carnival cruise 100 shares

How to Get Onboard Credit for Owning Carnival Stock (2023)

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: July 2, 2021  - Last updated: June 13, 2023

If you cruise on Carnival, Princess, or any other Carnival-owned cruise line, you can get free onboard credit on every cruise, just for being a Carnival stockholder! Here’s how to get your free OBC.

One of my favorite perks of cruising is getting free onboard credit—often abbreviated to OBC— when I book during certain sales. Since I always use a cruise travel agent , I’ll often get extra onboard credit just for booking through the agency.

OBC is awesome! You can use it for just about anything on the ship—buying souvenirs in the shops, paying for specialty dining, booking shore excursions, and more.

But did you know that you can get even more free onboard credit every time you book a cruise on Carnival, Princess, Holland America, or any other cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation?

It’s true! If you’re a Carnival stockholder , you’re eligible for free onboard credit each time you cruise. As long as you own enough shares and can show proof before each sailing, you’ll get free money to make every cruise even more fun.

What cruise lines offer free onboard credit to Carnival shareholders?

Carnival Corporation offers free OBC to shareholders on all of their cruise lines. Carnival, Princess, and Holland America are the most popular Carnival-owned lines for North American cruisers. But several other cruise lines around the world are also under the Carnival Corporation umbrella.

Shareholders cruising with Cunard, Costa Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA, or P&O can also apply for free onboard credit.

Applying for free onboard credit as a Carnival shareholder

If you own Carnival stock (or you’re planning on buying some), it’s super-easy to get your free shareholder OBC. Read on to find out how many shares you need to own, how much credit you’ll get for each sailing, and how to let your cruise line know you’re eligible.

How much Carnival stock do you have to own to get OBC?

You’ll need to own at least 100 shares of stock in Carnival Corporation at the time of sailing to earn their free onboard credit benefit. The shares need to be held in the name of a booked passenger to earn OBC.

How much onboard credit will I get for my cruise?

The amount of free onboard credit you’ll get per cruise depends on how long your sailing is, and which cruise line you’ll be on. See the table below to find out how much OBC you’ll be awarded on your next cruise.

The amount of onboard credit you’ll receive (and what currency it will be in) depends on the specific cruise brand and where it’s based.

So, if you’re from the UK and sailing on a cruise on an Australian brand, you’ll get your onboard credit in AUD. An Australian sailing on a North American brand on a European itinerary will get OBC in US dollars.

North American brands:

• Carnival Cruise Line*
• Princess Cruises*
• Holland America Line
• Costa Cruises*

Continental European brands:

• AIDA Cruises
• P&O Cruises UK

Australian brands:

• P&O Cruises Aus

*The currency and amount of onboard credit for some cruise lines is determined by the operational currency used on any specific sailing.

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How do you let the cruise line know you’re a Carnival shareholder?

Although so many things are automated these days, you’ll need to let the cruise line know that you’re a shareholder before each and every cruise, so you can have your OBC credited to your account.

Annoying, I know, especially if you take a lot of cruises! But trust me, it only takes five minutes, and you’ll earn between $50 and $250 (or a similar amount in other currencies) to spend on your next cruise. Now that’s a nice rate of return!

Five steps to apply for onboard credit as a Carnival stockholder

Applying for Carnival shareholder stock is simple if you follow these steps:

• Own at least 100 shares of Carnival stock
• Print, copy or scan your proof of shares
• Black out your address and account number
• Send proof to your cruise line before your cruise
• Check your online cruise planner for the OBC a few weeks before your cruise departs

You’ll need to mail, email, or fax proof of your shares to your specific cruise line at least three weeks before your sail date.

( Click here for a list of mailing addresses, emails, and fax numbers for each cruise line.)

Proof of shareholder status could include a copy of your shareholder proxy card, a dividend tax voucher, or a nominee statement with both your mailing address and brokerage account number blacked out.

Be sure to also include your full name, reservation or booking number, ship name, and sailing date to ensure you’re credited correctly.

What if multiple members of my family are Carnival shareholders? Do we all get free onboard credit?

Carnival’s free onboard credit program for shareholders only allows one shareholder per stateroom to use the benefit. So if you have multiple shareholders in the same cabin, only one can get the free OBC.

But if you want to get creative, you can sometimes work around this policy.

Let’s say you’re traveling as a family unit—two parents and your kids who are old enough to stay in a nearby room. Each parent owns at least 100 shares of Carnival stock, but you’d like to actually sleep in the same room as your spouse or partner.

Despite the strict rules around one free OBC benefit per cabin, the cruise lines aren’t the bed police! If you book one parent into each of the two rooms, both adults can get the free credit.

Of course, each stateroom key card is assigned to a specific passenger and also acts as ID and your way of making purchases on board. So the logistics can get tricky with this workaround, but many cruisers use this method to double up on OBC.

You may also like: Cruising with Kids: 19 Essential Tips

Can you gift your Carnival shareholder onboard credit to friends or family sailing with you?

Just like any other cruise onboard credit you might receive in a special sale or via your travel agent, Carnival shareholder onboard credit isn’t transferable. The cruise line will apply the OBC only to the account that matches the name of the legal shareholder.

But if you want to share your credit with friends or family, you can always use it to buy a gift on board for a friend or loved one. Just remember you need to make the purchase yourself—you can’t give your cruise card to another passenger to use your OBC.

Can you save your Carnival shareholder onboard credit for another cruise?

Although it would be nice to be able to save your unused onboard credit to use on a future cruise, your OBC expires at the end of each sailing. So use it before you lose it!

Can you get more than one free OBC benefit if you hold more than 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock?

If you have several hundred (or more!) shares of Carnival Corporation stock, you’re probably wondering if you can get more free onboard credit for each block of 100 shares you own.

Unfortunately, free onboard credit for Carnival shareholders is limited to one credit benefit per person per sailing.

Is anyone excluded from receiving free onboard credit for being a Carnival shareholder?

Carnival Corporation employees likely already know that they’re not eligible for onboard credit for owning Carnival stock. But some non-employees also aren’t able to take advantage of this program.

If any of these situations apply to you, you also won’t be able to get free OBC as a Carnival shareholder:

• A travel agent cruising at travel agent rates
• Tour conductors or group leaders cruising at a reduced rate
• Anyone sailing on a complimentary basis

***UPDATE November 2021***

Carnival has very recently begun denying shareholder OBC to guests cruising at discounted rates. According to many longtime Carnival cruisers who have applied for the free onboard credit, the company has been denying the benefit for reasons including:

• VIFP offers
• Casino rates
• Military discount rates
• Resident discount rates
• Senior citizen discount rates

It’s unclear whether this is a permanent policy change by Carnival Corporation, or just a temporary hold while ships are sailing at reduced capacity. I’ll continue to update the post as more information emerges on this new development.

What can you use your Carnival shareholder onboard credit for?

Unlike some cruise lines that allow you to use OBC before your cruise to pay for packages and services on board, Carnival and its subsidiaries only allow you to use onboard credit once you’re physically on the ship.

But, you can use your onboard credit for almost anything you’d normally pay for once you’re on the ship. Here are some examples of how you can use your free shareholder OBC:

• Specialty dining that you book on board
• Shore excursions that you book on board
• Beverages that aren’t covered by a drink package
• Purchases in the onboard shops
• Spa and salon visits
• Experiences like wine tastings, cooking classes, or behind-the-scenes tours

Just remember that some cruise lines will give you a discount if you prebook and prepay for some of these extras before you sail. Take that into consideration when deciding how you’ll use your OBC.

