carnival cruise line stock onboard credit

Brands Logos

• Carnival Cruises
• P&O Australia
• P&O Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Holland America

Shareholder Information

Shareholder benefit.

• Dividend Reinvestment Program
• Dividends/Split History

Carnival Corporation & plc is pleased to extend the following benefit to our shareholders:

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

The benefit is available on sailings through December 31, 2024.  Applications to receive this benefit should be made at least three weeks prior to cruise departure date.

This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates or interline rates, tour conductors or anyone else cruising at a reduced-rate or on complimentary basis are excluded from this offer. This benefit is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify or terminate this benefit or any of the terms and conditions relating to the benefit at any time without notice. Only one onboard credit per shareholder-occupied stateroom is permitted.

Carnival Corporation & plc has engaged Stockperks to implement a more automated and streamlined process for the processing of shareholder benefits. Simply:  

• Download the app via the links below, or search for “Stockperks” in your app store
• Once downloaded, create a Stockperks user profile
• Then search for “Carnival” in the app, and select the cruise line you are traveling with
• Click the blue button “Validate your portfolio” and you will be guided through the process of providing your CCL ownership details
• Once confirmed you can then submit a claim for each eligible booking

Please note that onboard credits cannot be processed onboard your cruise. Please ensure all shareholder benefit claims are submitted at least three weeks before departure through Stockperks.

Thank you for being a loyal Carnival Corporation & plc shareholder and enjoy your cruise!

Redeem your Perk!

Download the Stockperks app today and create your profile. Then visit the Carnival profile and select the cruise line you're sailing on to confirm eligibility and claim your onboard credit!

The Stockperks service is governed by Stockperks’ Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and may be subject to other Stockperks policies and terms. For information regarding Stockperks’ use and processing of your information, technical support, account setup, and all other questions regarding the use of Stockperks, please contact Stockperks at [email protected] . For all other questions, please contact Carnival Corporation & plc at the respective brand emails listed below.

• AIDA: [email protected]
• Carnival Cruise Line: [email protected]
• Costa Cruises: [email protected]
• UK:  [email protected]
• Australia/ New Zealand: [email protected]
• North America: [email protected]
• Holland America Line: [email protected]
• P&O Cruises (UK): [email protected]
• P&O Australia: [email protected]
• Princess Cruises: [email protected]
• Seabourn: [email protected]

AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market. Home of the smile, AIDA Cruises is the epitome of a premium-quality, relaxing cruise and operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets. Visit: www.aida.de

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable vacation experiences at a great value. Visit: www.carnival.com

Costa Cruises delivers Italy’s finest at sea, bringing modern Italian lifestyle to its ships to provide guests with a true European experience that embodies a unique passion for life through warm hospitality, entertainment and gastronomy. Visit: www.costacruise.com

Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travelers who relish the line’s impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment, and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Visit: www.cunard.com

Holland America Line's premium fleet of spacious, elegant mid-sized ships feature sophisticated five-star dining, extensive entertainment and activities, innovative culinary enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries. Visit: www.hollandamerica.com

P&O Cruises (UK) is Britain’s favorite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Visit: www.pocruises.co.uk

P&O Cruises (Australia) provides a quintessential holiday experience for Australians and New Zealanders, taking them to some of the world's most idyllic and hard-to-reach places across Asia and the South Pacific. Visit: www.pocruises.co.au

Princess is the world’s leading international cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of modern cruise ships, renowned for the innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities. Visit: www.princess.com

Seabourn provides ultraluxury cruising vacations in a unique, small-ship style that focuses on genuine, intuitive service, all-suite accommodations, superb cuisine and unique experiences in destinations worldwide. Visit: www.seabourn.com

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.

You may also like: How to Save Money on Cruises

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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Related posts:

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!

• Carnival Cruise Lines

New way for requesting Carnival shareholder obc now?

By martinchem , November 8, 2023 in Carnival Cruise Lines

Recommended Posts

Carnival Corp is now on Stockperks!

Carnival Corporation & plc is pleased to extend the following benefit to our shareholders

Shareholder Benefits

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

The benefit is available on sailings through July 31, 2024. Applications to receive this benefit should be made at least three weeks prior to cruise departure date.

This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates or interline rates, tour conductors or anyone else cruising at a reduced-rate or on complimentary basis are excluded from this offer. This benefit is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify or terminate this benefit or any of the terms and conditions relating to the benefit at any time without notice. Only one onboard credit per shareholder-occupied stateroom is permitted.

Carnival Corp has partnered with Stockperks to streamline the process to claim this benefit. Simply:

• Download the app via the links below, or search for “Stockperks” in your app store
• Once downloaded, create a Stockperks user profile
• Then search for “Carnival” in the app, and select the cruise line you are traveling with
• Click the blue button “Validate your portfolio” and you will be guided through the process of providing your CCL ownership details
• Once confirmed you can then submit a claim for each eligible booking

Thank you for being a loyal Carnival Corporation & plc shareholder and enjoy your cruise!

Redeem your Perk!

Download the Stockperks app today and create your profile. Then visit the Carnival profile and select the cruise line you're sailing on to confirm eligibility and claim your onboard credit!

