Prior to 2020, the tide was picking up for cruise ship stocks as the industry saw substantial gains. But no-sail mandates sparked by COVID-19 brought it down. Cruise ship stocks remain in turbulent waters as uncertainty over the coronavirus lingers. But the industry may make a comeback as healthcare experts work with it to lay a framework for a safe return to sea.
What are cruise ship stocks?
Cruise ship stocks are ownership in companies that run cruise ships and transport passengers to their destinations while offering comfort and entertainment along the way.
Projected to be valued at $23.8 billion in 2021, the global cruise ship industry includes more than 270 ships powered by more than 50 cruise lines.
But 3 companies own about 75% of the market share: Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL), Carnival (NYSE: CCL) and Norwegian (NYSE: NCLH). The first 2 pay dividends to shareholders.
How to buy cruise ship stocks
There are several ways you can get your feet wet with cruise line investing. You can buy shares of individual cruise stocks. Or you can purchase shares of an ETF that invests in multiple cruise ship stocks and possibly other stocks in the travel industry. Here’s how to start:
Choose a stock trading platform. You have plenty to choose from, so be sure to compare your options to find the one that works best for you.
Open your account. Be ready with your ID, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and bank account information.
Fund your account. You’ll need to transfer money to your brokerage account before you can start investing. Some platforms let you start with as little as $1.
Search for stocks. Look up stocks by ticker symbol or use a stock screener to filter the types you’re interested in.
Place an order. Once you’ve found an investment you want, specify how much of it you wish to purchase and submit your order.
Monitor your investments. Track the performance of your portfolio by logging on to your account.
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Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: VOO)
Why invest in cruise ship stocks?
Cruise stocks can surge in strong economies when people have more disposable income to travel. In the years leading up to 2020, the cruise ship business was becoming the fastest-growing sector in the travel industry. In 2018, the global cruise ship industry was valued at about $150 billion.
A 2016 study showed that the cruise industry contributes about over $3 billion annually to Canada’s economy. This includes both direct spending (i.e. cruise line expenditures) and indirect spending (i.e. travel agent commissions, on-shore spending by passengers and crew).
In 2019, cruising $5.5 billion in economic activity in the US alone. The amount represented a 5.3% increase from the year before, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents most of the globe’s cruise ship companies. This was fueled by a spike in people looking to take cruise vacations. In 2019, more than 1.37 million people boarded cruises departing from US ports—an 8% increase from 2018 and a 26% increase from 5 years prior.
But downturns in the global economy and the wider travel industry can cause cruise stocks to take a major plunge.
What unique risks does the cruise ship sector face?
The cruise ship industry is interconnected with lots of other industries and sectors. Take fuel, for example. If fuel prices rise, cruise lines will spend more to fuel their ships and profits will decline. Other sectors that can affect cruise ship stocks include:
And of course, COVID-19 travel restrictions can mean fewer people are taking cruises and cruise companies are earning less money.
Each of the three largest cruise ship operators saw sales sink by at least 65% for the first nine months of 2020. As of December 3, 2020, Royal Caribbean Cruises stock had seen a one-year drop of about 33%. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings stock sank by about 56% and Carnival plunged by nearly 52%.
While docked in Japan in February, 2020, the British cruise ship, Diamond Princess, experienced one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks outside mainland China at that time.
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that through September 28 of that year, there were more than 3,000 confirmed cases of “COVID-19 or COVID-like illness cases” on cruise ships and 41 deaths.
Nonetheless, the CDC now says it’s ready to help the cruise ship industry get back to business. Public feedback shows that people are open to travelling as long as travel companies take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including health screening, mask usage, social distancing and flexible travel bookings.
Time will tell whether increased safety measures and changing government policies will allow the cruise industry to rebound. But one thing’s for sure—it’ll be a while before things get back to normal.
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Bottom line
After enjoying a period of growth, cruise ship stocks are now swimming through rough waters. The sector took a major hit from COVID-19, but changing health policies may allow the industry to rebound. Time will tell whether this actually happens.
Risk-taking investors could see opportunity in cruise ship stocks. But you might want to steer away if you prefer predictable and secure investments. Do your due diligence, carefully research companies and compare stock trading platforms before diving in.
Frequently asked questions
About 75% of the cruise ship market is owned by 3 companies: Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. You may have heard of numerous cruise lines, but there’s a good chance that many of them are owned by one of these industry giants.
You can invest in a number of mutual funds that have exposure to cruise ship stocks. But keep in mind that cruise ship stocks only make a small fraction of the holdings of most funds. Examples include the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (NASDAQ: VFIAX) and the Fidelity 500 Index Fund (NASDAQ: FXAIX).
Not all cruise ship stocks pay dividends, but some do. These include Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Certain companies that support the cruise industry also pay dividends including World Fuel Services Corporation (NYSE: INT) and Sabre Corporation (NASDAQGS: SABR).
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
Javier Simon is a freelance finance writer at Finder and a certified educator in personal finance (CEPF).
He’s featured on NerdWallet, Bankrate, Yahoo Finance and Fox Business, where he’s shared his expertise on personal finance topics, such as investing, retirement planning, taxes, budgeting and savings.
He has also covered breaking news, such as student loan forgiveness initiatives, the housing market and inflation’s impact on consumers’ wallets.
His passion is turning complex financial concepts into actionable content that can help people improve their financial lives.
Javier holds a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from SUNY Plattsburgh.
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