You may also like: Are Cruise Drink Packages Worth It?

What can you NOT use your Carnival shareholder onboard credit for?

There are tons of ways you can use your free onboard credit for owning Carnival stock on a cruise. However, Carnival has a few rules about what you can’t use it for. Make sure you know these exclusions before you assume you’re covered (and stuck with an unexpected bill).

• Using shareholder OBC for casino play
• Paying for crew gratuities with shareholder OBC
• Using shareholder OBC for anything that you need to use cash for (like for extra tips, or vending or self-service laundry on some ships)

What’s your favorite way to get free onboard credit on a cruise? Have you received OBC for being a Carnival shareholder? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beverly Jacobs

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

I am trying to redeem my on board credit as a stock holder

Carrie Ann Karstunen

Friday 1st of March 2024

Hi Beverly, I'm assuming you're asking how to obtain your shareholder OBC for an upcoming cruise, not how to redeem it on the ship (if I'm wrong, redeeming it is easy - your OBC can be used toward any purchases you make on board with your cruise card). I have detailed instructions in the post about how to obtain your OBC pre-cruise. Do you have a specific question I can answer?

Monday 4th of December 2023

I have been trying to get the form for my onboard credit for holland America and can not find it anywhere on the internet where I can just print it out. Can you helpW

Hi Sandy, currently there isn’t a specific form you need to send, you just email the information I’ve detailed above to Holland America. The link to the email address to send your information can also be found in the post above, in the section “Five steps to apply for onboard credit as a Carnival stockholder”. I’ll add it here as well: Carnival Corp Shareholder Benefits. Hope this helps and happy cruising!

Sunday 8th of October 2023

looking for a phone number as I have not received the credit on my; Nov. cruise

Monday 9th of October 2023

Hi Penny, if it's been longer than three weeks since you sent in your proof of shares (and your cruise isn't until next month), I'd try emailing one more time. If you don't hear back soon, here's the contacts page for Carnival Corp.'s Investor Relations. Hope this helps, and thanks for stopping by!

Thursday 14th of September 2023

Hello Carrie Ann, Thank you so much for the great article with clear explanations and the link to the instructions from Carnival Corporation. I bought my 100 shares of CCL on 9/12/23, emailed in a scan of the proof of stock ownership (confirming statement from my broker, Charles Schwab) this morning ,on 9/14/23 and TA-DAH !!- 15 minutes later the online booking summary for my 22 day Princess cruise is already showing the $250.00 onboard credit!!! Wow ! That was lightning fast ! My cruise is leaving on 10/18/23 so I was worried about doing this just 5 weeks out but , per the instructions on the Carnival Corporation sheet, it just needs to be done 4 weeks prior to the sail date. I wish I had known about this benefit before. I have been cruising on Princess for years. Thank you again for this valuable information presented in such an easy to understand way. Sincerely, Carol

Sunday 17th of September 2023

Hi Carol, so glad I could help. That's super fast!! Hope you have an amazing cruise :D

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

My husband and myself have 2,000 shares of Carnival stock. Will that amount only give us $100.00?

Hi JudyAnn! If you're sailing on a cruise between 7-13 days and you and your husband are sharing one stateroom, you'll just receive the $100 OBC. Carnival Corp. gives the OBC as a shareholder benefit to anyone who owns at least 100 shares - if you own significantly more you still get the same shareholder benefit. You can use this benefit on every Carnival cruise as well as on any of their sister brands, and if you have a longer sailing (14+ days) the OBC jumps to $250. Hope this answers your question and happy cruising!

Do you own cruise line stocks? You could get onboard perks

Many cruise fans choose to invest in cruise line stocks, either because they want to support their favorite brand or because they view it as a financially savvy investment. But did you know that owning shares in a cruise company could give you onboard perks each time you cruise?

The major U.S. publicly traded cruise companies, Carnival Corporation (which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CCL), Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) all offer onboard credits ranging from $50 to $250 for those who own 100 shares or more of their stock.

Stock prices and any money you may or may not make from the investment are unpredictable. What is predictable are the perks. A small investment in a cruise company may pay off in more ways than you think, especially if you are a frequent cruiser.

This is not advice about making a financial investment. Before buying any cruise stocks, you should talk to your own adviser or broker, and do your own research. Any financial investment is at your own risk.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Each cruise company has its own rules and nuances regarding the benefits of owning cruise line stocks. Here's how shareholder perks play out at the top three publicly traded cruise companies.

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of cruise brands including Carnival Cruise Line , Princess Cruises , Holland America , Cunard and luxury line Seabourn . If you hold a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock, you'll receive an onboard credit of $250 per cabin for cruises of 14 days or longer, $100 for cruises of seven to 13 days and $50 for cruises of six days or fewer. (Note that by "days," Carnival means nights on board.)

The current benefit is available on sailings through July 31, 2023; reservations must be made by Feb. 28, 2023.

You can use the credit for drinks, gift shop purchases, spa treatments or other onboard expenditures. You can't use the credit in the casino, for gratuities or to get cash. The credit applies only to the shareholder-occupied stateroom; you won't get additional credits if you book multiple cabins.

Related: Cruise onboard credit: What it is, where to get it and how best to use it

To receive the credit, first book your cruise vacation, then send the specific cruise line an email, fax or mailed letter with your legal name, reservation/booking number, ship and sailing date. You'll also need to provide proof — such as a copy of your proxy card or a dividend tax voucher — that you own 100 or more shares of stock.

The request needs to be made no later than four weeks before your sail date.

You'll find emails and addresses for each Carnival Corporation brand and specific rules on the company's website . For Carnival Cruise Line, the email is [email protected] , the fax number is 305-406-6102, and the address is Guest Administration, 3655 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33178.

Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean's shareholder perk applies to cruises on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises , with the exclusion of any charter cruises (such as full-ship theme cruises) and Celebrity's Galapagos sailings.

Any shareholder with a minimum of 100 shares at the time of sailing is eligible for an onboard credit of $250 per stateroom for sailings of 14 or more nights, $100 on sailings of six to 13 nights and $50 on sailings of five or fewer nights.

You may request the nontransferable credit each time you cruise. The credit applies only to the stateroom where the shareholder is staying and is based on double occupancy. If shares are held jointly and you are booking more than one stateroom, 100 shares are required for each stateroom (based on one credit per shareholder per sailing and double occupancy). Single guests would have to pay 200% of the fare to receive the offer.

The credit can't be used for gratuities (service charges). It also doesn't apply to any activities you pay for prior to setting sail (such as prebooked shore excursions or spa treatments). It's credited to your shipboard account at the time of sailing.

Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren't)

Royal Caribbean suggests you request onboard credit two to three weeks prior to your sail date. The response from the cruise company should come within seven days.

You may make the request using the company's online form . For FAQs about the program, visit Royal Caribbean's investor website .

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Norwegian offers holders of 100 or more shares of its stock an onboard credit of $250 per stateroom on sailings of 15 days or more, $100 on sailings of seven to 14 days and $50 on sailings of six days or less. (Note that by "days," Norwegian means nights on board.) As with the other cruise companies, you may request the onboard credit each time you cruise.

The offer applies to cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line , Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Charter sailings are excluded.

To redeem the credit offer you may fill out a shareholder benefit request form online or you can mail or email the company with your name, address, email address, telephone number, ship and sailing date, plus proof you hold the shares.

