Can You Opt Out of Gratuities On A Carnival Cruise? If you have $600 OBC to spend, this would leave plenty of credit left to spend on other things. Thanks for your help. IMPORTANT: Go to Step 3 of the online booking . What can onboard credit be used for on Holland America? Plus, Carnivals spa treatments are cheaper than most other cruise lines. Well, I mean, there are several ways to accomplish this. Guest Services can provide guests with a balance update at any time throughout the cruise. On a Carnival cruise, your onboard account is called Sail & Sign. 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. Is there a way to cash out your onboard credit? On board cruise credit is a great way to "pay! It can be used towards the payment of alcoholic beverages, boutique purchases (such as watches, jewelry, perfumes and clothing), spa treatments and more! That meant people had quite a bit of money to spend. What are your thoughts will we enjoy sailing with so much going with new variant. Finally, as Duffy explained, Carnival follows U.S. federal law, which prohibits possession and use of recreational/medicinal marijuana and other illegal controlled substances. Any amount of OBC that you didn't use to gamble or spin the slots, stays in your account as onboard credit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. Log In to shop food, entertainment and gifts for yourself or a friend! If you need to stay connected, internet at sea is necessary, but tends to be wildly expensive on cruise ships. Log in and access Online Check-in, Onboard Expenses: Final Sail & Sign Statement 2073. It used to be the case that you could only spend Royal Caribbean onboard credit once you boarded your ship. 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. 1. Sail & Sign Account Opened with Cash or Traveler's Checks. The offer that you used to be able to get, is now emailed to you post-cruise. 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?). Call me clich, but it's not a cruise vacation until I'm lounging poolside with a tropical drink in hand. i used it in Alaska. You can redeem any FCC by calling us. Cruise service gratuities will be charged to the account unless they are prepaid. 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. Premium eateries also include some cafes and bars like Coffee Bar, JavaBlue Caf and the RedFrog Pub. Any restaurant onboard that's not included in your cruise fare is a specialty restaurant that will charge a nominal fee. Forums. While it might blow your onboard credit in one shot, applying it to an excursion offers a free or discounted way to embark on a special shore experience. 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. Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailings, Youth Programs (Under 2 & 2-11 years old), Cash Advance on Credit Cards and Debit Cards, Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information. Things like excursions and dining have limited spots, and they can be completely booked weeks before you even step foot on the ship. 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. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. This means that if your cruise costs $1500 for just the cruise fare and taxes, but you get $200 in OBC, the first $200 you spend on the ship will cost you nothing. You can only cash out your $10 winnings and the $100 will go back onto your account as onboard credit. If it made them more money, they'd want more people doing it. It's spending money to use during your cruise. You play and win $10. 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. I was lucky enough to get an onboard credit for a price drop on the Valor. Onboard credit for future cruises booked while already on a cruise can far exceed what youll get from most other sources. But as with any cruise line that isn't all-inclusive (and even on those not everything is included), on a Carnival cruise you will still have to pay extra for certain goods and services, including specialty dining venues, drinks, shore excursions, spa visits, retail purchases, and gratuities, to name a few. ON BOARDcredit can only be used on board. And you will not be able to exchange any remaining credit for cash, either. By Carnival will not be held responsible for any bank imposed overage or insufficient funds charges on debit/check cashing cards or credit cards. The credit will also come with an expiration date. On 10/14/2020 at 10:14 PM, xDisconnections said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. How does Carnival let you use onboard credit. Here are some ideas on how you can spend it. 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. Every guest must be a member of an account in order to obtain a complete Online Check-in status. Onboard credit can be used to purchase Wi-Fi packages, taking some of the bite out of a costly (but necessary) extra. Onboard credit can be used to turn the onboard photographer into your own personal paparazzi. 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. Onboard credits, OBC for those in the know, have traditionally been incentives offered to guests when booking a cruise. What can I use this credit for? You'll usually find these front-and-center on the homepage of the cruise line's website. :rolleyes: Jump to content 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. Hi, I'm Jenni. LauraS 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. CruiseSpotlightSite. You can use your onboard credit in any of these shops. www.carnival.com/legal/specials-terms-conditions.aspx. The following minimum cash deposits are. But for most people, there are better ways to spend your money on the ship. To claim your onboard credit, call customer service to discuss the price drop and your compensation. 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? However, since we have rebooked for later this year, we have found Carnival made some changes that go against your ability to spend these. 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. