An Opportunity?

[TedC]

Carnival Corp stock - CCL- is near a 52-week low. Perhaps it's an opportunity for those who want to buy 100 shares to get the shareholder shipboard credit.

 

As I recall, the credit is $100 per cabin for 7-day cruises and $250 for cruises 14 days or longer. Shorter cruises get $50.

 

The CCL board apparently has to approve the benefit annually and there's no guarantee that it'll be renewed. I do know I have $850 total credit for four cruises we've booked through April. 2007 - not a bad dividend!

[AlohaPride]

Carnival Corp stock - CCL- is near a 52-week low. Perhaps it's an opportunity for those who want to buy 100 shares to get the shareholder shipboard credit.

 

As I recall, the credit is $100 per cabin for 7-day cruises and $250 for cruises 14 days or longer. Shorter cruises get $50.

 

The CCL board apparently has to approve the benefit annually and there's no guarantee that it'll be renewed. I do know I have $850 total credit for four cruises we've booked through April. 2007 - not a bad dividend!

 

As I'm looking for a way into the stock market, I have a few questions:

 

1) How much would 100 shares be?

2) How do I purchase them?

3) How does one get involved/invested in the stock market?

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have a stock broker and bought our Carnival stock years ago when it was selling for $18 a share.

Remember that when you deal with a broker you will also pay him a commission to do the work.

Our TA keeps a copy of the transaction so that she can notify HAL so that we can get the shipboard credit.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The last I heard it was around $42 a share.

Maybe someone has an update.

[FoxyTerrier]

Right now it is selling for $39.12. If you don't have a regular broker you might want to set up an account with an online broker like e-trade (never used them though).

 

Many larger banks now offer security purchases. Also if you have a 401K you might be able to purchase the stock through that broker.

 

Usually you get the best price when you buy it them in 100 share increments so that would be close to $4000.

[sail7seas]

KK....Have you ever had a problem combining Cc stock credit and AmEx Shipboard Credit?

 

[rkacruiser]

HAL was having a special 3 day sale this past week-end and the fare on my November Noordam cruise dropped $380. In order to take advantage of the newly reduced rate, however, I had to give up my CCL on board credit. I called Reservation Administration in Seattle and spoke with a very pleasant woman to confirm this information that my travel agent was being given. She said that on certain special promotions or inventory clearances, no on board credit is allowed. Since the fare reduction was greater than the on board credit being received, I obviously took the new rate.

 

This was the first time I have run into this situation. Anyone else experience anything like this?

[Southbound]

AlohaPride -- We bought our 100 shares online through Scottrade. Their fee is only $7.00 to buy or sell. The forms are available on their website to open an account, with instructions, and a link with a toll-free number. We found them very easy and competent to deal with. Their website is www.scottrade.com

[debjo]

I'M BUMMED...

Just checked the closing price for today...it was $38.96. Last week, I took the plunge and moved some of my IRA investments into CCL stock because the price dropped (probably because of the Crown Princess "tilt") down to $39.55. I had watched the pricing for many months and didn't take advantage of it when it reached a new "low" for the year back in June. Since my final payment was due this week, I saw last week's drop to $39.55 as I sign to buy...now I wish I had waited just a few more days. Oh well, so much for my first "stock" purchase!

 

By the way, I was charged nearly $100 for the purchase of 100 CCL shares (roughly 2 1/2%). I wish I had some other funds to use...but because I "moved" some of my IRA investment, I was stuck with having to pay the "fee".

 

I realize that it is nearly a "wash" (paying the fee and the $100 O.B.C.) for my October cruise, but our long range plans call for a HAL or Princess Alaskan cruise next year and with everything I've learned in my HAL research for my October cruise, I'm sure to be a regular HAL repeat cruiser. I figure in the "long-term" those O.B.C. perks for stockholders will come in handy...providing CCL continues to offer them in the future.

 

I'm not much of a "gambler", but figure that the cruise line's stock will go "up" again and I can always "sell" it later and make a profit. At least it is something in my IRA that I can be excited about because I'm addicted to cruising!

 

AND NOW FOR MY QUESTIONS...If you are a CCL stock holder, have you ever attended any stockholder meetings? If so, where are they held and are you treated as "good" as you are on a ship? :-)

 

Debjo

[DesertDogs]

We bought our CCL stock right after 9/11 when everything was low. I think we paid about $17 a share. We us TDAmeritrade.com. Cost is only $9.99 a trade.

