Iused the OBC aftermy 25th for gratuities, and shore excursions at every port. No votes so far! Agency credit offers can often top the cruise line's own onboard credit offers for the same stateroom on the same cruise. It can be used towards the payment of alcoholic beverages, boutique purchases (such as watches, jewelry, perfumes and clothing), spa treatments and more! However, onboard credit that comes from being a Carnival shareholder cant be applied to gratuities. 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. What can I use this credit for? Onboard credit in the spa often applies to anything on their treatment menu, and that list could be a long one. CC Help Jenn Call me clich, but it's not a cruise vacation until I'm lounging poolside with a tropical drink in hand. However, you must arrange these at the shore excursions desk on the ship, not online before you board. cruizing with teens, March 19, 2006 in Carnival Cruise Lines. Well, I mean, there are several ways to accomplish this. I feel this is becoming an issue with all the pandemic cancelations, along with some cruise line policy changes. 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. 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. Many cruise lines offer referral bonuses for new cruises booked by first-timers. And how do you get it? Carnival onboard credit can be used to purchase almost anything onboard the ship. MSC Cruise Lines Onboard Booking Incentives $100 onboard credit Reduced deposit This will be the default card that all these purchases are charged to. 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. 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. Shop for Cruise Deals That Include Onboard Credit. ON BOARDcredit can only be used on board. You can also use your onboard credit to book spa treatments like massages, body scrubs, facials, acupuncture, botox, fillers, teeth whitening, hairdressing, waxing, manicures, pedicures and eyelash treatments. Actual credit/debit cards must be present at the time of embarkation. In addition, guests can view their balance update at a Sail & Sign kioskand Carnival's HUB app. It only lets me charge these to a credit card when I try to purchase these types of things on Carnival's website. 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. Furthermore, violations of Carnival's policy will result in fines of $500. What are your thoughts will we enjoy sailing with so much going with new variant. Onboard credit is the currency you can use to make purchases when onboard your cruise. 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. 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. The OBC will be used to pay your onboard expenses--gratuities, drinks, spa, etc. 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. Also, be sure to subscribe to Carnival's VIFP past-passenger club. If the proverbial carrot has proven irresistable and you've clicked the ad, wondering what it is exactly, you wouldn't be the first. 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? You might be allowed to use onboard credit for crew gratuities. Using onboard credit for tips is allowed on all lines, but check before the start of your cruise so you can plan accordingly. A few don't allow OBC use in the casino or to pay for crew gratuities. After that, you will receive a key card and allowed to board the ship. 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 long-held cruise tradition, formal night portraits are a staple in the gallery of every cruising family's home. While onboard credit might have worked well in the past, these days, its a bit of an issue. Your credit will just be applied to your account once youre on board, and your final cost will be credited by that amount. This can be a way to extend your onboard credit so that you can use it towards another cruise. If you want wifi, you should buy it before your cruise, rather than with onboard credit for the best price. How to Use Your Onboard Credit. 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. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Most people only visit the art auctions on cruise ships for a free glass of sparkling wine. The account owner has the option to set spending limits or notallow charging privileges to their account. On Carnival cruises, Bingo cards start at $10 each, although most people actually spend more than this as they get multiple cards. 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. If you know you have credit coming and dont see it in your account before your cruise, its worth a call to customer service. Lets say you load $100 of onboard credit onto your casino account. 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. Onboard credit can be used to purchase Wi-Fi packages, taking some of the bite out of a costly (but necessary) extra. Started June 21, 2021, By You can use your onboard credit in any of these shops. Anyone's experience with onboard credits would be appreciated!! Some people have been told that onboard credit that was earned from rebooking a cancelled cruise cannot be used to buy gift cards, but other types of onboard credit such as from a price reduction or shareholders credit can. If you book a suite, the cost is higher at $16.50 per person, per day. Who ever heard ofpaying for a restaurant 5-6 months in advance? Carnival Mardi Gras The First Reviews Are In, for our upcoming cruise on the Carnival Celebration, Cooking Up Some Fun in A Carnival Kitchen Class. Logo Store; Find Your Roll Call; Meet & Mingle Youre on vacation, remember? Get expert advice, insider tips and more. It's spending money to use during your cruise. The price of each piece can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars and its probably not a great investment. Booking a Future Cruise While on a Cruise. 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. And you can bet that serious art enthusiasts and art investors wouldnt purchase the art on a cruise ship either. Only in the literal sense, mind you. Note: Gift Cards may also be referred to as 'secured' or 'pre-loaded' credit cards or 'Travel Funds Card'. In addition, guests can view their statement on Carnival's HUB app,at a Sail & Sign Kiosk or at Guest Services. No, you dont have to book anything ahead of time if you dont want to. CC Help Jenn The Sail & Sign. Because our cart was only $651, the site shows thats how much onboard credit we have. The cardholding guest must be an authorized signer by the card-issuing bank. You can access a thermal suite, relaxation room,. Opinions are usually divided when it comes to using internet onboard a ship (did you come to disconnect, or will you be glued to the outside world?). 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. At the end of youse cruise, you can settle your account with cash, a credit card or onboard credit. When it comes to spending your onboard credit, some of the things that you can spend it on are better value than others. This will result in multiple amounts being held. In fact, there are some things that it will cost you more to purchase if you do so using onboard credit. The exception to this is if you only want to use wifi for a few days, rather than the whole cruise. What about gratuities?? Otherwise I use it for the steakhouse, a bottle of wine, and drinks around the ship (I've been getting free drinks in the casino with my booking). 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 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. You can use the On Board Credit for anything purchased on the ship (Excursions, drinks, tips). Boost Your Playtime If Your Cruise Allows Onboard Credit Use in the. beverage program, which includes non-alcoholic beverages as well as beer, spirits and wine by the glass. So my question is this?? These are typically periodic promotions, where the amount of onboard credit you receive is tied to the stateroom category you . It used to be the case that you could only spend Royal Caribbean onboard credit once you boarded your ship. 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. So you must spend it all before the end of the last night of your cruise to avoid wasting it. Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise? If changing credit card number or debit card number, use DELETE feature and add new credit card or debit card information. The amount of onboard credit can vary by cruise line, cabin type and length of cruise. This option includes all-you-can-drink soda, sparkling water, and fruit juices. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Carnival Onboard Credit: How to Get It and Where to Spend It. If you must have the comfort of an internet-ready device, Carnival offers several connectivity plans that can be paid with OBC once onboard. 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.