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5 Companies Owned by Carnival Corp. (CCL)

Cruise brands for passenger segments such as ultra-luxury, luxury, and premium

Carnival Corp. ( CCL ) is a global cruise line. It operates as a dual-listed company with Carnival Plc (CCL.L), but the two separate legal entities function as a single economic entity through contractual agreements. Shares of CCL are traded on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) while shares of CCL.L are traded on the London Stock Exchange ( LSE ). The company offers cruise vacations through a range of brands that operate in various geographic locations throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Its brands cater to different price points, lifestyles and cultures as well as entertainment and vacation preferences. Carnival posted a net loss of $10.2 billion on revenue of $5.6 billion in fiscal year ( FY ) 2020, which ended Nov. 30, 2020. The  market cap  of CCL was $27.4 billion and that of CCL.L was GBP18.8 billion ($25.2 billion), as of Nov. 10, 2021.

Carnival's leading brand is Carnival Cruise Line, which was founded in 1972 by entrepreneur Ted Arison. Carnival Cruise Line was initially formed as part of a subsidiary of American International Travel Service (AITS). The company started out with a single used trans-Atlantic ocean liner that it converted into a cruise liner and renamed the Mardi Gras. In 1974, Arison purchased Carnival Cruise Line for $1 and the assumption of AITS' debt of $5 million. At that point, the cruise line was still a small-time operator struggling to survive. But it managed to steadily grow in size and popularity, and went public in 1987 through an initial public offering ( IPO ). The cash raised in the IPO provided the company with the capital needed to continue expanding through acquisitions. The company, which was renamed Carnival Corp. in the early 1990s, has since built a portfolio of globally-recognized cruise brands. Below, we look in more detail at five of those brands.

Holland America Line N.V.

• Type of Business: Cruise Line
• Acquisition Price: $625 million
• Acquisition Date: November 1988 (announced)

Holland America Line traces its origins to the founding of a shipping and passenger line called Netherlands-American Steamship Co. in 1873. In the first 25 years since its founding, the company owned a fleet of six cargo and passenger ships that it operated between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. The company would become known over time as the Holland America Line due to its being headquartered in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. In 1989, Carnival Cruise Line formally acquired the company, reinforcing its position as the largest cruise line in terms of the number of passengers. The Holland America Line now operates a fleet of 10 ships cruising to over 425 ports in more than 100 countries.

Seabourn Cruise Line Ltd.

• Type of Business: Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line
• Acquisition Price: $15 million (initial 25% stake ); $10 million (additional 25% stake); unknown amount (remaining 50% stake in 1998)
• Acquisition Date: 1992 (25% stake); 1995-1996 (25% stake); 1998-1999 (remaining 50% stake)

Seabourn Cruise Line was founded in 1988 with the launch of the 208-passenger Seabourn Pride. The idea for the cruise line originated two years earlier among a small group of luxury hospitality and cruising executives looking to reinvent luxury cruising. When the Seabourn Pride was first launched, it offered: spacious all-suite accommodations; public spaces designed for relaxed socializing; and a stern designed like a private beach resort. Just four years later in 1992, Carnival agreed to purchase a 50% stake in Seabourn via two separate ten-year loans of $15 million and $10 million. With the $15 million loan Carnival acquired an initial 25% stake in Seabourn. The second loan for $10 million secured an additional 25% stake in late 1995. In 1998, the company purchased the remaining 50% stake in Seabourn. At the same time, Carnival acquired Cunard Line Ltd. and combined it with Seabourn. Today, Seabourn operates a fleet of three 458-passenger and two 600-passenger ships offering an ultra-luxury cruising experience in over 400 destinations globally.

• Acquisition Price: approx. $141 million (for initial 50% stake), part of $270 million joint purchase price with Airtours Plc; approx. $515 million (remaining stake)
• Acquisition Date: 1997 (initial 50% stake); 2000 (remaining stake)

Costa made its first voyage from Genoa to Buenos Aires in 1948 with a trans-Atlantic liner named the "Anna C". By the 1960s, the Italy-based company was Europe's largest cruise line. Costa was jointly acquired in 1997 by Carnival and Airtours, each of the two companies purchasing a respective 50% stake. Three years later, Carnival purchased the remaining stake in Costa from Airtours for approximately $515 million. The acquisition of Costa bolstered Carnival's presence in the fast-growing European market. Costa is now the parent company of both Costa Cruise Lines and AIDA Cruises. Today, Costa operates a fleet of 10 ships and visits over 260 ports around the world. AIDA leads the German-speaking cruise market and currently operates a fleet of 14 cruise ships.

Cunard Line Ltd.

• Type of Business: Luxury Cruise Line
• Acquisition Price: $500 million (initial 68% stake); $205 million (remaining stake)
• Acquisition Date: 1998 (initial 68% stake); 1999 (remaining 32% stake)

The Cunard Line was founded in 1840 by war veteran and timber merchant Samuel Cunard. It started out providing mail service in Canada's maritime region before eventually expanding its services across the Atlantic and establishing itself as an international shipping company. During the 1880s, Cunard transported more than one million of the 2.5 million people seeking to settle in the U.S. The company continued to grow and expand over the next century. Cunard was operating five luxury cruise ships by 1998, the year Carnival and a group of investors purchased its operating assets for $500 million. Carnival acquired a 68% interest in the cruise line and consolidated it with Seabourn, of which the company had simultaneously purchased the remaining stake. In 1999, Carnival purchased the remaining 32% stake in Cunard in a deal worth $205 million. The purchase of Cunard, the largest luxury cruise operator in the world at the time, made Carnival the largest cruise company in the world. Cunard currently operates three luxury cruise vessels.

