As with most major cruise lines, Carnival offers beverage packages or the option to pay for individual drinks, and you can use your OBC to pay for both choices. 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. I cannot answer your last question with certainty. They can be used for cruises, on-board purchases, spa credits, gift cards, and even flights. Carnival only gives shareholder credits if you own a minimum of 100 shares in the Carnival Corporation. Check the fine print to make sure you're eligible (there are usually minimum share requirements) and redeem your benefit by contacting the line at least two weeks prior to your sail date. As the OP said he has used his ON BOARD credit to purchase things pre-cruise on other cruise lines, so it's not as clear as one would think. Then I can just pay for excursions and drink packages at the pre-cruise discounted rate. This will leave you with an amount of onboard credit to spend on treating yourself. Also, be sure to subscribe to Carnival's VIFP past-passenger club. 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. Matt, believe it or not, that is a fairly often asked question. Onboard credit is an ideal way to pay the daily tips that are usually added to your stateroom bill. By 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. #1 Excursions You can find all sorts of excursions that you can allocate your onboard credit to. The only difference between an onboard credit and a cash deposit, is that if you don't spend all your credit (not likely) they don't cut you a check at the end. That credit can put a dent in all those extra charges that eventually end up in onboard cruise accounts, from drinks to manicures and even shore excursions. Photo Credit: Camera walk / Shutterstock. Loyalty is noticed; if you've worked with the same travel agent for every cruise, your OBC amount is likely to build over time. Onboard credit in your account means you can shop or eat whatever strikes your fancy. When Something Goes Wrong, Ask for 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. What is Perfect Day at CocoCay and Should You Visit? This can be a way to extend your onboard credit so that you can use it towards another cruise. 2) What things onboard cannot be charged against OBC? No votes so far! 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. If you know you have credit coming and dont see it in your account before your cruise, its worth a call to customer service. CC Help Jenn Personalized Sail & Sign cards areprovided to all guests (including minors) and are valid for use immediately upon boarding the ship. Many of us don't have the time or money to indulge in a little bit of me-time on a regular basis. Some cruise lines like Carnival offered a similar incentive, giving 100% FCC along with onboard credit up to $600 per stateroom. 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. 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. Can you use the points you accumulate on your Carnival Master Card towards on- board- credit? If I booked those whilst onboard, I would assume the cost would be deducted from any onboard credit balance I had. When it comes to vacations, every person has their own idea of the perfect way to enjoy their time off. First time I heard of this. I dont think you read my post correctly. :rolleyes: Jump to content . Here are some ideas on how you can spend it. 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. 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. You can also use Cruise Critic's deals page to see just how much onboard credit is being offered. 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. 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. Note: Gift Cards may also be referred to as 'secured' or 'pre-loaded' credit cards or 'Travel Funds Card'. Whether you work with an individual travel agent or an online agency, onboard credit is a common booking bonus. Ill then list all of the ways you can spend it on your Carnival cruise, listed from the best-value options to ways that youll want to avoid. 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. So you must spend it all before the end of the last night of your cruise to avoid wasting it. 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. Because I have way more than I will use. 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. ATM/Debit Cashing Card other than those registered by MasterCard or Visa Card. On embarkation day, an initial bank hold of up to $200 (depending on cruise length) is placed on all credit card and debit card accounts to verify that the card is valid: If the guest replaces a credit card or debit card previously used, the hold will remain on the account during the cruise andwill remain on theaccount for one or more days after the cruise depending on theissuing bank's hold policy, limiting access to funds. 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? Suggested read: Carnival Drink Package Guide. "Onboard credit is non-refundable, non-transferable and has no cash value. On each Carnival cruise ship, youll find several shops selling souvenirs, jewellery, watches, clothes, accessories and liquor. Carnival often gives members of the US or Canadian armed forces special promotions that may include onboard credit. Who ever heard ofpaying for a restaurant 5-6 months in advance? And, of course, whatever amount of OBC you lose gambling is gone. 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. Logo Store; Find Your Roll Call; Meet & Mingle 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. Is there a way to cash out your onboard credit? Check the policies with your specific rewards program as you start researching a future cruise, Price Drops Put Money Back in Your Pocket. Visit: www.carnival.com For example, for our upcoming cruise on the Carnival Celebration, we have $700 in onboard credit. 