Imagine stepping onto your cruise ship with an extra hundred dollars of free spending money in your account. Drinks, excursions, spa treatments, specialty dining, all covered with onboard credit you didn’t even pay for.
Every time I cruise, I make sure I get at least $50 to $100 dollars in free onboard credit, and the best part is it’s so much easier to get than most people think.
I remember one trip where I used my onboard credit to book a spa treatment I had never tried before, and it felt like I was getting a luxury experience for free.
Below, I’ll break down exactly what onboard credit is, and I’ll share nine simple ways to get free money for your next cruise.
Don’t book your trip until you know these tricks, because if you’re not getting onboard credit, you’re literally leaving free money on the table.
What is Onboard Credit?
If you’re new to cruising, you might be wondering what exactly onboard credit is. Think of it like a gift card from the cruise line. They add a dollar amount to your onboard account, and you can spend it almost anywhere on the ship—shore excursions, spa treatments, specialty dining, cocktails at the bar, gift shop items—you name it.
Personally, I love using mine for shore excursions since they can get expensive, especially when you’re booking activities for the whole family. Booking a sightseeing tour feels like I’m getting it for free because it’s paid with onboard credit.
And here’s a pro tip: you can often use that credit before the cruise even starts by pre-booking excursions online.
There are two types of onboard credit: refundable and non-refundable. Non-refundable means you have to use it during your sailing, or it disappears.
Refundable means if you don’t spend it, the cruise line will refund the balance back to your card, usually within 30 days.
Most onboard credit is non-refundable, but either way, it’s basically free money. So how do you actually get it? Let’s go over the ways.
1. Shareholder Benefits
Here’s one most people don’t know: if you own cruise line stock, you can qualify for free onboard credit.
Norwegian Cruise line gives shareholders fifty to two hundred fifty dollars per stateroom if you own at least a hundred shares.
Carnival Cruise line also gives shareholders $50 to $250 in onboard credit. And it applies to other Carnival Cruise Line-owned brands such as Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, and Costa Cruises.
Royal Caribbean shareholders who own at least 100 shares get fifty to a thousand dollars, depending on cruise length, and it also applies to Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
You just have to request it a few weeks before your sailing. It’s like getting free money for doing almost nothing. So if you’re loyal to one cruise line and you cruise often, buying a hundred shares could easily pay for itself over a few trips.
2. Cruise Promotions
One of the easiest ways to get free onboard credit is by booking during a cruise promotion. The biggest of these is wave season, which runs from January through March. It’s basically the Black Friday of cruising—tons of deals, and onboard credit is almost always part of the offer.
But don’t stop there. Keep an eye out for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Labor Day promos, and other holiday deals. Cruise lines often sweeten the package with onboard credit, drink packages, dining credits, free Wi-Fi, or even third- and fourth-guest sail free offers. There’s really no reason to book your cruise outside of a promotion if you can help it.
The amount of credit you get depends on your cabin category, itinerary, and the length of your sailing. Typically, the nicer your stateroom, the more onboard credit you’ll receive—balcony cabins usually get more than inside cabins.
Here’s a smart tip: if you were already thinking about upgrading to a better cabin, check how much extra onboard credit comes with it. Sometimes the increase in credit value makes the upgrade well worth the difference.
3. Work with a Travel Agent
Another easy way to get free onboard credit is by working with a travel agent. A lot of people don’t use one and book directly, but travel agents often throw in their own perks like onboard credit.
For example, when I book with my travel agent, I usually get additional credit on top of whatever the cruise line is already offering. I always ask for onboard credit, and he adds it without hesitation.
Since I keep going back to the same agent, he’s also generous with other freebies, like a bottle of wine or champagne. So don’t be shy—ask if they can add onboard credit. More often than not, they’ll say yes.
4. Book a Future Cruise Onboard
Another easy way to get free onboard credit is by booking your next cruise while you’re still on the ship. Every ship has a future cruise desk, and they often offer better deals than what you’d find back home. Those deals usually include free onboard credit.
I recently booked a future cruise with MSC for a Mediterranean sailing, and they gave me $100 in onboard credit. On top of that, my travel agent added an extra $75, so I ended up with a total of $175 to spend on the ship.
I also locked in a low deposit of just $100 per person, picked out my midship balcony stateroom, and secured a great rate.
Even if you’re not completely sure about dates, it’s worth checking the offers because they’re often too good to pass up.
Some cruise lines, like MSC, even allow you to refund the deposit if you decide to cancel before final payment, so it’s a low-commitment way to secure a great deal and some free money at the same time.
5. Refer a Friend
Cruise lines will give you free onboard credit for referrals. Here’s how it works. Refer your friend who is new to that cruise line by filling out the referral form on the cruise website.
Some cruise lines will give you $25 to $50 dollars in onboard credit for bringing in new guests, and your friend gets credit too.
Holland America is currently running a refer a friend promotion where both you and your friend get $50 dollars. I actually referred my cousin, and we both got credit that we used for drinks on our next sailing.
If you’ve got friends who’ve never cruised before, this is free cash waiting for you.
6. Price Adjustments
Here’s a sneaky way to get free money on your next cruise: price drops. If you book your cruise and then notice that the cruise price goes down later, some cruise lines will give you the difference as onboard credit.
You’ll need to call your travel agent or the cruise line directly and ask, and most won’t honor price drops after your final payment date. But if you keep an eye on the prices early on, you could get a nice chunk of credit just for noticing the price change.
7. Cruise Line Credit Cards
Cruise line credit cards are another easy way to get free onboard credit. Many cards offer reward points that can be redeemed as onboard credit, and on top of that, they often come with big signup bonuses.
For example, Carnival Cruise Line’s credit card is currently offering $300 in onboard credit as a signup bonus. That’s a lot of free drinks—or a spa treatment, or a shore excursion—right there.
Just be sure to read the fine print and compare the rewards programs before signing up. It’s also smart to choose the credit card for the cruise line you’re most loyal to, so you can actually use the onboard credit on a cruise you’re planning to take.
8. Complain When Something Goes Wrong
Now, this one isn’t fun, but sometimes when things go wrong, you can be compensated with onboard credit. If your cabin has a major issue or you experience a service problem, guest services might offer credit as an apology.
I once had a cabin with a water leak and ended up with onboard credit plus a cabin upgrade. Not bad, right? But honestly, I’d much rather avoid the hassle.
Complaining on vacation isn’t fun and can be stressful, but it’s good to know this option exists if you really need it.
9. Missed Ports or Itinerary Changes
Sometimes cruise lines will give onboard credit as a goodwill gesture when ports are missed or itineraries change. Usually it’s for things within their control, like ship issues, but sometimes they’ll surprise passengers even for weather or strikes.
The catch is that this type of credit usually has to be used onboard during that trip. If you don’t spend it, you lose it. So if you get unexpected onboard credit, go enjoy a specialty dinner, treat yourself to the spa, or buy something fun in the gift shop.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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