Getting free onboard credit (OBC) on a Carnival cruise feels like winning the lottery. But if you’re not careful, blink, and it’s gone. Many cruisers have regretted wasting the “free cash” on overpriced trinkets, art auctions, and the casino. What’s worse—some forget about it entirely. Use it or lose it is the unwritten rule on board.
Without a doubt, Carnival ships dish out the fun like there’s no tomorrow. And smart cruisers know how to use their OBC to maximize the cruise experience. But many comments on Cruise Critic, Reddit threads, and Facebook groups tell a different story, leaving it too late to decide how to spend Carnival credit.
I’ll share with you some of the biggest OBC mistakes to avoid and where exactly savvy cruisers put their credit to work for the best upgrades, memories, and value.
8 Things You’ll Regret Wasting OBC On
There’s nothing better before a Carnival cruise than checking your account and noticing a surprise $50, $100, or even more in onboard credit. But make sure that little gift doesn’t disappear faster than a frozen margarita in the Caribbean sun.
Here’s where cruisers blow OBC with the biggest regrets.
Waiting Too Long to Spend Your OBC
You think, “I’ll deal with it later.” But by day five, you’re panic-buying Carnival mugs, overpriced keychains, and whatever junk’s left to burn through your credit. Meanwhile, the good stuff, like steakhouse dinners, shore excursions, and spa specials, are long gone.
From all the comments on Facebook, Reddit, and Cruise Critic, forgetting about OBC until the last minute is the number one regret. One cruiser groaned that the Carnival day tote and water bottle set were the worst 70 bucks he’d ever spent.
Wait too long, and you won’t just lose money—you’ll also lose the best part of the cruise experience.
Buying Water Packs
Paying outrageous prices for bottled water onboard is one of the best ways to flush your OBC down the drain—literally. Unless you’re super picky about water, the best solution is to bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up at water stations. It’s free and safe to drink.
If cruise ship tap water doesn’t “float your boat,” then there’s plenty of lemonade, iced tea, regular tea, and coffee available 24/7. That frees up your OBC for something that actually adds fun to your cruise.
Impulse Shopping at the Fun Shops
It’s day one: you’ve got that cruise vacation buzz and $50 of OBC to burn. Before you know it, you’re checking out overpriced cakes, cookies, and wine in the Fun Shop—stuff you never planned to buy. Yep, the Day-One hype has you hook, line, and sinker.
Plenty of rookie cruisers on cruise forums admit they blew their credit early and regretted it by day three. OBC can feel like free money—but the Fun Shops know precisely how to make you spend like it was burning a hole in your shorts pockets.
Internet Packages
Unless you must be connected, paying $20 a day for a connection that cruisers describe as “spotty at best” isn’t the most effective way to dispose of OBC. Of course, you have the option to purchase WiFi using OBC during the booking process and get a 15 percent discount. But you just need to consider if you really need the extra expense.
The consensus is this: “Save your credit—and your sanity—for something that won’t buffer all week.”
Casino Credit
It’s not your own money you’re losing playing blackjack, right? That’s how many cruisers justify depositing their OBC in the casino. But here’s the problem. Unless you’re an experienced gambler, that credit will probably disappear in minutes. All you may have to show for it is a blinking screen and a free drink.
First-time cruisers shared on Reddit how surprised they were at the speed at which their accounts drained. They said they would’ve rather spent their OBC at Emeril’s Bistro or Il Viaggio—something they’d actually remember.
Just because it’s “free” doesn’t mean you should hand it back to Carnival without a fight.
Onboard Art Auctions
Bidding on cruise ship art can feel exciting—until you realize you spent your OBC on pieces you won’t even carry off the ship. Many cruisers say the prices are inflated, the shipping takes time, and the thrill fades fast. “Fun at the time,” one guest said, “but I wish I’d spent it on something I actually used onboard.”
Full-Priced Spa Treatments
What could be more relaxing at sea than a massage with a spectacular ocean view? Until you see the price tag! Full-priced spa services with OBC start around $100, with full body massages over $200. So that surprise OBC deposit isn’t going to last long.
The best cruise hack I came across online is to snag port-day specials on spa treatments. This can mean savings of at least 20 percent.
Avoid overspending on spa treatments and let your stress, not your onboard credit, melt away.
Forgetting to Use It
I was surprised at how many cruisers, especially those who usually pay their final bill with a credit card, forget to use all their OBC. Unfortunately, non-refundable onboard credit doesn’t roll over or get refunded. If you didn’t spend it, you’ve handed it back to Carnival.