The onboard credit request must be submitted at least 15 days prior to your sailing date.

The benefit is only available for the stateroom in which the shareholder is staying and is based on your paying for two people in the cabin. Solo travelers must pay the full double occupancy fare to receive the credit. If shares are held jointly and you are requesting two or more cabins, a minimum holding of 100 shares per room is required.

Norwegian does not allow the benefit to be combined with any other offer; shareholders have the option to choose between the shareholder benefit and another offer. The credit appears on your onboard account at the time of sailing and is nontransferable. It can't be used for any activities purchased prior to sailing, nor for service charges/gratuities on board.

The email for Norwegian Cruise Line requests is [email protected] . The address to mail in a request is Norwegian Cruise Line Shareholder Benefit Department, 7665 Corporate Center Drive, Miami, FL 33126. Find addresses for the other brands and facts about the program on the company's investor website .

Bottom line

You can receive onboard credit each time you cruise by purchasing 100 or more shares of stock from a major publicly traded cruise company. This is a perk for shareholders, not a reason to invest. Before agreeing to buy cruise line stock, you should read the rules carefully and weigh the price of the stock versus any savings you will receive, as well as understand the potential risks of your investment. Your financial adviser or broker may offer further advice.

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Carnival Shares – The shareholder benefits

Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the largest cruise operators in the world. The company’s portfolio of global cruise line brands includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard. Owning Carnival shares means you have a stake in one of the biggest cruise companies and can bag your self some shareholder benefits too.

In this post we will discuss what the shareholder benefits are and how many shares you need to get them.  Do remember this post does not constitute financial advice, if you are interested in buying Carnival stock, do seek independent financial advice first!

Page Contents

How many Carnival shares do I need to purchase?

To be entitled to shareholder benefits, you need to purchase a minimum number of shares. This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc.

What are the Carnival shareholder benefits (as of June 2023)?

Carnival stopped giving dividends due to the global pandemic and the impact on the business. Prior to this, shares were trading at £40-£50 a share, before plummeting to £5. While it doesn’t appear dividends will reappear anytime soon, there are still some shareholder benefits in the form on Onboard Credit. You only need to purchase 100 shares to receive the Carnival shareholder onboard credit, you wont get extra credit for buying more and it will only be applied to a room once.

How much onboard credit will I receive?

The amount on onboard credit you’ll receive as a shareholder will depend on the cruise line and the cruise length. See the table beow:

How do I apply for my Carnival shareholder benefits?

You can apply for you shareholder benefits any time between 90days and 28days prior to sailing.  While we have heard of people having them added in advance of 90 days, in most cases people are told to reapply nearer the cruise.

Applying is easy, you just need to send a copy of your share certificate or the latest statement proving you own 100 shares along with the following details:

• Your complete legal name
• Reservation/booking number
• Ship and sailing date
• Proof of ownership of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc shares

The easiest way to do this is via email, but you can also send the details by post. We have listed the contact you need for each brand below:

The onboard credit for Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises is determined based on the operational currency onboard the vessel. 

Please visit the Carnival Corporation website at www.carnivalcorp.com for updates. We often use our shareholder benefits on our P&O, Princess and Cunard cruises.

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Carnival shareholder benefit.

Earn benefits for owning your favorite cruise line’s stock!

Many cruisers I speak to have no clue that the major cruise lines often offer some sort of benefit for being a shareholder of the cruise line’s stock. Carnival Corporation & PLC offers up to $250 of Onboard Credit just for being a shareholder!

“How much will this cost me?” is always the first question I receive when I tell cruisers about the benefit. For Carnival, you only need to hold 100 shares of the company’s stock in order to qualify. At the time of this writing, the current price of $21.02/share ( $CCL Live Ticker ), would cost new investors just over $2,100.

Of course, the cost of shares fluctuate based on how the stock performs. I bought in at $45/share ($4,500). So, if you purchase 100 shares today, you do so at a significant savings to what I spent, but you get the same benefits!

What do I get for my investment?

In addition to the possible gains (or losses*) you receive as a shareholder, Carnival provides the following benefits to shareholders:

As you can see from the table above, the longer your cruise, the more you stand to gain from your Shareholder Benefit! For my Panama Canal sailing in 2019, I received the full OBC of $250, however, the majority of my sailings are 7 days which earns me the $100 OBC. This is enough to cover gratuities onboard at the current rate of $13.99/day ($97.93)**.

Prior to the pandemic, Carnival also had a healthy dividend payout of $.50/share. That meant that each quarter, investors who held 100 shares received another $50 – or $200/year! The dividend has been suspended indefinitely.

How do I get the credit?

For years, the only option cruisers had to request the credit was to FAX a request, with proof of share ownership, to Carnival corporation. Thankfully, Carnival added an option to email Shareholder Services/Guest Admin. This makes the process so much easier.

To request your shareholder credit, you simply email [email protected] a minimum of 3 weeks prior to your sail date with the following information:

• Booking Number (6-digit booking ID used to access your sailing)
• Embarkation date (first day of your cruise)
• Port of Embarkation (where you’re sailing from)
• Shareholder name

Additionally, you are required to attach a “recent investor statement” that proves share ownership. How recent that is depends on the human processing your request. I’ve used the same statement for cruises as far out as 5 months. At other times, I’ve been asked to resubmit a statement that’s 60 days prior to the sail date.

Tips for Shareholder Credit Submission

• When requesting your credit, save a copy of your most current statement and include that with your request
• The investor statement must include your full name and that name must match the name on the reservation
• Redact any personal information (account numbers, information about other shares you hold, etc.) before sending your statement to Carnival

And if you’re just dying to find a use for that old fax machine that’s collecting dust, you can fax all of this information to Carnival at: 305-406-6102. I recommend including a cover letter that contains the information above and then a copy of your redacted statement that includes proof of ownership.

Is it worth the cost?

I’ve used the Shareholder credit on all of my cruises since 2015 and I’ve earned $2,900 in OBC. Additionally, when Carnival was paying out a healthy dividend, I earned over $1,000 in that same time period. So my $4,500 investment has paid for itself over the years! Of course, as I always say, your mileage may vary.

Fine Print and Disclaimers:

There are some Carnival fine print and some disclaimers:

• Only one OBC is allowed per stateroom. So if you’re sailing with another person who has 100 shares of $CCL stock, only one onboard credit will be applied
• Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates, tour conductors or anyone cruising on a reduced-rate or complimentary basis are excluded from this offer (sorry Casino Rate Offers!)
• Benefit cannot be exchanged for cash, nor can it be used for casino credits or charges
• Reservations must be made by February 28, 2022 to qualify for the current Shareholder Benefit program
• **Carnival states that the benefit cannot be used toward gratuities, however, we’ve used our OBC this way for nearly 30 sailings
• *As with any stock purchase or investment, there is market risk. You could lose money with the investment. Additionally, as you buy/sell stock, there could be tax implications. Nothing on this page should be used to make an investment or tax decision and I retain zero liability for any decisions you may make

Carnival gets strict.

In late 2021, Carnival started to become much more strict with their Shareholder Credit program. In fact, my credit was denied for a sailing because I booked it using my VIFP number! I sent multiple emails to which I continued to be denied. I eventually called Carnival, waited on hold for an hour, and was told the same thing. I pushed back and said to the agent: “So what you’re saying is that no one who has ever sailed on a Carnival cruise can be a stockholder? You’re actually penalizing brand-loyal customers?” It was at this point the agent made the connection to what I was explaining and the rule. She called Shareholder Services/Guest Admin and the OBC was added to my account within minutes.

