Onboard Credit or a Lower Fare?
Why the biggest number is not always the better coupon.
Find My Best Cruise OfferOnboard Credit or a Lower Fare?
Many cruise “coupons” are not discounts at all. They are onboard credit: an amount loaded onto your shipboard account to spend on the cruise. Knowing the difference keeps you from picking the wrong offer.
| Fare discount | Onboard credit | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | The price you pay for the cruise | Money on your onboard account |
| When you benefit | At booking and payment | Only once you are on the ship |
| What it can pay for | The fare itself | Drinks, dining, spa, excursions and more, depending on the terms |
| If unused | Nothing to lose | Terms vary; some credit is non-refundable if not spent |
| Watch for | Non-refundable deposit conditions | Excluded items and whether it can be used before sailing |
Questions to Ask About Any Onboard Credit Offer
- Is it per person, per cabin, or per booking?
- Can it be used for pre-cruise purchases, or only on board?
- What is excluded — gratuities, casino, some services?
- Is unused credit refunded, or lost at the end of the cruise?
- Is it from the cruise line, or from an agency, and when does it appear on my account?
If you will spend that much on board anyway, credit is real value. If you would not, a lower fare is better. What costs extra on a cruise is explained by Ask the Cruise Specialists.
Where Onboard Credit Comes From
Line promotions
Bundled into a sale, often for higher cabin categories.
Loyalty perks
Some tiers include credit; see Frequent Cruiser Program.
Advisor amenities
Agencies may add credit to bookings they make. Ask your advisor what applies.
Groups
Group bookings can earn amenities that are shared out among the group.
A Worked Comparison, Without Numbers
Imagine two offers on the same balcony cabin. Offer A lowers the fare. Offer B keeps the fare higher but adds onboard credit. To compare them, add up what you would actually spend on board in the categories the credit covers. If that spend is at least the credit, and the fare difference is smaller than the credit, Offer B wins. If you would not spend that much, or the credit excludes what you buy, Offer A wins. Taxes, fees and gratuities stay the same either way, so leave them out of the comparison.
Do the same test with drinks and Wi-Fi bundles: they are worth their cost only if you would have bought them anyway.
Onboard Credit and Your Final Bill
On the ship, credit normally appears on your onboard account and is used up before your card is charged. Check your account in the app or at guest services early in the cruise to make sure every credit you were promised is there, and again on the last night. Raising a missing credit on board is far easier than chasing it after you get home.
Credit or Discount? We Will Do the Math
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will price both ways for your cabin and show you which is better.
Compare Both