FLORIDA, United States — Cruise operator Royal Caribbean’s net income jumped 55 per cent in the third quarter, helped partly by bookings made closer to sailing dates, lower costs and ships using less fuel.

The cruise operator also raised its 2010 earnings forecast on Tuesday and said it’s likely to set a new earnings-per-share record in 2011.

The company’s stock surged US$3.38, or 9.6 per cent, to US$38.53 in morning trading. The shares hit a new 52-week high of US$38.88 earlier in the session.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. reported its net income climbed to US$356.8 million, or US$1.64 per share, for the quarter. A year earlier, net income was US$230.4 million, or US$1.07 per share.

The results topped the US$1.57 per share that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters predicted. These estimates normally remove one-time items.

Revenue for the period ended Sept 30 increased 17 per cent to US$2.06 billion. Wall Street expected US$2.05 billion.

“We continue to characterize demand for our brands as steady and solid and the strength of our third quarter results is certainly a validation of that,” Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean’s brands include Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises. It has 39 ships in service and three being built.

Net yields, which reflect a company’s revenue without some variable costs like commissions and transportation, rose 5.2 per cent. The figure increased 7.2 per cent on a constant currency basis.

Third-quarter fuel usage was better than expected, coming in at 342,400 metric tons.

The company based in Miami now expects 2010 earnings between US$2.43 and US$2.47 per share. Its prior forecast was for net income between US$2.25 and US$2.35 per share.

JPMorgan’s Kevin Milota said in a client note that Royal Caribbean’s forecast includes a 39 cents per share gain from a legal settlement. Excluding this gain, the cruise operator’s adjusted earnings forecast is US$2.04 to US$2.08 per share.

Milota maintained an “Overweight” rating.

For the fourth quarter, Royal Caribbean anticipates earnings of eight cents to 12 cents per share. Net yields are expected to rise about four per cent to five per cent for both the year and quarter on an as-reported basis.

Analysts predict 2010 earnings of US$1.94 per share and fourth-quarter net income of 16 cents per share.

Looking ahead to 2011, Royal Caribbean said it expects yield increases to be comparable to those of 2010, which would put the company on track to set a new 2011 earnings per share record.

“Profitability momentum moving into 2011 is also quite strong with our newest vessels performing exceptionally well and our management team controlling costs very effectively. The economy is still tough, but even facing such headwinds our outlook is remarkably encouraging,” Frain said.