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Cruise Basics, Money
What Is Onboard Credit on a Cruise? How to Get It and How to Spend It
Onboard credit, often called OBC or cruise cash, is spending money applied to your shipboard account. This guide explains what it covers, the main ways to get it, and the rules that decide whether unused credit is refunded.
Onboard credit, often called OBC or cruise cash, is spending money applied to your shipboard account. This guide explains what it covers, the main ways to get it, and the rules that decide whether unused credit is refunded.
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What matters first
Use this page as the practical filter before you open booking pages, maps, or official policy documents.
What is onboard credit
It is a credit applied to your shipboard account that you spend like cash on board, then settle against your final bill.
How travelers get it
Common sources are booking promotions, travel agent perks, cruise-line credit cards, and shareholder benefits.
Does unused credit expire
Promotional credit usually expires at the end of the sailing and is not refunded, while some credit you bought may be refundable.
Decision system
The planning sequence
Use the sequence below to decide how this should shape the trip.
Where it gets used
The point is to offset normal onboard spending, not to feel abstract
OBC makes more sense once you tie it to the parts of the ship where people actually spend money. That is why drinks, Wi-Fi, dining, shops, and excursions matter more than the buzzword itself.
What it covers
OBC usually applies to gratuities, drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, shore excursions, shops, and sometimes the casino. It posts against your shipboard account instead of paying a vendor directly.
How to earn it
The easiest version is a booking promotion that bundles onboard credit with the fare, but agents, co-branded cards, and shareholder perks can add more. Stacking a line offer with an agent perk is common enough to ask about every time.
The expiration rule
Promotional OBC usually does not roll over and often disappears at the end of the voyage. Credit you paid for can follow different refund rules, so the terms matter more than the marketing label.
Planning traps
Mistakes to avoid
These are the small decisions that quietly derail an otherwise good plan.
A quick account check near the last night avoids wasting the balance.
Promo credit and purchased credit often follow different rules.
Agent or card-based OBC can change the real value of a booking offer.
Sources checked
Official and supporting references
These are the references checked while writing this page, so you can confirm live prices, dates, rules, and operating details before money changes hands.
FAQ
Common planning questions
What can onboard credit be used for
How do I get onboard credit
Does onboard credit expire
Is onboard credit the same as cruise cash
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