P&O Cruises

• Acquisition Price: approx. $7.3-$7.8 billion
• Acquisition Date: April 2003

P&O Cruises was founded in 1837 as the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. While the company started out primarily transporting mail, it went on to offer its first leisure cruise from London to the Mediterranean in 1844. Cruising would gradually grow in popularity and become a more regular activity by the mid-1880s. In 2003, the company's cruise operations, known as P&O Princess Cruises Plc, were acquired by Carnival for between $7-$8 billion. The acquisition included Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, and tour operator Princess Tours. The merger between the two companies led to the formation of the dual-listed company – Carnival Corp. and Carnival Plc – discussed in the introduction above. It made Carnival into the first global cruise company. Today, Carnival operates P&O as two separate brands: P&O Cruises (U.K.), which operates a fleet of five premium ships; and P&O Cruises (Australia), which operates a fleet of three ships.

Carnival Corp. & Plc. " Investor Relations ."

Carnival Corp. & Plc. " Corporate Information: Our Brands ."

Carnival Corp. & Plc. " Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 2020 ," Page F-2.

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XE.com Inc. " 1 GBP to USD - Convert British Pounds to US Dollars ."

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The New York Times. " Ted Arison, Carnival Founder, Dies at 75 ."

Carnival Corp. & Plc. " Corporate Information: Corporate Timeline ."

Carnival Corp. & Plc. " Corporate Information: Vision, Mission & History ."

The New York Times. " Carnival Cruise Lines to Buy Holland America Line Unit ."

Holland America Line. " Holland America Line Celebrates 145th Anniversary ."

Google Books. " Nautical Tourism ," Page 209.

Carnival Corp. " Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1994 ," Page 6 (PDF).

LinkedIn. " Seabourn Cruise Line ."

Seabourn. " Our History ."

Carnival Corp. " 1999 Annual Report ," Page 32.

The Wall Street Journal. " Carnival to Acquire Remaining 50% Of Costa Crociere From Airtours ."

Carnival Corp. " Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1999 ," Page 16 (PDF).

Costa Crociere S.p.A. " Our History ."

Costa Cruises S.p.A. " Our company: a world in movement ."

The New York Times. " COMPANY NEWS; CARNIVAL TO BUY REMAINING STAKE IN CUNARD LINE ."

Cunard. " 180 years of sailing with Cunard ."

Carnival Corp. " 1999 Annual Report ," Page 2.

The New York Times. " COMPANY NEWS; P&O PRINCESS CRUISES APPROVES ACQUISITION BY CARNIVAL ."

Los Angeles Times. " Carnival to Acquire P&O; Princess Cruises ."

P&O Cruises. " P&O HISTORY ."

Google Books. " Mastering the Globalization of Business ," Page 101.

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Christine Duffy

President, Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival homeports its ships in North America, Europe and Australia and sails to more than 100 destinations in nearly 40 countries. Under Christine’s leadership, Carnival was the first major U.S. cruise line to have its entire fleet back in operations after the industry-wide pause related to the COVID pandemic. Since the summer of 2022, the company is in a rapid growth phase with the acquisition of five new ships through 2024. In March 2023, Carnival reached a major milestone as the first cruise line to embark 100 million guests since its first sailing in 1972.  Christine has overseen the introduction of eight ships, including the Dec. 2023 debut of Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Tex. and Carnival Celebration in Nov. 2022 to cap off Carnival’s year-long 50th birthday celebration. She’s also led the introduction of Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze, two ships that showcase the new “Fun Italian Style” experiences. She is also overseeing the development of Celebration Key, Carnival’s exclusive cruise port destination in The Bahamas, that will debut in summer 2025.                    

The Excel class ships represented by Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras are leading the introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cruise vessels in North America and feature the first roller coasters at sea. In 2018, Carnival opened a state-of-the-art Fleet Operations Center at its Miami headquarters that implements technology used by NASA and the U.S. Navy to monitor operations and improve real-time decision-making. Her “people first” business philosophy makes her an accessible and approachable leader as Carnival leverages its commitment to delivering safe, fun and memorable vacations to its millions of guests and growing customer base.   

In 2023, she was re-appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. From 2020 to 2022, Christine served as chair of the U.S. Travel Association, the leading advocacy and trade organization representing the travel industry. In 2024, she received CLIA’s Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the cruise industry.  She is a member of the board of directors of Aimbridge Hospitality, the global leader in hotel management services, and Herschend Family Entertainment, the nation’s largest family-owned operator of themed attractions, including Dollywood and Branson’s Silver Dollar City. She sits on the Professional Advisory Board of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of which Carnival Cruise Line is the official celebration partner.   