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here is the page: https://www.stockperks.com/carnivalcorp

i can not find any information about this on carnival corporation website about this

it seems all this app does it collects your info and then forwards it to carnival, kind of like a middle man

I just received the new request in my email, after I had emailed my request in on Sunday.

I just downloaded the app, and submitted my stock statement.  It said that I should have a response within 2 days with the next steps.

Ken the cruiser

On 11/7/2023 at 7:54 PM, martinchem said: Carnival Corp is now on Stockperks! Carnival Corporation & plc is pleased to extend the following benefit to our shareholders Shareholder Benefits   NORTH AMERICA BRANDS Carnival Cruise Line*, Princess Cruises*, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard*, Costa Cruises* CONTINENTAL EUROPE BRANDS Costa Cruises*, AIDA Cruises UNITED KINGDOM BRANDS P&O Cruises (UK), Cunard*, Princess Cruises (UK)* AUSTRALIA BRANDS P&O Cruises (Australia), Princess Cruises*, Carnival Cruise Line* Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 14 days or longer US $250 €200 £150 A$250 Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 13 days US $100 €75 £60 A$100 Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or less US $50 €40 £30 A$50 * The onboard credit for Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises is determined based on the operational currency onboard the vessel. The benefit is available on sailings through July 31, 2024. Applications to receive this benefit should be made at least three weeks prior to cruise departure date. This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates or interline rates, tour conductors or anyone else cruising at a reduced-rate or on complimentary basis are excluded from this offer. This benefit is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify or terminate this benefit or any of the terms and conditions relating to the benefit at any time without notice. Only one onboard credit per shareholder-occupied stateroom is permitted. Carnival Corp has partnered with Stockperks to streamline the process to claim this benefit. Simply: Download the app via the links below, or search for “Stockperks” in your app store Once downloaded, create a Stockperks user profile Then search for “Carnival” in the app, and select the cruise line you are traveling with Click the blue button “Validate your portfolio” and you will be guided through the process of providing your CCL ownership details Once confirmed you can then submit a claim for each eligible booking Thank you for being a loyal Carnival Corporation & plc shareholder and enjoy your cruise! Redeem your Perk! Download the Stockperks app today and create your profile. Then visit the Carnival profile and select the cruise line you're sailing on to confirm eligibility and claim your onboard credit!

If I might ask, how did you learn about this StockPerks app?

7 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said: If I might ask, how did you learn about this StockPerks app?

After requesting shareholder obc from Carnival by email they replied with instruction link. 

I downloaded the app Weds eve & sent our etrade screenshots (just used "Fidelity" option).

Thurs AM they already emailed me as they needed 1 more screenshot...of course Etrade is being fussy & not letting me back in; need to call.

But I am impressed with their promptness!

I sent my usual request by Fax.  After 10 days of not receiving credit, I called and was given e-mail for customer support and was told to use www.stockperks.com/carnivalcorp in the future.  

Waiting to see what happens.  MJ

I signed up for stock perks on Friday, got my confirmation from them on Saturday, filled out my request with Carnival and was already approved for my credit on Monday. Easy as can be!

2 hours ago, ChrisToni said: I signed up for stock perks on Friday, got my confirmation from them on Saturday, filled out my request with Carnival and was already approved for my credit on Monday. Easy as can be!

I'm confused - if pax are being directed to StockPerks, what request are you sending to Carnival?

41 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said: I'm confused - if pax are being directed to StockPerks, what request are you sending to Carnival?

Stockperks just simply confirms that you are a stockholder. Once that is done you fill out the request for a specific cruise with carnival.

7 minutes ago, ChrisToni said: Stockperks just simply confirms that you are a stockholder. Once that is done you fill out the request for a specific cruise with carnival.

So we still email as usual, just including whatever we get back from StockPerks?

2 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said: So we still email as usual, just including whatever we get back from StockPerks?

Once Stockperks verifies, just go to the app and select carnival, then follow the prompts.

The Carnival Shareholder benefit form doesn't mention this as of now on their website. 

I just did this two days ago, and the credit was loaded within 48 hours of starting the process.  It was easy to do on the app, and I just took a photo of my screen showing my stock holdings and this was verified overnight, and the money was loaded a few hours later.

westbaysheri

I downloaded the stick work app and opened an account but can’t get in 

My institution is not on the Plaid platform yet.  So do we just email like normal then ?

VentureMan_2000

hoping this somehow makes applying easier... all the redacting of my portfolio documents is a pain.

7 hours ago, VentureMan_2000 said: hoping this somehow makes applying easier... all the redacting of my portfolio documents is a pain.

I asked someone who had submitted & rec'd the OBC using this new process about redacting & they said they did still redact all the usual personal info. 

" This benefit is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account."

Is the part about gratuities new?  On our cruises the Stockholder OBC was applied to gratuities as well.

lostsoulcruiser

A couple of questions/concerns:

• How does Stockperks protect your stock account privacy, in particular the account number you were able to black out when requesting your OBC via the fax or email?
• Did Carnival change the on-board accounting system to be able to target stockholder OBC for certain charges and not others?  Sounds like it and does that show up when you check your account on the ship during a cruise?
• Does the stockholder OBC change also apply to a booking OBC?

