Whether you work with an individual travel agent or a large online agency, onboard credit is a standard promotional bonus common in the industry. Carnival Cruise Line has also implemented a youth curfew, posted additional signage onboard its ships, hired narcotics-sniffing dogs for use in homeport terminals, and taken other bold steps to . However, onboard credit that comes from being a Carnival shareholder cant be applied to gratuities. Carnival often refers to it as Cruise Cash. Naturally, you always have the option to venture off on your own and forego Carnival's tours. These include: Recently, when cruises were cancelled due to the shutdown, Carnival cruisers were given the option of a refund OR 100% future cruise credit (FCC) plus $600 onboard credit (OBC). On a seven-day cruise, if two people wish to purchase the Premium wifi package, you can save $46.20 by purchasing the package online ahead of time rather than waiting until you board the ship. Onboard credits are generally non-transferable and non-refundable, so you must use them during your cruise. Things must have changed bc I was able to make reservations online for Carnival specialty dining and excursions using OBC for my most recent cruise and have been playing around with OBC online for a cruise that I have booked for next year. These might be drinks packages, specialty dining and shore excursions. The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for all money transactions on board as cash will not be an accepted form of payment. It doesn't matter the length of your next cruise. The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for all money transactions on board as cash will not be an accepted form of payment. So, heres a list of things you can spend your Carnival onboard credit on, from best to worst. If you purchase Carnival shore excursions on board your cruise ship, you can use onboard credit to pay for them. Boost Your Playtime If Your Cruise Allows Onboard Credit Use in the. drink package is that you can only do so once you've boarded the ship instead of before. Weve checked, and we do indeed have $700 available. Guests can use these credits for virtually anything they charge to their onboard account, which Carnival calls Sail and Sign. In essence, the credit is deducted from the bill of charges on board. Some popular souvenirs that you may be interested in include a Carnival themed Monopoly game at $49.95, a Carnival windbreaker jacket at $39.95 or a Carnival mug at $14.95. And you can bet that serious art enthusiasts and art investors wouldnt purchase the art on a cruise ship either. They gave us $600 OBC for each of our 1-week cruises that were canceled (we had several). How . Purchases made at sea are tax-free, but thats not to say that onboard shopping is any cheaper than it is ashore. Onboard credits, OBC for those in the know, have traditionally been incentives offered to guests when booking a cruise. Specialty dining, gratuities, alcohol, casino donations, excursions, fun shop purchases, etc. I've had quit a bit of obc but bought watches, a few expensive bottle of good scotch, cigarettes for friends. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! On the lastmorning of the cruise, a statement detailing all purchases made with the Sail & Sign card will be delivered toguest staterooms. When you receive your bill at the end of the cruise, any onboard credit you have will be automatically be offset against your bar bill. What happens to unused onboard credit Carnival? Participants will get to run 10km a day, over five unforgettable days, through some of the Danube River's most spectacular landscapes and . This will be the default card that all these purchases are charged to. Boost Your Playtime If Your Cruise Allows Onboard Credit Use in the Casino. If changing credit card number or debit card number, use DELETE feature and add new credit card or debit card information. I believe that paying gratuities is the best use of your onboard credit, as these tips are something that we all should be paying, and you dont get any benefit from pre-paying or using another payment method aside from onboard credit. So, the $600 seems like a lot, but with changes and restrictions on how you spend it, you really need to see if this is actually a deal for you to allow them to keep your cruise payment for a year. In fact, there are some things that it will cost you more to purchase if you do so using onboard credit. It can't be used for medical expenses, taxes and port fees. Book interior cabins on your cruises and you will save thousands of dollars over the course of a year. Similarly, if Carnival is forced to cancel or modify an itinerary for whatever reason, they will typically offer passengers a few options. Carnival's Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is credit that you can use for your next Carnival cruise. Lets say you load $100 of onboard credit onto your casino account. Because our cart was only $651, the site shows thats how much onboard credit we have. The following minimum cash deposits are. 1. Then subtract this amount from the amount of onboard credit you have. If you need to stay connected, internet at sea is necessary, but tends to be wildly expensive on cruise ships. Posted June 16, 2014. Guests may add additionalcash to their account by visitingthe Guest Services desk on board. 