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You might be thinking: What does owning stocks have to do with award travel?
Well, you might be surprised. From discounts to elite status, investing in certain travel companies could pay dividends — literally and figuratively.
Let's take a look at what being a shareholder actually gets you and whether it makes sense from an award travel perspective.
Onboard Credit on Cruises
For the cruisers, holding stock in Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line companies unlocks certain levels of onboard credit.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Owning 100 or more shares of Norwegian will net you up to $250 in onboard credit, with the amount depending on the length of the cruise. This benefit extends to brands under the broader cruise company — in this case both Oceania and Regent Seven Seas:
- $250 onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 15 days or more
- $100 onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7-14 days
- $50 onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or less
Note that in addition to holding the stocks, you'll need to submit a shareholder benefit request with your respective cruise reservation information prior to sailing.
Norwegian also offers a co-branded credit card — the Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®. When you use the card to pay for your cruise, you can still earn credit card rewards while receiving onboard credit through the shareholder benefit.
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean has a similar setup. Cruisers can unlock up to $1,000 in onboard credit — although that amount is only for a world cruise — when owning at least 100 shares. The benefit also applies to sailings on both Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises.
You'll still need to submit a shareholder benefit request before sailing. The credit applies to each eligible sailing, so it's not a one-time perk.
The company also offers the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® Card, which earns rewards on purchases across Royal Caribbean Group brands, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
Carnival Corporation
With Carnival, the 100-share threshold also applies, but the level of credit depends on the currency used onboard the specific cruise ship.
For example, a 14-night sailing on Cunard out of the United Kingdom would only net you £150 in onboard credit as a Carnival shareholder. However, a 14-night sailing on Carnival out of Miami would net you $250 in onboard credit.
Here's how Carnival's chart shakes out for shareholders:
You'll need to download the Stockperks app before sailing to claim your onboard credit.
Carnival offers a co-branded credit card — the Carnival® World Mastercard®. That means cruisers could still earn credit card rewards when paying for their sailing while using shareholder onboard credit during the trip.
Related. How To Use Carnival Fun Match To Score a (Nearly) Free Cruise
Get Accor Gold Elite Status
Arguably the most worthwhile perk we found for owning stock in a travel company is with hotel chain Accor. That's because holding Accor shares grants you Gold status, which typically requires 30 nights per year. Here's how it works.
First, a shareholder with at least 50 bearer shares or just one registered share can join the Accor Shareholders Club. Being a member of this club nets you an ALL Accor Gold card, which is valid until Dec. 31 of the year after your year of subscription.
To extend the status beyond that, you would need to meet the typical 30-night requirement (or earn 7,000 bonus points).
Now, your next question might be, what are bearer shares and/or how do I register one share with Accor? A spokesperson explained the process to AwardWallet:
Once you buy one share through a third-party, you have to ask to this third party to “register the share.” This is a process between broker and security services to attach a name to the share.
Alternatively, the shareholder can also hold 50 shares without registering them to get the Gold status through the Shareholder Club.
Once we see the share is registered (or we receive the proof of the holding of 50 shares), the GOLD status is granted until Dec. 31 of the next year.
Once you're ready to register your Accor share, you can find information on starting the process here.
Related: Accor Live Limitless (ALL) Loyalty Program Ultimate Guide
Savings on SIXT Car Rentals
Rental car company SIXT also has a shareholder rate, but the discount is marginal. A SIXT spokesperson tells us:
With the SIXT shareholder rate, customers receive a discount of up to 20 percent on the current daily rate for SIXT rent. The exact conditions may vary slightly depending on the country, vehicle category, and availability.
You might be better off using AutoSlash or holding rental car elite status — which often has greater discounts — through a credit card.
For example, American Express Platinum Card® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders can receive complimentary National Executive Status.
Bottom Line
If you have the financial means — and knowledge — to navigate the stock market, investing in certain travel companies could enhance your award travel experience.
Accor's Gold status, for example, is obtainable with just one (!) registered share and unlocks status perks such as room upgrades and late checkout. Meanwhile, cruisers can net onboard credits by holding at least 100 shares.
What travel benefits have you received as a shareholder?