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. And you will not be able to exchange any remaining credit for cash, either. Cruise lines love enticing you to book by dangling onboard credit in front of you -- often with a booking deadline. 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. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Onboard Credit: How to Get It, Where to Spend It, individual travel agent or an online agency, Booking a Cruise Onboard: How to Score Extras and Discounts, 10 Hidden Costs of Cruising and How to Save, The Absolute Best Alaska Shore Excursions You Can't Miss, Every Question You Have About Drinking On a Cruise Ship -- Answered. 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. Please Note: If you need tochange or confirmyour initial payment option,go to Carnival.com and click on Manage My Booking. The completed 'Letter of Authorizationfor Use of a Credit Card by Third Party' form - the signature on the letter of authorization must match the signature on the back of the credit card. If you cancel your excursion, your onboard credit will also be cancelled. If this applies to you, then using your onboard credit to pay for excursions is a good idea. For sailings departing before 1st April 2023, gratuities cost $14.50 per person, per day for most rooms on Carnival ships, so paying them with onboard credit is a good way to avoid this bill at the end of your cruise. The stores and boutiques on board sell a wide range of merchandise ranging from tchotchkes and souvenirs to jewelry and electronics. Instead of getting the amount refunded to your credit card, you may be issued a certificate you can use towards your next Carnival sailing. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. Guests must deposit cash (USD currency only) or Traveler's Checks (USD currency only) at Guest Services on the first day of the cruise. Even if you only have a $25 OBC, that's still two nice martinis on the house! 6/13/2022. 1) On a cruise I would often prebook some things before boarding. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want to switch up your routine, onboard credit is a great way to cover or offset the cost. Your credit will just be applied to your account once youre on board, and your final cost will be credited by that amount. 2073. Posted June 16, 2014. The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for all money transactions on board as cash will not be an accepted form of payment. Whether you work with an individual travel agent or a large online agency, onboard credit is a standard promotional bonus common in the industry. Started June 21, 2021, By The cardholder is responsible for amended charges discovered after the authorized guest(s) disembark the vessel. (Transfer from S&S to Player's Bank, then cash out at the cage.). For the first category, start by perusing Carnival's sales. If anyone knows where Carnival put any official guidance on this it would be especially appreciated. And better yet, where how can you spend it? Heres the cost for sailings from 1st April 2023: Suggested read: Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise? A previous answer for this referred to calling the cruise line and getting the fine print on how you can use the OBC. Generally speaking, the restrictions include gratuities, casino and gift cards but the restrictions are not currently enforced. 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. You can access a thermal suite, relaxation room,. Youll also want to bring some cash as youll need this for things ashore. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. If you dont use your onboard credit during your cruise you will lose 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. Onboard credit is the currency you can use to make purchases when onboard your cruise. There is a 3% fee to withdraw your funds at a table game, but no fee to withdraw at the slot machines. Many cruise lines offer referral bonuses for new cruises booked by first-timers. The amount of the benefit varies with the length of your cruise and cruise line. Generally speaking, the restrictions include gratuities, casino and gift cards but the restrictions are not currently enforced. I will check that out. 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. I wasn't aware you are not supposed to be ableuse it for gratuities. 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. 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. Guests who are booked on one of the ships Carnival hopes to restart can also cancel . Basically, OBC can be applied to anything . The card currently offers 25 reward levels, which each allow credit card users the opportunity to trade in points for stateroom upgrades, cruise discounts, onboard credits or amenities, free or discounted cruise vacations or related Royal Caribbean merchandise.For example, with 5,000 MyCruise points, you can receive $50 in onboard credit towards purchases on your next cruise, an upgrade on a . You can redeem any FCC by calling us. The best uses for any leftover onboard credit are speciality dining, access to the spa, shore excursions and photos. Purchases made at sea are tax-free, but thats not to say that onboard shopping is any cheaper than it is ashore. So, if you want to use your onboard credit towards your next cruise, its probably worth a try. An ATM/Debit Cashing Card may be used as long as it is a registered MasterCard or Visa Card. Gift Cards and Travel Funds Cards issued by: American Express andOptima. This is because single-day plans are only available to purchase on the ship. Powered by Invision Community. *Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional per person. Sure, that means you'll have to monitor their deals for 48 hours, but it'll be worth it if you strike OBC gold. After all onboard credit - the clue is in the name isnt it? However, they now require you pay in advance. The Carnival Cruise Luggage Restrictions You MUST Be Aware Of. For cruises six days and under, you get $50 OBC. Gratuities to the shipboard staff are customary on Carnival as well as other cruise lines, and you can cover these using your OBC. 