Thanks for the replies.

I used the app for the first time this week.

1. I downloaded the app.  A few glitches but did get it to download.

2. Opened app and it requires you to open an account.

3. Opened and account, a few glitches again, but it opened.

4. Once in the new account, it ask you to upload a copy of your statement, it also allows you to take a picture and upload while the account is open.

5. Took a statement and redacted the other holdings, amounts, account #, addresses, etc. I did this when I mailed before.

6. took picture and uploaded and sent to Stockperks.

7. Received confirm that they would be back to be in to 2 days.

8. Received email telling me to open Stockperks account and complete cruise information.

9. Opened account and entered Carnival cruise confirm #, date of cruise, ship name, etc. and hit enter.

10. Received confirm email stating they would be back in touch.

11. Received confirm stating that I had received my $100 OBC for my 7 day cruise.

I downloaded and used Stockperks this week. Once I had the app I simply allowed it to "pair" with my Robinhood app and entered info for 2 upcoming sailings. It took 2 days but I received an email for each sail date saying it was approved and the credits are both on my Carnival booking details. I understand the security concerns but I have all of my high dollar investments (IRA and 401K) with other brokers. I use the Robinhood account to "play" a little bit and that is where I hold my Carnival shares. 

There is some good reading in the Princess forum about this. You don't need to divulge all the info the app asks for. Just what we all need is another app to clutter on our phones ! I will use and delete as necessary. Apps can lead to info being stolen if they are compromised.

19 hours ago, VentureMan_2000 said: hoping this somehow makes applying easier... all the redacting of my portfolio documents is a pain.

It would still be prudent to redact with this new app. Give them minimal info to be safe. 

I don't get what the benefit is of downloading another app.  I just submitted my request via email and received credit in about 3 days.

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Cruise Shareholder Benefits – Save Money on Your Next Cruise Booking

It’s a surprisingly little-known way to save on your next cruise, but did you know that by being a shareholder of these cruise lines entitles you to a discount or on-board credit?

By owning as few as 100 shares of a cruise line stock, you can get perks with every cruise booking! (with a few exceptions)

How do you get the cruise line shareholder benefits?

The method varies a little between cruise companies, but generally, the requirement is at least 100 shares of stock owned directly. So for example, you cannot own stock in a fund and still qualify, it must be 100+ stock shares owned individually.

Each cruise line asks that you submit proof of ownership of the 100+ shares, by email. This can be in the form of copies of brokerage statements.

The cruise passenger details must match the brokerage statements exactly in order to receive the cruise shareholder benefits.

It’s worth noting that the benefits are generally applied PER CABIN, so only one shareholder will be recognized per booking per cabin and the onboard credit is shared among the people in the cabin.

Norwegian Cruise Line Shareholder Benefits

Are you an owner of at least 100 shares of NCLH stock? Then you can get some great benefits by just filling out the NCL Shareholder Benefits Request Form ! Be sure to submit this form at least 2 weeks ahead of the cruise in which you are applying for the benefit.

What to expect as a Norwegian shareholder:

$250  Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 15 Days or More. $100  Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 7 to 14 Days. $50  Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 Days or Less.

This benefit also extends to their subsidiaries Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas! Note that each cruise line has its own submission email address, but the same form and proof of shareholder status is the same.

The biggest caveat is that this benefit is available for regular-priced cruises meaning special rates such as friends and family, employee and travel agent rates are not eligible.

• Read: More helpful tips and information about cruising & cruise vacations

Carnival Cruise Shareholder Benefits & Discounts

Carnival has a similar benefit schedule as Norwegian with onboard credits. This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Worth noting that Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates, interline rates, tour conductors, or anyone cruising on a reduced-rate or complimentary basis are excluded from the offer.

Carnival shareholder benefit forms & information

Just fill out the Carnival Shareholder Benefit Request Form .

Submissions must be sent at least 4 weeks prior to sailing.

NORTH AMERICA BRANDS Sailings of 14 days or longer US $250 Sailings of 7 to 13 days US $100 Sailings of 6 days or less US $ 50

CONTINENTAL EUROPE BRANDS Sailings of 14 days or longer €200 Sailings of 7 to 13 days € 75 Sailings of 6 days or less € 40

UNITED KINGDOM BRANDS Sailings of 14 days or longer £150 Sailings of 7 to 13 days £ 60 Sailings of 6 days or less £ 30

AUSTRALIA BRANDS Sailings of 14 days or longer A$250 Sailings of 7 to 13 daysA$100 Sailings of 6 days or less A$ 50

Since Carnival Cruises owns so many lines, it’s nice that they allow this cruise shareholder benefit program across all brands! These brands include:

Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America shareholder benefits, Seabourn, Cunard, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises

Princess Cruises shareholder benefits

When preparing this information, fellow passengers asked specifically about Princess Cruises and if they have a shareholder benefit program. This is the same program and shareholder benefit forms as Carnival Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean Shareholder Benefits

Finally, Royal Caribbean has their own shareholder benefits which include Royal Caribbean Cruises as well as Celebrity Cruises.

