Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More

Updated 25 October 2026 · 4 min read · Cruise Questions Canada editorial team

Onboard credit is a balance that sits on your cruise account before you board, paying down whatever you charge during the voyage. It is worth exactly what you would have spent anyway, so the trick is collecting as much as you can and routing your normal spending through it.

Where onboard credit comes from

Credit can come from several sources, and they stack more often than people assume. A booking might carry a line promotion, an agency perk and a shareholder benefit all at once.

Carnival Corporation, whose brands include Carnival, Princess and Holland America, has long offered credit to holders of at least 100 shares, scaled by voyage length. Canadians holding shares through a Canadian brokerage can usually claim it with a statement, but check current terms with the line, since shareholder programs can change. Agency-funded perks are explained on what Expedia Extras are, and loyalty status matches can add another layer.

What it can and can't pay for

On most lines, credit applies automatically to the charges on your account. Typical uses:

• Daily gratuities, the classic way to absorb credit you might otherwise waste
• Drinks, coffees and specialty dining
• Ship-booked shore excursions
• Wifi packages, spa treatments and onboard shopping

Usually excluded: the cruise fare itself, casino play, cash withdrawals and, on some lines, certain pre-cruise purchases. Some lines let you apply credit to items booked in their app before sailing, so ask if you want to use it on excursions early.

Refundable versus non-refundable credit

Your booking confirmation or onboard statement shows which type you have. Refundable credit behaves like cash: any balance goes back to your card. Non-refundable credit, the common promotional kind, simply expires at the end of the cruise.

When you have both, lines usually use the non-refundable kind first, which works in your favour.

Per cabin or per person

A "US$100 onboard credit" can mean US$100 for the cabin or US$100 each. The difference doubles the value for a couple, so read the offer wording, especially when comparing two quotes.

How to spend it without wasting a cent

1. Check your account balance in the line's app on day one.
2. Use credit for things you planned to buy, not extras you would skip.
3. Leave daily gratuities on the account if you have plenty of credit to burn.
4. Check the balance again two days before the end.
5. On the last full day, put any remainder towards the spa, the shops or a final dinner.

Charges beyond your credit go to the card linked at check-in. How that settlement works, including card holds, is covered in how onboard payments work.

Credit or a lower fare?

Some offers let you choose between onboard credit and a cash discount. Credit is often a larger number, but a discount is guaranteed value and lowers what you pay up front. If you would not naturally spend the credit, take the discount. Our comparison of onboard credit versus a cash discount runs the numbers.

Where agency-attached credit fits in the bigger picture is covered in how an Expedia Cruises booking compares with booking direct.

Building a bigger balance

The gap between no credit and US$400 on identical cabins usually comes down to timing and how you booked: which promotion was running, whether an agency perk was attached, and whether shareholder or loyalty credit was claimed. Ask about every layer before you pay the deposit, since adding them afterwards is not always possible.

Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)