Christine joined the cruise industry in 2011 when she was named president and CEO of CLIA. While at CLIA, she elevated the industry’s profile before consumers, regulators, industry stakeholders and the media; led the adoption of the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights to enhance the industry’s commitment to passenger safety, comfort and care; managed the industry response to several high-profile crises; and consolidated a network of 15 cruise industry organizations into one global association. 

Prior to CLIA, Christine spent 10 years at Maritz Travel Company, the world’s largest corporate meeting, events and incentive travel company where she served six years as president and CEO. In this capacity, she worked directly with a variety of Fortune 500 corporations in the automotive, pharmaceutical, financial services and technology sectors.

Christine has been a strong supporter of women’s leadership in the travel industry, leading initiatives that delivered research and programs to help women advance their careers. She was named by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality as one of its top women in travel and hospitality. Christine is also a member of The Committee of 200, an organization of the world’s most successful women business leaders that supports, celebrates and advances women's leadership. She was recognized by Moves magazine as a 2016 Power Women recipient for her work in serving as a role model for future generations of young women. She received the 2023 Globalist Award from St. Louis University for the positive impact she has made within the scope of business and leadership. She has also been honored by the Convention Industry Council and the U.S. Coast Guard, among others. Christine was a member of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference class of 2018, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious public liaison program for the Department of Defense.

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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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!

This Cruise Life

2024 carnival shareholder benefit (valid through december 2024).

One of the most viewed pages on our site is about the benefits you receive for being a shareholder with your favorite cruise line. These benefits can be quite rich! In fact, in 2023 Carnival Corporation provided shareholders up to $250 in onboard credit – but that offer ended on February 28, 2024. This article walks you through changes to the new 2024 Carnival Shareholder Benefit along with big updates to the process requesting benefits.

2024 Carnival Shareholder Benefit Update

Good news, cruisers: Carnival Corporation has extended the shareholder benefit program once again! However, unlike previous years, the cruise operator only extended the program through this year. That’s right, the current program only applies to sailings completed by December 31, 2024 .

According to Carnival, all benefits remain the same from last year for North America Brands:

2024 Shareholder Benefit Requirements

In order to qualify for the 2024 Shareholder Benefit Program, you must own at least 100 shares of Carnival Corporation (CCL) stock. As of the time of this writing, that would be an investment of $1,665. Had you purchased the stock at Carnival’s 52-week low, it would have only cost you $837. Even at today’s stock price, just two 14-day cruises and three 7-day cruises recoups half your investment!

For current $CCL stock price information, refer to Google Finance .

All Carnival Corporation Brands Participate

It’s important to note that all of Carnival Corporation’s brands participate in the Carnival Shareholder Benefit program. While the amount of onboard credit varies by region, each brand maintains a tiered amount based on the length of your sailing. The following Carnival Corporation brands participate in the 2024 Carnival Shareholder Benefit Program:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Costa Cruises
• AIDA Cruises
• P&O Cruises

Carnival Rolls Out New Way to Submit for Shareholder Benefit

Many have written to us about changes to the process on requesting the Carnival Shareholder Benefit. Over the past year, Carnival Corporation tested an updated process through an app called StockPerks. A quick search will bring up countless Facebook threads and cruise message board posts with questions about the app.

On our last attempt to request via email (the old way), we received this message from Carnival:

Carnival Corporation has engaged Stockperks to implement a more automated and streamlined process for the processing of shareholder benefits. During the ongoing transition phase, shareholders may be redirected to Stockperks to engage with our updated redemption process. The Stockperks service is governed by Stockperks’ Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and may be subject to other Stockperks policies and terms.

So what does this mean? It means a big change for how to request your Shareholder Benefit going forward.

How to Request Carnival Shareholder Benefits in 2024

With the full transition to StockPerks, Carnival now requires you to download the StockPerks app from either the Apple or Google Play Store depending on your device. While the download was quite simple, there were quite a few steps before we could actually submit our request.

Check out our Stockperks Job Aid that walks you through step-by-step how to create your Stockperks account and request your Shareholder Benefit.

Important: You must submit your request at least 3 weeks prior to your sailing.

Fine Print and Disclaimers

When talking about Shareholder Benefits, the stock market, and free onboard credit, there are some big disclaimers:

• Carnival Shareholder Benefit is available to shareholders who own a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock
• Carnival Shareholder Benefit available on sailings through December 31, 2024
• Requests for Carnival Shareholder Benefit must be submitted at least 3 weeks prior to your sailing (repeating this in case you missed the red bold text above!)
• Only one Carnival Shareholder Benefit can be used per stateroom (i.e., if multiple people in the stateroom own at least 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock, only one credit will be awarded per stateroom)
• Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates or interline rates, tour conductors, or anyone else cruising at a reduced-rate or on a complimentary basis are excluded from the Carnival Shareholder Benefit offer
• Carnival Shareholder Benefit is non-transferable (i.e., you cannot give your Shareholder Benefit to another cruiser)
• Carnival Shareholder Benefit can not be redeemed for cash and cannot be used for casino credits/charges charged to your onboard account
• You can not use your Carnival Shareholder Benefit to pay for gratuities*
• 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

*While the official documents state that the Carnival Shareholder Benefit cannot be used to pay gratuities, we’ve not seen this enforced (cruise boards also confirm this). According to the official Carnival Shareholder Benefit Program, the onboard credit cannot be used, however, your mileage may vary.

