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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Note 19. Commitments and Contingencies
Ship Purchase Obligations
Our future capital commitments consist primarily of new ship orders. As of December 31, 2020, we had one Quantum-class ship, two Oasis-class ships and three ships of a new generation, known as our Icon-class, on order for our Royal Caribbean International brand with an aggregate capacity of approximately 32,400 berths. As of December 31, 2020, we had two Edge-class ships on order for our Celebrity brand with an aggregate capacity of approximately 6,500 berths. Additionally as of December 31, 2020, we had three ships on order with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,750 berths for our Silversea Cruises brand. The following provides further information on recent developments with respect to our ship orders.
In September 2019, Silversea Cruises entered into two credit agreements, guaranteed by us, for the unsecured financing of the first and second Evolution-class ships for an amount of up to 80% of each ship's contract price through facilities to be guaranteed 95% by Euler Hermes, the official export credit agency of Germany. The maximum loan amount under each facility is not to exceed the United States dollar equivalent of €351.6 million in the case of the first Evolution-class ship and €359.0 million in the case of the second Evolution-class ship, or approximately $430.1 million and $439.2 million, respectively, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Each loan, once funded, will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following the delivery of each ship. At our election, interest on each loan will accrue either (1) at a fixed rate of 4.14% and 4.18%, respectively (inclusive of the applicable margin) or (2) at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 0.79% and 0.83%, respectively. The first and second Evolution-class ships will each have a capacity of approximately 600 berths.
In December 2019, we entered into a credit agreement for the unsecured financing of the sixth Oasis-class ship for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price through a facility to be guaranteed 100% by BpiFrance Assurance Export, the official export credit agency of France. Under the financing arrangement, we have the right, but not the obligation, to satisfy the obligations to be incurred upon delivery and acceptance of the ship under the shipbuilding contract by assuming, at delivery and acceptance, the debt indirectly incurred by the shipbuilder during the construction of the ship. The maximum loan amount under the facility is not to exceed the United States dollar equivalent of €1.3 billion, or approximately $1.6 billion based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loan will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of the ship. Interest on the loan will accrue at a fixed rate of 3.00% (inclusive of margin). The sixth Oasis-class ship will have a capacity of approximately 5,700 berths.
In December 2019, we entered into a credit agreement for the unsecured financing of the third Icon-class ship for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price. Finnvera plc, the official export credit agency of Finland, has agreed to guarantee 95% of the substantial majority of the financing, with a smaller portion of the financing to be 95% guaranteed by Euler Hermes, the official German export credit agency. The maximum loan amount under the facility is not to exceed the United States dollar equivalent of €1.4 billion, or approximately $1.7 billion based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loan, once funded, will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following the delivery of the ship. Approximately 60% of the loan will accrue interest at a fixed rate of 3.29%. The balance of the loan will accrue interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus 0.85%. The third Icon-class ship will have a capacity of approximately 5,600 berths.
During 2017, we entered into credit agreements for the unsecured financing of the two Icon-class ships for up to 80% of each ship’s contract price. For each ship, the official Finnish export credit agency, Finnvera plc, has agreed to guarantee 100% of a substantial majority of the financing to the lenders, with a smaller portion of the financing to be 95% guaranteed by Euler Hermes, the official German export credit agency. The maximum loan amount under each facility is not to exceed €1.4 billion, or approximately $1.7 billion, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Interest on approximately 75% of each loan will accrue at a fixed rate of 3.56% and 3.76% for the first and the second Icon-class ships, respectively, and the balance will accrue interest at a floating rate ranging from LIBOR plus 1.10% to 1.15% and LIBOR plus 1.15% to 1.20% for the first and the second Icon-class ships, respectively. Each loan will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of each ship. The first and second Icon-class ships will each have a capacity of approximately 5,600 berths.
During 2017, we entered into credit agreements for the unsecured financing of the third and fourth Edge-class ships and the fifth Oasis-class ship for up to 80% of each ship’s contract price through facilities to be guaranteed 100% by Bpifrance Assurance Export, the official export credit agency of France. Under these financing arrangements, we have the right, but not the obligation, to satisfy the obligations to be incurred upon delivery and acceptance of each ship under the shipbuilding contract by assuming, at delivery and acceptance, the debt indirectly incurred by the shipbuilder during the construction of each ship. The maximum loan amount under each facility is not to exceed €684.2 million in the case of the third Edge-class ship and the United States dollar equivalent of €714.6 million and €1.1 billion in the case of the fourth Edge-class ship and fifth Oasis-class ship, or approximately $874.2 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loans will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of each ship. Interest on the loans will accrue at a fixed rate of 1.28% for the third Edge-class ship and at a fixed rate of 3.18% for both, the fourth Edge-class ship and
the fifth Oasis-class ship. The third and fourth Edge-class ships, each of which will have a capacity of approximately 3,250 berths. The fifth Oasis-class ship will have a capacity of approximately 5,700 berths.
During 2015, we entered into a credit agreement for the unsecured financing of Odyssey of the Seas for up to 80% of the ship’s contract price, through a facility to be guaranteed 95% by Euler Hermes, official export credit agency of Germany. Hermes has agreed to guarantee to the lender payment of 95% of the financing. The ship will have a capacity of approximately 4,200 berths. This credit agreement makes available to us an unsecured term loan in an amount up to the United States dollar equivalent of €777.5 million, or approximately $951.2 million, based on the exchange rate at December 31, 2020. The loan will amortize semi-annually and will mature 12 years following delivery of the ship. At our election, prior to delivery of the ship, interest on the loans will accrue either (1) at a fixed rate of 3.45% (inclusive of the applicable margin) or (2) at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 0.95%.