Carnival’s Shareholder Benefit program is included as part of Carnival Corp’s Annual Report if you’d like to learn more. You can also access the benefit information from Carnival’s Shareholder Information page.

Head over to the updated article posted on May 5, 2023.

51 thoughts on “Carnival Shareholder Benefit”

This one really hit home. I’ve been trying to get my Shareholders benefit for the last month. The first attempt was a fax, it was illegible please try again. Second attempt was an email, “they don’t give OBC to reduced-rate”, thanks to you I know it was because I booked with my VIFP. The third attempt was by mail, they can’t find my name on the brokerage statement. When I have an extra hour or two I will call them. FYI – I request the CCL shareholder benefit for two cruises on Princess and had the OBC within a week. I used the same brokerage statement for Princess as I did for Carnival.

Sorry to hear about your experience; frustrating is an understatement! I’m just so thankful that we’re finally able to send statements via email instead of the required fax. But even that requires you get the right person who will apply the OBC. I’m really curious how Shareholder Credit will change in July when the annual report is published. Will it continue? Will it require more shares based on the significantly lowered share cost? Keeping an eye out!

Am trying to get shareholder benefits for my clients who are sailing on Princess. Steve, how did you work to get the OBC with Princess?

Carnival Corp now exclude the use of shareholder benefit for paying gratuities.

I’ve been fortunate so far this year and haven’t had any issue with gratuities being covered on my seven sailings. Between OBC and Shareholder, I usually have leftover funds that I have to burn through on the last night of the cruise. I’ve picked up a lot of 50th anniversary stuff as a result! Haha

I have 4 cruises currently booked through Carnival: 2 weeks In Oct ’22, 1 week Feb ’23, and a 8 and 6 day back-to-back cruise for Oct ’23. You said something about reservations must be before Feb 28 ’22, which only the first cruise was booked prior. If I purchased 100 shares now, would I get the OBC for Oct ’22? I’m assuming the latter cruises would qualify for next year.

The Shareholder Information page on Carnival’s website has now been updated to reflect “Reservations must be made by February 28, 2023 to qualify.” If you purchase shares now (at one of the lowest prices I’ve ever seen), you would be able to request the credit for upcoming sailings. With that said, there have been some reports of challenges getting Carnival to accept the request based on rate code and way of booking. Knock on wood, I’ve received the credit on all 10 cruises so far this year. That means, in 2023 alone, I’ll more than pay for the shares I purchased with onboard credit. That is mind blowing to me!

I have just booked a 10 day cruise today and wondering if I buy the required minimum shares today, will I get the OBC?

As long as you have enough lead time prior to your cruise you should be able to receive the OBC! The reason I say depending on how far away your cruise is… you need to provide a financial statement proving stock ownership and the statement has to include a name matching on your cruise reservation. Additionally, it can take Carnival up to two weeks to process your request once you submit it. So, if your cruise is far enough away to get a statement and have enough time for Carnival to process your request, you should be good to go! One caveat, depending on the rate code you booked, you may or may not be eligible per the article. Enjoy your cruise; 10-days sounds absolutely wonderful!

So do you have to call Shareholder Services/Guest Admin every time you book a cruise? The always ask for the VIFP # so I’m confused on why they don’t want to give you the credit. I just recently got a cruise for October and also 100 shares of stock and was wondering if I’m going to have to call them every time?

You can either fax your request with the required information or send an email with the required information to [email protected] . You need to do this at least 3 weeks prior to your sailing. And, yes, you will need to do this every time you book a cruise to confirm that you still own the shares. When submitting the required information, Carnival requires a current shareholder statement to confirm ownership. Hope this helps!

Does this shareowner perk of $100 also cover Seabourn cruises?

It does, however, the process is a little different for Seabourn. I’ve included the contact information below. Whether you email or fax, be sure to include all of the required information for them to process your request.

SEABOURN Fax: 206-501-2900 Email: [email protected]

So I sent in the paperwork 4 weeks ago by both fax and email. How do I confirm I got the OBC? Do they email you when received and processed? Nothing showing on my account. Sailing soon.

If you have a Personal Vacation Planner with Carnival, I would call them asap. If not, call the general line to inquire (they’ll likely have to transfer you). The other option is you can send a follow-up email to the email address asking for a status update – but if you sail soon, calling is your best avenue.

Do you know if you can still get the comp credit if you booked your cruise through a casino promotion? Looking at getting the shares before my next cruise in December Thanks

Prior to the pandemic, this didn’t seem to be an issue. However, Carnival has become more strict on Casino offers. I always advise that if you already have the shares, it’s worth giving it a try and submitting the paperwork. The worst they can say is no.

I booked on a Princess cruise. Bought 100 CCL shares and emailed my information. I heard it might be 2 to 3 weeks to get the OBC. I was so surprised to see the OBC applied to my account within a day or 2 after I sent the email.

Wow, that’s an amazing turnaround time. I just submitted one this evening for my Mardi Gras sailing in December. Curious to see how long it takes to get posted. Thanks for sharing!

Hi, Mark. So here’s a question for you. What does “reduced rate” mean? For instance, if I booked a cruise Holland America on Cruises.com, and instead of the full price, paid a discounted fare, would I still qualify for the OBC if I was a shareholder? How about if the Cruises.com price was the same as the advertised price on Holland America’s web site? Thanks for the help!

Reduced rate usually means casino fare, free/significantly reduced rate cruise, etc. For example, last year, I got a $100 balcony. Under the old system, I received the $100 credit… which was amazing! With the changes they’ve made, I would likely not receive the credit, but it never hurts to try. I always recommend submitting; worst case, they will tell you no. 🙂

I bought 100 Carnival shares in October through Capital.com. On 7 November I emailed Carnival with attachment showing my holding and details of my P&O cruise on 21 Dec, I received an automated email to say that it had been received, but that is all. Do they let you know if they have either applied the credit or if there was an issue. I am slightly concerned as it is my first application and the cruise is in 4 weeks

When I’ve submitted via email, I’ve always received a message back once it’s been applied. On Carnival Cruise Line, you can see the credits that have been applied to your account once you check in. I might recommend reaching out to the email address to see if they were able to process it. I just had to do that with my last sailing as I never heard back. They couldn’t find my submission and asked for me to reply with my statement, which I did, and within 24 hours, it was applied and they responded via email. Enjoy your cruise!!

Is it okay to send my information now for my 4/2/2023 sailing?

Usually, they’ll only approve sailings about two months out or so. With that said, I included my end of January sailing when I submitted October and December sailings, and they applied the benefit. Worst case, they’ll reply to your email letting you know that you have to wait until closer to your sailing.

Hi I have brought carnival shares last week ..we sail on the 30th April…Will I be able to apply for once ..cruisers are confusing me as they say you have to hold shares for at least 3 months before you can apply ..is this from when you brought them or when you pay your balance in full or the actual date you sail … I have brought from H L…who I believe will do the request when you inform them of your cruise date …TIA

I purchased my first shares of Carnival back in 2015 and sailed several weeks later and they applied the credit. Nowhere on any of the official Carnival documentation do they indicate a minimum holding timeframe for the shares, so you should be good! With that said, according to the current Shareholder Benefit documentation, the booking must be made by February 28, 2023 on sailings through July 31, 2023. With the financial challenges Carnival continues to face, I’m curious how the shareholder benefit may change in the coming year (fingers crossed they keep it as is).