 

The stock prices will go back up. The stock was selling for close to $55 last year so this is a good time to buy.:p

[thomasale]

Please don't EVER use this onboard credit as reason to make an investment. Anyone thinking of the Stock market for investing should spend some time at http://www.motleyfool.com to EDUCATE themself about investing. I have seen too many folks "swimming with the sharks" to allow this thread to continue without caveat...JMHO...but its' an experienced one :)

[gizmo]

HAL was having a special 3 day sale this past week-end and the fare on my November Noordam cruise dropped $380. In order to take advantage of the newly reduced rate, however, I had to give up my CCL on board credit. I called Reservation Administration in Seattle and spoke with a very pleasant woman to confirm this information that my travel agent was being given. She said that on certain special promotions or inventory clearances, no on board credit is allowed. Since the fare reduction was greater than the on board credit being received, I obviously took the new rate.

 

This was the first time I have run into this situation. Anyone else experience anything like this?

 

Yes. I got an unbelievable last minute deal a couple of years ago. Hal would not give me the credit for my stock.

[Namvet4]

Please don't EVER use this onboard credit as reason to make an investment. Anyone thinking of the Stock market for investing should spend some time at www.motleyfool.com to EDUCATE themself about investing. I have seen too many folks "swimming with the sharks" to allow this thread to continue without caveat...JMHO...but its' an experienced one :)

 

Well said thomasale,

I cannot emphasize enough how important this advice is!!!!!!!!! Motley Fool is just one of a number of good investment advice sites that a person can use to start finding their way.... Caveat Emptor is nowhere more true, than in the investment world…. Your hard earned investment dollars today are your cruise dollars tomorrow....:)

[ANSalberg]

The thing about the "Motley Fool" is that it explains things in very basic terms and simplifies many "mysteries. Of course -reading it ONCE is not going to help you a whole lot; you need to study up and then use common sense -and a little prayer couldn't hurt! Read "Motley Fool" weekly for about 6 months -then MAYBE you'll know enough to purchase some stock and have a pretty good idea of which stock to buy. We bought [ among many other stocks] Carnival about 15 years ago; I have been retired 9 years & my husband 5 and we have been cruising the Carnival family for about 20 years. For us- 100 shared of Carnival Cruiseline Stock has paid for itself. BUT we are not "living on" stock income -it is our "for fun" stuff. If you NEED the income- don't buy stock!

[thomasale]

If you NEED the income- don't buy stock!

 

these words are soooo true!

[JunPOA]

We have both SB & TD Amerirtade accts. and agree TD Ameritrade is cheaper for transactions.

 

QUESTION: Is there a minimum # of shares an innvestor has to purchase to get the HAL perks?

 

Thanks :)

[babyher]

I've never played the stock market , but I have invested in municipal bonds ( a "little safer" investment) I will never become a tycoon, but I gte a nice little dividend check every few months.

 

If you are going to play the stock market, use the same advice for playing in a casino. Only invest/bet what you can afford to lose.

 

Only the amount that if it all goes belly up tomorrow and you lose the whole investment, you aren't selling your house and taking your kids out of college.

[gizmo]

 

QUESTION: Is there a minimum # of shares an innvestor has to purchase to get the HAL perks?

 

Thanks :)

 

Yes, 100 shares.

[Krazy Kruizers]

sail

 

We have never had a problem using the different shipboard credits on back-to-back cruises.

 

We use the AMEX Plat for one segment and the Carnival for the second segment.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I believe that Carnival stock is down to around $39 today.

[rkacruiser]

For Debjo,

 

Yes, I have attended one shareholder meeting. That was this past April and it was held in Coral Gables, Florida at the Biltmore Hotel. Since the acquisition of P & O Princess, the company is alternating meetings between the United States and the U. K. If my memory serves me correctly, I think the meeting was held at Southampton last year. Wherever the meeting is held, there is a communication link to the other site so that shareholders on "both sides of the pond" can participate.

 

Remember. this is a business meeting. So, no, one is not going to experience a cruise ship-type experience. Were we treated well? Yes, most certainly. After registering, a very nice continental breakfast was provided, many of the meeting's participants (the company Directors and Officers) arrived in the breakfast room and some stopped at our table to chat. I remember talking with the Company's Secretary, the Investor Relations Director, two of the Directors and Mr. Arison. After the meeting was over, I was able to briefly talk about one particular concern that I had about HAL vessels with Stein Kruse, HAL's CEO and President. All whom I met were gracious and down-to-earth individuals. I came away from the meeting with increased confidence in Carnival Corporation, in the way it is being operated, and in my investment.

 

Interestingly, there were only about 40-50 shareholders present at the meeting. (That contrasts with another shareholders meeting I attended at Orlando a few days later that had hundreds in attendance.)

[debjo]

For rkacruiser...

Thanks for your reply...it is exactly the answer I was hoping for. As far as wondering if you were treated like you are on a cruise...that was a bit "tongue in cheek" of me. I do realize it is a business meeting and would be conducted accordingly. It is nice that you were able to talk with some of the "officials" personally and were able to leave the meeting with new confidence in your investment!

 

Debjo