Best Cruise Lines offer Secret Bonus

Beneath the waves of the cruise line’s fuel surcharges is a little known secret, buried deeply in the financial statements of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Carnival Corporation & plc. – onboard credits for shareholders.

These major corporations own several of the best cruise lines: the newly launched Azamara line and Celebrity are among Royal Caribbean’s fleet; Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa and the Yachts of Seabourn are owned by Carnival.

If you are a shareholder of at least 100 shares of Carnival Corporation & plc stock, you are entitled to an onboard credit of $250 on sailings of 14 days or longer, $100 on sailings of 7 to 13 days and $50 on sailings of 6 days or less. Of course there are conditions: your cruise must be booked by February 28, 2008, you must sail by July 31, 2008 and only one shareholder offer can be applied to a stateroom.

If you own the required shares and you’ve already booked your cruise, but haven’t sailed, you will receive this credit after submitting the required paperwork. Application for the onboard credit must be made before your cruise departure date. The credit is also good for any sailings aboard one of Carnival’s Fun Ships.

Royal Caribbean’s offer is similar but may be less restrictive – I could not find mention of a date when the offer ends. Shareholders with at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd stock at the time of sailing are entitled to a $250 onboard credit for cruises of 14 nights or more; a $200 onboard credit for cruises of 9 to 13 nights; a $100 onboard credit for cruises of 6 to 8 nights and a $50 credit for cruises of 5 nights or less.

Sailings on Celebrity’s Xpedition to the Galapagos are excluded from this offer and only one credit can apply to a stateroom, but you can receive this benefit every time you cruise – as long as you own at least 100 shares of stock.

Ride the wave of onboard credits if you’re a stockholder in one of these corporations and enjoy an added bonus on your next vacation aboard one of the best cruise lines.