105.4% in the prior year. Higher pricing and lower operating
expenses resulted in strong growth in net income.

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<PAGE>   3


ROYAL CARIBBEAN REPORTS RECORD THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS         2,2,2,2
-----------------------------------------------------


         "We are pleased with our ability to continue to expand our business and
improve our profitability," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman & Chief Executive
Officer. "Despite an 18% increase in capacity, we were able to maintain pricing
at last year's record levels and generate improved margins. We expect that the
competitive pricing environment will continue in the short term, but the strong
fundamentals of our industry remain intact. Our new ship deliveries are proving
to be very successful and continue to stimulate the market for cruise
vacations."

         The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. today to discuss
its third quarter earnings. This call can be listened to, either live or on a
delayed basis, on the company's investor relations web site at
WWW.RCLINVESTOR.COM.

         Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise company, operating two
cruise brands, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. The brands'
combined fleet currently consists of 19 vessels, with 10 additional vessels on
order for delivery through 2004. For additional information about Royal
Caribbean, visit the company's Internet sites on the World Wide Web at
HTTP://WWW.ROYALCARIBBEAN.COM, HTTP://WWW.CELEBRITYCRUISES.COM or
HTTP://WWW.RCLINVESTOR.COM.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the
actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include general economic and business
conditions, changes in cruise industry competition, weather and other factors
described in further detail in Royal Caribbean's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

                            (Financial Tables Follow)

                                   # # # # # #


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<PAGE>   4
                          ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Third Quarter Ended                    Nine Months Ended
                                                                    September 30,                         September 30,
                                                        ---------------------------------       ---------------------------------
                                                              2000                1999                2000                1999
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
<S>                                                     <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Revenues                                                $     835,210       $     734,460       $   2,223,727       $   1,962,170
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
Expenses
     Operating                                                444,888             393,198           1,238,666           1,130,021
     Marketing, selling and administrative                     96,650              92,787             309,338             271,480
     Depreciation and amortization                             57,506              50,250             168,725             145,944
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
                                                              599,044             536,235           1,716,729           1,547,445
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
Operating Income                                              236,166             198,225             506,998             414,725
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
Other Income (Expense)
     Interest income                                            1,037               2,573               4,920               4,628
     Interest expense, net of capitalized interest            (39,539)            (30,812)           (102,865)            (99,987)
     Other income (expense)                                     3,833                 (14)              6,230              26,149
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
                                                              (34,669)            (28,253)            (91,715)            (69,210)
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
Net Income                                              $     201,497       $     169,972       $     415,283       $     345,515
                                                        =============       =============       =============       =============
Earnings Per Share
     Basic                                              $        1.05       $        0.98       $        2.19       $        1.98
                                                        =============       =============       =============       =============
     Diluted                                            $        1.04       $        0.92       $        2.15       $        1.88
                                                        =============       =============       =============       =============

Weighed Average Shares Outstanding
     Basic                                                192,019,106         169,942,219         188,491,887         169,450,157
                                                        =============       =============       =============       =============

     Diluted                                              193,010,588         184,253,792         192,726,279         183,637,455
                                                        =============       =============       =============       =============
</TABLE>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        STATISTICS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Third Quarter       Third Quarter        Year to Date        Year to Date
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
                                                             2000                1999                2000                1999
                                                        -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
<S>                                                         <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Occupancy as a percentage of total capacity                     109.7%              109.0%              105.9%              105.4%

Passenger Cruise Days                                       3,562,802           3,001,719           9,618,955           8,330,453



</TABLE>




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<PAGE>   5


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                           ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
                                           ----------------------------
                                                   (Registrant)



Date: November 3, 2000                     By: /s/ Richard J. Glasier
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Richard J. Glasier
                                              Executive Vice President
                                              and Chief Financial Officer







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