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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
 
In January 2015, we entered into a financing arrangement for the US dollar financing of the fourth Oasis-class ship. Through the financing arrangement, we have the right, but not the obligation, to satisfy the obligations to be incurred upon delivery and acceptance of the vessel under the shipbuilding contract by assuming, at delivery and acceptance, the debt indirectly incurred by the shipbuilder during the construction of the ship. The amount assumed under this arrangement is not to exceed the US dollar equivalent of €931.2 million, or approximately $1.0 billion, based on the exchange rate at September 30, 2015. The loan, if we were to elect assumption at the date of actual delivery, will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of the ship. At our election, interest on the loan will accrue either (1) at a fixed rate of 3.82% (inclusive of the applicable margin) or (2) at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.10%.
In June 2015, we entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft to build the fourth Quantum-class ship for Royal Caribbean International. We have also received a commitment for the unsecured financing of up to 80% of the ship’s contract price. Hermes has agreed to guarantee to the lenders payment of 95% of the financing. The ship will have a capacity of approximately 4,150 berths and is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2019.

In October 2015, our conditional agreements with STX France to build two ships of a new generation of Celebrity Cruises ships, known as "Project Edge" became effective. We received commitments for the unsecured financing of the ships for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price through a facility to be guaranteed 100% by COFACE. The ships will each have a capacity of approximately 2,900 berths and are expected to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first half of 2020, respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, the aggregate cost of our ships on order, not including the "Project Edge" ships and the TUI Cruises' ships on order, was approximately $5.0 billion, of which we had deposited $449.8 million as of such date. Approximately 43.7% of the aggregate cost was exposed to fluctuations in the Euro exchange rate at September 30, 2015. Refer to Note 10. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments for further information.

Litigation
 
As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, a class action complaint was filed in June 2011 against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on behalf of a purported class of stateroom attendants employed onboard Royal Caribbean International cruise vessels. The complaint alleged that the stateroom attendants were required to pay other crew members to help with their duties and that certain stateroom attendants were required to work back of house assignments without the ability to earn gratuities, in each case in violation of the U.S. Seaman’s Wage Act. In May 2012, the district court granted our motion to dismiss the complaint on the basis that the applicable collective bargaining agreement requires any such claims to be arbitrated. The United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, affirmed the district court’s dismissal and denied the plaintiffs’ petition for re-hearing and re-hearing en banc. In October 2014, the United States Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs’ request to review the order compelling arbitration. Subsequently, approximately 575 crew members submitted demands for arbitration. The demands make substantially the same allegations as in the federal court complaint and are similarly seeking damages, wage penalties and interest in an indeterminate amount. Unlike the federal court complaint, the demands for arbitration are being brought individually by each of the crew members and not on behalf of a purported class of stateroom attendants. At this time, we are unable to estimate the possible impact of this matter on us. However, we believe the underlying claims made against us are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against them.

In April 2015, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation issued Notices of Violation to Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises seeking monetary penalties for alleged violations of the Alaska Marine Visible Emission Standards that occurred over the past five years on certain of our vessels. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the allegations and we are cooperating with the state of Alaska. We do not believe that the ultimate outcome of these claims will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations and cash flows.

We are routinely involved in other claims typical within the cruise vacation industry. The majority of these claims are covered by insurance. We believe the outcome of such claims, net of expected insurance recoveries, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations and cash flows.

Other
 
If (i) any person other than A. Wilhelmsen AS. and Cruise Associates and their respective affiliates (the “Applicable Group”) acquires ownership of more than 33% of our common stock and the Applicable Group owns less of our common stock than such person, or (ii) subject to certain exceptions, during any 24-month period, a majority of the Board is no longer comprised of individuals who were members of the Board on the first day of such period, we may be obligated to prepay indebtedness outstanding under our ship financing facilities, which we may be unable to replace on similar terms. Our other debt agreements also contain change of control provisions that would be triggered by the acquisition of greater than 50% of our common stock by (i) any person or (ii) in the case of our public debt securities, by a person other than a member of the Applicable Group coupled with a ratings downgrade. If this were to occur, it would have an adverse impact on our liquidity and operations.