Carnival Shareholder Benefit Recap Video

Check out our video recap on the benefits of being a Carnival Shareholder. We’re currently working on an updated video for 2024 that includes StockPerks details.

8 thoughts on “2024 Carnival Shareholder Benefit (valid through December 2024)”

Will by pass this “opportunity”. Need to include date of birth, email address, and average annual income. In the next section of an additional site, one needs to identify what investment group the shares are held in, then allow access using your name and password. Did not include this or any other further information. Deleted the origianl application. Contacted Holland America and poke with a surpervisor who informed me, “there is “no other option”. If stockperks not used the share holder will not recieve the on board credit.

Thanks for your comment, Rita. I talk about these very things in the StockPerks Step-By-Step I’m creating!! If you can get past the fact that a 3rd party is asking for your income (which is kind of odd, no?), StockPerks does provide a manual option for providing your statement so you don’t have to give them access to your financial institution:

Automatic broker connection : The app’s recommended option Manual statement upload : the app warns that this takes longer, however, is required if you have an account with Fidelity, Edward Jones, or Ally

I’ll get the one-pager posted hopefully early next week. In there, I give tips and tricks on how to get the benefit without the risk.

I am a stickler for NOT giving out unnecessary information. As Rita stated in her review, it does ask for income – but did not require an answer – so I left it blank. DOB and email address is typical to locate your booking information and send you a reply so no issues there. There was no way I was going to provide my financial log in info but I easily uploaded a recent statement with all the info blocked out, just as I used to do via email to get credit the old way. It was really quick. Only issue I have is having 2 accounts and doing all the work over again for my spouse. Its getting annoying that everyone has their own required app but hopefully this one will pay off with other perks.

Thanks for the tip that “Annual income” is not a required field. I missed that when I first signed up! I’m also glad to hear that the statement upload worked for you without a hitch!

I just posted a complete step-by-step article for those setting up StockPerks for the first time. A post like this would have helped me, so I’m hoping it’ll reduce some pain for others. Enjoy your shareholder benefits!!

We have 250 shares of carnival shares. Who do we send a copy of these too.

That’s awesome; shareholder benefits ahoy! To request your benefit, you’ll need to download the StockPerks app and submit proof of ownership through the app. You can refer to our StockPerks step-by-step job aid that walks you through the process for help.

At this point I’m a pissed off stockholder. OBC is the only benefit of owning CCL, it no longer pays dividends and has languished as a growth stock. I will not allow Stockperks / Carnival to mine my investments for information to sell. The OBC is too minor for the cost of cruising with one of their lines.

Sorry for the frustration with the stock; it’s been a bumpy ride the past couple of years, for sure. While it took a little time to adjust to the new Stockperks process, it’s been pretty smooth now that we’ve got the hang of it. Plus, for us, it’s provided more than $5k in benefit, so it’s a no-brainer investment on our end. Of course, everyone’s experience varies. Best wishes on your portfolio. -Mark

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Is Carnival Stock a Buy on the Dip?

O ne of the largest industries globally is travel services. It has a broad range of subsectors, including transportation, hotels, food service, tour operations, and car rentals. Transportation includes airlines, railways, and cruises, and large corporations are the major players in this subsector.

Carnival Corporation ( NYSE:CCL ) had a fantastic start to 2024, evidenced by record revenues and significantly lower net loss in the first quarter. But despite the glowing numbers, the share price declined 15.3% since the reporting date. As of this writing, the year-to-date loss is 21.47%.

Should investors buy on the dip or forget about this growth stock ? Note that market analysts covering the stock recommend a buy rating. Their 12-month average price target is US$20.71, a 42.2% upside from the current share price of US$14.56.  

Pandemic nightmare  

Carnival’s 52-week high is US$19.74. The US$18.7 billion company owns a family of cruise lines, including the popular Carnival Cruise Line. Like the aviation industry, the novel coronavirus outbreak in 2020 was a nightmare for the cruise industry.

The leisure stock traded above US$50 at the start of 2020 until that fateful day on March 18. Its price plunged 81.66% to US$9.30, one week after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Leisure travel, whether land, air or sea, screeched to a halt.

For fiscal 2020, Carnival lost US$10.2 billion. Still, then-president and chief executive officer (CEO), Arnold Donald, said, “2020 has proven to be a true testament to the resilience of our company. We took aggressive actions to implement and optimize a complete pause in our guest cruise operations across all brands globally.”

Furthermore, David Bernstein, chief financial officer of Carnival, said, “We ended the year with $9.5 billion in cash and have the liquidity in place to sustain ourselves throughout 2021, even in a zero-revenue environment.” Investors lost 56.9% overall for the year.

In the next three years, losses continued but on a diminishing basis. It dwindled from US$9.5 billion in fiscal 2021 to US$74 million. The stock gained 130% versus -59.9% and -7.1% in the previous years.

Recovery mode

Fiscal 2024 is a vast improvement and should be welcome news to investors expecting a major turnaround. In the first quarter (three months ended February 29, 2024, revenues rose 22% year over year to a record US$5.4 billion. Net loss thinned 69.1% to US$214 million compared to US$693 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

“We delivered another strong quarter that outperformed guidance on every measure while concluding a monumental wave season that achieved all-time high booking volumes at considerably higher prices,” said Josh Weinstein, Carnival’s current CEO.