If you get OBC as part of a promotion, have a plan to use it, not lose it. There are a ton of ways to spend onboard credit that can take your cruise vacation to the next level—even if it’s dining in a fancy specialty restaurant.
7 Smart Buys that Upgrade Your Cruise Experience
You’ve dodged the OBC mistakes, and now it’s time to steer your onboard credit to smoother waters. Instead of letting that “free money” sink like the ship’s anchor in port, find out how savvy cruisers use OBC to upgrade their voyage.
Here’s how to make every dollar in your account work for your benefit.
Specialty Dining
Booking a meal at the Steakhouse, Chef’s Table, or Bonsai Teppanyaki is one of the most popular ways to turn a good Carnival cruise into a great one. Specialty restaurants serve better food in intimate settings and “wow” moments you’ll remember. It’s the best way to enjoy five-star treatment at sea for free.
One cruiser shared, “We booked Bonsai Teppanyaki with OBC the first day on board. Best decision we made—fun, fresh, and way better value than a souvenir.” Most guests agree: using OBC to splurge on specialty dining is the best decision you can make—no regrets.
Why settle for Guy’s Burger Joint when you could enjoy Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse without parting from your hard-earned cash?
Shore Excursions Booked Through Carnival
Want to spend your OBC on something unforgettable with no regrets? Put it toward a shore excursion booked directly through Carnival. Island tours, snorkeling trips, and foodie adventures turn a good port day into an amazing one. Just head to Guest Services as soon as you board to discover what’s available.
Many cruisers commented that they never regretted using free OBC on shore excursions. One guest said that their snorkeling trip booked through the cruise line was the highlight. Another noted that the cruise-sponsored tour saved stress because they knew they’d make it back to the ship on time for departure.
Just a heads-up: It’s best to use OBC to pre-book excursions before boarding. One cruise passenger complained, “By the time we got to the Shore Excursion Desk, all the good tours were sold out.”
Premium Coffees and Teas
Who really wants to spend their entire cruise drinking mediocre cruise-line coffee? Not me. Splurging a few bucks of OBC at the Coffee Bar or JavaBlue Café is a genuine cruise upgrade. The specialty lattes, iced coffees, and espressos, together with a delicious cupcake, donut, or opulent cookie, feel like tiny luxuries.
Coffees are relatively inexpensive compared to other onboard drinks. So, spending a little of your OBC here really goes a long way. Many Carnival passengers agree that these are the best “small splurges” you won’t regret.
Tasting your first authentic espresso onboard feels nautical miles away from the typical over-brewed “meh” coffee Carnival usually offers for free.
Gratuities (In Some Cases)
Paying for gratuities is an excellent way to spend your onboard credit and reduce your final bill. However, one thing to remember—this strategy doesn’t work if you prepay gratuities. So, on the Cruise Planner, uncheck the “Prepay Gratuities” box.” Then, any gratuities owed are taken from your OBC balance.
I discovered that not all types of OBC can be used for gratuities. These are typically free OBC that Carnival shareholders receive. Also, double-check with Guest Services because not all promotional OBC qualifies for gratuity payments.
Cheers! Drink Package
Savvy cruisers use their OBC to purchase Carnival’s drink package, which covers alcohol, sodas, and bottled water. Depending on how much you drink, it can be a real money saver. Even better, if you have OBC at the time of booking, you can use credit toward the cost of the drink package.
Not a big drinker? Then Carnival’s Bottomless Bubbles beverage package is excellent value for money, especially if you can use OBC.
One cruiser shared, “I pre-purchased my drink package with OBC and saved extra without touching my wallet onboard.” The best advice? Check your cart before checkout to see if you can use free credit to cover the fun.
Photos Packages
OK, I get it—many cruisers say that the photo packages are a classic cruise line rip-off. But if you’re cruising because of a celebration, using OBC for professional photos gives you memorable keepsakes. These are way better than faceless, random souvenirs that are trashed later.
Some cruisers said that they purchased some photos with unused OBC. It turned out that the pictures were valuable mementos and are still on display in their homes years after the cruise vacation.
Discounted Thermal Suite Passes
Let’s face it: many cruisers don’t consider visiting the spa on a cruise due to the cost. But if you’ve got a healthy balance in your onboard credit account, the spa could be an indulgence you’ll remember. Just imagine—access to Cloud 9 Spa lets you enjoy its thermal suite, hot tubs, hydrotherapy pools, steam rooms, and sauna. And no kids allowed!