Our future capital commitments consist primarily of new ship orders. As of December 31, 2020, our Global and Partner Brands have the following ships on order. COVID-19 has impacted shipyard operations which have and may continue to result in delays of our previously contracted ship deliveries. As of December 31, 2020, the expected dates that the ships on order are expected to be delivered, subject to change in the event of construction delays, and their approximate berths are as follows:
ShipShipyardExpected to be deliveredApproximate
Berths
Royal Caribbean International —
Oasis-class:
Wonder of the SeasChantiers de l’Atlantique1st Quarter 20225,700
   UnnamedChantiers de l’Atlantique2nd Quarter 20245,700
Quantum-class:
Odyssey of the SeasMeyer Werft1st Quarter 20214,200
Icon-class:
UnnamedMeyer Turku Oy3rd Quarter 20235,600
UnnamedMeyer Turku Oy2nd Quarter 20255,600
UnnamedMeyer Turku Oy2nd Quarter 20265,600
Celebrity Cruises —
Edge-class:
Celebrity BeyondChantiers de l’Atlantique2nd Quarter 20223,250
UnnamedChantiers de l’Atlantique4th Quarter 20233,250
Silversea Cruises — (1)
Muse-class:
Silver DawnFincantieri4th Quarter 2021550
Evolution-class:
UnnamedMeyer Werft1st Quarter 2022600
UnnamedMeyer Werft1st Quarter 2023600
TUI Cruises (50% joint venture) —
Mein Schiff 7Meyer Turku Oy2nd Quarter 20232,900
UnnamedFincantieri3rd Quarter 20244,100
UnnamedFincantieri1st Quarter 20264,100
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (50% joint venture) —
Hanseatic Spirit
Vard Fincantieri
2nd Quarter 2021230
Total Berths51,980
(1)    The revenue impact from Silversea Cruises' new ships will be recognized on a three month reporting lag from when the ships enter service. Refer to Note 1. General for further information.
In addition, as of December 31, 2020, we have an agreement in place with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build an additional Edge-class ship for delivery in 2025, which is contingent upon completion of conditions precedent and financing.
As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate cost of our ships on order, not including any ships on order by our Partner Brands and the Silversea Cruises ships that remain contingent upon final documentation and financing, was approximately $14.2 billion, of which we had deposited $684.8 million as of such date. Approximately 66.3% of the aggregate cost was exposed to fluctuations in the Euro exchange rate at December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 18. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments for further information.
Litigation
As previously reported, two lawsuits were filed against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in August 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act. The complaint filed by Havana Docks Corporation ("Havana Docks Action") alleges it holds an interest in the Havana Cruise Port Terminal and the complaint filed by Javier Garcia-Bengochea (the "Port of Santiago Action") alleges that he holds an interest in the Port of Santiago, Cuba, both of which were expropriated by the Cuban Government. The complaints further allege that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. trafficked in those properties by embarking and disembarking passengers at these facilities. The plaintiffs seek all available statutory remedies, including the value of the expropriated property, plus interest, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. filed its answer to each complaint in October 2019 and on October 15, 2020, and the Court dismissed the Port of Santiago Action with prejudice on the basis that the plaintiffs in that action lacked standing to bring the claim. This decision has been appealed by the plaintiffs. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the claims alleged in both the Havana Docks Action and the Port of Santiago Action, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against them. We believe that it is unlikely that the outcome of either action will have a material adverse impact to our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and subject to significant uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that the final outcome of this case will not be material.

As previously reported, on October 7, 2020, a shareholder filed a putative class action complaint against us, and three officers, Richard Fain, Jason Liberty and Michael Bayley, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the "Court"), alleging misrepresentations relating to COVID-19 in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, seeking unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired our securities from February 4, 2020 through March 17, 2020. As previously disclosed, on October 27, 2020, a second complaint was filed by another shareholder against us and these same officers in the Court alleging the same misrepresentations relating to COVID-19. As is the case with the first action, the second action seeks unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons and entities (subject to specified exceptions) that purchased or otherwise acquired our securities from February 4, 2020 through March 17, 2020. On December 23, 2020, these cases were consolidated with a new lead plaintiff, Indiana Public Retirement System. We cannot predict the duration or outcome of this lawsuit at this time, although management believes the claims are without merit. Depending on how this case progresses, it could be costly to defend and could divert the attention of management and other resources from operations. Accordingly, even if ultimately resolved in our favor, this action could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. On February 25, 2021, the lead plaintiff filed with the Court a voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice.

We are routinely involved in other claims, regulatory investigations and inquiries, and consumer complaints, including those related to COVID-19, that are typical within the travel and tourism 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
Some of the contracts that we enter into include indemnification provisions that obligate us to make payments to the counterparty if certain events occur. These contingencies generally relate to changes in taxes, increased lender capital costs and other similar costs. The indemnification clauses are often standard contractual terms and are entered into in the normal course of business. There are no stated or notional amounts included in the indemnification clauses and we are not able to estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments, if any, under these indemnification clauses. We have not been required to make any payments under such indemnification clauses in the past and, under current circumstances, we do not believe an indemnification in any material amount is probable.
If any person acquires ownership of more than 50% of our common stock or, subject to certain exceptions, during any 24-month period, a majority of our board of directors is no longer comprised of individuals who were members of our board of directors on the first day of such period, we may be obligated to prepay indebtedness outstanding under our credit facilities, which we may be unable to replace on similar terms. Our public debt securities also contain change of control provisions that would be triggered by a third-party acquisition of greater than 50% of our common stock coupled with a ratings downgrade. If this were to occur, it would have an adverse impact on our liquidity and operations.
At December 31, 2020, we have future commitments to pay for our usage of certain port facilities, marine consumables, services and maintenance contracts as follows (in thousands):
Year
2021$202,618 
2022299,347 
202328,324 
20246,911 
20257,273 
Thereafter22,720 
$567,193