Weinstein said the quarterly result is a continuation of the strong demand across all Carnival brands. He added, “With much of this year on the books, we have even greater conviction in delivering record revenues and EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization], along with a step change improvement in operating performance, and have begun turning more of our attention to delivering an even stronger 2025.”

Industry outlook

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most resilient sectors of tourism. It also offers the best vacation value. However, Carnival is not for practical, risk-averse investors. It would be wise to wait for the full recovery before sinking money into the leisure stock.

The post Is Carnival Stock a Buy on the Dip? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada .

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Meet the Norwegian-owned cruise challenger to Carnival and Royal Caribbean that just raised $1.54 billion

Viking had humble beginnings. 

The now-listed cruise line was once just a venture by “two guys with two mobile phones and four river ships,” as the company’s CEO, Torstein Hagen, puts it in Viking’s prospectus .

But a lot has changed in 27 years. Now, the Norwegian-owned, Bermuda-based business has a staff of 10,000 catering to guests with a taste for the finer things in life. 

The cruise operator, which made its name in European river tours, launched its initial public offering at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. It raised $1.54 billion , according to Reuters, making it the biggest listing in the U.S. this year. 

Viking rebounded strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic decimated cruise travel and its public listing comes as luxury consumers are spending more on travel and less on shopping. Some of Viking’s competitors, such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, have seen record demand for cruises—opening a world of opportunity for the smaller company.    

Viking’s beginning

Viking was founded in 1997 by Hagen, who controls most of the company with his daughter, Karine Hagen.

From the start it aimed to give travelers an immersive experience in local cultures as they toured in one of its four river vessels. In the past three decades or so, Viking has expanded its fleet to 92 ships offering three types of experiences via rivers, oceans, and expeditions.

The company has also benefited from some savvy marketing plays: It sponsored PBS Masterpiece series, such as Downton Abbey , and offered themed trips linked to those shows. 

Between 2015 and 2023, Viking’s revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 14.4%, outpacing the rest of the cruise industry in the river and luxury ocean segments during this period, the company said in a public filing .

Viking has carved its strategic niche among older, well-off customers, a group it believes is “underserved.” These are not boozy party boats, and there are no kids allowed. 

“Our target demographic has greater financial stability, which can make them more resilient to economic conditions and more willing to invest in high-quality travel experiences,” Viking said. 

And that’s the space it hopes it can dominate, with the help of its IPO funds.

The Viking founder and road ahead

Hagen didn’t enter the world of cruises till the 1970s. 

A physics major in school, Hagen earned an MBA at Harvard University before entering management consulting. He dabbled with entrepreneurship a few times before finally succeeding, Bloomberg reported .

When business for Viking’s river cruises, its first service, began to pick up, Hagen expanded to offer journeys worldwide—from expeditions in Antarctica to river cruises in Vietnam. 

Viking is on an expedition of its own now that its shares are traded. Last year, the cruise line hosted close to 650,000 guests and generated $4.7 billion in revenue, up by almost 50% from 2022. Its underlying profits were $1.1 billion for the same period, according to Viking’s prospectus.

The cruise company is still much smaller than rivals like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. But it’s a global leader in some segments, such as luxury ocean cruises. 

Following a strong open, Viking’s market valuation has reached more than $10 billion, putting Hagen’s wealth at $5 billion. As the appetite for luxury travel builds , Viking is ready to ride the wave. 

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Is Carnival Stock a Buy on the Dip?

A prominent leisure stock continues to underperform, despite signs of a major business turnaround.

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Image source: Getty Images

One of the largest industries globally is travel services. It has a broad range of subsectors, including transportation, hotels, food service, tour operations, and car rentals. Transportation includes airlines, railways, and cruises, and large corporations are the major players in this subsector.

Carnival Corporation ( NYSE:CCL ) had a fantastic start to 2024, evidenced by record revenues and significantly lower net loss in the first quarter. But despite the glowing numbers, the share price declined 15.3% since the reporting date. As of this writing, the year-to-date loss is 21.47%.

Should investors buy on the dip or forget about this growth stock ? Note that market analysts covering the stock recommend a buy rating. Their 12-month average price target is US$20.71, a 42.2% upside from the current share price of US$14.56.  

Pandemic nightmare  

Carnival’s 52-week high is US$19.74. The US$18.7 billion company owns a family of cruise lines, including the popular Carnival Cruise Line. Like the aviation industry, the novel coronavirus outbreak in 2020 was a nightmare for the cruise industry.

The leisure stock traded above US$50 at the start of 2020 until that fateful day on March 18. Its price plunged 81.66% to US$9.30, one week after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Leisure travel, whether land, air or sea, screeched to a halt.

For fiscal 2020, Carnival lost US$10.2 billion. Still, then-president and chief executive officer (CEO), Arnold Donald, said, “2020 has proven to be a true testament to the resilience of our company. We took aggressive actions to implement and optimize a complete pause in our guest cruise operations across all brands globally.”

