"Cruise Demand Boosts Carnival's Annual Profit Forecast"
Carnival Corp raised its annual profit forecast, citing a record year of bookings driven by a surge in first-time cruise vacationers and a shift from land-based alternatives. The company reported a 22% jump in first-quarter revenue, with total customer deposits reaching $7 billion and a 30% increase in new-to-cruise customers. Despite cost improvements, the impact of Red Sea disruptions and higher fuel prices led to an adjusted net loss per share of 14 cents, prompting the company to raise its full-year adjusted profit per share forecast to 98 cents.