Onboard credit

Onboard credit is an amount loaded onto your shipboard account before you sail, often as part of a cruise line promotion or as a perk from your travel agency. You can spend it on things such as drinks, specialty dining, spa treatments or shore excursions booked on board, and on many lines toward gratuities. Rules vary: some credit is non-refundable and lost if unused, and some cannot be used for certain purchases. Know the amount and the rules before you board so you can plan to use it.

Onboard credit, deposits and budget terms

These terms decide how much you pay, when, and what you can change.

Deposit and final payment

When you book, you usually pay a deposit, then the balance by a final payment date. After that date, changes and cancellations often cost more. Dates and penalties vary by line, fare and trip length, so we confirm them in writing for your booking rather than quoting a rule of thumb.

Onboard credit

Onboard credit is money on your shipboard account, often offered in promotions. Points to check:

• What can it pay for? Some credit cannot be used for gratuities, casino or certain services.
• Per cabin or per person? Offers differ.
• Refundable? Unused promotional credit often is not.
• When it arrives. Some credit appears at boarding, some after.

Virgin Voyages, for example, advertises onboard credit offers on its home page; read the offer terms for what they cover.

Fare types

Fares now differ in what they include and how flexible they are. Virgin's VoyageFair Choices, introduced 7 October 2025, are fare options with different perks and flexibility. Celebrity's All Included is an optional fare that adds drinks and basic Wi-Fi, while staff gratuities stay separate. Compare fares by total cost and flexibility, not price alone.

A budget checklist

• Note the final payment date in your calendar.
• Add expected gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi and excursions to the fare.
• Ask whether onboard credit offsets any of them.
• Keep a little margin for port days and photos.

Sources

• Virgin Voyages home page (checked 9 October 2026)
• Virgin Voyages VoyageFair Choices FAQ (checked 9 October 2026)
• Celebrity All Included FAQs (checked 9 October 2026)

Line policies, prices and inclusions change. We check the current terms for your sailing rather than quoting fixed figures.