Quick answer: Onboard credit (OBC) is money added to your shipboard account that reduces what you pay for onboard charges, dollar for dollar. It does not lower your cruise fare. The most important detail is whether it is refundable or non refundable, because non refundable credit disappears if you do not spend it.
Onboard credit shows up on your cruise account as a credit balance. If you have $200 in OBC and spend $200 at the spa, you owe nothing. If you spend $350, you pay the $150 difference at the end. It is separate from your fare and deposit, and it only applies to charges you make during the sailing. If you are planning your total budget, start with our guide to how much a cruise costs.
- What it is: A credit on your ship account for onboard spending
- What it is not: A discount on your cruise fare
- Two types: Refundable (returned if unused) and non refundable (lost if unused)
- Common sources: Travel agents, cruise line promotions, shareholder benefits, bounce back offers, loyalty and casino programs
- Biggest trap: Forgetting to use non refundable credit before the cruise ends
How to Get Onboard Credit
1. Book Through a Travel Agent
This is one of the most reliable routes. Travel agencies earn commission from cruise lines, and many pass a portion back as onboard credit. Amounts range widely, from about $25 per cabin to $300 or more, depending on the agency, the cruise line and the sailing. If an agent offers OBC, you are often getting a better deal than booking direct, but always compare the final price first. Our cruise search page can help you check fares.
2. Cruise Line Promotions
Cruise lines run promotions all year, including early booking incentives, flash sales and offers that include OBC. These change often, so check what is on offer when you are ready to book. The amount can depend on your sail date, cruise length and cabin type. Also remember that the cost of a promotion may be built into the fare, so do not choose a cruise based only on the credit.
3. Shareholder Benefits
This one flies under the radar. If you own 100 or more shares of a qualifying cruise company, you may be entitled to OBC on sailings. The three main programs are:
- Carnival Corporation: $50 to $250 per sailing depending on cruise length, with a much larger credit on world cruises. It covers multiple brands including Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Cunard.
- Royal Caribbean Group: $50 to $250 per sailing, covering Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea.
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: $50 to $250 per sailing, covering Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas.
You must submit proof of ownership before a deadline, usually a few weeks before sailing (about 3 weeks for Carnival and Royal Caribbean and about 15 days for Norwegian). Shareholder credit typically cannot be transferred, cannot be used for casino credits or gratuities, and may exclude travel agent rates, discounted fares or charter sailings. Check the cruise line's website for current amounts and procedures.
4. Casino and Loyalty Programs
Casino hosts at land based casinos and cruise line casino programs sometimes offer OBC to valued players. Climbing a cruise line's loyalty tiers can also bring credit. If you have a casino players card, check whether any offers are attached to it.
5. Bounce Back Offers and Future Cruise Deposits
Booking a future cruise or putting down a deposit while you are on a ship often comes with OBC. Cruise lines have sales desks onboard for this. The credit may apply to your current or next sailing depending on the offer, so read the terms before you pay.
6. Credit Card Promotions
Some travel cards and cruise line co branded cards offer OBC as a sign up bonus or reward. Read the fine print on any cruise branded card, because OBC is often part of the value.
7. Group Bookings
Booking a group on the same sailing can unlock OBC alongside other perks such as a free berth. Group thresholds vary by cruise line, so ask what amenities are available if you are organizing a group cruise.
8. Price Drops and Service Recovery
If your fare falls after you book, the cruise line may offer OBC for the difference instead of a price adjustment. Cruise lines also issue OBC as compensation after problems such as missed ports or mechanical delays. Check your booking terms and track fares yourself.
What You Can Spend OBC On
- Shore excursions booked through the cruise line
- Specialty dining restaurants
- Spa treatments
- Drinks and, on many lines, drink packages bought onboard
- Gift shop purchases and photos
- WiFi packages
- Arcade credits
- Gratuities and casino play, depending on the type of credit (see below)
What you generally cannot use OBC for is your cruise fare, port fees and taxes, or packages you paid for before boarding. It also usually does not cover ship medical services or cash tips. In general, if you can charge it to your key card, OBC may apply, but your cruise line's terms decide. Compare your options with our guides to shore excursions and, if you plan to use credit on drinks, the Norwegian, MSC and Holland America drink package guides.