$250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less

As with the other programs, this requires 100 shares of stock owned to qualify and the request must be made at least 3 weeks prior to sailing.

Read about the most current shareholder benefit details and get the Royal Caribbean shareholder benefit request form here.

Celebrity Cruises Shareholder Benefits

Celebrity Cruises shares the same submission requirements and forms as Royal Caribbean. Download the Celebrity shareholder benefit request form here .

**Since Azamara has been split from Royal Caribbean, unfortunately, this shareholder benefit is no longer available for Azamara.

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A few words about owning cruise line stocks and investing in cruise lines during financial uncertainty

We spoke to a number of travelers that have used the above shareholder benefits for their cruise vacations, but most agree that investing in cruise stocks has some risk to it. While these stocks for major cruise lines are at record lows some people have purchased just to get the shareholder benefit KNOWING that there is risk involved such as insolvency of the cruise line, especially given the current financial conditions of cruise lines in general.

Travelers are rationalizing these stock purchases by stating that 100 shares of Carnival (or NCL, for example) is so cheap, that even a few cruises with the shareholder benefit would equal their stock purchase cost.

This argument gets less valid as the share prices increase, obviously, but as of now, these travelers make a good point about ongoing benefits for such a small investment that could grow. (or devalue to zero)

We don’t offer advice about stock investing, ever. We’ve taken advantage of these programs above and think it’s a great way to add value to your cruises and invest a little bit for the future! That’s merely our opinion.

How TO buy cruise line stock to get the shareholder benefits?

If you have a brokerage account and investing already, just pick up the phone or go online and purchase shares as you would any other stock or security.

If you’re not an investor but would like to acquire some stock from one of these cruise companies, you can use the company we have used for the past several years, IBKR (Interactive Brokers)

If you’d like to register with Interactive Brokers to purchase stock, you can get up to $1000 for using our referral link for registration (and we’ll get a little bit too!)

Our experience with IBKR has been nothing but positive and we’ve done a number of transactions and have been able to use statements they provide for proof of ownership to get the shareholder benifits on our cruises.

More Cruise Tips & Helpful Information

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Cruise Line Shareholder Benefit Questions & Answers (How Much, How to Get It, and More)

It’s a little-known secret, but one of the easiest ways to get free money on your cruise. If you own shares of your favorite cruise company stock, then you can get up to $250 in onboard credit just for being an investor .

Here’s how it works…

Several cruise brands, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line are actually part of larger publicly-traded companies with stock that anyone can buy. As a thank you and special benefit for owning the stock, those cruise lines give shareholders onboard credit for free when they sail on one of their ships.

That means simply for owning shares, you get free cash to spend on your cruise. Here’s what all you need to know.

Which Companies and Cruise Lines Offer the Shareholder Benefit?

There are the “big three” cruise companies that trade publicly — Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. If you own shares of any of these three companies, then you can receive the onboard credit benefit if you sail one of their lines.

The cruise lines eligible include just about every major brand:

• Carnival Corporation: Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Seabourn, Cunard, Costa Cruises, AIDA, P&O Cruises
• Royal Caribbean Group: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Silversea Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent

Notably, Disney shareholders do not receive an onboard credit benefit.

How Much Is the Benefit?

The amount of the benefit varies with the length of your cruise and cruise line. In general, however, it is between $50 and $250. 

Carnival Corporation:

• Cruises of 14 days or longer: $250 onboard credit
• Cruises of 7-13 days: $100 onboard credit
• Cruises of 6 days or less: $50 onboard credit

Royal Caribbean Group:

• Cruises of 14 nights or longer: $250 onboard credit
• Cruises of 6-13 nights: $100 onboard credit
• Cruises of 5 nights or less: $50 onboard credit

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings:

• Cruises of 15 days or more: $250 onboard credit
• Cruises of 7-14 days: $100 onboard credit

How Many Shares Do I Need to Own to Get the Onboard Credit?

No matter which company you own, they all require you own at least 100 shares to get the benefit.

However, given the different share prices of each company, this means you could spend vastly different amounts of money to buy those 100 shares. 

Can I Get Bigger Benefits if I Own More Shares?

No. If you own 100 shares or 1,000 shares, you receive the same shareholder benefit. So if you own 200 shares, you don’t get double the onboard credit. Therefore, if you decide to buy the cruise line’s stock just to get the onboard credit for an upcoming trip, you don’t need to own more than the 100 share minimum.

Does Everyone Get the Benefit or Just the Person With the Shares?

The conditions of the offers say that the credit is applied on a “per cabin” basis, not on a per-person basis. That means if a couple are traveling together and have 100 shares, they get the credit for the room.

Expect it to also be limited to one benefit per cabin. So if a husband and wife both own 100 shares separately, they will only get the onboard credit once. 

For example, here is the fine print for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings:

“Credit is applied on a per stateroom/suite basis. There can only be one credit per shareholder reservation on any one sailing. If you are requesting shareholder onboard credit for two or more separate staterooms/suites and shares are held jointly, a minimum of 100 shares per stateroom/suite booked must be held.”