Many Carnival guests say that the 20 bucks on a spa pass was the best money spent on a Carnival cruise. It was the perfect escape from the non-stop partying that usually takes place onboard. One cruiser shared, “Honestly, lounging in the thermal suite was better than half the shore excursions I’ve done. OBC well spent.”
How to Turn Unused Carnival OBC Into Cash
Smart cruisers have a simple trick to turn non-refundable OBC into hard cash at the end of their vacation. Head to the casino, insert your Sail & Sign card, transfer your OBC as credits, play 1 or 2 small spins (optional, but some do this to make it look casual), and then cash out.
Carnival knows people do this. Some casinos have added warnings or started limiting how much OBC you can load and cash out this way, but as of now, it’s still widely used.
Just don’t expect Guest Services to hand you the money — they’ll say non-refundable OBC must be spent onboard. That’s where the casino loophole comes in.
What Carnival Doesn’t Always Tell You About OBC
Carnival’s onboard credit feels like a bonus, and in most cases, it is. However, a lot of confusion exists about what you can pay for and when. Generally, non-refundable OBC doesn’t have cash value and, therefore, is forfeited at the end of the cruise.
Understanding Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Onboard Credit (OBC) on Carnival
Carnival offers two types of onboard credit (OBC), and it’s important to know the difference—especially if you’re hoping to cash out at the end of your cruise. Non-refundable OBC is the most common type. It usually comes from Carnival as part of a promotion (like “$100 free onboard credit!”), and while it’s great for spending onboard—on drinks, excursions, or even the casino—it won’t be refunded if you don’t use it. It also can’t be transferred or exchanged for cash at Guest Services.
On the other hand, refundable OBC refers to money that you add to your Sail & Sign account yourself. This could be from overpaying, canceling a shore excursion, or loading funds in advance. If there’s any of that refundable credit left over at the end of your sailing, Carnival will return it to your original payment method. This is what experienced cruisers mean when they talk about “getting OBC refunded”—but it only applies to money you put in, not promotional credit from Carnival.
OBC Doesn’t Always Cover Everything
Onboard credit covers most purchases onboard and several before you cruise. However, there are exceptions. You cannot use it to pay for future cruise fares, port fees, taxes, or medical expenses. Also, it doesn’t cover payment for any privately arranged shore excursions.
Expiration Rules Are Stricter Than You Think
Forget about taking Carnival’s OBC with you for a future cruise when you disembark. No rollovers, cash-back, or credit to your card. When you’re gone from the ship, so has your onboard credit. Cruisers say forgetting to check their balance early is one of the costliest mistakes they make.
Shareholder Credit Must Be Applied Early
Don’t think that just because you’ve got at least 100 shares in the Carnival Corp, $100 OBC is automatically applied to your account. You must apply for your onboard credit before the cruise. Carnival requires you to send proof of stock holdings, your booking number, and your Circle Status Number.
Confusion About When to Use OBC
Carnival doesn’t make it super clear when you can actually use your onboard credit. And that confusion costs cruisers.
Some types of OBC can be used before your cruise to pay for things like Wi-Fi, drink packages, or excursions — but only if the credit is refundable. Promotional OBC? That usually has to be spent on the ship.
A lot of outdated info still floats around online. Many blogs and forums wrongly say you can’t use OBC pre-cruise at all. That’s not true — you can, but only if it’s the right kind.
Best tip: At checkout, if you see OBC available as a payment option, go for it. If not, it’ll likely be waiting for you onboard.
How to Make the Most of Your OBC on a Carnival Cruise
Check your account early: Open the Carnival Hub app or swing by Guest Services. Before you start spending, you should know precisely how much OBC you have and whether it’s refundable or not.
Make a mini-game plan: Jot down a quick “OBC Wishlist” before you sail. Without a plan, that free money will disappear faster than a lounge chair on the pool deck. Prioritize the bucket-list activities that you wouldn’t usually choose due to price.
Ask Guest Services what’s fair game: Policies shift. What worked on your last cruise might not fly now. A two-minute chat can save you a hundred bucks—and a lot of regrets.
Sail Smarter, Spend Better, and Soak Up Every OBC Perk
Onboard credit loaded into your Carnival App gives you two goals:
- No regrets
- No leftover credit
Smart cruisers don’t let onboard credit go to waste. A little planning turns ‘free money’ into unforgettable dinners, relaxing spa time, and stress-free shore excursions. Don’t chase souvenir mugs—chase moments you’ll remember. Here’s to happy sailing, full glasses, and making the most of every Carnival perk you can afford!
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