One of the lesser known, but most beneficial, pit stops to make during your cruise is to the ship’s Future Cruise Desk onboard.
Once onboard, the Future Cruise Consultant is available to book your next vacation and provide you with valuable incentives for booking onboard. Some cruisers may think the cruise lines are just trying to ‘strike while the iron is hot’, so to speak, as you are already relaxed and having a great time onboard. However, I have never felt pressured or sought after by staff to book a cruise onboard; you are able to take advantage at your discretion. Plus, most of the promotional offers are hard to beat.
Depending on the cruise line, you are able to book a specific itinerary or just purchase a certificate of deposit for an undeclared date and decide later what particular itinerary you would like to sail.
Oh and the best part, even though you are booking directly onboard the new booking will be made under the same profile as your current cruise. Which means the travel agency will remain the same and you keep all of your current incentives, plus any extra your travel agency (ahem iCruise.com) is able to offer! Not to mention the spectacular service you will receive from our team here. It is a win-win!
Most lines and ships now offer this convenience, but not all, so confirm with your travel agent before sailing. You can check your cruise’s daily newsletter for desk location and hours.
Deposit Amount: $250
Benefit of Freestyle Cruise Rewards:
- Instant $100 Onboard Credit to spend onboard current cruise
- Just book within 4 Years from the date of purchase to use
- No additional deposit required at the time of deposit on future booking – except Specialty Suites, The Haven and Garden Villas
- Cruise Rewards Deposits are transferable at no charge
Restrictions of Freestyle Cruise Rewards:
- Must be 21 years of age or older to purchase
- A maximum of four (4) may be purchased per person
- Refundable within 30 days of purchase, in the amount paid minus the amount of the instant $100 shipboard credit
- Valid for sailings of 6 days or longer
- Only one Freestyle Cruise Rewards is applicable per stateroom
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
Royal Caribbean NextCruise Onboard Open Booking Bonus
Deposit Amount: $100 per person
Benefit of NextCruise Onboard Open Booking Bonus:
- Up to $200 Onboard Credit to apply on future booking - 3-5 Nights: $25 per stateroom; 6-9 Nights: $100 per stateroom; 10-14 Nights: $150 per stateroom; 15 + Nights: $200 per stateroom
- No additional deposits due until final payment (except Suites)
- No need to select your ship and sail date now – you can decide later
- Open Bookings are transferable to friends and family prior to selecting your ship and sail date
- You may purchase up to three Open Bookings (one booking = one stateroom). Give it as a gift or keep it for yourself.
- Reservation goes back to Travel Partner to further service your needs
Restrictions of NextCruise Onboard Open Booking Bonus:
- Open Bookings are an exclusive benefit for all Crown & Anchor Society members, you may enroll onboard
- Non-refundable
- Open Booking expires 5 years from purchase date.
- Only one NextCruise Open Booking Bonus can be applied per stateroom
- After an Open Booking has been transferred and a ship or sail date has been chosen, the Open Booking credit may not be transferred to another person or name changes made
- Friends and Family must book within 30 days of the date you select a ship and sail date to be eligible for up to $200 onboard credit and reduced deposit of $100 per person.
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
Carnival discontinued their Future Cruise Deposit program in September of 2012.
Deposit Amount, Reserved Passage: $100 per person
Deposit Amount, Open Passage: $100 per Open Passage
Benefits of booking a Reserved Passage: (Specific Ship and Sail Date)
- $100 Reduced Deposit* per person
- Onboard Credit up to $500 per stateroom, based on length of sailing (minimum 4 night sailing) and category of stateroom/suite
- No additional deposits due until final payment
- Choose your stateroom
- Combinable with any 1 other special offer you choose
- Flexible – May cancel or change reservations up to 75 or 90 days prior to sail date*
- Reservation goes back to Travel Partner to further service your needs
Benefits of booking an Open Passage: (No Specific Ship and Sail Date)
- $100 Reduced Deposit* per Open Passage (only need 1 to hold a stateroom)
- Can buy up to 3
- Onboard Credit up to $200 per stateroom, based on length of sailing (minimum 4 night sailing) and category of stateroom/suite
- No additional deposits due until final payment
- Transferable to anyone
- Open Passage is combinable with one additional offer of your choice at time of booking the specific ship and departure date.