Great article! Im curious, if you receive on-board credit through a promo would you get both credits? I.e $50 promo obc for the sailing and then $100 obc for being a shareholder?

I’ve heard mixed reviews from other cruisers. In my own personal experience, I have always received both. Most bookings these days seem to come with at least $50 OBC. Between that OBC and the $100 shareholder credit, it almost covers the gratuities for two. One more perk of the shareholder credit!

We are seriously considering buying 100 shares. We have two cruises booked for February and December. You mentioned above booking using the VIFP number. My vacation planner always searches for the best deal when booking. Is this going to be a problem?

At the current price point, I always recommend it to fellow cruisers! With that said I always disclaim that I am not a tax or financial advisor, so do so at your own risk tolerance – however, at current share prices, it doesn’t take a lot of sailings to pay for itself (unlike when I purchased at $46/share, ouch). In terms of whether or not there will be an issue, there shouldn’t be, unless you’re booking on a casino offer or free/almost-free cruise offer. While there were some issues at the end of 2021 and start of 2022, I’ve not had a single request declined this year. It should be noted, that the current shareholder benefit is good through July 31, 2023 if booked by February 28, 2023. The benefit could change when Carnival releases their 2022 Annual Report; I’ll post any changes to the site.

Please do report any changes of Carnival as we booked 4 Holland America line cruises…3 were casino offers and one we paid them directly. What if my partner buys the shares, as he did not get the casino offers…could he buy 100 shares and get the shareholders benefits…? I know he gets his own offers of onboard freeplay sometimes but not he doesn’t get many offers at all so just freeplay here and there for him as he likes to play real poker so the casino is not a place he spends much time.

That’s a great question. In general, if the room is booked on a casino offer, likely, the shareholder credit does not apply. With that said, I *always* advise submitting it, even if there’s a chance it may be denied. Worst case scenario, you’re out a couple minutes submitting it. Best case? They apply it despite having a casino offer on the room! Good luck, and let us know what happens!

I booked on a Carnival cruise. I submitted my request for the OBC on Tuesday, 01/03/23 and on Thursday, 01/04/23, my OBC for the five day cruise ($50) was applied to my Carnival account. I was surprised. My question is on my Carnival account, under OBC it says “Confirm with all OBC holders before applying credits pre-cruise to avoid cancellations on board.” I am travelling with my husband, so why the possiblity of Cancellation on board.” Thank you.

That’s fantastic to hear how quickly it was applied to your account! Do you by chance have any other OBC on this booking? I did some digging and also pinged a buddy. It sounds like anyone listed on the booking has the ability to use the OBC pre-cruise (shore excursions, spa treatments, etc.) If OBC is split across multiple folks and someone spends on behalf of the actual OBC holder, the item purchased can be canceled onboard. So, the warning is essentially telling you to confirm with any OBC holder on the booking before spending the funds to avoid whatever you book from being canceled. Hope that helps, Mary!

Can someone tell me where you send your shareholder certificate for Carnival Australia and P and O Australia cruises please.

Hello Pam. There are two options that we were able to find for you. If you wish to send your credit in via mail, regardless of which line you sail, send it to: Customer Service Manager PO Box 1429, Chatswood, NSW 2057 You can call this number for inquiries: Tel 61 2 8326 4000 This would be for if you want to fax your proof to the brand: Fax 61 2 8326 4550 And finally, if you’re sailing with Carnival Australia, you can submit your information via email to this address: [email protected] If you’re sailing P&O or Princess Australia, you can send your details to this email address: [email protected]

Hope you are able to successfully complete this!

I’m thinking of purchasing 100 shares. I already have 2 Carnival cruises booked for later this year. Even though the current OBC offer for shareholders expires in June, if the new offer for after that date still offers OBC will I be eligible to claim these for my upcoming booked cruises that I booked last year? Thanks Belinda

Yes! As long as your shares are active and you can show that on your statement that you provide to Carnival, then you will qualify for the OBC benefit at the time of your sailing. They don’t need to see the purchase date for the shares during the application process.

Thanks Rocky, Sounds great and I appreciate your quick response Belinda

I had a very good experience with Carnival. I actually forgot all about the OBC. I was able to get to my account on the ship and print my proof of ownership. I took it to guest services not expecting anything to come of it, and I certainly understand why. Well, to my surprise, they gave me $250 within 24 hours. Thank you, Carnival. I will never forget to apply again. I am ready to apply for my August cruise, but I think I need to wait a bit longer.

Wow; that’s fantastic!! I’ve never heard of them honoring the shareholder credit while on the ship. Great job thinking to ask Guest Services! And, yes, generally, you need to be within a couple months of your sail date for them to apply the credit, however, I’ve had them apply it up to 4 months in advance (when submitting it with other sailings that were closer).

When do we expect Carnival to announce if Shareholder benefits are to extended until 2024. I booked a cruise in March 2023 for trip beginning July 2023. As Feb28th is last date currently advertised for all cruises up to July 31st 2023, I am currently in Limbo.

Great news: we’ll be posting an article shortly that shares those details. Not to fear, you will be covered for your July cruise.

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Hi. We have cruises booked in Aug ‘23, Jan ‘24 and March ‘24. We are buying 100 shares of CCL as we feel it’s good value given the amount of cruises we take. All our cruises are with HAL. Who do we submit our stock certificate to? Carnival or Holland America?

Hey there! Thanks for the message and for checking out the post. Congrats on your decision to pick up 100 shares! For HAL, you’ll want to submit to [email protected] . We’ve never sailed Holland America Line ourselves, so you’ll have to let us know how the process goes! We hope that you have safe travels and enjoy all 3 sailings! -Mark

Hi there I’m looking at a 13 night cruise with P&O. Its actually 14 days on disembarking day, Will this quality for the higher OBC

Great question! If P&O refers to the cruise as a 14-day cruise, then it would qualify as the highest level OBC. Either way, you’ll be getting some awesome on-board spending money for your cruise!

Can anyone advise me of the P&O UK Shareholders email address – I have now purchased my shares and HL have my cruise info but I just want to double check as we sail in 32 days and I don’t want to miss out Thanks

Hello Kirsty. Sorry for not responding to you sooner. Here is the email address for P&O UK shareholders to claim your credits: [email protected] Hope you have an amazing cruise!

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Cruise Line Stocks – Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers (FREE onboard credit)

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If you’ve considered buying cruise line stocks, you’re not alone. Cruise stocks have some awesome benefits and perks for those who love to cruise.

Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are gaining ground over the last few months, but many believe there is still a lot of room for these cruise stocks to increase.

On top of the potential investment opportunity, owning Carnival and other cruise line stocks will get you shareholder benefits in the form of onboard credits when you cruise.

Now I should mention that isn’t meant to be financial investment advice. You’ll want to do your own due diligence which may include talking with a financial advisor. However, I will go over how cruise line shareholder benefits work and how you can take advantage.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cruise Line Shareholder Benefits for Cruise Travelers

Why buy cruise line stocks.

Many avid cruisers own cruise line stock because they think it’s a good investment and want to support their favorite cruise lines and the industry. It may surprise you to know that cruise lines actually reward their shareholders with a perk that’s advantageous to anyone who cruises, the more often the better!

Each and every time you go on a cruise, you’ll receive an onboard credit – the cruise line stock shareholder’s benefit. If you take a couple of cruises a year, or longer cruises, this can add up to hundreds of dollars!

