Sept 29 (Reuters) - Carnival Corp ( CCL ) raised

its annual forecast for profit, betting on strong demand and

higher onboard spending as well as ticket pricing for its cruise

vacations.

Cruise operators, including Carnival Corp ( CCL ) and rival Royal

Caribbean Group, have been racing to offer unique and

private experiences by expanding their portfolio to meet strong

demand for exclusive destinations.

Carnival has invested $600 million in Celebration Key, an

ambitious private resort destination on Grand Bahama, to help

maintain its competitive edge.

Bundled packages offering perks such as drinks, Wi-Fi, and

excursions have encouraged guests to spend more onboard, further

boosting revenue for the cruise lines.

The company forecast fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share

of about $2.14, up from its prior expectations of about $1.97.

The cruise operator reported adjusted profit per share of

$1.43 for the quarter ended August 31, beating analysts'

estimates of $1.32 according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company also logged quarterly sales of $8.15 billion,

compared with analysts' estimates of $8.10 billion.