Furthermore, David Bernstein, chief financial officer of Carnival, said, “We ended the year with $9.5 billion in cash and have the liquidity in place to sustain ourselves throughout 2021, even in a zero-revenue environment.” Investors lost 56.9% overall for the year.

In the next three years, losses continued but on a diminishing basis. It dwindled from US$9.5 billion in fiscal 2021 to US$74 million. The stock gained 130% versus -59.9% and -7.1% in the previous years.

Recovery mode

Fiscal 2024 is a vast improvement and should be welcome news to investors expecting a major turnaround. In the first quarter (three months ended February 29, 2024, revenues rose 22% year over year to a record US$5.4 billion. Net loss thinned 69.1% to US$214 million compared to US$693 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

“We delivered another strong quarter that outperformed guidance on every measure while concluding a monumental wave season that achieved all-time high booking volumes at considerably higher prices,” said Josh Weinstein, Carnival’s current CEO.

Weinstein said the quarterly result is a continuation of the strong demand across all Carnival brands. He added, “With much of this year on the books, we have even greater conviction in delivering record revenues and EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization], along with a step change improvement in operating performance, and have begun turning more of our attention to delivering an even stronger 2025.”

Industry outlook

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most resilient sectors of tourism. It also offers the best vacation value. However, Carnival is not for practical, risk-averse investors. It would be wise to wait for the full recovery before sinking money into the leisure stock.

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America's cruise line has gone Italian — or has it?

"I could really go for another slice of pizza," I thought, as I eyed the gelato along the Lido Deck's outdoor piazza and hummed, "That's Amore" — a tune that has seemed to play on repeat since I boarded Carnival Firenze four days ago.

When I first heard Carnival Cruise Line was adopting a couple of ships from Italian sister brand Costa Cruises and trying to pass them off as "Italian style," I couldn't help but wonder if it was possible for the experience to feel even a little bit authentic. After all, Costa is used to catering to Europeans, so I figured the ship would know how Italians prefer to cruise. But, as it turns out, that's not the point.

Carnival Firenze — formerly Costa Firenze, which is the Italian name for Florence — was not built for Italians but for foreigners. The result is a ship that seems like an over-the-top highlights reel, packed with nods to Italy that any tourist would understand but which would make an actual Italian wonder, "Is this what they really think of us?"

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Don't get me wrong: The ship is fun — lots of fun, actually — but it's Italian in the same way Sacha Baron Cohen is Austrian when he plays Bruno or Kazakhstani when he suits up as Borat (in other words, not at all). As a colleague said when he sailed sister ship Carnival Venezia last year, it's a bit like being at The Venetian in Las Vegas or in the Italy section of Epcot at Walt Disney World. That's exactly how Carnival's clientele likes it.

Many of the design elements, food offerings, drink options and themed parties feel like an amalgamation of Italian stereotypes, rather than a tasteful ode to one of the world's most beautiful countries.

This floating caricature reinforces the most infuriating cruise tropes: that ships force travelers to settle for a sheltered version of the real thing and that you can't authentically experience culture when you sail.

Somehow, I find myself enjoying it anyway. I've spent the past few days leaning into everything Italian I can find on Carnival Firenze. Will the ship give you a true taste of Italy? It won't. But, that doesn't stop it from offering the same type of unpretentious, cheerful fun for which Carnival is known — even if it's a bit Parmigiana cheesy.

An over-the-top naming ceremony

Carnival set the tone for the ship from the beginning with the vessel's Italian-themed naming ceremony. In keeping with the precedent of choosing godfathers — Jay Leno was Carnival Venezia's — instead of godmothers for its former Costa vessels, Carnival selected actor Jonathan Bennett to do the honors for Carnival Firenze.

Bennett isn't Italian, so Carnival decided to change that. Company executives presented the "Mean Girls" actor with an armful of Italian items he could barely hold: an Italia soccer shirt, a pizza, a wheel of Parmesan cheese, a bottle of Aperol, several packages of pasta and Gucci swag. In an extra cringeworthy display, they squirted him with a bottle of holy water from the Vatican.

Just prior, Carnival Firenze cruise director Joey Boyes and Carnival brand ambassador John Heald sang a hilarious duet of "On Firenze" to the tune of "That's Amore" but with lyrics about eating meatballs and other oh-so-Italian pursuits.

The event was a little weird, but it was still a great time with tons of laughs. In fact, some elements were downright wonderful. I was stunned, in a good way, by the operatic performance by members of the ship's Playlist Productions entertainment crew, many of whom are often stuck singing only pop tunes during nightly shows. Unfortunately, though, their "Italian" costumes were so garish they were distracting.

The immensely talented actress Leslie Kritzer — one of Bennett's castmates from the Broadway musical "Spamalot" — who is also not Italian, gave a phenomenal performance of several Italian-themed songs. Her set was one of the few saving graces of the evening.

Overall, I'm fairly certain the only authentically Italian aspect of the proceedings was when Captain Crescenzo Palomba — who actually is Italian — translated Bennett's blessing of the ship into his native tongue.

Decor that makes you say 'hmmm'

From Carnival Firenze's sweeping, lavish three-deck Piazza del Duomo atrium with its gleaming gold replica of Donatello's "Marzocco" lion statue to the Lido Pool, which is set up like an Italian promenade, complete with wrought-iron balconies, the ship is designed to make you feel like you're in some alternate universe's version of Italy. It's kitschy for sure, but there are parts of it — like the art — that I don't hate.

