Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is saying "thank you-thank you" to its workers for reaching its "Double-Double" earnings objective this past year.

The company is giving all 66,000 employees a 5% bonus in shares as it accomplished its goal of doubling its 2014 adjusted earnings by 2017 and return on invested capital (ROIC) to double digits.

"Our teams worked hard to achieve the 'Double-Double' goals and now they have done it", said chief executive Richard D. Fain.

The "Thank-you, Thank-you Bonus" totals approximately $80m in equity grants vesting over three years, RCL said. The perk will also include major upgrades to crew facilities and recreation areas.

The company's adjusted earnings for 2017 came in at $1.63bn, or $7.53 per share, up from adjusted income of $1.31bn, or $6.08 per share, besting analyst estimates of $7.41. It said its ROIC for the year was more than 10%.

For all of 2014, RCL posted adjusted profit of $755,729, or $3.39 per share. Its ROIC was about 3 percent.

For 2017, gross yields were up 5.7% on a constant-currency basis, while net yields were up 6.4%.

Last year's result's beat the company's January 2017 mid-point guidance by $0.53 or $115 million, equating to a 23.8% year-over-year growth in earnings per share.

"It was achieved despite "an unusually ferocious hurricane season," which hurt earnings by approximately $55m, or $0.26 per share, RCL said.

Looking forward, RCL expects its 2018 adjusted earnings to be in the range of $8.55 to $8.75 per share. Net yields are expected to increase 1.5% to 3.5% on a constant-currency basis.

The company's fourth-quarter results also beat those of a year earlier.

Adjusted net income for the quarter was $288m, or $1.34 per share, up from $264.7m, or $1.23 per share and beating Street consensus of $1.20.

Net yields were up 3.9% on a constant-currency basis, beating the mid-point of the guidance by 165 basis points.

"Strong close-in demand for our core products combined with better than expected onboard spend drove the outperformance," the company said.

In an effort to keep forward momentum going, RCL now embarks on its previously announced "20/20 Vision"program, which strives to reach double-digit EPS by 2020 and further improve ROIC.

The company's booked position for 2018 is better than last year's record high and at higher rates. North American and European consumers continue to drive strong demand for all of our main products.

"These trends, coupled with strong onboard spend and a positive outlook for our Asia Pacific products, are positioning the company for a ninth consecutive year of yield growth," RCL said.

This suggests upside to the midpoint of RCL's guidance UBS analyst Robin Farley wrote in a note to clients.

"Strong demand out of North America and Europe and 'positive' outlook for Asia," she added.

The company expects a net yield increase in the range of 1.5% to 3.5% on a constant-currency basis for the full year.

Based on current fuel pricing, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other factors, the company expects first quarter Adjusted EPS to be approximately $0.95 per share.