Credit Levels $100 $25 $50 $75 Price 2) What things onboard cannot be charged against OBC? Are there restrictions?? If you wait until onboard, chances are pretty slim of getting the day and time you want (or even get a spot at all). If you purchase Carnival shore excursions on board your cruise ship, you can use onboard credit to pay for them. Onboard credit can be used to purchase Wi-Fi packages, taking some of the bite out of a costly (but necessary) extra. 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. Related: Every Question You Have About Drinking On a Cruise Ship -- Answered, Feel Free to Splurge With Something Extra in Your Spending Account. If you prefer retail therapy to spa therapy, your onboard credit can be your ticket to paradise. Read on for the info you need to decide. I dont think you read my post correctly. From souvenirs to cupcakes, theres a long list of temptations enticing you to spend a few extra dollars while you cruise. 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! This will result in multiple amounts being held. Your credit will just be applied to your account once youre on board, and your final cost will be credited by that amount. 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. Then again, I wouldnt expect you to read the terms and conditions of promotions you agree to. Drinks On each Carnival cruise ship, youll find several shops selling souvenirs, jewellery, watches, clothes, accessories and liquor. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! By It can't be used for medical expenses, taxes and port fees. You can find more info about Carnival gift cards here. Has the RCCL policy changed? 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited." How long is Carnival cruise credit good for? Don't let the rest of your OBC sail away without you! The future cruise credit must be used on a new booking made within 12 months from the date of cancellation and . The answer is that no, you cant do this. However, the most common amounts of onboard credits offered are $25-$100 per cabin. Onboard credit in the spa often applies to anything on their treatment menu, and that list could be a long one. cruizing with teens, March 19, 2006 in Carnival Cruise Lines. 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. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. So, if you want to use your onboard credit towards your next cruise, its probably worth a try. Additionally, their Welcome Home program allows you to book these same offers within four weeks after you return from your cruise. Your rating has been submitted, please tell us how we can make this answer more useful. For example, often bowling, go-karting or zip-lining on board comes with an extra charge. for these activities. Not absolutely every activity on board your cruise ship will be free of charge. Onboard credit, by definition, is supposed to be spent on board the ship. 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. Generally speaking, the restrictions include gratuities, casino and gift cards but the restrictions are not currently enforced. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited. Has anyone had one? It's spending money to use during your cruise. 1. Whether you work with an individual travel agent or an online agency, onboard credit is a common booking bonus. Job Description. At the end of youse cruise, you can settle your account with cash, a credit card or onboard credit. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruisespotlight_com-box-4','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruisespotlight_com-box-4-0'); You can use your OBC for anything you can purchase in your cruise planner. I have used OBC to book excursions before booking in the past. Major categories include shore excursions, drinks and gratuities for the crew. Anything you can put on the Sail N Sign card. The amount of the benefit varies with the length of your cruise and cruise line. Answer (1 of 5): Congrats! What can onboard credit be used for on Holland America? So who does buy art at cruise ship art auctions? Scam or Deal: Will That Cruise Sale Really Save You Money? 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. If a credit balance shows up in your cruise account, either on the website or in your app, that means you are allowed to use it for advance purchases of excursions, or Wi-Fi, drink and specialty dining packages. In general, however, it is between $50 and $250. So, while you can use your Carnival onboard credit in the casino, its not a shortcut to converting your credit into cash. It can come from a cruise deal that you've booked or from the cruise ship casino, cruise credit card rewards or other sources. You will be asked for a credit or debit card to use for all purchases on board. You might be allowed to use onboard credit for crew gratuities. Onboard credits are generally non-transferable and non-refundable, so you must use them during your cruise. For example, for our upcoming cruise on the Carnival Celebration, we have $700 in onboard credit. Note: Gift Cards may also be referred to as 'secured' or 'pre-loaded' credit cards or 'Travel Funds Card'. If you book dining using onboard credit, theres a chance that your chosen restaurant might be full, so its best to do it as soon as you board. Heres the cost for sailings from 1st April 2023: Suggested read: Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise? So, if you want to capture the memories of your special cruise forever, perhaps using some of your onboard credit on photography services would be a smart move. There is no longer a future cruise booking desk on board. they will do it right then and there, with your OBC and then let the party begin. 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. It is quite annoying that you can't use it to take advantage of pre-cruise discounts. Every time I sail, I make it a point to try the most colorful cocktail I can find just moments after . This can be a way to extend your onboard credit so that you can use it towards another cruise. 