Near the pool, you can grab a fruity tropical cocktail from Rococo, an open-air bar where you'll find the walls plastered with late Baroque-style art whose subjects have been embellished with modern twists like sunglasses and pithy text. Women in frilly dresses are overlaid with exclamations like "Don't rush me," "Dogs before dudes" and, simply, "Swag."

They're great for a chortle, and they're exactly the type of art I can appreciate. What truly makes me laugh out loud, though, are the prints that span the walls in the ship's aft stairwells. They might seem innocuous at first, but as you look more closely, you can pick out some exceptionally odd characters. They include two women who clearly tested the limits of their drink package, a creepy crone who needs dental work and some Pasties, and a sad dog who stands on top of the table in a chaotic version of "The Last Supper" as Jesus nonchalantly looks on.

On the surface, the above artworks look Italian, but they lend themselves to the less stuffy atmosphere for which Carnival is known.

However, one of the biggest — both literally and figuratively — reminders that this ship is squarely American, despite its Italian theming, is a huge replica of Michelangelo's "David." It presides over the two-deck Michelangelo Restaurant, one of the ship's two main dining rooms.

The statue, which originally appeared in the nude on Carnival Pride, has been moved to Carnival Firenze; it still bears the fig leaf that was added to preserve delicate American sensibilities after prudish passengers complained.

Tasty 'Italian' food

As is the case across the Carnival fleet, the food on Carnival Firenze is great, but some of the menu changes have me scratching my head.

On many of its ships, Carnival already has an Italian restaurant, Cucina del Capitano , which offers a homey ambience and family-favorite recipes from the Italian captains across the line's fleet. Oddly, the restaurant appears on neither Carnival Venezia nor Carnival Firenze.

Instead, it has been replaced by Il Viaggio, an upscale Italian eatery with a $42 per-person cover charge — nearly double what most ships with Cucina del Capitano charge passengers to dine. Il Viaggio's decor is elegant but understated. It doesn't drip with red, white and green or stereotypical Italian adornments, offering a refreshing escape from other areas of the vessel where the theming is overkill.

The menu, which is billed as "a culinary voyage through Italy's diverse regions — one plate at a time," includes some of the best food I've ever had on a ship. I thoroughly enjoyed the house-made burrata; the pollo Parmigiana pizza, which has a crust made of chicken; the gnocchi with goat cheese and truffle oil; and the mile-high gelato pie. Still, I would have liked to see some of the captains' traditional recipes carried over from the Cucina menu on other ships. It would have been a way to include some additional authenticity.

Another pleasant surprise is Il Mercato, which replaces Carnival's deli venue found on other ships. It was moved from the Lido Marketplace buffet into an open-air space on Deck 11 to make room in the buffet for a for-fee chicken wing spot. Although the physical setup feels a little cheap and temporary — it looks like a modular stand you'd find at a farmer's market — the food is complimentary and shockingly tasty.

In addition to standard deli fare like hot dogs and turkey and Swiss sandwiches, you can also choose from more Italian-themed eats like sausage and meatball sandwiches. Despite being a little light on meat, the cheesesteak I had one evening was delicious; as a lifelong Eastern Pennsylvanian, I think it could rival some of the best in Philadelphia. You also can't go wrong with one of the pretzel rolls.

Carnival has also added two Italian-themed options to the menu at Guy's Burger Joint and replaced the BlueIguana Cantina with a walk-up counter called Tomodoro that purports to be a fusion of Mexican and Italian cuisines. (Really, it's just BlueIguana, rebranded, and it still serves tacos and burritos.)

I tried both of the options from the former — one burger with mozzarella cheese, balsamic, tomatoes, basil and Donkey Sauce and another with pepperoni, marinara sauce, Donkey Sauce, mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan. Both were just OK, and I was sad to see that my favorite burger, the Pig Patty, is absent from the menu on this ship.

At Tomodoro, the menu lists tacos and burritos, as well as Italian meatball heroes, Sicilian chicken wraps and tortas de Milanese.

My hot take on these two restaurants' changes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Drink options

As far as Carnival Firenze's bars are concerned, I get the impression that the line just picked out singular Italian words for their names — Frizzante, Rococo, Moda, Amari, Pergola — and tossed in some drinks made from Italian alcohol.

The first three are my favorites, with Frizzante offering popular bubbly spritz-style drinks like the Aperol Spritz and — my new go-to — the Frizzante Spritz, as well as a slew of espresso martini variations. You'll want to sidle up for a predinner drink or two if you're planning to dine at Il Viaggio.

I enjoy Rococo mainly for its hilarious art, but it's also a great spot to grab a quick bottle of water or a fruity frozen drink if you're near the Lido Pool.

Moda has a super-fun entryway that makes you feel like you're on a runway as you walk inside, complete with fashion-forward furniture. The Moda Lounge is also where people booked in La Terrazza, the ship's exclusive suite area, can enjoy waiter-served breakfast; the bar and lounge are open to everyone after the morning meal, though. (The adjoining sun deck remains exclusive to suite passengers.)