Can I Receive the Benefit Every Time I Sail?

Yes. The benefit can be renewed for each time you sail. For instance, if you love Royal Caribbean and sail them several times a year, then you can use the same 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Group to be eligible for the benefit.

In other words, while the benefit may be limited to $250 per cruise, there is no limit mentioned on the number of times you can redeem that benefit while you own the shares.

How Long Do I Have to Own the Shares to Get the Credit?

The rules posted by the cruise companies don’t stipulate any length of time required for owning the shares to receive the benefit.

However, to redeem the onboard credit the companies require you to submit documentation 2-3 weeks before the cruise. The fine print also says you need to own the shares at the time of sailing. The means a holding period of at least a few weeks.

How Do I Apply for the Shareholder Benefit?

To get your credit, each cruise company requires you to apply before your sailing. Carnival requires you do this three weeks before the sailing, Royal Caribbean says 2-3 weeks prior, and Norwegian asks for 15 days prior. We recommend applying at least three weeks before, just to be sure.

Each line requires that you contact them to supply documentation of your share ownership (such as a brokerage statement), typically either via mail or email. 

You can find more details on what to submit and contact information here:

• Carnival Corporation Shareholder Benefit
• Royal Caribbean Group Shareholder Benefit
• Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Shareholder Benefit

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On 2/19/22 I submitted a request for $100 for my upcoming cruise on Royal Carribean Vision of the Seas sailing 4/8/22 to 4/18/22 from Ft Lauderdale. To date I have not received confirmation of credit toward the cruise.

You’ll want to contact the cruise line directly for this issue.

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Overview: Cruise Line Stock Benefits for Shareholders

Orlando Martinez

• March 18, 2022

Most cruise line stocks come with benefits for the shareholder that many people are unaware of.

In this article, we are going to focus on Carnival Corporation (CCL), Royal Caribbean Group (RCCL), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH).

READ MORE: 5 Reasons This Might Be The Perfect Time To Buy Cruise Stocks

There are many reasons to buy stock for any given company.

While you won’t get free burgers for owning stock in McDonald’s, own enough shares of your favorite cruise line, and you’ll receive onboard credit when you set sail.

“Bad News Is An Investor’s Friend”

  During the financial crisis that began in 2008, famed investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, wrote in an op-ed, “In short, bad news is an investor’s best friend. It lets you buy a slice of America’s future at a marked-down price.”

With the recent fluctuations in the markets, many people are looking to pick up stocks which, though hitting sometimes historic lows, seem poised to experience a major rally in the future.

If you happen to find a stock that is selling at a great price and also comes with a perk or two, all the better. We’ll discuss not only what perks come with owning shares of the company, but how to go about claiming those perks.

How To Claim Your Carnival Corporate Stock Benefits

Operating not only the popular Carnival Cruise Line brand, the company also owns Princess Cruises, Holland America, Costa, Cunard, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises, and luxury brand Seabourn.

For investors who own at least 100 shares of Carnival stock, various amounts of onboard credit are offered. How much you qualify for depends on the length of your sailing. So what’s the breakdown?

• Cruises 14 Days or Longer: $250 onboard credit
• Cruises 7-13 Days: $100 onboard credit
• Cruises 6 days or less: $50 onboard credit

There are a few important caveats to the offer.

For example, Carnival employees, travel agents cruising on a travel agent rate, group tour conductors, and anyone sailing on a reduced rate (or taking a complimentary cruise) are excluded. The onboard credit can’t be transferred or exchanged for cash, and it can’t be used in the casino or to pay the daily gratuities.

In order to receive the shareholder benefit, stockholders need to fax or mail their legal name, reservation/booking number, ship and sailing date, along with proof of stock ownership at least three weeks prior to their sail date to either their travel agent or the cruise line they’ll be sailing on.

Let’s say, for example, you were sailing on Carnival Horizon and wanted to take advantage of the stockholder benefit. All you have to do is fax proof of ownership (such as a photocopy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement with your account number blacked out) to your travel agent or to Carnival directly.

For the address of not only Carnival Cruise Line, but all of the other brands sailing under the Carnival corporate umbrella, click here .

How To Claim Your Royal Caribbean Stock Benefits

Like Carnival, Royal Caribbean Group is a major player in the cruise market, operating ships under not only the flagship name, but also under Celebrity and Azamara. And just like with Carnival, there are perks to owning 100 or more shares of the stock.

In the case of Royal Caribbean, the benefits break down like this across all the corporate lines (Galapagos Islands sailings and charters are excluded):

• Cruises 6-13 Days: $100 onboard credit
• Cruises 5 days or less: $50 onboard credit

In order to claim your benefit, simply mail, fax or email Royal Caribbean at the addresses below and provide your name, address, booking confirmation number, ship and sailing date, as well as a copy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement showing proof of ownership in Royal Caribbean Group.  Make sure to leave at least three weeks for processing.