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. I feel this is becoming an issue with all the pandemic cancelations, along with some cruise line policy changes. Use your onboard credit at the luxurious onboard spa, which is one of the best things to do on a cruise to truly unwind. People who have asked Carnival to clarify whether this is okay or not appear to have been given mixed answers about whether this onboard credit hack works. The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for all money transactions on board as cash will not be an accepted form of payment. If you dont use your onboard credit during your cruise you will lose it. For example, you previously made reservations for the Specialty Restaurants. If the credit/debit card method of payment is selected, charges incurred by those authorized will be billed to the credit/debit account entered. Onboard credit can be used to purchase Wi-Fi packages, taking some of the bite out of a costly (but necessary) extra. Carnival Corporation Miami, FL1 month agoBe among the first 25 applicantsSee who Carnival Corporation has hired for this roleNo longer accepting applications. The bank is responsible for releasing any pending holds from the guest's account. Is there a way to cash out your onboard credit? 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. 89 photos. If this applies to you, then using your onboard credit to pay for excursions is a good idea. The one drawback to using your OBC to purchase your Cheers! After all onboard credit - the clue is in the name isnt it? You'll usually find these front-and-center on the homepage of the cruise line's website. The most common way guests receive onboard credit is to receive it from Royal Caribbean as part of a deal to book a cruise. The amount of onboard credit can vary by cruise line, cabin type and length of cruise. As is the case with shore excursions, if you plan on using your OBC to enjoy specialty restaurants, be aware that you can only make reservations once you're on board the ship. Onboard Credit Can Put Pricey Professional Photos Within Reach. 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. 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? Onboard credit may seem like free money, and in a way it is, but it still makes sense to spend it wisely to get the most value from it. 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! Lets say you load $100 of onboard credit onto your casino account. CC Help Jenn The cost varies depending on the services you desire. Please Note: If you need tochange or confirmyour initial payment option,go to Carnival.com and click on Manage My Booking. On cruises lasting between 7 to 13 days, you can receive $100 in credit. Youre on vacation, remember? Finally, as Duffy explained, Carnival follows U.S. federal law, which prohibits possession and use of recreational/medicinal marijuana and other illegal controlled substances. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. Instead of getting the amount refunded to your credit card, you may be issued a certificate you can use towards your next Carnival sailing. So how do you get onboard credit with Carnival? Can you use the points you accumulate on your Carnival Master Card towards on- board- credit? The amount charged to the account for service gratuitieswill be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship. The onboard credit must be used during the applicable cruise. Typically, even if the cruise consultant pre-cruise doesn't have all the details, the concierge on board the ship will be able to view the credit. So my question is this?? 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. what i do when i have lots of OBC, is the second the line goes down at the desk, go to them and say, please prepay my gratuities. I was pleasantly surprised to find this out when we sailed with Royal. Sail & Sign Account Opened with Cash or Traveler's Checks. 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. They offer $600 for trips of six days or more that were cancelled. First time I heard of this. If not would I basically be left with OBC only for the items bought onboard? You can usually use your Carnival onboard credit to pay for gratuities (tips), so long as you havent prepaid them before you board the ship. ON BOARDcredit can only be used on board. Does anyone know if the credit can be used for this? This option includes all-you-can-drink soda, sparkling water, and fruit juices. 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. When you take a Carnival cruise, you may find yourself with some onboard credit to spend. At Carnival, you're entitled to $50 OBC on cruises of 6 days or less, $100 on cruises of 7-13 days and $250 on longer if you own a minimum of 100 shares. Many items may still cost more because youre essentially a captive audience so the prices of some items are inflated. Take a look at my next guide to work out the best amount to bring: How Much Cash To Bring On A Carnival Cruise. Photo Credit: Camera walk / Shutterstock. But, you may find a unique, must-have item or find yourself needing to buy toiletries you forgot to pack, and your OBC can really come in handy. Cruise lines love enticing you to book by dangling onboard credit in front of you -- often with a booking deadline. You can use onboard credit to buy wifi on a Carnival cruise, but only if you wait until you board the ship to buy it. And, of course, whatever amount of OBC you lose gambling is gone. Onboard credit can be used to purchase Wi-Fi packages, taking some of the bite out of a costly (but necessary) extra. What could be better than gambling with someone else's money? 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. 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. Guests could usually find a way to spend that onboard, even if their excursions and dining were all booked already. Royal Caribbean onboard credit can be used to purchase most things onboard the ship. Guests who are booked on one of the ships Carnival hopes to restart can also cancel . On longer cruises, the credit may be $250. Thanks for your help. Iused the OBC aftermy 25th for gratuities, and shore excursions at every port. The credit will also come with an expiration date. 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. Passengers on a canceled cruise can request either a full refund or a future cruise credit and onboard credit. Specialty restaurants offer an alternative to the standard main dining room and buffet options included in cruise fares. Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America's Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable vacation experiences at a great value. 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. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. In fact, there are some things that it will cost you more to purchase if you do so using onboard credit. At the end of your cruise, if you have leftover onboard credit, it will automatically be offset against any gratuities that you owe.