Did you know there is a really easy way to get free onboard credit on your cruise? It’s a little-known secret but becoming a shareholder can help you get free cruise money. Some cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, can be quite generous – you could receive up to $1000 per sailing! However, you will have to own a certain number of shares to qualify. Below, I’ll show you how to get free onboard credit every time you go on a cruise by becoming a shareholder.
Do keep in mind that investing in cruise line stocks involves risk. The information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to influence your investment decisions. It’s important to do your research so you make informed decisions and consult with a financial advisor before investing.
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Norwegian Cruise Shareholder Benefits
Norwegian Cruise is giving free onboard credits to shareholders. You can get onboard credit per stateroom if you own a minimum of 100 shares of Norwegian Cruise Line.
The NCL onboard credit amount will depend on the number of days. For sailings of 15 days or more, you will get $250 onboard credit per stateroom. For cruises of 7-14 days, you will get $100 onboard credit per stateroom, and for cruises of 6 days or less, you will get $50 onboard credit. You will receive shareholder benefits for sailings on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
However, please note that the shareholder benefit is per stateroom, not per shareholder. So, only one credit per shareholder reservation is allowed on any one sailing. To get this offer, you must make a request 15 days before sailing. The process is simple – just fill out a form and mail or email it to Norwegian Cruise. Please note that the onboard credit cannot be used towards onboard service charges or pre-purchased activities.
It may be worth looking into buying shares if you are always sailing on a Norwegian cruise or have an upcoming Norwegian cruise. As I’m writing this, Norwegian Cruise Line stock is $19 which means you will spend $1900 to buy 100 shares.
Royal Caribbean Shareholder Benefits
Royal Caribbean shareholders receive the most generous benefits, as they can get up to $1000 onboard credit. However, you’ll need a minimum of 100 shares of Royal Caribbean to be eligible for onboard credit.
As a shareholder, you can get $1000 onboard credit per stateroom on world cruises, $250 onboard credit for cruises lasting 14 or more nights, $100 onboard credit for cruises lasting 6-13 nights, and $50 onboard credit for sailings of 5 nights or less. The shareholder benefits apply to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise, and Silversea Cruise sailings (excluding Galapagos sailings).
The process is simple to get your onboard credit. You just need to submit your request at least 2-3 weeks prior to your sail date and it’s a form that you fill out online.
It’s important to note that the onboard credit is per stateroom and not per shareholder. Plus, you cannot use the credit for onboard service charges or pre-purchased activities. And you need to use up all your onboard credit because you will not get a refund of unused credit.
If you’re a frequent Royal Caribbean cruiser, it might be worth considering becoming a shareholder to get these benefits. But buying 100 shares can be costly. Right now, the Royal Caribbean stock price is $123 per share, that means it cost $12,300 to buy a hundred shares, making it pricier than other cruise lines on this list.
Carnival Cruise Shareholder Benefits
Carnival Cruise gives onboard credits ranging from $50 to $250 to its shareholders who own a minimum of 100 shares. One of the best things about owning Carnival Cruise shares is that you can use this benefit across all the cruise lines they own, including Princess Cruise, Holland America, Seabourn, Cunard, Aida Cruise, P&O Cruise, and Costa Cruise sailings.
Your onboard credit amount depends on the duration of your cruise. If you’re planning a cruise of six days or less, you’ll receive $50 in onboard credit. For sailings of seven to 13 days, you’ll receive $100 in onboard credit. And for sailings of 14 days or longer, you’ll receive $250 in onboard credit. Do note that the onboard credits are per stateroom and not per shareholder.
To be eligible for this benefit, you must make a request no later than 14 days before the departure date of your cruise. It’s easy, just fill out a shareholder benefit form and send it in to Carnival Cruise.
It’s important to note that this benefit is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash, and cannot be used for casino credits and gratuities charged to your onboard account.
Compared to Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise stock is less expensive, priced at $15 per share. That means that owning a hundred shares will cost you $1580, making it more affordable than buying a hundred shares of Royal Caribbean stock.
Being a shareholder is handy if you frequently sail on Carnival Cruise. For example, I’m going on a Princess cruise this summer, I’ll be submitting my request to receive $100 in onboard credit!
Remember to read the fine print and be aware that shareholder benefits can change. For example, Disney cruise used to offer perks to shareholders but no longer does. The information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to influence your investment decisions.
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