You can use onboard . So, heres a list of everything you can spend your Royal Caribbean onboard credit on, in order from the best to the worst. It's the easiest way to get your favorite Apple services at one incredible price and get even more enjoyment out of your Apple devices. Promotions - If you book your cruise during a promotional period, you can get anywhere up to $400 of OBC per stateroom. The downside is that the CHEERS! You dont use credit cards either. If you just want to have fun, though, you can do almost anything you like with it. TPGs March 2023 monthly valuations, Cruise giant Carnival goes Texas-size big with new sailings from Galveston. 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. $17.50. So, don't pay the gratuities in advance and wait for the onboard credit to be applied. The sales agents on board your cruise also have onboard credit booking bonuses to hand out, almost always in amounts larger than youll find elsewhere. While there are lots of things to do on CocoCay for free, activities like the Thrill Waterpark and the Up, Up & Away balloon ride are chargeable. However, like most things, you need to buy it after boarding. Cruise ship photographers take some excellent photos, so why not take this opportunity to purchase some images that will give you everlasting memories of your Royal Caribbean cruise? If you're going to gamble on board, please play responsibly. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Crew Appreciation and Service Charges: Effective on February 1, 2023. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. But, if you rarely ever visit the spa then perhaps nows the time to treat yourself using your onboard credit. So if you love bingo, this might be for you. While youll find plenty of designer bags, watches and jewellery costing thousands of dollars a piece, there are some affordable souvenirs too. They might offer as little as $25 cruise onboard credit for booking an inside cabin on a short sailing or as much as hundreds of dollars for booking suites on longer cruises. I booked an Alaska cruise recently through United Cruises and got $50 OBC; the cruise line was offering $25 for the same stateroom. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Celebrity Cruises has launched 'Always Included' where every cruise will include drinks, WiFi, and tips in cruise fares. Can you use onboard credit to pay gratuities? $100 Onboard Credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 14 days. . Or for a similar price you could treat yourself to a wash and blow-dry in the hair salon so that youre looking your best for the formal night. Shipboard Credit cannot be used towards spa reservations made directly with Aquamar Spa and Vitality Center. Onboard credit is free money you can use to buy things on your cruise ship. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. Even better, no deposits are required. You probably wont want to do all of these extra activities as there are so many things that you can do on board for free, but if there are any that you definitely want to tick off, then these would be a great way to spend any onboard credit that you have left over after paying for gratuities. An onboard credit or OBC is a shipboard cash credit or Free Money. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Check Your Cruise Account Before You Board and Book Deals on Wi-Fi and More. Guests can also redeem credits for massages, facials, body scrubs, Botox, acupuncture, teeth whitening, fillers, hairdressing, manicures, waxing, eyelash treatments, and pedicures. 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. But if you dont have one, you can pay $2 to $15 per item for professional cleaning. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Using onboard credit for tips is allowed on all lines, but check before the start of your cruise . Paying gratuities using onboard credits provides a wonderful way to avoid the bill when the cruise ends. Every time I sail, I make it a point to try the most colorful cocktail I can find just moments after . 7) On board activities or Wi Fi packages that cost extra. Royal Caribbean onboard credit can be used to purchase most things onboard the ship. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Non-Suite. After spinning the wheels a couple of times, they press cash out and receive a ticket. It happens more often than you might think. 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. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, gratuities cost $16.00 per person, per day for most guests and $18.50 per person, per day for those staying in suites. You may also note special offers for discounted treatments. How to Use Your Onboard Credit. Getting the most out of your onboard credit when it comes to drinks depends on what kind of drinker you are. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. The ways people receive OBCs are in the following manner: Onboard cruise cash credits can go towards almost anything you buy while you are on the ship, with the exceptions of additions (port expenses, fees, and taxes), medical expenses, and purchases before boarding the ship. If you do your research, you may discover that you can buy the auctioned pieces for significantly less elsewhere. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. You can also use it for photographs onboard the ship. If youre cruising on one of our Edge-class ships, you can use your onboard credit to get a day pass to the SEA Thermal Suite for each of your days at sea. But if you dont have the time or want to avoid the hassle, then taking Royal Caribbeans official excursions is the easiest way to explore ashore. Find the right card for you. Unless you pay tips in advance, most cruise lines add a daily gratuity amount to your stateroom account during the cruise. There is also a 3% fee for withdrawing funds at a table game, but there isn't a . There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. You'll get Wi-Fi for only $7.80 of your own money. To play using your onboard credit, simply insert your SeaPass card into any slot machine, and select onboard credit as your preferred credit method. Enjoy guilt-free indulgences like massages, body wraps, facials, mani/pedis, acupuncture, and medispa procedures. If you know that you'll be cruising again, it can be worth stopping by the future or next cruise desk to see what deals are on offer. . Thanks! How . If youve never played the slots before, complimentary lessons are available and are listed in each days Celebrity Today newsletter. Furthermore, there is no benefit from utilizing another form of payment or prepaying instead of using an onboard credit. How to Choose the Best Cruise Ship Cabin; The Cruiser's Guide to Japan: All You Need to Know Before Visiting Before the final day of your cruise, if you find that you have unused onboard cruise credit, you can head to guest relations and give it as a tip to a crew member onboard who helped make your cruise a truly wonderful experience. To work out whether you should buy a drink package or pay for your drinks individually, read my guide to Royal Caribbean drink packages. I got a 'free' drinks package on Princess once and the total costof my drinks was like $200 and I tried my hardest to use it. If you notice your cruise fare has dropped after you booked it, many times the line will make up the difference through an onboard credit offer. It can come from a cruise deal that you've booked or from the cruise ship casino, cruise credit card rewards or other sources. Royal Caribbean cruises do include some free drinks like water, tea, coffee, flavoured water and milk. Spa services can be pricy on a cruise. When it comes to vacations, every person has their own idea of the perfect way to enjoy their time off. Those who tend to buy the artwork are simply caught up in the excitement. After all, if you think of it as free money then surely you can justify the price? How to Best Use the Credits and What to Avoid, Photos Reveal Progress at Carnival Cruise Lines New Port, Cunard Line Unveils Historical Photo ExhibitionFrom Past 100 Years, Royal Caribbean Cuts Back on Housekeeping Service, Fourth Carnival Cruise Ship Will Be Based Out of Galveston, Texas. Cruise lines that regularly post booking bonus offers of onboard credit include most of the popular big ship lines: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America, Princess, MSC Cruises and Celebrity, plus even more luxurious lines such as Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania. As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. There is also a 3% fee for withdrawing funds at a table game, but there isnt a fee to withdraw at a slot machine. Sail on the cruise line, and you'll now pay $20.00 per person, per day if you are sailing in an interior, oceanview, balcony cabin or Club Balcony Suite. All OBC can be used for specialty dinners, excursions, drinks, etc. That said, you could easily double your onboard credit with the help of Lady Luck, or you could lose it all. Cruise lines and online travel agencies often promote it as a booking bonus. But first a note: Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean allow passengers to use onboard credit to pay for pre-cruise purchases, though typically only promotional credit directly from the cruise line, not bonus credit issued by third parties like travel agents. During your cruise, stop by the future cruise reservations desk to inquire about special offers and get personalized help to plan your next cruise. If you own at least 100 shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) stock at the time of sailing, you're eligible for an onboard credit. Carnivals terms indicate that credits are not refundable, have no cash value, and arent transferable. Unless you're cruising with a river or luxury line, alcoholic beverages are rarely free of charge. For example, NCLs shore excursion credits can only be used to purchase tours. So if you need to use your phone to keep in touch with work or family members that need you, then it makes sense to buy a wifi package and cover the costs with your onboard credit. If you dont use your onboard credit during your cruise you will lose it. Learn more. They can also be a reward for referring a new customer or being a shareholder in the cruise line. Paying gratuities using onboard credits provides a wonderful way to avoid the bill when the cruise ends. There are several drinks packages to choose from and the prices vary depending on your cruise and when you buy it. Whats Included in a Royal Caribbean Cruise? And how do you get it? Buying the deposit earns $300 in onboard credit (known on Virgin as "Sailor Loot") for use on the future cruise, as well as a $300 discount on the final invoiced amount of the next voyage. These are usually priced per person per day and they will act as tips for the staff on board. Cruise lines love enticing you to book by dangling onboard credit in front of you -- often with a booking deadline. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Booking With A Travel Agent - Many travel agents . 2022 Roblox VR Guide: Help, Tips + Setup. Your Royal Caribbean onboard credit doesnt just have to be spent on the ship you can also use it to purchase official shore excursions. Either Way, Use Your Onboard Credit. Check the daily newsletter or even shop signage for special offers to reduce your costs a tiny bit. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. You can technically spend Onboard Credit (OBC) in various ways and on almost anything you wish. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Enrollment required. To help you maximize the value of your cruise by racking up as much onboard credit as possible, read our tips below and get planning just how you're going to spend that extra cash. That said, I did buy some art at a Royal Caribbean art auction with my onboard credit. The best way to spend any onboard credit that you have is on gratuities. When the cruise is over, you can settle your account by making the final payment using onboard credit, credit cards, or cash. com (Opens in a new window), the Apple Store app, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE, and is subject to credit approval and credit limit. If you happen to have $50 of onboard credit, that's a fantastic use of it. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, offer specific onboard credits, limited to one type of purchase. File that for your onboard credit tips. This trick wont work on Royal Caribbean because, unlike Carnival gift cards, Royal Caribbean gift cards can only be used towards cruise fare, not onboard purchases and shipboard charges. If you dont use it up on your current cruise, you neither get paid out in cash nor can roll it over to your next cruise. On most cruise lines you are able to . In the unlikely event you remain dissatisfied for any reason, the Crew Appreciation is . While youre not able to use your onboard credit to pay for things in advance of your cruise, you can reserve activities for which youll be using your credit once your cruise is underway. On the whole, the returns arent great. No votes so far! Royal Caribbean regularly offers onboard credit as an incentive to get guests to book a cruise. But thats probably where you should leave it. If you love games of chance played in the sophisticated but casual atmosphere of an onboard casino, you can use your credit to play the slots. Depending on the cruise line, you may get onboard credits to use on this cruise, to use towards any purchases on your onboard account. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, your cashless onboard expenses account is also known as your SeaPass account. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Heres a list of the best and worst ways to do it. You can use onboard credit at the casino; however, you can only cash out your winnings. To claim your onboard credit, call customer service to discuss the price drop and your compensation. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. In most cases, these onboard credits can typically be used towards . Carnival onboard credits can be used to purchase a CHEERS! Internet: Necessity or Splurge? Tuff Shed TB-800 2S has a full second story - You can add a full second floor option to TB-800 model. Gratuities are mandatory and they go towards paying the crew members who work so hard to look after us. On a cruise, youll also have to pay for specialty coffees, sodas, smoothies, nonalcoholic cocktails and bottled water. As a former crew member for Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line I can continue my passion by sharing my experiences with readers. This is a great way to treat yourself for those who dont regularly attend any specialty dining experiences. Some cruise lines put restrictions on using OBC in the casino (Holland America bans it outright) or charge a convenience fee for using your onboard account for funds at the gaming tables. Essentially, this credit is a kind of cash back that can only be spent onboard the ship and must be used during your cruise. Have you found yourself with some Royal Caribbean onboard credit and want to know how you can spend it? (For full disclosure, I am a stockholder of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.). The more you collect in your account, the more you have available to spend or play with. When using the credits while sailing, some things provide more value, and some things cost the most to buy when using onboard credit. The best things about Virgin Voyages' My Next Virgin Voyage program. For example, on some Caribbean cruises, you can pay $1699 for a private oasis in the Bahamas or go snorkeling for about $10. Related: Booking a Cruise Onboard: How to Score Extras and Discounts, Refer a Friend and You Both Might Receive Onboard Credit Rewards. A cruise is the perfect place to treat yourself to a spa day if you rarely take time to enjoy the luxury. Sure, drinks packages shave spending off your drink bill, but if you plan on keeping your beverage consumption light, using OBC is a better way to drink for free. So, if you use your credit, you will pay more. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Doing this works out well. The most common way guests receive onboard credit is to receive it from Royal Caribbean as part of a deal to book a cruise. Once on the Play Store, search for Roblox. If your cruise line only accepts OBC once youre onboard a ship, you may need to decide between paying cash for discounted pre-cruise purchases and saving your OBC for other onboard spending, or skipping the discount and advance purchase to use your credit on a specific package or tour once you board. Being on the open ocean is tranquil and the ideal place to relax. Slots are available as soon as the ship enters international waters. You can ask them for cash to play the slots. It's something you'll pay one way or another, so using OBC to cover the expense makes sense on ships where its allowed. Windstar Cruises, for example, offers both you and friends you refer $100 each in onboard credit once they pay in full for a cruise. Onboard credit is an ideal way to pay the daily tips that are usually added to your stateroom bill. For all other drinks, you can either add them to your onboard account individually or buy a drink package before your cruise. If you can document the problem and politely inform guest services, chances are good they'll offer you compensation in the form of onboard credit either for the current cruise or a future one. You can also use your onboard credit to pay for activities on Royal Caribbeans island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Bargain! For some cruise lines, having you share your enthusiasm for their brand with your friends is reason enough to send a bit of OBC your way. Tips generally cost $14.50 for each person daily for most rooms. How to Use Your Onboard Credit. Shore excursions offered by the cruise line are a primo use of onboard credit. Some things you can buy on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are almost always a waste of money, even if you consider that money to be free! Note that these may vary by sailing and are subject to change. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Casino. When Is The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package? It may be possible to cash out your Royal Caribbean onboard credit in the casino, but this isnt something that Royal Caribbean really want you to do. How do tips work on cruise ships? (But at least you had fun, right?) Instead, the cruise line opens a charge account for every passenger on embarkation day. This includes shore excursions, private vans or cars during the cruise, La Reserve, Beverage Packages and Prive. 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts and what to do about them, compensation in the form of onboard credit, 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that arent), Best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package (and 3 to avoid), The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Though special offers vary by itinerary and destination, theres a good chance that youll get more onboard credit this way than if youd waited to book back on land. It's actually sort of annoying trying to maximize the value. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Royal Caribbean Key Program Worth It Or Not? If youre not sure whether or not you can use your onboard credit for something you want to purchase while on the ship, simply check with the helpful folks at the guest relations desk who will be able to advise you. Cruise lines dont always get everything right. Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that arent). When Something Goes Wrong, Ask for Onboard Credit. Pay later if: You need extra time to gather the funds But there are some great deals to be had, particularly if youre shopping with your free onboard credit! However, the odds of winning are stacked against you as many variables are involved. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. But what exactly are you getting and what can you do with it once you have it? Planning a cruise? Again, using onboard credit for tips isn't allowed on all lines; check before the start of your cruise so you can plan accordingly. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. At between $6 and $8 per hour, the group babysitting option is cheaper than getting a sitter at home would be, so why not make the most of your time away and treat yourself to some adults-only time in the theatre, casino or nightclub? Your onboard account is how you pay for almost everything you need that isn't included in your cruise fare or wasn't paid for in advance. Check the policies with your specific rewards program as you start researching a future cruise, Price Drops Put Money Back in Your Pocket. How Can I Receive Carnival Onboard Credits? Legal Information | Privacy Policy. Many cruise lines offer referral bonuses for new cruises booked by first-timers. 10. 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. You can use onboard credits to dine in specialty restaurants. If one person wants The Key, then everyone in the cabin aged six and over must also buy it. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. If you still cant decide what to spend your onboard credit on, then Royal Caribbeans Key Program gives you a little bit of everything. By putting a deposit down on a future cruise, you can take advantage of lower deposits and onboard credit offers. For any cruise departing March 15, 2022 or later, guests can now book their activities online and pay using their onboard credit. Slot machines will generally accept a transfer from your account without fees. Check It Out: The Absolute Best Alaska Shore Excursions You Can't Miss, Specialty Restaurants Might Be on the House with Onboard Credit.