v3.26.1
Fair Value Measurements and Derivatives
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements and Derivatives

8.            Fair Value Measurements and Derivatives

Fair value is defined as the price at which an orderly transaction to sell an asset or to transfer a liability would take place between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions (that is, an exit price at the measurement date from the perspective of a market participant that holds the asset or owes the liability).

Derivatives are generally recorded at fair value. Contracts that are designated as normal purchases and normal sales are not recorded at fair value. The normal purchases and normal sales exception requires, among other things, physical delivery in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. All of our allowance purchase agreements related to the European Union’s Emissions Trading System meet the criteria specified for this exception.

Fair Value Hierarchy

The following hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value should maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available:

Level 1    Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement dates.

Level 2    Significant other observable inputs that are used by market participants in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources.

Level 3    Significant unobservable inputs we believe market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available.

Derivatives

We are exposed to market risk attributable to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and fuel prices. We attempt to minimize these risks through a combination of our normal operating and financing activities and through the use of derivatives. We assess whether derivatives used in hedging transactions are “highly effective” in offsetting

changes in the cash flow of our hedged forecasted transactions. We use qualitative assessments or regression analysis for hedge relationships, and high effectiveness is achieved when a statistically valid relationship reflects a high degree of offset and correlation between the fair values of the derivative and the hedged forecasted transaction. Cash flows from the derivatives are classified in the same category as the cash flows from the underlying hedged transaction. If it is determined that the hedged forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, then the amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is released to earnings. There are no amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, except when the hedged item is a contractually specified component, and there are no credit-risk-related contingent features in our derivative agreements. We monitor concentrations of credit risk associated with financial and other institutions with which we conduct significant business. Credit risk, including but not limited to counterparty non-performance under derivatives, is not considered significant as we primarily conduct business with large, well-established financial institutions with which we have established relationships, and which have credit risks acceptable to us, or the credit risk is spread out among many creditors. We do not anticipate non-performance by any of our significant counterparties.

As of June 30, 2026, we had fuel swaps designated as hedges, which are used to mitigate the financial impact of volatility of fuel prices pertaining to approximately 611 thousand metric tons of our projected fuel purchases, maturing through December 31, 2027.

As of June 30, 2026, we also had fuel swaps pertaining to approximately 30 thousand metric tons of our projected fuel purchases which were not designated as cash flow hedges maturing through October 31, 2027.

As of June 30, 2026, we had foreign currency forwards and collars designated as hedges, which were used to mitigate the financial impact of volatility in foreign currency exchange rates related to our ship construction contracts denominated in euros. The notional amount of these foreign currency contracts were €2.9 billion, or $3.3 billion based on the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of June 30, 2026.

As of June 30, 2026, we also had foreign currency forwards not designated as hedges, which were used to mitigate the financial impact of volatility in foreign currency exchange rates related to principal and interest of debt denominated in euros. The notional amount of these foreign currency contracts were €391.4 million, or $447.1 million based on the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of June 30, 2026.

As of June 30, 2026, we had conversion options embedded in our exchangeable notes. The notional amounts of our outstanding options as of June 30, 2026 were 5.7 million, 0.7 million, 13.5 million and 41.0 million NCLH ordinary shares for the 2027 1.125% Exchangeable Notes, 2027 2.5% Exchangeable Notes, 2030 0.875% Exchangeable Notes and 2030 0.750% Exchangeable Notes, respectively.

The derivatives measured at fair value and the respective location in the consolidated balance sheets include the following (in thousands):

Assets

Liabilities

June 30, 

December 31, 

June 30, 

December 31, 

  ​ ​ ​

Balance Sheet Location

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

Derivative Contracts Designated as Hedging Instruments

Fuel contracts

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

$

43,032

$

$

716

$

 

Other long-term assets

9,088

1,385

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

116

16,302

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

1,789

 

 

2,527

 

7,829

Foreign currency contracts

 

  ​

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

8,292

 

33,307

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

 

36,642

 

2,434

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 

11,270

 

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

$

62,201

$

33,423

$

52,540

$

26,565

Derivative Contracts Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

Fuel contracts

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

$

3,531

$

$

$

Other long-term assets

46

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

1,024

Other long-term liabilities

22

114

Foreign currency contracts

Other long-term assets

292

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

8,574

594

Other long-term liabilities

312

Debt conversion options

Current portion of exchangeable notes

1,416

 

Exchangeable notes

273,266

341,838

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

$

3,891

$

$

283,568

$

343,570

Total derivatives

$

66,092

$

33,423

$

336,108

$

370,135

The fair values of swap and forward contracts are determined based on inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. The Company determines the value of options and collars utilizing option pricing models based on inputs that are either readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. The option pricing models used by the Company are industry standard models for valuing options and are used by the broker/dealer community. The inputs to the option pricing models are the option strike prices, underlying prices, risk-free rates of interest, time to expiration, and both historical and implied volatilities. The fair values of option contracts consider both the intrinsic value and any remaining time value associated with those derivatives that have not yet settled. The Company also considers counterparty credit risk and its own credit risk in its determination of all estimated fair values.

Our derivatives and financial instruments were categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, and we had no derivatives or financial instruments categorized as Level 1 or Level 3. Our derivative contracts include rights of offset with our counterparties. We have elected to net certain assets and liabilities within counterparties when the rights of offset exist. We are not required to post cash collateral related to our derivative instruments.