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited. However, the problem really grew due to the COVID shutdown. CC Help Jenn Many cruise lines offer referral bonuses for new cruises booked by first-timers. If I booked those whilst onboard, I would assume the cost would be deducted from any onboard credit balance I had. Onboard credit in your account means you can shop or eat whatever strikes your fancy. 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. Use Your Onboard Credit for a Spa Splurge. So, the $600 seems like a lot, but with changes and restrictions on how you spend it, you really need to see if this is actually a deal for you to allow them to keep your cruise payment for a year. They told us then that we had a $100 ship board credit per person. Only in the literal sense, mind you. Onboard Credit Can Put Pricey Professional Photos Within Reach. Carnival often refers to it as Cruise Cash. An old Carnival legend who happened to enjoy wearing hats was very fond of this method and posted about it quite frequently. for these activities. If you dont have enough OBC to cover the cost of your cart, you can pay the rest with a credit card or Carnival gift card, just like you would before. It's $100 (or $50) per cruise. It's very important to read the . We have all seen the big glossy advertisements from the cruise lines dangling potentially ridiculous amounts of onboard credit. Boost Your Playtime If Your Cruise Allows Onboard Credit Use in the Casino. 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. Many of the prizes at Carnival bingo arent cash, theyre things from the onboard shops like jewellery, spa services, free bingo cards and more onboard credit. An OBC can really take the sting out of a day pass to the Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite, or treatments booked a la carte, especially on port days, when some spa treatments and packages are already offered at a discount. This may mean that you could risk missing out on some of the most popular tours if they're fully booked by the time you embark. The cost varies depending on the services you desire. To process data . Gratuities to the shipboard staff are customary on Carnival as well as other cruise lines, and you can cover these using your OBC. Special timed-deals and sales often include perks like reduced deposits and free room upgrades, but be on the lookout for the ones that include OBC, usually with the message "Up to $XX onboard credit." This can be set-up during Online Check-in or on board atthe Guest Services Desk. LauraS If you are the Panorama's May 8th sailing out of LA, stopon deck 8, wherethe odd numbercabins are located, and yell "hey Andy". And youll want to know what you can spend this money on. Thanks for the replies. The onboard credit is nonrefundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. That means guests with onboard credit have a dilemma; they can wait until theyre on board and use their OBC and risk the activities being fully booked, or order them ahead of time online and then pay with a credit card or gift card. For cruises six days and under, you get $50 OBC. Matt, believe it or not, that is a fairly often asked question. Only the amount that you win can be cashed out, the rest would go back onto your account as onboard credit. A few don't allow OBC use in the casino or to pay for crew gratuities. Generally speaking, the restrictions include gratuities, casino and gift cards but the restrictions are not currently enforced. Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival's prepaid soda package, available for both children and adults. You can use your Carnival onboard credit in the casino, but you wont be able to cash it out: you can only cash out your winnings. "Onboard credit is non-refundable, non-transferable and has no cash value. 1. After all onboard credit - the clue is in the name isnt it? So, if you want to use your onboard credit towards your next cruise, its probably worth a try. Essentially, onboard credit is money applied to onboard accounts that passengers can spend onboard. Generally speaking, the restrictions include gratuities, casino and gift cards but the restrictions are not currently enforced. A pricey but significant part of many cruisers' experiences in port is shore excursions. While onboard, you'll likely see plenty of cruisers working with staff on your ship to book future cruises with the same line. The guest will need to contacttheir bank for assistance. 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. 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). 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. I know it must have seemed like a strange question. If you know you have credit coming and dont see it in your account before your cruise, its worth a call to customer service. 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. For example, put your FCC towards upgrading your Britannia Balcony Stateroom to one of our Queens Grill Suites, or change . 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. Any help would be appreciated! Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Shore Excursions, 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Shore Excursions, 8 Worst Cruise Rip-offs Not Worth Your Money, Viking Explorer Society Cruise Loyalty Program, 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your OceanMedallion Experience, The Pros and Cons of a Port-Intensive Cruise, 10 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Line Private Island, Spa on Seabourn Quest (Photo: Cruise Critic). Shore Excursions Are a Perfect Match for Onboard Credit. You can use the On Board Credit for anything purchased on the ship (Excursions, drinks, tips). Lowering Your Drink Bill is Easy with Cruise Onboard Credit. Even so, cash tips are often the best way to convey your appreciation directly to a staff member, so consider bringing some bills with you in case. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, offer specific onboard credits, limited to one type of purchase. Weve checked, and we do indeed have $700 available. Thanks for letting me know, Kaylee. I know that some people also prebook things so that they have less of a surprise bill at the end too. 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.