Related:  50 Must-have Items to Bring on a Cruise

Cruise Line Stocks

3 publicly traded Cruise Line Stocks that have shareholder benefits are Carnival Corp (CCL) , Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) .

Since each cruise company owns several brands, you’ll be able to benefit with a shareholder on-board credit (OBC) if you sail with any cruise line within in the larger company.

Carnival Corp

Carnival Corp includes these cruise lines:

• Princess Cruises
• Holland America

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd includes these cruise lines:

• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises (excludes Celebrity Expedition – Galapagos sailings)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings includes these cruise lines:

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Regent Seven Seas

Related:  The Ultimate Cruise Lingo Glossary – 85 Terms You Need to Know

Cruise Line Shareholder Benefits

Firstly, to receive shareholder benefits, you’ll need to own at least 100 shares of your favorite cruise line stock. Each cruise company works a little differently, but does offer an onboard credit each time you cruise.

Carnival Stock Benefits (CCL)

Carnival cruise lines offers the following on board credits to their shareholders:

• $50 – 6 days and less
• $100 – 7 to 13 days
• $250 – 14 days and more

If you sail with the North American brands, you’ll receive an on board credit in USD. However, if you sail with one of the Europe, or Australia brands, the OBC will be in the currency that is used on board.

Royal Caribbean Stock Benefits (RCCL)

Royal Caribbean offers the following on board credits to their shareholders:

• $50 – 5 nights and less
• $100 – 6 to 9 nights
• $200 – 10-13 nights
• $250 – 14 nights and more

Norwegian Stock Benefits (NCLH)

NCLH offers the following on board credits to their shareholders:

• $100 – 7 to 14 days
• $250 – 15 days and more

Related:   37 Interesting Cruise Ship Facts that Will Surprise You

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Regular price: $27 now just $17.

How to Redeem Shareholder Benefits

It’s quite simple to redeem your cruise stock shareholder benefits for your cruise vacation. You’ll need to go to the cruise line website and print out a shareholder benefit form and complete it with the information required – your name, booking number, ship and sail date. You’ll also be asked to send in a proof of stock ownership, such as a brokerage statement.

If you’ve used a travel agent to book your cruise , you can ask your agent to send in the forms for you. Make sure to black out your personal investment information. Otherwise you can

You can here more about this on our YouTube channel at Life Well Cruised

When Cruise Shareholder Benefits Don’t Apply

There are some restrictions about when you can redeem and receive your on board credits/shareholder benefits.

Do make sure to read the fine print, as some cruise line offers are not combinable with this benefit. This applies to travel agent rates, free cruises, and chartered sailings, as well as some other circumstances.

How to Get More Cruise Stock Benefits (OBCs)

Here’s a great cruise hack you need to know. Cruise lines will only give out shareholder benefits to one person in the cruise cabin, even if more than one person own cruise line stock. If you’re booking more than one cabin, split up the passengers so you can get double the credits. Once onboard you can switch cabins – this is done often by cruisers.

Popular posts to read next:

75 Genius Cruise Hacks and Tips

50 Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon

27 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Might Be Making

What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

15 First Things to Do on a Cruise Immediately After Boarding

Final Thoughts: Cruise Line Stocks – Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers

Owning cruise line shares is a great way to get additional on board credits and save money on your cruise . If you enjoy cruising and plan to continue to cruise in the future, the shareholder benefits are a nice perk of stock ownership.

Do you own cruise line stocks or are you considering it? Please let me know your thoughts and tips in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and found it helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Feel free to share on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

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• Carnival Cruise Lines

100 Shares of Carnival Stock Perk

By LCTXcruiser , October 30, 2020 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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LCTXcruiser

Good evening all!

My husband and I were considering buying 100 shares of stock in Carnival because you can get an onboard credit.  Do you all know, is this an ongoing perk (in other words, do you get it every time you cruise with them), or is it a one time perk?  Also are there any restrictions?  For example, if you get a cruise that is discounted or a carnival players cruise offer does it still apply?  Any info would be helpful.  Thank you all so much!  I always know I can depend upon good advice from the cruisers on this site!

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journeymore

It is not a one time thing. I don’t know if it’s combinable with casino etc. 

19 minutes ago, LCTXcruiser said: Good evening all! My husband and I were considering buying 100 shares of stock in Carnival because you can get an onboard credit.  Do you all know, is this an ongoing perk (in other words, do you get it every time you cruise with them), or is it a one time perk?  Also are there any restrictions?  For example, if you get a cruise that is discounted or a carnival players cruise offer does it still apply?  Any info would be helpful.  Thank you all so much!  I always know I can depend upon good advice from the cruisers on this site!

At this point it is every cruise. Right now if you have a cash it might be a good investment. If bought many years ago at $30.00 per share so I have lost money. 

TomCruise48

This perk is subject to renewal annually by the board of directors.  It has a long history of being renewed, but with the current situation, there is no guarantee that it will be renewed in the future.

TNcruising02

If you are considering buying Carnival stock, I think now is a good time. I bought back in March when it was $27 a share, but ended up buying more at lower prices and selling for a nice profit.  So, I always keep 100 shares that ended up costing me nothing.  I'll keep at least 100 as long as they keep offering the OBC.

43 minutes ago, TomCruise48 said: This perk is subject to renewal annually by the board of directors.  It has a long history of being renewed, but with the current situation, there is no guarantee that it will be renewed in the future.

Theoretically they could vote not to renew it, but it is basically a marketing tool that costs them next to nothing so I would expect their board of directors to keep renewing it annually.

One credit per cabin for this perk, by the way. If two people in one cabin own 100 shares each only one gets it.

PhillyFan33579

50 minutes ago, TomCruise48 said: This perk is subject to renewal annually by the board of directors.  It has a long history of being renewed, but with the current situation, there is no guarantee that it will be renewed in the future.

Like this poster stated, this is a renewable perk that isn’t guaranteed to be renewed next year. From a stockholder perspective I don’t think this perk should be renewed for the next few years, but I assume a lot will depend on what happens this Spring before a decision is made on whether to renew this perk. 

10 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said: Like this poster stated, this is a renewable perk that isn’t guaranteed to be renewed next year. From a stockholder perspective I don’t think this perk should be renewed for the next few years, but I assume a lot will depend on what happens this Spring before a decision is made on whether to renew this perk. 

Why as a stockholder (I am one also), would you want it not renewed? It costs them next to nothing and is a marketing tool to bring in bookings.

3 minutes ago, ontheweb said: Why as a stockholder (I am one also), would you want it not renewed? It costs them next to nothing and is a marketing tool to bring in bookings.

Because I don’t think Carnival, or any cruise line, is in position to give away any money right now. When I used this perk multiple times In the past I always used it for gratuities, which cost Carnival $100 for every cruise I took. You multiply this by the large number of people getting this perk and you are looking at a significant amount of money. In the past I would agree with you that $100 was next to nothing for Carnival, but that is not going to be the case for a long time in the future. 

1 minute ago, PhillyFan33579 said: Because I don’t think Carnival, or any cruise line, is in position to give away any money right now. When I used this perk multiple times In the past I always used it for gratuities, which cost Carnival $100 for every cruise I took. You multiply this by the large number of people getting this perk and you are looking at a significant amount of money. In the past I would agree with you that $100 was next to nothing for Carnival, but that is not going to be the case for a long time in the future. 

The idea is to get you to book one of their ships in the Carnival family. Once you do that the $100 is nothing. And others do buy alcohol, excursions, gift shop items, specialty dining, etc.

