The best uses for any leftover onboard credit are speciality dining, access to the spa, shore excursions and photos. Actual credit/debit cards must be present at the time of embarkation. 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. It doesn't matter the length of your next cruise. Here are some ideas on how you can spend it. Some people wonder if they load $500 from their onboard credit into the casino, spin the slots a few times and then cash out, thereby converting their onboard credit into cash. . Active and retired military members are always eligible for reduced rates, but OBC isn't included in this permanent deal; you'll have to be on the lookout for time-limited promotions in order to snag the credit. While onboard, you'll likely see plenty of cruisers working with staff on your ship to book future cruises with the same line. When it comes to vacations, every person has their own idea of the perfect way to enjoy their time off. 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? Carnival Corporation Miami, FL1 month agoBe among the first 25 applicantsSee who Carnival Corporation has hired for this roleNo longer accepting applications. 5 Things You Didn't Know About Booking a Costco Cruise, 8 Things to Know About the Cheapest Cruise Ship Cabins, Norwegian Cruise Line Internet Packages and Prices, 8 Worst Cruise Rip-offs Not Worth Your Money, Carnival Sunrise (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line), The Alchemy Bar aboard Carnival Spirit (Photo: Aaron Saunders), Casino on Carnival Radiance ( Photo by K. Alex Beaven). ON BOARDcredit can only be used on board. This whole process is pretty easy. Forums. Suggested read: Carnival Drink Package Guide. But if you have the OBC to spare, it may be worth considering using it on one of the shore excursions offered by the line. If you never usually go to the spa on a cruise, then this could be the ideal way to treat yourself by spending any onboard credit that you have. Carnival Cruise Lines; Cruise Critic Community. I've never had this issue before, so didn't really pay attention to the details, No, you can not cash it out, its on board credit, not an ATM. Onboard credits, OBC for those in the know, have traditionally been incentives offered to guests when booking a cruise. 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. Anything you can put on the Sail N Sign card. That's interesting. You'll likely score twice by doing so, as most of those are discounted if you purchase before you board the cruise. Every time I sail, I make it a point to try the most colorful cocktail I can find just moments after . So if a guest paid $300 for dining and drinks during their cruise and received an OBC of $100, their final bill would be $200 at the end of the cruise. On a Carnival cruise, your onboard account is called Sail & Sign. The amount of the benefit varies with the length of your cruise and cruise line. If you're wondering where to spend your onboard credit on a Carnival cruise, the good news is that you can use it on pretty much whatever floats your boat. An OBC can really take the sting out of a day pass to the Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite, or treatments booked a la carte, especially on port days, when some spa treatments and packages are already offered at a discount. CC Help Jenn Use Your Onboard Credit for a Spa Splurge. 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. On the lastmorning of the cruise, a statement detailing all purchases made with the Sail & Sign card will be delivered toguest staterooms. That means there's always the chance that your restaurant of choice might fill up by that time, so try to book your reservations as soon as you can. The following minimum cash deposits are. Started August 27, 2021, By Carnival's Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is credit that you can use for your next Carnival cruise. And that can be a big onboard credit win. Started June 21, 2021, By Call me clich, but it's not a cruise vacation until I'm lounging poolside with a tropical drink in hand. It can't be used for medical expenses, taxes and port fees. If you cancel your excursion, your onboard credit will also be cancelled. Book interior cabins on your cruises and you will save thousands of dollars over the course of a year. Guests can also opt for a 100% refund. When you make purchases on the ship, these will be charged to your account. Onboard credit can be used to turn the onboard photographer into your own personal paparazzi. Princess works that way, and I'm wondering if Carnival does too. By 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. Log in and access Online Check-in, Onboard Expenses: Each onboard expense account must have a designated account owner. A few don't allow OBC use in the casino or to pay for crew gratuities. In addition, guests can view their balance update at a Sail & Sign kioskand Carnival's HUB app. If you must have the comfort of an internet-ready device, Carnival offers several connectivity plans that can be paid with OBC once onboard. And, of course, whatever amount of OBC you lose gambling is gone. Also, be sure to subscribe to Carnival's VIFP past-passenger club. Lifestyle and marathon coach, Rory Coleman, has the low-down. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? 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. If that sounds like an odd question, I ask because in the past on a different cruise line, -prebooked things were deducted from my OBC balance first. It's $100 (or $50) per cruise. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. It's not the best way to earn credit, but if something goes wrong on your cruise -- like the ship is stranded, misses port calls or experiences a significant malfunction -- you may be compensated with a future onboard credit offer. I dont think, at least for Carnival, that OBC is limited to just being able to be used on board anymore. Whether you work with an individual travel agent or an online agency, onboard credit is a common booking bonus. I've had this on my last 2 Carnival cruises - I get the internet and gratuities with the OBC, then pull some into the slots, cash out and get the money. So, heres a list of things you can spend your Carnival onboard credit on, from best to worst. If you do directly from the cage or table there will be a 3%charge. Naturally, you always have the option to venture off on your own and forego Carnival's tours. Furthermore, violations of Carnival's policy will result in fines of $500. Heres the cost for sailings from 1st April 2023: Suggested read: Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise? Book now and get extra onboard credit! deals are worth taking advantage of if the cruise price is right. I know that some people also prebook things so that they have less of a surprise bill at the end too. When it comes to spending your onboard credit, some of the things that you can spend it on are better value than others. Onboard credit is the currency you can use to make purchases when onboard your cruise. If you know you have credit coming and dont see it in your account before your cruise, its worth a call to customer service. Mattsudds, July 7, 2020 in Carnival Cruise Lines, With all the cancellations, the offer for a cancelled cruise include onboard credit to be used on a new or rebooked cruise. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If you purchase Carnival shore excursions on board your cruise ship, you can use onboard credit to pay for them. The answer is simply no.you cannot use your On Board Credit prior to actually boarding. Hopefully, like some other new policies and features that arose due to COVID, this continues from now on. If you have $600 OBC to spend, this would leave plenty of credit left to spend on other things. 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. Carnival will not be held responsible for any bank imposed overage or insufficient funds charges on debit/check cashing cards or credit cards. If it was true that the benefit of additional bookings far outweighed the cost to Carnival for the $100 OBC, Carnival would offer it to everybody, stock owners or not. 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. All the new Carnival WiFi plans do not include video streaming (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime) and don't support WiFi Calling (voice calls via the ship's Wi-Fi network) and Facetime (Apple's video telephony) services. This form of onboard is money back, rather than money gifted, but it still beats paying a higher cruise fare with nothing in return. Using onboard credit for tips is allowed on all lines, but check before the start of your cruise so you can plan accordingly. Similarly, if Carnival is forced to cancel or modify an itinerary for whatever reason, they will typically offer passengers a few options. 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. Matt, believe it or not, that is a fairly often asked question. Thanks for letting me know, Kaylee. You can only cash out your $10 winnings and the $100 will go back onto your account as onboard credit. Credits can be purchased specifically for items such as soft drinks, food and bar credits. Has the RCCL policy changed? 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. You cannot cash out $110. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruisespotlight_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruisespotlight_com-banner-1-0'); Carnival did not have to allow guests this option. MSC Cruise Lines Onboard Booking Incentives $100 onboard credit Reduced deposit 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. Plus, Carnivals spa treatments are cheaper than most other cruise lines. 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. Embrace the darkness. We are booked to sail with PO cruise on Iona ship on 18th December for 16 nights. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg. By Premium eateries also include some cafes and bars like Coffee Bar, JavaBlue Caf and the RedFrog Pub. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Carnival offers two beverage packages: Bottomless Bubbles, which entitles you to unlimited soda for the duration of your cruise; or the Cheers! Carnival's Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is credit that you can use for your next Carnival cruise. 6/13/2022. Generally speaking, the restrictions include gratuities, casino and gift cards but the restrictions are not currently enforced. Give a gift to your friend going on one of our cruises! For example, put your FCC towards upgrading your Britannia Balcony Stateroom to one of our Queens Grill Suites, or change . They offer $600 for trips of six days or more that were cancelled. It used to be the case that you could only spend Royal Caribbean onboard credit once you boarded your ship. If you dont have enough OBC to cover the cost of your cart, you can pay the rest with a credit card or Carnival gift card, just like you would before. But isn't that what a cruise is for? I just made a reservation on Empress for this coming Oct. and was told I can't use the onboard credit towards gratuities. Carnival is no exception; their Future Cruise Vacation Program offers a series of perks and discounts, including onboard credit. Only the amount that you win can be cashed out, the rest would go back onto your account as onboard credit. Its worth noting that a few cruise lines let you access your onboard credit before you even board the ship. Job Description. Loyalty is noticed; if you've worked with the same travel agent for every cruise, your OBC amount is likely to build over time. Is there a way to cash out your onboard credit? Refundable overages on a guest's Sail and Sign account will be refunded back in the same form of payment as was made for the initial deposit on the Sail & Sign account. Don't let the rest of your OBC sail away without you! This option includes all-you-can-drink soda, sparkling water, and fruit juices. However, they now require you pay in advance. If you want wifi, you should buy it before your cruise, rather than with onboard credit for the best price. In general, however, it is between $50 and $250. What can it be used for? Youre on vacation, remember? 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. Just keep in mind that you'll need to spend it before you disembark your ship -- onboard credit doesn't carry over to future sailings. And purchases made at sea are tax-free, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be less expensive than what you find ashore. Check the policies with your specific rewards program as you start researching a future cruise, Price Drops Put Money Back in Your Pocket. Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise? Finally, if you had a cruise postponed due to the global health pandemic, chances are good that you, too, have some OBC waiting in the wings as part of your cruise line's compensation package. The onboard credit is nonrefundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. Boost Your Playtime If Your Cruise Allows Onboard Credit Use in the Casino. Playing Bingo on a Carnival cruise can be fun, but cruise ship bingo is generally a bit of a rip-off and there are better ways to spend your onboard credit than by buying bingo tickets. So you must spend it all before the end of the last night of your cruise to avoid wasting it. Lets say you load $100 of onboard credit onto your casino account. Guests may add additionalcash to their account by visitingthe Guest Services desk on board. It is not required for guests to carry the physical credit card with them on board. Another sure-fire way to earn those precious credits is by investing in the company, a common perk among major cruise lines. If you enjoy courting Lady Luck, you'll be glad to know that OBC can be used in the onboard casino. 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. What happens to unused onboard credit? Some cruise lines like Carnival offered a similar incentive, giving 100% FCC along with onboard credit up to $600 per stateroom. Guests may activate their Sail & Sign account on Carnival.com, My Cruise Manager,Online Check-in, or on the first day of the cruise at embarkation. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. How to Build Your Own All-Inclusive Cruise, Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club Cruise Loyalty Program. Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival's prepaid soda package, available for both children and adults. Major categories include shore excursions, drinks and gratuities for the crew. These might be drinks packages, specialty dining and shore excursions. 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. *Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional per person. Therefore, there will be many people who have $600 onboard credit to use on their next Carnival cruise and are wondering what to spend it on. On board cruise credit is a great way to "pay! Powered by Invision Community. You can also use Cruise Critic's deals page to see just how much onboard credit is being offered. The credit will also come with an expiration date. To process data . Read More: 10 Hidden Costs of Cruising and How to Save, Shareholder Benefits Include Onboard Credit. 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. Any inquiries regarding your Sail & Sign account after your cruise, please contact Guest Careat. On some lines, casinos are off-limits when it comes to onboard credit, so check if your line allows it before you hit the slots. Note: Gift Cards may also be referred to as 'secured' or 'pre-loaded' credit cards or 'Travel Funds Card'. "Onboard credit is non-refundable, non-transferable and has no cash value. Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Shore Excursions, 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Shore Excursions, 8 Worst Cruise Rip-offs Not Worth Your Money, Viking Explorer Society Cruise Loyalty Program, 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your OceanMedallion Experience, The Pros and Cons of a Port-Intensive Cruise, 10 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Line Private Island, Spa on Seabourn Quest (Photo: Cruise Critic). If it made them more money, they'd want more people doing it. What you do for a living can also snag you some OBC. Essentially free money that's deposited directly into your Carnival Sail & Sign account, an onboard credit can enhance your cruise experience by allowing you to splurge a little bit more onboard, without having to watch your wallet. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Carnival often gives members of the US or Canadian armed forces special promotions that may include onboard credit. 37246. No votes so far! A legible copy of the non-sailing individual's government issued photo identification (ID) showing the signature (for example, a Driver's License). You can use the On Board Credit for anything purchased on the ship (Excursions, drinks, tips). Carnival only gives shareholder credits if you own a minimum of 100 shares in the Carnival Corporation. They can be used for cruises, on-board purchases, spa credits, gift cards, and even flights. Finally, as Duffy explained, Carnival follows U.S. federal law, which prohibits possession and use of recreational/medicinal marijuana and other illegal controlled substances. Carnival allows guests to use their credit for a day pass for the onboard spa. . But then that's me. To use onboard credit for a drink package, you must wait until youre on the ship to buy the package you cant use onboard credit if you buy the package before your cruise. To claim your onboard credit, call customer service to discuss the price drop and your compensation. I cannot answer your last question with certainty. 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. 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. Feeling Generous? Onboard credit can be used to purchase Wi-Fi packages, taking some of the bite out of a costly (but necessary) extra. But as with any cruise line that isn't all-inclusive (and even on those not everything is included), on a Carnival cruise you will still have to pay extra for certain goods and services, including specialty dining venues, drinks, shore excursions, spa visits, retail purchases, and gratuities, to name a few. Lowering Your Drink Bill is Easy with Cruise Onboard Credit. Carnival is not able to expedite the release of bank holds. I have two specific questions. On 10/14/2020 at 10:14 PM, xDisconnections said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. How does Carnival let you use onboard credit. Onboard Credit is very valuable! The spa facilities will differ depending on the ship, but each Carnival ship has a range of spa facilities for you to enjoy. Booking Incentives with Cruise Lines & Travel Agents. 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. And the cost to Carnival isn't "nothing". Any help would be appreciated! Most cruise lines place no restrictions on the use of onboard credit; if you can bill it to your account, you can cover the cost with your cruise onboard credit. On each Carnival cruise ship, youll find several shops selling souvenirs, jewellery, watches, clothes, accessories and liquor. However, the most common amounts of onboard credits offered are $25-$100 per cabin.