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. Does Carnival have a future cruise booking onboard opportunity and if so, could I use OBC as my deposit for instance? Used it up. The onboard credit is nonrefundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited. Also, you wont actually take home the art you see on the ship youll be shipped an identical copy from a warehouse on land. Every time I sail, I make it a point to try the most colorful cocktail I can find just moments after . You can use your onboard credit in any of these shops. Princess works that way, and I'm wondering if Carnival does too. On a Carnival cruise, your onboard account is called Sail & Sign. Helping you find cruise ships you'll love. And if you received your credit because youre a Carnival shareholder, then you cant use it in the casino at all. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. How to Build Your Own All-Inclusive Cruise, Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club Cruise Loyalty Program. 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. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Receive free onboard credits from Carnival Cruise Lines if you are a company shareholder that. The credit will also come with an expiration date. Carnival will not be held responsible for any bank imposed overage or insufficient funds charges on debit/check cashing cards or credit cards. In most cases, these onboard credits can typically be used towards most items related to your cruise vacation, just like cash. I dont think, at least for Carnival, that OBC is limited to just being able to be used on board anymore. Most people only visit the art auctions on cruise ships for a free glass of sparkling wine. Shore Excursions Are a Perfect Match for Onboard Credit. You cannot cash out $110. 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. 89 photos. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival's prepaid soda package, available for both children and adults. It's $100 (or $50) per 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! Call me clich, but it's not a cruise vacation until I'm lounging poolside with a tropical drink in hand. 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. Guests just have to log in to their Cruise Manager using the Carnival website. 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. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited.. On the day thecruise returns, Carnival immediately settles the guest's account with theirbank for the total amount of theironboard expenses. Carnival Cruise Lines; Cruise Critic Community. I would like to know whether there is set out anywhere how onboard. 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. Carnival Cruise Line is offering passengers up to $200 worth of extra credit if they keep their bookings through May 31. What's Onboard Credit? For example, you previously made reservations for the Specialty Restaurants. 1. It can't be used for medical expenses, taxes and port fees. Be the first to rate this post. An email confirming the outcome of the request will be sent to you. Booked passengers can upgrade from one plan to another and are also allowed to use multiple devices per plan (including the ship's onboard computers), but only on one device at a time. I do realize that "onboard" is in the name of these credits, but shouldn't I be able to use these for shore excursions and transfers? And the cost to Carnival isn't "nothing". Carnival onboard credit can be used to purchase almost anything onboard the ship. The bank is responsible for releasing any pending holds from the guest's account. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited." How long is Carnival cruise credit good for? Not absolutely every activity on board your cruise ship will be free of charge. 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. If you have onboard credit to spend on your Carnival cruise, then the wisest thing to do is first to put it towards gratuities, provided that you havent already pre-paid those. Hi cruise mummy What can you spend on-board credit on? 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. Only in the literal sense, mind you. The amount will vary depending on the situation. Another sure-fire way to earn those precious credits is by investing in the company, a common perk among major cruise lines. If you prefer retail therapy to spa therapy, your onboard credit can be your ticket to paradise. Lifestyle and marathon coach, Rory Coleman, has the low-down. The spa facilities will differ depending on the ship, but each Carnival ship has a range of spa facilities for you to enjoy. I leave a week Sunday and am hoping that they have record of it when we check in. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruisespotlight_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruisespotlight_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'cruisespotlight_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',120,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-cruisespotlight_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-120{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. And that can be a big onboard credit win. Log in and access Online Check-in, Onboard Expenses: Final Sail & Sign Statement Specialty dining on Carnival cruise ships costs from $6 per person for the Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, up to $95 per person for dinner at The Chefs Table. 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. 1.