When you book a cruise, you may receive onboard credit as an incentive that comes with your booking. Essentially, this credit is a kind of cash back that can only be spent onboard the ship and must be used during your cruise.
Whether you want to use the funds for pampering or port excitement, your onboard credit will help you have more fun on your cruise. Here are some of the ways you can use your onboard credit like a pro to make your cruise even more memorable.
Book That Once-in-a-Lifetime Shore Excursion
Whether your dream is to take a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain, go dog sledding in Alaska, indulge in a private, chauffeured experience to the wineries of Tuscany during a Mediterranean cruise, or any other exciting activity that’s on your bucket list, you can book it with your onboard credit.
If the cost of the shore excursion is more than the amount of onboard cruise credit you have, you’ll just have to cover the difference.
Pamper Yourself at the Spa
Use your onboard credit at the luxurious onboard spa, which is one of the best things to do on a cruise to truly unwind. Enjoy guilt-free indulgences like massages, body wraps, facials, mani/pedis, acupuncture, and medispa procedures.
If you’re 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.
You can even use your onboard credit for some of those deliciously healthy smoothies in our spa café.
Read: How to Make the Most of the Onboard Spa
Upgrade your Beverage Package
Splurge on premium cruise co*cktails handcrafted by one of our expert onboard mixologists without worrying about the extra cost by using your onboard credit toward beverage packages and high-end drinks.
If you know you’ll want to order drinks each day, whether that’s a frozen margarita while lounging poolside, a late afternoon specialty coffee drink, or sipping on that special cabernet with your steak entree, one of our beverage packages is the way to go, as it gives you unlimited drinks throughout your cruise. You can use your package at the main restaurant, specialty restaurants, casual dining restaurants, and all bars and lounges.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage packages are available and differ depending on if you prefer premium liquor, higher end wines, or craft beer (Classic vs. Premium beverage packages), or if you’d like specialty coffees and teas or bottled water (non-alcoholic beverage package options).
If you enjoy a drink or two during your cruise, but don’t think you’ll need a beverage package, feel free to use your onboard cruise credit toward any à la carte drinks.
Read: What Is Included on a Cruise?
Go on an Onboard Shopping Spree
Shopping the exclusive boutiques onboard our ships is an experience you won’t want to miss. Using onboard credit to purchase designer specialties, from quality leather handbags and special edition watches to exquisite jewelry and cutting-edge electronics, makes shopping at sea an even more exhilarating experience.
Buy a stunning new outfit to wear to dinner that very evening or find a destination-focused souvenir that will always remind you of your cruise vacation. Whatever special keepsake you choose, you’ll be able to apply your onboard credit to your purchase.
Dine at a Specialty Restaurant
If you want to experience indulgence in every sense of the word, you may want to use your onboard credit to savor an amazing dining experience at one (or more) of our specialty restaurants. Our specialty restaurants are as much a treat for the eye as for the palate. Each restaurant’s decor is designed in harmony with its cuisine, with seating, views, and acoustics that accommodate intimate dining experiences as well as larger group gatherings.
Surprise and delight your palate with new and different cuisines, like a fine French meal, a fusion of Asian flavors, or the best dry-aged steak this side of Tuscany. Be enthralled as food is prepared tableside, an exciting feature at some of our specialty restaurants, and enjoy discussing wine pairings for each course with the restaurant’s sommelier.
Use It as an Extra Tip
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.
Use Onboard Credit in the Casino
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.
Slots are available as soon as the ship enters international waters. If you’ve never played the slots before, complimentary lessons are available and are listed in each day’s Celebrity Today newsletter.
To play using your onboard credit, simply insert your SeaPass® card into any slot machine, and select “onboard credit” as your preferred credit method. A 5% transaction fee will automatically be added to your SeaPass card, but that still leaves you plenty of credit to play, since the minimum bet on slots is a very reasonable $0.01. Any winnings are yours to keep.
If you have any questions about using onboard credit in the casino, check with your Casino Host.
How to Get Onboard Cruise Credit
When planning a cruise, onboard credit is often part of a special offer. The amount of onboard credit offered often depends on the time of year, your destination, and the stateroom or suite category you book.
One of the best ways to get onboard credit for your next cruise is to book it during your current cruise. Though special offers vary by itinerary and destination, there’s a good chance that you’ll get more onboard credit this way than if you’d waited to book back on land. During your cruise, stop by the future cruise reservations desk to inquire about special offers and get personalized help to plan your next cruise.
A Few Things to Remember About Onboard Cruise Credit
While you’re not able to use your onboard credit to pay for things in advance of your cruise, you can reserve activities for which you’ll be using your credit once your cruise is underway.
If you’re 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.
Onboard credit cannot be applied to medical costs for any treatments you might need while on the ship. Also, your onboard credit must be used before midnight on the last night of your cruise. That means that it will not be available on your final morning aboard your Celebrity Cruises’ ship.
At the end of your cruise, onboard credit will be applied to your final bill for the expenses you incurred during the cruise.
Book a Cruise and Put Your Onboard Credit to Use
Start browsing all of our incredible cruise itineraries and find the one that best fits your vacation dreams, then start planning all the fun and fabulous ways you’ll use your onboard credit once you’re sailing in luxury with Celebrity Cruises.
