Shares of Carnival PLC (CUK) plummeted 5.83% in pre-market trading on Friday, following the company's release of its fiscal second-quarter earnings guidance. The cruise line operator announced that it expects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of about $0.22 for the quarter, falling short of the FactSet consensus estimate of $0.23.

The lower-than-expected earnings forecast has raised concerns among investors about Carnival's near-term profitability and growth prospects. This guidance comes at a time when the travel and vacation industry is still navigating the challenges of post-pandemic recovery and adapting to changing consumer preferences.

While Carnival and other cruise operators have seen a resurgence in demand for travel experiences, the company's conservative outlook suggests that it may be facing headwinds such as increased operational costs or slower-than-anticipated booking trends. Investors will be closely watching for more details when Carnival releases its full earnings report to better understand the factors influencing its performance in the competitive cruise industry landscape.