And in a time when some may be iffy about going on a cruise, taking away a perk may very well have a negative effect on bookings.

Just now, ontheweb said: The idea is to get you to book one of their ships in the Carnival family. Once you do that the $100 is nothing. And others do buy alcohol, excursions, gift shop items, specialty dining, etc.   And in a time when some may be iffy about going on a cruise, taking away a perk may very well have a negative effect on bookings.

I can only speak for myself, but I have never booked cruises for any perks related to being a shareholder or based on my loyalty status. Right now I don’t have any cruises booked on Carnival, even though Carnival is the only cruise line that I have reached the highest loyalty level. I currently have 7 cruises booked on RCI and Celebrity, where I am no where close to reaching the highest loyalty level (and likely never will) on either cruise line. 

my kids mama

Can someone clarify the amount of OBC you get as a shareholder? 

13 minutes ago, my kids mama said: Can someone clarify the amount of OBC you get as a shareholder? 

I think its $50 for less than 7 days, $100 for a 7 or more then $250 for a 14 or more. 

Thank you all for your response!  I knew my cruise buddies would have the answer!

2 hours ago, Bgcruising said:   I think its $50 for less than 7 days, $100 for a 7 or more then $250 for a 14 or more. 

Thank you! 

5 hours ago, Purvis1231 said: At this point it is every cruise. Right now if you have a cash it might be a good investment. If bought many years ago at $30.00 per share so I have lost money. 

 Well, I bought many years ago at about $32 a share.   And I have definitely NOT lost money, as the shareholder benefit OBC I have collected over the years, plus the dividends the stock used to pay (ha ha), have easily exceeded the cost of the 100 shares.

And if you want to see exactly what the current shareholder benefit is, you can see the official Carnival document right here:  https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f  

Finally, Carnival pays this benefit regardless of any other deals or offers that you may get from Carnival.  For example, even if you have a free cruise from the Player's Club, you can still use this benefit!

7 hours ago, Calnev1 said: And I have definitely NOT lost money, as the shareholder benefit OBC I have collected over the years

I bought another 100 shares and will sell my original 100 when it reaches its original purchase price.

Also, those that have bought and the stock has dropped, you haven't lost anything until you sell. Your investment will go up and down, but there are only two prices that matter. The one you bought at and the one you sell at.

IntrepidFromDC

I read back in April that Carnival discontinued the shareholder credit "indefinitely", but I don't recall if it was news or someone's post.

31 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said: I read back in April that Carnival discontinued the shareholder credit "indefinitely", but I don't recall if it was news or someone's post.

That was the dividend, not the credit. 

Earthworm Jim

13 hours ago, ontheweb said: The idea is to get you to book one of their ships in the Carnival family. Once you do that the $100 is nothing. And others do buy alcohol, excursions, gift shop items, specialty dining, etc.   And in a time when some may be iffy about going on a cruise, taking away a perk may very well have a negative effect on bookings.

If it was true that the benefit of additional bookings far outweighed the cost to Carnival for the $100 OBC, Carnival would offer it to everybody, stock owners or not. If it made them more money, they'd want more people doing it.

And the cost to Carnival isn't "nothing". It's $100 (or $50) per cruise. Those passengers are getting something they normally would have paid Carnival $100 for for free. Considering more frequent cruisers are the ones more likely to own stock for the benefit, the average cost to Carnival may be a couple of hundred a year for each 100 share stockholder if they average 2  seven day cruises a year.

If a shareholder owns 100 shares they recently bought at $13, Carnival is paying out maybe $200 a year in OBC on a $1300 investment. That's 15%. That's a very significant chunk of the stock's value.

But, if those small 100 share investments collectively represent a significant portion of all Carnival stock holdings (no idea if that's true), discontinuing to shareholder benefit could lead them to sell and damage the stock price. So there is that angle to consider. My guess is they keep the shareholder benefit but increase the number of shares needed to get it. Make it around 300 shares, which would require a similar investment to get the benefit to what it used to when the stock was trading in the $40 range. 

1 hour ago, Bgcruising said:   That was the dividend, not the credit. 

Yes, the stock dividend is gone, since Carnival is currently hemorrhaging money.  But the shareholder benefit OBC is alive and well through July 31, 2021, as you can see in the link in post #17 above.

11 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:   If it was true that the benefit of additional bookings far outweighed the cost to Carnival for the $100 OBC, Carnival would offer it to everybody, stock owners or not. If it made them more money, they'd want more people doing it.   And the cost to Carnival isn't "nothing". It's $100 (or $50) per cruise. It's essentially paying your ~$100 gratuities for you, and that's money that has to come straight out of Carnival's pocket into the staff's. Considering more frequent cruisers are the ones more likely to own stock for the benefit, they average cost to them may be a couple of hundred a year for each 100 share stockholder if they average 2  seven day cruises a year.   If as shareholder owns 100 shares they recently bought at $13, Carnival is paying out maybe $200 a year in OBC on a $1300 investment. That's 15%. That's a very significant chunk of the stock's value.   But, if those small 100 share investments collectively represent a significant portion of all Carnival stock holdings (no idea if that's true), discontinuing to shareholder benefit could lead them to sell and damage the stock price. So there is that angle to consider. My guess is they keep the shareholder benefit but increase the number of shares needed to get it. Make it around 300 shares, which would require a similar investment to get them benefit to what it used to when the stock was trading in the $40 range. 

I agree that Carnival might increase the number of shares necessary to qualify for the benefit.   But I would bet significant money that Carnival will NOT terminate the benefit any time soon.  I think the benefit helps build loyalty.  It has certainly helped make me loyal . . . I have cruised many lines over the years, but when looking at future cruises I now always look at Carnival options first.  And cruise lines will be very dependent on their loyal customers in the immediate post-COVID era, as I doubt they will be attracting many new-to-cruising customers for awhile.

As for offering the benefit to everyone, not just stockholders, I am not sure what you mean.   There are of course many cruise sales that offer extra OBC, but the shareholder benefit is above and beyond that.  It makes you think you are part of the Carnival family, an benefitting from that.  An illusion, maybe, but I think it works.

And there is an argument that Carnival stock is a pretty decent buy now, since it currently sits around $14 a share and the CDC has lifted its no sail order.   If I didn't already have a fair amount of money invested in Carnival future cruise credits and gift cards, I might invest in more Carnival stock.

1 minute ago, Calnev1 said: And cruise lines will be very dependent on their loyal customers in the immediate post-COVID era, as I doubt they will be attracting many new-to-cruising customers for awhile.  

I think that's true, but it also presents the cruise lines with a problem: The loyal customers probably have a good chunk of money as a FCC, since most of us had at least one 2020 cruise cancelled. That means until those FCC credits are used up, those loyal customers returning will generate less desperately needed income when they cruise.

3 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:   I think that's true, but it also presents the cruise lines with a problem: The loyal customers probably have a good chunk of money as a FCC, since most of us had at least one 2020 cruise cancelled. That means until those FCC credits are used up, those loyal customers returning will generate less desperately needed income when they cruise.

All true.   But the loyal customers who come aboard will maybe spend more money than they usually do.   In fact, my wife and I just booked a suite on an Alaska Carnival cruise for next August, and we almost never go higher than a balcony.  Why the suite?   Well, we could use our FCC and our gift cards AND afford to pitch in some extra $$$.