I have a bone to pick with Carnival because it replaced the Alchemy Bar — Carnival's apothecary-style bar, which appears on nearly every single Carnival vessel — with the Amari Bar . I'm trying to understand why Italian-style fun involves removing one of the line's most beloved watering holes in favor of an herbal liqueur-focused spot.

One saving grace: There's an Alchemy section on the menu, so you can still order popular drinks like The Remedy and Cucumber Sunrise cocktails there.

The Pergola Bar is hardly worth a mention since it's little more than a sterile counter on Deck 11 that feels a lot like an afterthought. The seating area around it is nice enough, replete with columns of faux topiary, but it isn't noteworthy otherwise.

Over-the-top entertainment

Ultimately, some of Carnival Firenze's Italian-style entertainment works, but some made me groan. At embarkation, the first round of passengers was met with a raucous welcome in the Piazza del Duomo, complete with loud music, confetti and enthusiastic crew members waving giant signs that bore Italian phrases like "CIAO" and "BENVENUTI." That was actually fun, and it fell in line with Carnival's usual "welcome on board" celebrations.

However, Festa Italiana — a big, loud, cheesy Italian-themed street festival-type celebration — just made me roll my eyes. One night on each sailing, the Lido Pool area is strung with red, white and green flags. The event, which lasts more than two hours, kicks off with a talented violin trio.

Following that, the cruise director moves into what the line calls a "traditional" opening ceremony, involving members of the Playlist Productions cast in cartoonish-looking versions of Italian dress parading around the deck. They perform several times throughout the night, alternating with activities like gelato-eating contests, Italian lessons (where the audience learns a couple of phrases that they scream back and forth at one another) and competitions where participants have to maneuver, blindfolded, around terra cotta pots.

The night ends with a DJ, who plays music while servers walk around with trays of Italian sausage sandwiches and bites of salami and cheese pastry.

Bottom line

Carnival has gone all-in with its Italian-themed vessels. They're still great at delivering the fun experience for which the line is known, but sometimes, the fun crosses a line into territory that can feel a bit like mockery.

If you love "Jersey Shore" and could see yourself as someone who would pose for professional photos with a Vespa-style scooter, Carnival Firenze might be the ship for you. If not, be warned that a lot of what you'll experience is likely to make you grimace.

Call it fun, but don't call it Italian — at least not with a straight face.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
• 43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea
• Best Carnival cruise ships: Here's which ship you should sail, based on your travel style
• Carnival cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise, Fun Ship style
• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly

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44-Foot Whale Found Dead on Bow of Cruise Ship Coming Into New York

The endangered sei whale, usually found in deep waters, was discovered on the bow of a cruise ship as it arrived at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, marine authorities said.

By Livia Albeck-Ripka

As the cruise ship approached New York on Saturday, it was found to be carrying a grim, and unexpected, catch: The carcass of a 44-foot-long endangered whale, draped across its bow.

The whale, which marine authorities described as a sei whale, is known for its rapid swimming and preference for deep waters, far from the coast. Its body was discovered as the ship neared the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and the authorities were “immediately notified,” said MSC Cruises, which owns the ship.

A spokeswoman for the company said in an email that it had “comprehensive measures” in place to avoid such collisions, including training deck officers and altering itineraries in certain areas to avoid them. “We will continue to evaluate and update our procedures with our partners and the authorities,” she said.

Marine authorities said that they had towed the animal, estimated to weigh some 50,000 pounds, from the bow, and transferred it by boat to a beach in Sandy Hook, N.J., where they conducted a necropsy on Tuesday.

The investigation is continuing, but preliminary results — broken bones in the whale’s right flipper; tissue trauma along its right shoulder blade; a full stomach and decent layer of blubber — all pointed toward the animal having been in otherwise good health when it was likely struck and killed by the ship, said Robert A. DiGiovanni, the chief scientist of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, which is leading the investigation .

The whale was already “pretty decomposed” by the time scientists began the necropsy, he added, so they worked quickly to collect samples that could be tested for contaminants and other biotoxins that would indicate any other relevant health issues. “It looks like the animal was alive and it was hit by a vessel,” he said, noting that investigators had not ruled out other factors.

Mr. DiGiovanni said that his conservation group, which is federally authorized to respond to marine mammal strandings in New York, had dealt with more than 100 whales over the past several years, many of which had been entangled in nets or struck by vessels. Most of those whales were humpback and North Atlantic right whales, he added, noting that it was more uncommon to come across a sei whale.

Sei whales usually live in subtropical, temperate and subpolar waters and are named after the Norwegian word for pollock, “seje,” because the mammals are often found together with the fish. Their long, sleek bodies are usually dark blue or black with a cream-colored underside, and are often scarred by shark and lamprey bites.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the whales were commercially hunted for their meat and oil, decimating their population, which is now designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act .

Mr. DiGiovanni said that the death was a reminder that humans shared the open water with many other mammals. “When you’re out there, these animals might be there,” he said. “We need to make people more aware about how to operate around these animals.”

A spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said by email that mariners along the East Coast were encouraged to slow down their vessels, stay alert, and report any sightings of dead, injured or entangled whales to the authorities.

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a Times reporter based in Los Angeles, covering breaking news, California and other subjects. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka