01/09/2026
🚢 That $500 onboard credit might not actually be free…
Cruise lines LOVE a good promotion.
“BOOK NOW & RECEIVE $500 ONBOARD CREDIT!” 💰
Sounds great, right?
Sometimes it absolutely is.
But here’s something I always recommend checking before getting excited about the extra spending money:
👉 What’s the price WITHOUT the onboard credit?
Cruise lines can have multiple fares available for exactly the same sailing and cabin.
For example:
Cruise fare with $500 OBC: $4,799
Standard cruise fare: $4,499
You’re technically getting $500 to spend onboard…
But you’ve paid an extra $300 to get it.
So the real additional value to you is only $200.
That doesn’t automatically make the OBC offer bad — especially if you know you’ll spend the money onboard anyway — but it’s important to compare the total value of the offer, not just the biggest number in the promotion.
Whenever you see bonus onboard credit, bonus inclusions or a flashy cruise sale, ask:
“What’s the standard fare without the promotion?”
Sometimes the promotional fare wins.
Sometimes the standard fare wins.
And sometimes there are completely different fare options that work out even better for how you travel.
A good deal isn’t always the one with the biggest SALE banner attached to it. 😉
Compare the actual value.
That’s one of the things I do when I’m looking at cruise options for my clients — because I’d rather find you the right fare than simply the best-looking promotion.
