If changing credit card number or debit card number, use DELETE feature and add new credit card or debit card information. On board credit is just like having cash in your account, so if you have let's say a $100 credit the first $100 you spend on the ship for whatever, is free money! Receive free onboard credits from Carnival Cruise Lines if you are a company shareholder that. Is there a way to cash out your onboard credit? Onboard credit in your account means you can shop or eat whatever strikes your fancy. Book interior cabins on your cruises and you will save thousands of dollars over the course of a year. for these activities. Note: Gift Cards may also be referred to as 'secured' or 'pre-loaded' credit cards or 'Travel Funds Card'. 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. Carnival's Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is credit that you can use for your next Carnival cruise. 7) On board activities or Wi Fi packages that cost extra. The answer is that no, you cant do this. Internet: Necessity or Splurge? 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 Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Log In to shop food, entertainment and gifts for yourself or a friend! Randy Young has been in marketing for 18 years and has been cruising for just as long. Suggested read: Carnival Drink Package Guide. The consequences of violating Carnival's marijuana policy include a $500 fine per violation. IMPORTANT: Go to Step 3 of the online booking . Photos are pretty reasonably priced on Carnival cruises, with prices starting at $11.99 for a small print up to $299.99 for a package that includes a bundle of prints, a large wall canvas, digital copies and a calendar. The maximum number of guests per account is 15. It only lets me charge these to a credit card when I try to purchase these types of things on Carnival's website. We are booked to sail with PO cruise on Iona ship on 18th December for 16 nights. I have two specific questions. They gave us $600 OBC for each of our 1-week cruises that were canceled (we had several). What about gratuities?? I would like to know whether there is set out anywhere how onboard credit can be used. The price of each piece can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars and its probably not a great investment. There is a 3% fee to withdraw your funds at a table game, but no fee to withdraw at the slot machines. Guests must deposit cash (USD currency only) or Traveler's Checks (USD currency only) at Guest Services on the first day of the cruise. Participants will get to run 10km a day, over five unforgettable days, through some of the Danube River's most spectacular landscapes and . 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. This option includes all-you-can-drink soda, sparkling water, and fruit juices. Theres no obligation to purchase any photos, but if you wish to, you can use your onboard credit to buy photos. Essentially, onboard credit is money applied to onboard accounts that passengers can spend onboard. It's spending money to use during your cruise. The cost varies depending on the services you desire. Plus, Carnivals spa treatments are cheaper than most other cruise lines. Another sure-fire way to earn those precious credits is by investing in the company, a common perk among major cruise lines. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. But then that's me. Started June 21, 2021, By 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). At this time, the onboard credit currently issues a credit against these transactions despite the terms and conditions of most promotional OBC stating they cannot be used for this specific type of transactions. Gratuities to the shipboard staff are customary on Carnival as well as other cruise lines, and you can cover these using your OBC. Then I can just pay for excursions and drink packages at the pre-cruise discounted rate. 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. 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. Similarly, if Carnival is forced to cancel or modify an itinerary for whatever reason, they will typically offer passengers a few options. It can come from a cruise deal that you've booked or from the cruise ship casino, cruise credit card rewards or other sources. Used it up. Purchases made at sea are tax-free, but thats not to say that onboard shopping is any cheaper than it is ashore. This will result in multiple amounts being held. So, if you pay for it with onboard credit, it will cost you more. I've had quit a bit of obc but bought watches, a few expensive bottle of good scotch, cigarettes for friends. Be the first to rate this post. There is nothing that cannot be charged against OBC, except perhaps, any trip to the infirmary if you get sick or injured while on your cruise. Use Your Onboard Credit for a Spa Splurge. That's where three simple but almighty letters can go a long way: OBC, or onboard cruise credit. But in fact some lines do let you use it for things you will use or consume during the cruise, regardless of when they are booked or arranged,and essentially they seem to define onboard as things to be consumed onboard. In some cases, cruise lines will supply free onboard credit while in others, you will need to top up your account. On the day thecruise returns, Carnival immediately settles the guest's account with theirbank for the total amount of theironboard expenses. Read on for the info you need to decide. At some lines, future cruise credits can only be used for a single future sailing, with any leftover balance forfeited. #1 Excursions You can find all sorts of excursions that you can allocate your onboard credit to. And better yet, where how can you spend it? This can be a way to extend your onboard credit so that you can use it towards another cruise. For this reason, its not a good idea to use your onboard credit to buy a drink package. 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. 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. Specialty dining, gratuities, alcohol, casino donations, excursions, fun shop purchases, etc. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Carnival Onboard Credit: How to Get It and Where to Spend It. What can onboard credit be used for on Holland America? You can redeem any FCC by calling us. It's $100 (or $50) per cruise. Depending on your cruise itinerary and your vaccination status, you may only be allowed to leave the ship as part of an official Carnival-sponsored bubble tour. Carnival onboard credit can be used to purchase almost anything onboard the ship. Heres how much Carnival gratuities cost, per day, for each passenger aged two and over on sailings prior to 1st April 2023: So, on a seven-night cruise for two people in a standard stateroom, you would pay $203 in gratuities. Carnival realized the problem this was creating and changed their policy so guests could now use the credit when purchasing things ahead of time. They just dont have it coded as an exclusionbecause, well, if I were to guess they never had OBC at these levels on the books in the past. Enjoy guilt-free indulgences like massages, body wraps, facials, mani/pedis, acupuncture, and medispa procedures. . If you know you have credit coming and dont see it in your account before your cruise, its worth a call to customer service. Thanks for your help. Youre on vacation, remember? Get expert advice, insider tips and more. 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. And, of course, whatever amount of OBC you lose gambling is gone. 