100% refund of what I paid OR 100% future cruise credit, plus onboard credit for the future cruise Carnival offers $300 in onboard credit for cancelled trips of five days or less. Basically, OBC can be applied to anything . Upgrading an existing booking: if you have a future voyage booked with us already, you can use your FCC to upgrade your booking. MSC Cruise Lines Onboard Booking Incentives $100 onboard credit Reduced deposit The amount charged to the account for service gratuitieswill be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. beverage program, which includes non-alcoholic beverages as well as beer, spirits and wine by the glass. For example, often bowling, go-karting or zip-lining on board comes with an extra charge. Essentially, onboard credit is money applied to onboard accounts that passengers can spend onboard. Carnival shore excursions range in price from $14.99 per adult for a trip to the Pirates Treasure & Shipwreck Museum in St. Thomas to $799.99 per adult for a helicopter tour in Iceland. This may mean that you could risk missing out on some of the most popular tours if they're fully booked by the time you embark. You can use your Carnival onboard credit in the casino, but you wont be able to cash it out: you can only cash out your winnings. But, if you dont plan on getting a package and want to just pay for the drinks you have, then using your onboard credit for these would make sense. What's Onboard Credit? Use your onboard credit at the luxurious onboard spa, which is one of the best things to do on a cruise to truly unwind. You cannot book a Cloud 9 Spa pass before your cruise, only on board the ship. I went with the interior room deal- but got portholes- so we could have some natural light- yes, they are considered interior probably because it is a small room and the . Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailings, Youth Programs (Under 2 & 2-11 years old), Cash Advance on Credit Cards and Debit Cards, Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. Once onboard, cruise lines will do anything they can to entice you to book again, designating sales desks with personnel available to pitch offers. If you must have the comfort of an internet-ready device, Carnival offers several connectivity plans that can be paid with OBC once onboard. Well, I mean, there are several ways to accomplish this. 1. Instead of getting the amount refunded to your credit card, you may be issued a certificate you can use towards your next Carnival sailing. Visit: www.carnival.com However, they now require you pay in advance. www.carnival.com/legal/specials-terms-conditions.aspx. 7) On board activities or Wi Fi packages that cost extra. So, if you want to spend your Carnival onboard credit in the art auction you can, but make sure you know what youre letting yourself in for. (But at least you had fun, right?) There are numerous reasons that onboard credit can be added to a passenger's cruise account. Internet: Necessity or Splurge? However, if they already purchased excursions, dining, and/or drink packages ahead of time, it was hard to find a way to spend that money onboard. If you plan to use onboard credit to pay for these gratuities, be sure not to pre-pay them at the time of booking -- your onboard credit could take care of the rest. Onboard credit is the currency you can use to make purchases when onboard your cruise. What is Carnivals Behind the Fun Like? Plus, Carnivals spa treatments are cheaper than most other cruise lines. Feeling Generous? That's where three simple but almighty letters can go a long way: OBC, or onboard cruise credit. Prior to your cruise, you have no option but to pay for it with credit card, or gift cards(which is fairly common). We have all seen the big glossy advertisements from the cruise lines dangling potentially ridiculous amounts of onboard credit. Guests just have to log in to their Cruise Manager using the Carnival website. Passengers on a canceled cruise can request either a full refund or a future cruise credit and onboard credit. Is there a way to cash out your onboard credit? So you must spend it all before the end of the last night of your cruise to avoid wasting it. Onboard credit in the spa often applies to anything on their treatment menu, and that list could be a long one. You can access a thermal suite, relaxation room,. Shipboard credit on a Holland America cruise can be used for almost everything onboard your ship, including spa treatments, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, specialty coffee and alcoholic beverages, boutique purchases, onboard photos and more. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, offer specific onboard credits, limited to one type of purchase. Cruise lines love enticing you to book by dangling onboard credit in front of you -- often with a booking deadline. Use Your Onboard Credit for a Spa Splurge. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruisespotlight_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruisespotlight_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); CruiseSpotlight is an Amazon Associate. They can be used for cruises, on-board purchases, spa credits, gift cards, and even flights. First time I heard of this. If you dont use your onboard credit during your cruise you will lose it. Please Note: If you need tochange or confirmyour initial payment option,go to Carnival.com and click on Manage My Booking. If you love your cruise company enough to invest money in the brand, most major cruise lines offer a shareholder benefit in the form of onboard credit. You can request a full refund, but you'll usually have the choice to receive future cruise credit for the value of the cancelled cruise (or more, depending on the circumstances) and on top of that, you may be offered extra OBC to entice you to sail again. The value of the OBC varies depending on the length of the cruise and the stateroom you book, but can range from $25 to $100 per stateroom. Sail & Sign Onboard Account Sail & Sign is Carnival's cashless on board credit program, which allows guests to charge onboard purchases and gratuities directly to a personal account for convenience. I feel this is becoming an issue with all the pandemic cancelations, along with some cruise line policy changes. Many cruise lines offer referral bonuses for new cruises booked by first-timers. Carnival Corporation: Cruises of 14 days or longer: $250 onboard credit Hi, I'm Jenni. You cannot cash out $110. Holland America . 