Examples
of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact
of: adverse general economic and related factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels
of unemployment, underemployment and the volatility
of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions
of these conditions that decrease the level
of disposable income
of consumers or consumer confidence; adverse events impacting the security
of travel, such as terrorist acts, armed conflict and threats thereof, acts
of piracy, and other international events; the risks and increased costs associated with operating internationally; our expansion into and investments in new markets; breaches in data security or other disturbances to our
information technology and other networks; the spread
of epidemics and viral outbreaks; adverse incidents involving cruise ships; changes in fuel prices and / or other cruise operating costs; any impairment
of our tradenames or goodwill; our hedging strategies; our inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; our substantial indebtedness, including the ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, and to generate the
necessary amount of cash to service our existing debt; restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our flexibility in operating our business; the
significant portion
of our assets pledged as collateral under our existing debt agreements and the ability
of our creditors to accelerate the repayment
of our indebtedness; volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; overcapacity in key markets or globally; our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or the loss
of key personnel; future changes relating to how external distribution channels sell and market our cruises; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services to certain ships and certain other services; delays in our shipbuilding program and ship repairs, maintenance and refurbishments; future increases in the price
of, or major changes or reduction in, commercial airline services; seasonal variations in passenger fare rates and occupancy levels at different times
of the year; our ability to keep pace with developments in technology; amendments to our collective bargaining agreements for crew members and other employee relation issues; the continued availability
of attractive port destinations; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate; and other factors set forth under «Risk Factors» in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10 - K and subsequent filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The primary consumer protection problem areas that have given rise to the States» actions include: (1) unsubstantiated claims
of consumer savings; (2) deceptive representations about the length
of time
necessary to complete a debt relief program; (3) misleading or failing to adequately inform consumers that they will be subject to continued collection efforts, including lawsuits, and that their account balances will increase due to extended nonpayment under the program; (4) deceptive disparagement
of consumer credit counseling; (5) deceptive disparagement
of bankruptcy as an alternative for debtors; (6) lack
of screening and analysis to determine suitability
of debt relief programs for individual debtors; (7) the collection
of substantial up - front fees so the debt relief company gains even if it fails to perform; (8) lack
of transparency and
information for consumers as to payment
of fees, status
of accounts, and communications with creditors; (9)
significant delays in active negotiation or engagement with creditors, coupled with prohibitions on direct consumer communications with creditors; and (10), in the case
of debt settlement companies, basing savings claims (and settlement fees) not on the original account balance, but on the inflated
amount due (including late fees and default rates
of interest) at the time
of settlement.