Mailing address: RCL Investor Relations 1050 Caribbean Way Miami, Florida 33132

Fax: 1-305-373-6699

Email:  [email protected]

How To Claim Your Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Benefits

Norwegian includes the named, primary brand, but also sister lines Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. As with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, 100 shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings must be owned to qualify for their investor benefits. And as with the other lines, how much you get depends on the length of the cruise you’re setting sail on:

• Cruises 15 Days or Longer: $250 onboard credit
• Cruises 7-14 Days: $100 onboard credit

Note that these benefits do not apply to charter sailings.

To claim your benefit, complete the Shareholder Benefit Request Form available on the Investor Relations website at nclhltdinvestor.com and mail or email it with accompanying documentation: your name, address, email address, phone number, ship, and sailing date, and a photocopy of your shareholder proxy card or photocopy of a current brokerage statement with the account number blacked out.

All shareholder requests must be received at least 15 days prior to the sail date. The request form along with the proof of ownership should be mailed or emailed to the specific cruise line you’re sailing on.

By Michael York

This article was originally published in March 2020. It was updated and republished in March 2022.

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Carnival Stock Up 9% in 3 Months: Is It Worth Buying Now?

Carnival Corporation & plc ( CCL Quick Quote CCL - Free Report ) stock moved up 9.4% in the past three months compared with the industry ’s 3.5% rise and 6.4% growth of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. Investor sentiments are buoyed by robust booking momentum for 2025, with record volumes surpassing 2024 levels in price and occupancy. But Carnival isn’t the only company riding the wave of a cruise tourism boom — Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ( RCL Quick Quote RCL - Free Report ) jumped 13.2%, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ( NCLH Quick Quote NCLH - Free Report ) gained 9.4%, and OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited ( OSW Quick Quote OSW - Free Report ) inched up 1.4% during the same period.

The cruise industry is on a hot streak, bouncing back faster than other travel sectors. With 31.5 million passengers setting sail in 2023 and 35.7 million expected in 2024 (per CLIA), the future looks nothing short of spectacular for cruising. Currently trading 15.8% below its 52-week high of $19.74, the big question is — is now the time to buy Carnival stock? Let’s dive into what’s fueling the stock’s momentum and if Carnival is worth the investment.

What’s Powering Carnival’s Growth?

CCl reported strong booking momentum for 2025, with record volumes surpassing 2024 levels in price and occupancy. During the fiscal second quarter, it reported higher pricing on bookings due to limited remaining inventory for 2024. It reported strength in pricing for the North America and Australia (NAA) and Europe segments for the third and the fourth quarter of 2024 on a year-over-year basis. With occupancy rates now surpassing 2023 levels, the company is on track to keep this winning streak alive. As of May 31. 2024, total customer deposits amounted to $8.3 billion compared with $7 billion reported in the previous quarter, exceeding $7.2 billion reported on May 31. 2023. CCL expects to maintain mid-single-digit per diem growth through the rest of the year. Its focus on optimizing the yield curve is likely to benefit in future periods. During the second quarter, the company reported successful delivery of new vessels, including Queen Anne, Sun Princess and Carnival Firenze, each marked by significant media coverage and booking records. These additions strengthen the company’s fleet and enhance yields and guest satisfaction. The rollout of Starlink technology across the fleet further improves onboard connectivity, benefiting guests, crew and operational systems.

It continues to manage its portfolio actively, with plans to sunset the P&O Cruises Australia brand early next year. This move will optimize CCL’s presence in the Australian market by consolidating into Carnival Cruise Line, increasing capacity and operational flexibility. Carnival Cruise Line's capacity is expected to grow by 50% over 2019 levels by 2028, supported by the addition of nine new ships since 2019 and the delivery of two Excel-class ships in 2027 and 2028.

CCL Guidance Upgrades Fuel Investor Confidence

The company’s consistent performance, strong booking position and strategic initiatives are driving confidence. For the fiscal 2024, it anticipates adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $5.83 billion compared with the previous expectation of $5.63 billion. Adjusted net income during the year is anticipated to be nearly $1.55 billion, up from the previous expectation of $1.3 billion.

CCL projects long-term targets of EBITDA per available lower berth-day (ALBD) of $69, 12% return on invested capital (ROIC) and a 20% reduction in carbon intensity by 2026. Upwardly revised guidance positions the company to achieve these targets ahead of schedule. In the fiscal 2024, the company expects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to be $1.18 compared with the previous expectation of 98 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL’s 2024 and 2025 EPS has moved up 3.5% and 1.3%, respectively, in the past 60 days. The upward revision in earnings estimates indicates analysts’ increasing confidence in the stock.

Risks to Consider

Carnival’s business model is inherently sensitive to macroeconomic factors, including consumer discretionary spending, geopolitical tensions, and currency fluctuations. Despite recent successes, the company’s stock remains highly volatile and susceptible to negative market sentiment. Economic uncertainties, such as inflationary pressures or a potential slowdown in consumer spending, could directly impact Carnival’s ability to maintain its pricing strategy and fill its expanding fleet. One of the primary concerns with Carnival is its heavy debt load and ongoing financial restructuring. During the second quarter of 2024, Carnival prepaid $1.6 billion in secured term loans, refinanced approximately $2.75 billion and issued $535 million in new unsecured notes. While these measures aim to reduce interest expenses and simplify the capital structure, Carnival’s debt remains substantial. The company remains cautious of net interest expenses and their potential impact on the bottom line in the foreseeable future.

