Jan 29 (Reuters) - Royal Caribbean forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, betting that affluent travelers will keep booking its cruises, paying higher fares and spending more on board.

Shares of the company, up about 20% so far this year, rose 7% in pre-market trading.

Cruise operators, including Royal Caribbean, continue to benefit from resilient demand for cruise holidays, supported by affluent consumers who are still spending on discretionary experiences despite macroeconomic pressures.

The company said demand for its high-end private island destinations and premium sailings has helped drive steady growth across the broader leisure, hotels and entertainment sectors.

The company expects fiscal 2026 adjusted profit per share of $17.70 to $18.10, compared with analysts' expectations of $17.66 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company posted third-quarter revenue of $4.26 billion mostly in line with analysts' expectations.