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UBS predicts Virgin Cruises will order a newbuild this year

UBS predicts Virgin Cruises will order a newbuild this year
Tis the season for new year's predictions, and UBS Investment Research weighed in with the forecast that Virgin Cruises will order a ship with an option for deliveries in 2019 and 2020.

The brokerage also surmised this may be a good season for Caribbean cruising, citing lower fuel prices, capacity down year over year in the second and third quarters and 'an Arctic blast on the way.'

UBS made the two cruise predictions—though its Caribbean one was phrased as a question, 'Could it be a good Caribbean season for the cruise lines?' not a statement—in a note containing its Top 10 Predictions for 2015 for the leisure, gaming and lodging sectors.

In late 2014 Richard Branson's Virgin Group announced its intent to build two ships under its new Virgin Cruises brand but gave no details or time frame.

UBS included two cruise stocks, CCL and RCL, among four leisure sector picks that it sees as having the most upside potential.