Valuation: A Bargain or a Risk?

With a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 11.64, which is well below the industry average of 15.97X, the stock presents a potentially attractive valuation for investors.

Technical indicators are not supportive of Carnival's strong performance. As of Wednesday, the stock is trading for $16.63 below its 50-day moving average of $16.76. This underperformance could indicate a lack of strong momentum in the near term, suggesting a cautious outlook.

The Final Call: Should You Buy Carnival Stock?

The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s recent stock rally, driven by strong booking momentum, strategic fleet expansion and optimistic guidance revisions, reflects a positive market sentiment. Its efforts to enhance operational efficiency and streamline its portfolio are commendable, positioning it well for future growth. The stock’s attractive valuation compared with industry peers suggests a potentially compelling investment opportunity. However, inherent risks tied to Carnival’s substantial debt load, exposure to macroeconomic uncertainties and the highly volatile nature of its business model cannot be overlooked. While the stock appears undervalued, these vulnerabilities might continue to put pressure on the company’s financial stability and market performance. Current shareholders might want to hold their positions, while new investors should consider keeping an eye out for a better entry point. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Best cruise food: These are the 6 cruise lines with the best food at sea

My mouth is watering just thinking about writing this story. As I sit here and recap all the lines I think are worthy of inclusion under the title of "best cruise line food," it's apparent how much cruise ship meals have evolved.

In the early days of cruising, travelers could only choose between set seating in the main dining room or a trip to the buffet for a more casual experience. These days, passengers are spoiled for choice, with some of the world's largest vessels offering dozens of options each.

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Among the staggering number of cuisines are pizza and burgers, sushi, steak, Italian, French, Indian, Mexican, Asian-fusion and diner fare, to name a few. Toss in partnerships with big names like Thomas Keller, Jacques Pepin, Matt Lambert and Guy Fieri, and you've got a recipe for dining success.

Nearly everyone who cruises looks forward to the food. Whether your palate is completely unsophisticated, or you're searching for a highbrow epicurean experience, this list rounds up the best cruise lines for food.

Note: These are my favorite cruise lines for food, listed in alphabetical order.

Carnival Cruise Line

Warning: I'm about to make a lofty and controversial claim. Carnival Cruise Line has the best all-around food of any mainstream cruise line. The food quality is even more surprising because its fares are some of the industry's lowest.

In addition to a pleasant variety of cuisine in its ships' onboard buffets, passengers will find delicious options on the main dining room menus daily. (One of the best-kept secrets is the line's Indian cuisine. If you don't see it on the menu, ask.)

Sure, Carnival has added-fee dining in the way of steak and seafood, but in terms of free fare, Carnival has the most impressive array of alternative dining options for which you won't have to shell out anything extra. In particular, I give special nods to Guy's Burger Joint by Guy Fieri; the BlueIguana Cantina, which offers Mexican food; Big Chicken, Shaquille O'Neal's chicken eatery; and Pizza Pirate or Pizzeria del Capitano (depending on the ship), which are renowned for their simply drool-worthy pies.

However, if you're in the mood for a splurge, you can't go wrong with a visit to Emeril's Bistro, which serves New Orleans-style a la carte items in partnership with chef Emeril Lagasse; Rudi's Seagrill, a seafood restaurant that's the brainchild of chef Rudi Sodamin; or Bonsai Teppanyaki.

Holland America Line

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that Carnival's sister brand Holland America is also tops when it comes to offering some of the best cruise dining. The line largely shies away from the flashy bells and whistles of other cruise lines. (You won't find zip lines or roller coasters on board.) Instead, its focus is on providing solid core amenities like a wide variety of truly talented musicians and, of course, food that stands out.

Everything I've ever eaten in the main dining room has been utterly delectable, and you absolutely can't beat grilled cheese sandwiches or pea soup from the complimentary Grand Dutch Cafe on the line's newest ships.

Chef Rudi Sodamin's quirky but tasty creations also make an appearance at the Sel de Mer seafood restaurant, where you can try steak, seafood, fish, duck and lamb dishes, as well as vegetarian options. The whimsical food faces you'll see on your plates are an added bonus. Meanwhile, Pinnacle Grill has some of the best steaks I've ever eaten on a ship (or on land, for that matter), and if you enjoy Asian cuisine, Tamarind is definitively worth the extra cost.

Further, HAL's food isn't just tasty; it's fresh and fairly sourced, too. The line has worked with James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council member Ethan Stowell to create a series of special menu items for its Alaska voyages. The dishes use sustainable and certified Alaskan seafood sourced through a partnership with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and certification by Responsible Fisheries Management.

Oceania Cruises

Upscale cruise line Oceania packs a ton of restaurants onto its small ships, but you won't find a bad option in the bunch. Whether you value dining variety and tasty meals or you truly are a food snob, Oceania will surely come through with a win. How could it not with Jacques Pepin and Giada De Laurentiis contributing to the menus? Even better, all but the fanciest wine-paired special meals are included in the fares.