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 It's $100 (or $50) per cruise. I know that some people also prebook things so that they have less of a surprise bill at the end too. This will be my first time with more than the gratuities, but I'm sure I'll fly through $600 with booze, gambling, & arcade. I was lucky enough to get an onboard credit for a price drop on the Valor. Even if you only have a $25 OBC, that's still two nice martinis on the house! Carnival only gives shareholder credits if you own a minimum of 100 shares in the Carnival Corporation. What can a FCC be used for? LauraS For other things, like the Cheers drink package, its 10% cheaper to buy it before you board. And if you received your credit because youre a Carnival shareholder, then you cant use it in the casino at all. Related: Every Question You Have About Drinking On a Cruise Ship -- Answered, Feel Free to Splurge With Something Extra in Your Spending Account. So my question is this?? Be the first to rate this post. On most mainstream ships, these alternative eateries come with a price tag -- either a flat cover charge or a la carte fees for each item purchased. But, if you need some inspiration, here are some of the most popular goods and services to spend your onboard credits on a Carnival cruise: Perhaps the most common out-of-pocket expense for many cruisers are the shore excursions offered by the cruise line in ports of call. CruiseSpotlightSite. Onboard credit can be used for anything from drinks to a spa treatment, from duty-free gems to a shore excursion, so you'll want to know our secrets for getting more free money than the next cruiser Let's Start at the Beginning This means that if your cruise costs $1500 for just the cruise fare and taxes, but you get $200 in OBC, the first $200 you spend on the ship will cost you nothing. In some cases, cruise lines will supply free onboard credit while in others, you will need to top up your account. Cruise Cash | Immediate Onboard Credit | Carnival Cruise Line Select a Cruise Browsing All Cruises Cruise Cash Cruise Cash F A Q s Already booked your cruise? You can use your Carnival onboard credit to book dining in specialty restaurants, but only if you make the reservation once youre on board the ship. To help you maximize the value of your cruise by racking up as much onboard credit as possible, read our tips below and get planning just how you're going to spend that extra cash. #1 Excursions You can find all sorts of excursions that you can allocate your onboard credit to. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited.. I dont think you read my post correctly. Not only will this keep you informed of the cruise line's latest deals and promotions, but you also get an instant bonus onboard credit just for signing up. But, if youre allowed to disembark and explore independently, then you might find that youre able to save quite a lot of money by planning your own shore excursions rather the purchasing the official Carnival tours. So who does buy art at cruise ship art auctions? So, if you want to use your onboard credit towards your next cruise, its probably worth a try. The odds of this happening are tiny. i used it in Alaska. Drinks Even better, this cruise equivalent of free money can often be used almost without restrictions. The change of policy, and even altering their website to make it seamless, shows how Carnival is striving to improve the guest experience. You need to hold a minimum 100 shares to qualify for all these offers and can redeem your benefit by contacting the line at least two weeks prior to your sail date. Some cruisers have reported that they have been able to buy Carnival gift cards at the Cherry On Top candy store on board Carnival cruise ships using onboard credit. I have used OBC to book excursions before booking in the past. Cruise Line Branded Credit Cards Can Help You Score Onboard Credit, Some cruise line credit cards allow you to turn your accrued points into onboard credit. The bank is responsible for releasing any pending holds from the guest's account. A cruise line will often offer some onboard credit (as little as $25, up into the thousands of dollars) to incentivize you to book a certain cruise. It might be confusing to some guests, but rest assured, all your OBC is there; its just showing how much you need to use for that transaction. Carnival Cruise Lines; Cruise Critic Community. By How do they know you have it? This can be a way to extend your onboard credit so that you can use it towards another cruise. Work out how much you expect to pay in gratuities based on the number of guests in your room, your stateroom type and the duration of your cruise. For this reason, its not a good idea to use your onboard credit to buy a drink package. On Carnival cruises, Bingo cards start at $10 each, although most people actually spend more than this as they get multiple cards. To enjoy them, simply use your SeaPassalmost like a debit cardand the credited amount will be deducted from your total balance at the end of the trip. If the proverbial carrot has proven irresistable and you've clicked the ad, wondering what it is exactly, you wouldn't be the first. You see, if you do your research, you may find that many of the pieces can be purchased for a fraction of the onboard price elsewhere. Holds will remain on theaccount for one or more days depending on theissuing bank's hold policy, limiting access to funds. Related: Booking a Cruise Onboard: How to Score Extras and Discounts, Refer a Friend and You Both Might Receive Onboard Credit Rewards. If you book a suite, the cost is higher at $16.50 per person, per day. Does anyone know if the credit can be used for this? An ATM/Debit Cashing Card may be used as long as it is a registered MasterCard or Visa Card. Gratuities to the shipboard staff are customary on Carnival as well as other cruise lines, and you can cover these using your OBC. Booking a Future Cruise While on a Cruise. Two buzzwords guaranteed to get anybody's attention would be 'Free Money'. Scam or Deal: Will That Cruise Sale Really Save You Money? Carnival's "Lowest Price Guarantee" affirms that if you find a better Carnival-advertised deal within two days of booking your cruise, they will give you 110% of the difference between the two fares in onboard credit. My question is do Carnival allow you to pre book (before embarkation) things like the drinks, excursions and speciality dining from the onboard credit balance?