Gratuities and Casino Use: Read the Fine Print
Whether OBC can pay gratuities or buy casino chips depends on the cruise line and the type of credit. Shareholder credit usually cannot be used for either. Other credit may be allowed on some lines, and gratuities are sometimes described as a service charge. The safest approach is to call the cruise line before you sail and ask specifically, "Can I use this OBC toward daily gratuities?" Get a clear answer so you are not surprised at the end of the cruise. For more on how tips work, see our guide to cruise ship gratuities.
Refundable vs. Non Refundable OBC
This is the most important distinction to understand before you sail.
Non refundable OBC: Use it or lose it. If you have $150 in non refundable OBC and spend only $80, the remaining $70 disappears at the end of the cruise. Cruise line promotional credit is usually non refundable.
Refundable OBC: Any unused balance is returned to you, either to your original payment method or sometimes by check. Credit that a travel agency adds to your booking is often refundable, but confirm this when you book.
Practical tip: If you have both types, ask guest services to apply the non refundable OBC first. That way the credit you could lose is used against your charges, and any refundable credit left at the end comes back to you. Some ships do this automatically and some do not, so it is worth asking at the start of the cruise.
What Happens to Unused OBC at the End of the Cruise
Refundable OBC is returned after the sailing, usually to your payment method or by check. Non refundable OBC is gone. That is why it pays to have a plan for using it. Shore excursions, specialty dining and spa bookings are easy ways to put a lump sum to work before the cruise ends. Sundries and gift shop items are a last resort for a small leftover balance.
Some passengers try to convert leftover credit into casino chips and cash them out. Cruise lines have largely restricted this. On many ships, credit used for gambling is issued as gift chips that must be played, and policies vary, so ask guest services about the current rule on your ship. Do not rely on any workaround. Check your balance a few days before the end of the cruise instead of waiting until the last night, when the lines at guest services are long. For what happens next, read our guide to cruise disembarkation day.
One Common Misconception
OBC is not a discount on your cruise fare. It does not reduce what you paid to book the cruise. It is a credit that applies to charges you make during the sailing, and if you do not spend it you do not save it. That is why the refundable and non refundable distinction matters before you step aboard. It is also worth remembering that a larger credit does not always mean a better deal, because the total price is what counts. Compare the whole cost with our cruise budget calculator.
Plan the Rest of Your Cruise
- How Much Does a Cruise Cost?
- Guaranteed Cabins Explained
- Cruise Ship Gratuities Explained
- What to Expect on Cruise Disembarkation Day
- Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages
- Holland America Drink Packages
- MSC Cruises Drink Packages
- Shore Excursions
- Cruise FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is onboard credit on a cruise?
Onboard credit (OBC) is a credit applied to your shipboard account that you can spend on charges during your cruise, such as spa treatments, shore excursions booked through the ship, specialty dining and drinks. It reduces what you owe at the end of the sailing. It does not reduce your cruise fare or pre sailing purchases.
How do I get free onboard credit on a cruise?
Common ways include booking through a travel agent, using cruise line promotions, claiming shareholder benefits if you own 100 or more shares of Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group or Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and booking a future cruise onboard. Credit card promotions, loyalty and casino programs, group bookings, price drops and service recovery can also bring OBC.
Can I use cruise onboard credit to pay gratuities?
It depends on the cruise line and the type of credit. Shareholder credit usually cannot be used for gratuities or casino credits, while other credit may be allowed. Call the cruise line before you sail and ask specifically so you know before you board.
What happens to unused onboard credit at the end of a cruise?
It depends on whether the credit is refundable. Refundable OBC is returned to your payment method or by check. Non refundable OBC, which includes most cruise line promotional credit, disappears if unspent. Use it before disembarkation on excursions, specialty dining or spa bookings.
What is the difference between refundable and non refundable cruise OBC?
Refundable OBC is returned to you if unused. Non refundable OBC must be spent during the sailing or it is forfeited. Cruise line promotional credit is usually non refundable, and credit from travel agents is often, but not always, refundable. Confirm the type when you book.
Does onboard credit lower the price of my cruise?
No. OBC does not reduce your fare, port fees or taxes. It only offsets charges you make onboard, so it is worth most to passengers who would spend that much anyway.