The line's smallest ships offer two specialty dining venues — a steakhouse and an Italian restaurant — in addition to the Grand Dining Room, with its expansive international menus, and the Terrace Café, a high-end buffet serving sushi, French cheeses and gourmet ice cream. Its largest vessels feature four reservations-only restaurants, adding in French, American and pan-Asian, depending on the ship.

Oceania puts just as much attention to detail — and deliciousness — into its smaller venues. Waves Grill on the pool deck goes beyond cheeseburgers to salmon sandwiches and Wagyu beef burgers. Its afternoon tea is a marquee event, with waiters wheeling carts of goodies through the observation lounge. On Vista , you can start your day on a high note at Aquamar with multiple types of avocado toast and freshly made juices blended with therapeutic spices. Its evening pizzeria is not to be missed, not only for the Italian-style pies but for the enticing burrata menu.

Finally, real gourmands looking for the ultimate dining experience can pay extra for wine-paired dinners that rival the most luxurious feast you've had on land — or a more expensive cruise line. Oceania puts so much stock in these meals that the line has built intimate dining rooms into its ships, reserved exclusively for these foodie events.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

To me, truly great food balances top-notch ingredients, impeccable flavors and creative presentation in such a way that makes even the pickiest of eaters happy. Too often, I've found myself at chichi restaurants that use weird ingredients (read: animal organs I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole), focus on looks over taste or make portions so tiny that they leave my stomach rumbling. Of all the lines I've sailed, luxury brand Scenic checks all the right boxes — a balance of the former with none of the latter.

From simple foods like eggs at breakfast in the buffet to the absolutely next-level chef's table I experienced on expedition ship Scenic Eclipse — a vessel with an impressive number of dining options given its size — the food was tasty and well-prepared.

But that doesn't mean it wasn't creative. For example, the chef's table offered up candied foie gras (or, in my case, candied date) lollipops and cured meat made to look like cigars with ash — but it wasn't a case of form over function. The flavors were spot-on, and substitutions were available for picky eaters like me and a vegetarian travel companion.

Somewhere in between the no-reservations buffet and the invitation-only chef's table lie equally impressive reservation-required options like Koko's Sushi (don't miss the homemade cotton candy), Night Market teppanyaki and French restaurant Lumiere, which somehow managed to win over even this notoriously anti-French-cuisine cruiser.

Seabourn Cruise Line

Luxury brand Seabourn Cruise Line serves outstanding food in all of its venues, including The Restaurant main dining room and The Colonnade buffet, both of which switch up their menus each day. Even the cafe found at the central hub of Seabourn Square — part lounge, part customer service area — is excellent, as are nightly casual menu options, served outdoors on most ships.

Beyond that, the line's small-ish vessels don't have a ton of additional options, but what they lack in number, they make up for in sheer quality.

A prime example is Earth and Ocean, a dinner experience at The Patio (found at The Grill on some ships), served alfresco. Enjoy a selection of both land and sea options bursting with flavor and served with flare. Examples might include Belgian endive salad, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, rib-eye steak, seafood bouillabaisse, baked Camembert and a salted caramel gelato sundae. Whatever you do, don't miss the homemade breadsticks.

Also, look for the new Mediterranean restaurant Solis debuting on ships this year.

Another luxurious standout is Seabourn's popular "caviar in the surf" event, held once per cruise. Waiters wade into the water at a beach while passengers are ashore and serve caviar and other accompaniments from trays. (On cold-weather voyages, the event is set up on tables on one of the outer decks instead.) Note that you can also order free caviar at any time of day if a craving strikes.

Virgin Voyages

When Virgin Voyages debuted, it did away with the traditional main dining room experience and, instead, added nearly a dozen restaurants that rival the ambience, quality and creativity of any upscale eatery on land. It also eschewed the idea of a traditional cruise buffet and replaced it with a food court. Additionally, it has gone out of its way to cater to dietary restrictions, with plenty of choices for vegetarians, vegans and cruisers who are gluten-free.

All of the options are included in the price — except for a new dinner theater experience on Resilient Lady — which represents a terrific value without sacrificing quality. Having partnered with famed chefs — including Matt Lambert of New York's The Musket Room; Sohui Kim of Insa, The Good Fork and Gage & Tollner in New York; and Silvana Salcido Esparza of Barrio Café in Phoenix — the line offers cuisine that runs the gamut from Mexican, Italian and steak selections to Korean barbecue, vegetarian-focused fare and even molecular gastronomy.

As for the line's new dinner theater option, it's not just a feast for the eyes. The food is fabulous, too, featuring intriguing dishes with an Indian flare that are seasoned just right.

Feeling like something more casual? Passengers can enjoy nearly round-the-clock personal pizzas, happy hour mezze platters, ice cream scoops and diner snacks like soft pretzels, hot dogs and candy — all complimentary. For something casual but more substantial, they can head to The Galley, a collection of food court-style counters serving diner grub, noodle bowls, paninis, salads, tacos, grab-and-go sushi and desserts, among other bites.

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