In any event, there are not many good options for the cruise lines going forward.  But if  they fail to keep their loyal customers (. . .  and I would be unhappy if Carnival ditched its shareholder benefit), they will certainly be doomed.

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Its now only $3,274.00.

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Shaddup. :mad:

LOL its a great buy. I bought Carnival at $41.00. shows how smart I am

Yeah I bought mine last month for $3,684 and that was better than last year when it was $51 a share..I'm getting $100 back in 15 days.......Dennis

Cool. I may buy a hundred for my DD! It's all about the OBC for us!

I seriously considered it earlier this week!

RCL has decided not to combine stock credit with next cruise credit. I bought a next cruise on Conquest a few weeks back, would like to know if it can be combined with stock OBC, now that the issue has come up with RCL.

Anyone know if the OBC is combinable?

May not pay to buy stock for the OBC any more, now that Carnival is starting up the program to other ships to sell next cruise credits.

VentureMan_2000

I sold last year when it was $51... so maybe I should think about purchasing another 100 shares...

After all... they did just make $1.3 Billion... :D

kokopops opens wallet to notice that he's only $3,274.00 short. :o

I sold last year when it was $51... so maybe I should think about purchasing another 100 shares...   After all... they did just make $1.3 Billion... :D

WOW you got out at $51? I would buy more in a HEARTBEAT. I bought RCL at $21.31 this week. I felt that was a great buy

You and me both! :( Oh well, it'll go back up and along the way I'll still get my OBCs and dividends. I'm not a day trader and am keeping the stock for a long time, so I try not to look at the day to day prices...:o

Buy Gold.;)

Can I go back in time and buy even just a year ago? :D

WOW you got out at $51? I would buy more in a HEARTBEAT. I bought RCL at $21.31 this week. I felt that was a great buy  

On top of that, I received dividends for two quarters, and got my Shareholder $100 OBC. It was a sweet profit. :)

Unfortunately, I don't have any funds to purchase another $100 shares or I would. :(

I'd be happy to sell ya'll any of my shares for $37.89 each :p

(where is my puky smilie? At least after market pushed it to $34.43)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) 19.13 -1.14 -5.62% Scary

Carnival Corp (CCL) 32.74 -1.94 -5.59%

Lose big $ to save $100 ???? Priceless

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) 19.13 -1.14 -5.62% Scary Carnival Corp (CCL) 32.74 -1.94 -5.59%   Lose big $ to save $100 ???? Priceless

I'm gonna get $100 at least 3 times a years...I figure thats pretty good dividends in its self....Dennis

I'd be happy to sell ya'll any of my shares for $37.89 each :p  

I have some Financial shares like that... :eek:

Been daytrading Carnival for 18 months now, it always recovers. Now is a great time to buy it.

Dumped my financials on 9-19 at 8:45 am.... will probably be the best trade of my life!

Smiling Cruiser

If you bought it at lower prices, collected dividends and OBC over a few years, you would still be ahead. Timing is everything.

UpstateCruizer

RCL has decided not to combine stock credit with next cruise credit. I bought a next cruise on Conquest a few weeks back, would like to know if it can be combined with stock OBC, now that the issue has come up with RCL.   Anyone know if the OBC is combinable?   May not pay to buy stock for the OBC any more, now that Carnival is starting up the program to other ships to sell next cruise credits.

YES! The OBC for stockholders can be combined with the future sailing cruise certificates:)

For those that have owned the stock for awhile do you wait until it's closer to your sailing date to send in your stock info? We purchased the stock the week before our last cruise so it was sent in last minute with no issues. We currently have 2 cruises booked for next year and I'm holding off on sending in my stock info so I won't be confused as to which OBC has been credited and from where. It would seem that they'd want the proof as you get closer to sailing in case you sold it off? My dh seems to think that they have a way to look it up to be sure you still own it too?

YES! The OBC for stockholders can be combined with the future sailing cruise certificates:)   For those that have owned the stock for awhile do you wait until it's closer to your sailing date to send in your stock info? We purchased the stock the week before our last cruise so it was sent in last minute with no issues. We currently have 2 cruises booked for next year and I'm holding off on sending in my stock info so I won't be confused as to which OBC has been credited and from where. It would seem that they'd want the proof as you get closer to sailing in case you sold it off? My dh seems to think that they have a way to look it up to be sure you still own it too?

I have a question maybe you all can help me out? If i buy 100 share and 100 share for my wife do we both get the obc each or is it's one per room? thank you all.

I have a question maybe you all can help me out? If i buy 100 share and 100 share for my wife do we both get the obc each or is it's one per room? thank you all.  

$100 OBC per booking... I'm pretty sure it's not per room.

You get the $100 per room. Before the fuel surcharge, I would book a cabin for my wife and a daughter and one for myself and the other daughter. We both owned CCL stock, so each cabin got $100 in obc..

Interestingly enough, since both cabins were linked to my cc, I in the end, got the entire $200 obc. It was like it was all comingled.

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Should Investors Still Buy Carnival Cruise Stock Right Now, Even After Shares Doubled?

F amous cruise line Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL) has been a hot stock over the past year. Shares have nearly doubled. Investors buying the stock as a play on recovering consumer spending following the pandemic were proven right by the market.

But now it could be time to lock in profits and say goodbye to Carnival stock.

The company has done an admirable job of bouncing back to pre-pandemic top-line performance, but the pandemic's impact on the business has deteriorated Carnival's earning power.

Investors should avoid buying shares now; those who own stock may even consider locking in profits.

Here is why.

The share price doesn't tell the whole story

It took three painful years, but Carnival's business has rebounded. The company ended 2023 with $21.6 billion in revenue, roughly on par with 2019, the year before COVID-19 turned the business upside down.

At first glance, something seems amiss in the below chart. The stock still trades at a fraction of its pre-pandemic share price despite revenue recovering fully.

Why is that? Carnival had to take drastic measures to keep the business afloat when lockdowns virtually reduced revenue to nearly zero. After all, the company has overhead, even if ships aren't sailing. Shares were issued, and debt was incurred to raise the cash needed to keep Carnival alive and see its recovery through.

Carnival's earnings aren't what they once were

All that bloats the stock's valuation. Investors can see Carnival's enterprise value below. That is Carnival's market cap plus debt minus cash on hand. The company's enterprise value peaked at $60 billion, and today's $50 billion is much closer to said peak. If the stock were to hit $70 again, Carnival would be a much larger company than it ever was.

You could also look at it from an earnings perspective. At its peak, Carnival earned over $4 per share in profit. Interest from debt reduces earnings, while having more shares dilutes investors by spreading Carnival's profits thinner. Analysts believe Carnival will earn $1.00 per share this year and $1.37 next year. That's a nice year-over-year jump in earnings, but it's coming from a far lower base number than it once was.

Carnival will likely need to grow to justify more stock price appreciation. However, remember that Carnival is a capital-intensive business. New ships cost a ton of money to build, staff, and maintain, and Carnival's debt is putting a cap on fleet expansion. Management has stated that they're pulling back on spending to pay down debt. Three new ships will be delivered next year, but none will come in 2026, and just one in 2027.

Here's the bottom line

It's hard to see Carnival, already seen as an entry-level cruise line, raising its prices to grow earnings dramatically. The likely outcome is that earnings stagnate for a few years while Carnival gets its financial legs under it. Little growth and a bloated balance sheet don't bode well for the stock.

Investors sitting on gains should claim profits in case this stock starts to sink.

Should you invest $1,000 in Carnival Corp. right now?

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Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .