If anyone is planning on cruising as much as my wife and I, then it would pay to look into buying Stock in RCCL. There are nice On Board credits per cruise above and in addition to other credits. If anyone is interested I can go into more detail, and also some of the pitfalls to watch out for. We bought stock approx 3 months ago.

Phil

I cued my father onto the stock when it was still below $20. Oh to have had the money to buy large back then.....

(I'll be in the chat room tonight at 8 p.m. est.)

Just wanted to update one point from my earlier message. Today I saw that the Board of Directors of Royal Caribbean voted to pay $0.15 per share divdend. Appartently this is the 57th straight quarter that a divdend has been paid.

To benefit from stock ownership you need to own 100 shares? I thought that is what I read at one point.

Yes, You need to own a 100 shares. If you cruise every year, the on board credit is a great return on investment on top of the dividends and price gain.

Beth- San Clemente, Ca

Phil & e v e r y o n e...,
Don't buy RCL stock - the $100 on board credit isn't worth it. I don't know if you follow RC stock or just like the idea owning it... I bot 100 sh at $40 last Fall 07 to get the on-board credit & then didn't watch the stock. My mistake. It went to $43, then to $40, then back to $43, (I should have sold), the year high was $46 in Feb 07. It went to down to $35 (Jan-March 08). I wasn't watching until it went to $37. I put in a buy order for 200 at $34.50 with a contingent sell at $37.50 and it was filled. Since it hovered between $35-$37 for the early part of 08, I thought I'm a genius. Only bad thing now is it is at $32.40 (3/28/08) RC stock really isn't worth it. I've since found out it is extremely voliate and, obviously, price sensitive to crude oil at $104.50 a barrel (3/28/08).

As far as the dividend side of the investment, yes, they have paid for 50+ straight quarters. However at $.15 per share quarterly dividend, per the 2006 annual report (latest available), their annual dividend is 60 cents for a $32.40 investment, or a 1.8% return. This is extremely unfortunate since their Earnings Per Share (diluated) is $2.94 per share. Each share earns $2.94 but receives only $.60.

It's a great company and one of the best. We've always had a wonderful time aboard their ships - but as far as an investment - pass on it.

Fair and true enough, stock buying shouldn't be for the perk. The stock has its place, but it ought to be a decision for financial advisors and such.

If it happens you reach a point, that you've happen to get to the perks, so much the better. But don't bet the family farm on it.

TexasCPA & everyone,
The information above about Royal Caribbean Stock is good from a investment side, I however was trying to bring information for the indiviual who wants to cruise alot on Royal Caribbean. It is true from an investment point of view RCL stock may not be the best investment. However for the cruiser who wants to and is expecting to cruise several times a year or more on RCL the on-board credit is worth it. Now my wife and I might be exceptions however we cruise alot and have already recieved over $1800 worth of on-board stock holder credit. Remember this is a non taxable dividend, show me another stock that you can stay that about. We bought the stock for the sole purpose of receiving the on-board credit. In our case we will have recieved back in on-board credit the orginal investment in 2+ years and still own the stock even if it has gone down a bit. As you cruise on RCL and talk to Diamond Plus members that cruise alot, just about everyone of them own the stock, and if they don't they may not know about it.
A little more information about the credit you recieve, 1-5 day cruise you recieve $50 for 7-11 days to recieve $100 and for 12 days and above you get $200. This is in addition to any other credit you might be recieving, like onboard booking. For example a 14 day cruise that you booked while on another cruise with RCL you would recieve $200 + $200 stockholder credit. It is really nice to have $400 on credit when you board the ship.
Just for information I don't have anything to do with Royal Caribbean and don't benifit from anyone buying stock, I'm simply a RCL fan and cruise 8 to 12 times a year. Just wanted to let people know about this program as it is not well published, and I only found out about it from word of mouth.

We are going on an 11 night Jewel of the Seas March 23, 2009. We got a $200 cabin credit. I love getting the cabin credit on each cruise. It just about covers our tips.
Diana

We just got back from a 4 night Bahamas cruise. We got $50 on board credit. I have received more in credits then I spent on the 100 shares of stock.

I still gnash teeth about not having the means to buy when the stock was down in the $15 range years ago.