The gross and net amounts recognized within assets and liabilities include the following (in thousands):

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

Gross

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

Gross

  ​ ​ ​

Gross

Amounts

Total Net

Amounts

June 30, 2026

Amounts

Offset

Amounts

Not Offset

Net Amounts

Assets

$

64,281

$

(2,101)

$

62,180

$

(8,584)

$

53,596

Liabilities

334,007

(1,811)

332,196

(331,480)

716

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

Gross

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

Gross

  ​ ​ ​

Gross

Amounts

Total Net

Amounts

December 31, 2025

Amounts

Offset

Amounts

Not Offset

Net Amounts

Assets

$

33,307

$

$

33,307

$

(33,307)

$

Liabilities

370,135

(116)

370,019

(344,866)

25,153

The effects of cash flow hedge accounting on accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) include the following (in thousands):

Location of Gain

(Loss) Reclassified

from Accumulated

Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Other Comprehensive

from Accumulated Other

Recognized in Other

Income (Loss) into

Comprehensive Income

Derivatives

Comprehensive Loss

  ​ ​ ​

Income (Expense)

  ​ ​ ​

(Loss) into Income (Expense)

Three Months

Three Months

Three Months

Three Months

Ended

Ended

Ended

Ended

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2025

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2025

Fuel contracts

$

(31,543)

$

(27,268)

Fuel

$

33,694

$

(6,147)

Fuel contracts

Other income (expense), net

5,096

(777)

Foreign currency contracts

 

(37,650)

 

49,344

Depreciation and amortization

 

(4,141)

 

(4,120)

Total gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

$

(69,193)

$

22,076

  ​

$

34,649

$

(11,044)

Location of Gain

(Loss) Reclassified

from Accumulated

Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Other Comprehensive

from Accumulated Other

Recognized in Other

Income (Loss) into

Comprehensive Income

Derivatives

Comprehensive Loss

  ​ ​ ​

Income (Expense)

  ​ ​ ​

(Loss) into Income (Expense)

Six Months

Six Months

Six Months

Six Months

Ended

Ended

Ended

Ended

June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2025

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2026

  ​ ​ ​

June 30, 2025

Fuel contracts

$

130,773

$

(16,596)

Fuel

$

38,701

$

(5,857)

Fuel contracts

Other income (expense), net

5,801

(1,021)

Foreign currency contracts

 

(74,827)

 

69,497

Depreciation and amortization

 

(8,264)

 

(8,239)

Total gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

$

55,946

$

52,901

  ​

$

36,238

$

(15,117)

The effects of cash flow hedge accounting on the consolidated statements of operations include the following (in thousands):

Three Months Ended June 30, 2026

Three Months Ended June 30, 2025

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

Depreciation 

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

  ​ ​ ​

Depreciation 

  ​ ​ ​

and 

Other Income

and 

Other Income

Fuel

Amortization

(Expense), net

Fuel

Amortization

(Expense), net

Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the consolidated statements of operations in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded

$

219,384

$

271,205

$

(24,843)

$

157,377

$

243,760

$

(167,729)

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into income

  ​

  ​

  ​

  ​

  ​

  ​

Fuel contracts

33,694

(6,147)

Foreign currency contracts

(4,141)

(4,120)

Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into income as a result that a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring

Fuel contracts

5,096

(777)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2026

Six Months Ended June 30, 2025

  ​ ​ ​

Depreciation 

Depreciation 

and 

Other Income

and 

Other Income

Fuel

  ​ ​ ​

Amortization

  ​ ​ ​

(Expense), net

  ​ ​ ​

Fuel

  ​ ​ ​

Amortization

  ​ ​ ​

(Expense), net

Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the consolidated statements of operations in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded

$

388,310

$

531,921

$

141,376

$

332,391

$

475,057

$

77,457

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into income

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

Fuel contracts

38,701

(5,857)

Foreign currency contracts

(8,264)

(8,239)

Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into income as a result that a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring

Fuel contracts

5,801

(1,021)

The effects of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the consolidated statements of operations include the following (in thousands):

Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

Location of Gain (Loss)

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

  ​ ​ ​

2025

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

 

  ​

Debt conversion options

Other income (expense), net

(58,361)

(11,304)

$

67,156

$

258,387

Long-Term Debt

As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the fair value of our long-term debt, including the current portion, was $14.3 billion and $14.1 billion, respectively, which was $1.2 billion and $0.9 billion lower, respectively, than the carrying values, excluding deferred financing costs. The difference between the fair value and carrying value of our long-term debt is due to our fixed and variable rate debt obligations carrying interest rates that are above or below market rates at the measurement dates. The fair value of our long-term revolving and term loan facilities was calculated based on estimated rates for the same or similar instruments with similar terms and remaining maturities. The fair value

of our exchangeable notes considers observable risk-free rates; credit spreads of the same or similar instruments; and share prices, tenors, and historical and implied volatilities which are sourced from observable market data. The inputs are considered to be Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Market risk associated with our long-term variable rate debt is the potential increase in interest expense from an increase in interest rates or from an increase in share values.

Other

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets of all other financial assets and liabilities approximate fair value.