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. I would like to know whether there is set out anywhere how onboard. Even better, this cruise equivalent of free money can often be used almost without restrictions. Guests may activate their Sail & Sign account on Carnival.com, My Cruise Manager,Online Check-in prior to their cruiseor on the first day of the cruise at embarkation. I wasn't aware you are not supposed to be ableuse it for gratuities. Because I have way more than I will use, and I thought I read on here once that you could do it through the casino? That said, you could easily double your onboard credit with the help of Lady Luck, or you could lose it all. A cruise can seem like the perfect place to unwind and splurge in the spa. The credit will also come with an expiration date. You might be allowed to use onboard credit for crew gratuities. So my question is this?? An old Carnival legend who happened to enjoy wearing hats was very fond of this method and posted about it quite frequently. At the end of your cruise, if you have leftover onboard credit, it will automatically be offset against any gratuities that you owe. The amount charged to the account for service gratuitieswill be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship. A cruise can offer great value when you weigh in all that's included in your cruise fare -- particularly on Carnival Cruise Line, which offers some of the lowest pricing in the industry, particularly on short three- to four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Sure, that means you'll have to monitor their deals for 48 hours, but it'll be worth it if you strike OBC gold. Whether you work with an individual travel agent or a large online agency, onboard credit is a standard promotional bonus common in the industry. Guests booked on canceled sailings can receive either a 100% Future Cruise Credit (valid if booked by May, 31, 2021 for use on sailings departing through April 30, 2023) plus an onboard credit per stateroom of $600 (for sailings of 6 or more days) and $300 for sailings of five days or less. Carnival Corporation: Cruises of 14 days or longer: $250 onboard credit Things like excursions and dining have limited spots, and they can be completely booked weeks before you even step foot on the ship. 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. Usually, its people who have no idea what theyre doing, who get caught up in the excitement after a few too many glasses of free fizz! Onboard credit is money that is credited to your account for use during your cruise. Boost Your Playtime If Your Cruise Allows Onboard Credit Use in the Casino. 1. While in theory, you could win up to $5,000, this is very unlikely as it requires not only winning, but winning within a specified number of balls being called. Guests who are booked on one of the ships Carnival hopes to restart can also cancel . That's interesting. 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. Booking a voyage: your FCC can be used to book a future voyage (or voyages) with Cunard for you and your guest(s). Instead of getting the amount refunded to your credit card, you may be issued a certificate you can use towards your next Carnival sailing. Most people only visit the art auctions on cruise ships for a free glass of sparkling wine. It's very important to read the . There are several ways to get onboard credit, and they all fall into two basic categories: the ones you can control (to a certain extent) and the ones you can't. I never pre-pay my gratuities and that come out of my OBC once I am on the ship. Also, you wont actually take home the art you see on the ship youll be shipped an identical copy from a warehouse on land. The choice is yours when deciding how to spend your OBC, but do keep one thing in mind: It's use it or lose it. Lets say you load $100 of onboard credit onto your casino account. If you must have the comfort of an internet-ready device, Carnival offers several connectivity plans that can be paid with OBC once onboard. So, on a seven-day cruise for two people, you would pay $82.97 more if you buy your drink package on the ship with onboard credit than if you bought it in advance. Date Updated: 11/28/2022 Link to a URL Service Gratuities (Tips) Date Updated: 06/25/2021; Forms of Payment We accept the following forms of payment as noted below. Shore Excursions Are a Perfect Match for Onboard Credit. And the larger the agency, the deeper their pockets when it comes to onboard credit. 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. But for most people, there are better ways to spend your money on the ship. How I Decided on a 2023 Cruise on the Carnival Celebration. Started June 21, 2021, By 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. wanman 795 August 14, 2005. Related: Booking a Cruise Onboard: How to Score Extras and Discounts, Refer a Friend and You Both Might Receive Onboard Credit Rewards. Can you use the points you accumulate on your Carnival Master Card towards on- board- credit? And Carnival ships offer a wide variety of these, including Emeril's Bistro 1396, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, Rudi's Seagrill, Chef's Table, Carnival Kitchen, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Cucina del Capitano, Jiji Asian Kitchen, Seafood Shack, Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, the special Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast and Chibang! The spa facilities will differ depending on the ship, but each Carnival ship has a range of spa facilities for you to enjoy. 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 . 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? At the end of youse cruise, you can settle your account with cash, a credit card or onboard credit. 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. Onboard Credit is very valuable! Weve checked, and we do indeed have $700 available. 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. You can use the On Board Credit for anything purchased on the ship (Excursions, drinks, tips). You can use your Carnival onboard credit to pay for a Cheers drinks package or to pay for individual drinks that you charge to your onboard account. Princess Cruise Lines Onboard Booking Incentives $200 deposit (vs $500 on land) $50 onboard credit Princess' program is pretty cut and dry and matches what it's sister-line Carnival offer but without the upgrade perk. If it made them more money, they'd want more people doing it. The odds of this happening are tiny. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By *Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional per person. If you dont use your onboard credit during your cruise you will lose it. If you cancel your excursion, your onboard credit will also be cancelled. 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. 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 asked for a credit or debit card to use for all purchases on board. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited. This can be set-up during Online Check-in or on board atthe Guest Services Desk. Even if you only have a $25 OBC, that's still two nice martinis on the house! 1. Powered by Invision Community. Thanks for letting me know, Kaylee. For Debit Card Holders, if usingthis form of payment, thebank will process the final total spent on the guest's Sail & Sign account plus retain the bank holds processed, per the bank policy.