Here's something a LOT of my clients don't realize until I point it out: the price you see for a cruise isn't always the full story! Between onboard credit, drink packages, and gratuity credits, there can be hundreds of dollars in added value baked into a booking — value you might completely miss out on if you book on your own. Let's talk about what these perks actually are and why they matter. 🌊
💳 What is onboard credit (OBC), exactly?
Onboard credit is essentially free money added to your cruise account that you can spend on the ship — specialty dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, photos, drinks, WiFi, you name it! It's not cash back and it doesn't reduce your fare, but it absolutely reduces your out-of-pocket spending once you're onboard. OBC can come from the cruise line directly (tied to a promotion or your cabin category), from a credit card that offers cruise perks, or — this is a big one — from your travel advisor. Yes, I can often provide OBC on top of what the cruise line is already offering, just for booking with me! 🎁
🍹 Drink Packages & Gratuity Credits
Depending on the promotion running when you book, cruise lines will sometimes throw in a free (or deeply discounted) drink package, which can easily be worth $70–100+ per person, per day if purchased separately! Prepaid gratuities are another one — these are the daily service charges that get added to your account automatically, and when they're included as a "perk," that's real money staying in your pocket instead of getting billed later. Stack a drink package AND prepaid gratuities together, and you could be looking at several hundred dollars in built-in value on a single booking. 💵
⭐ Why This Is Where an Advisor Really Earns Their Keep
This is honestly one of my favorite parts of the job — finding my clients value they wouldn't have found (or even known to look for) on their own! Promotions change constantly, vary by cruise line, sail date, and cabin category, and sometimes stacking the RIGHT combination of perks takes some digging. When you book with me, I'm not just handing you a price — I'm actively comparing offers to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck, whether that's extra OBC, a free upgrade, or a bundled perks package. That's the difference between booking a cruise and booking smart. 🧠
Curious how much hidden value might be sitting in your next cruise? DM me the word PERKS and let's see what we can uncover for your trip! 🚢💙
Travel Happy,
Teri
#tripsbyteri