- Reservation goes back to Travel Partner to further service your needs
Restrictions of Celebrity Cruises’ Onboard Booking Program:
- Maximum one onboard credit applied per stateroom
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
- Onboard credit has no cash value, not redeemable for cash
- Open Passage account/booking does not expire and is not applicable to certain restricted fares
Deposit Amount: $100 per person
Benefit of Future Cruise Deposit:
- Up to $150 Onboard Credit per person to apply on future booking - 3-6 Days: $15pp for inside/oceanview and $25pp balcony/suite; 7-10 Days: $25pp for inside/oceanview and $50pp balcony/suite; 11-16 Days: $75pp for inside/oceanview and $100pp balcony/suite; 17 + Days: $125pp for inside/oceanview and $150pp balcony/suite
- Just book within 2 Years from the date of purchase to use (if it is not used, the deposit of $100 is refundable just cannot be extended)
- Select ship and sail date onboard, or choose later with no additional deposit required
- Future Cruise Deposits are fully refundable prior to final payment except for voyages 30 days or longer; voyages of 30 days or longer are refundable up to 120 days prior to sailing date
- Full World Cruise/World Cruise Segments benefit from a reduced deposit of 5% of cruise fare and a 3% discount off the fare
Restrictions of Future Cruise Deposit:
- Onboard Credit is only per person for the person using the Future Cruise Deposit; it does NOT carry over to any other passengers in the stateroom
- Future Cruise Deposits cannot be added to a booking after the booking has been paid in full
- Onboard Credit not applicable to the World Cruise and World Cruise Segment Voyages
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
Deposit Amount: Based upon length of cruise
- 3 to 10 days $100
- 11 to 21 days $250
- 22 to 50 days $500
- 51 days and greater $1,000
Benefits of Holland America’s Future Cruise Deposit:
- Enjoy up to $200 Onboard Credit per person to apply on future booking - 3-10 Days: $25 for Inside/Oceanview, $50 Balcony and Suites; 11-21 Days: $50 for Inside/Oceanview, $75 Balcony and $100 Suite; 22-50 Days: $100 for Inside/Oceanview, $150 Balcony and Suites; 51+ Days: $150 for Inside/Oceanview, $200 Balcony and Suites
- Just book within 4 Years from the date of purchase to use
- Enjoy a wider selection of stateroom, suite and itinerary availability
- Select ship and sail date onboard, or choose later – no additional deposit required
- Reservation goes back to Travel Partner to further service your needs
- Friends & Family may take advantage of Holland America’s Reduced Deposit and Onboard Credit Offer as long as you make and deposit their bookings while you are on board.
Restrictions of Holland America’s Future Cruise Deposit:
- Not applicable for Grand World Voyage, Grand Voyages or segments thereof
- Non-refundable for cash but applicable to another booking up to four (4) years from date of purchase
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
Deposit Amount: $300 per person
Benefits of Cunard Line’s Future Cruise Deposit:
- Up to $400 Onboard Credit per person based on cruise length & category - 6-9 Days: $100pp Inside/Oceanview, $150pp Balcony, $200pp Grill; 10+ Days: $200pp Inside/Oceanview, $300pp Balcony, $400pp Grill
- On select sailings, receive a Double Onboard Credit Promotional Offer
- Simply book within 4 Years from the date of purchase to use
Restrictions of Cunard Line’s Future Cruise Deposit:
- Not applicable for Grand World Voyages their segments
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
Deposit Amount: 10% deposit (Disney Cruise standard deposit is 20%)
Benefits of Disney Cruise Line’s Future Cruise Deposit:
- Reduced Deposit on 7-night sailings or longer
- 10% Discount on Future Cruise*
- Onboard Credit Up to $200 per Stateroom - 3-6 Nights: $100 per Stateroom; 7+ Nights: $200 per Stateroom
Note: Remember to add the name of your Travel Agent in order to receive additional booking benefits and assistance with your future cruise plans. If you do not at the time of deposit onboard, you will need to transfer your reservation to your travel agent within 30 days from the original booking date.
*Block out dates for this offer apply; block out dates receive the onboard credit and reduced deposit benefits, but do not receive the 10% discount off prevailing rates.
Restrictions of Disney Cruise Line’s Future Cruise Deposit:
- Guests making a booking onboard must sail within 18 months after the date the original booking was made onboard
- Limited to two staterooms on one future cruise date per household, any additional staterooms may be booked at current prevailing rates
- Offer valid for Categories 4-11 only. Offer not valid for concierge level categories, 1 or 2 night sailings or IGT, OGT and VG Restricted Categories
- This offer is non-transferable; name changes to the reservation may be made so long as one adult on the original booking remains on the reservation
- May not be combinable with all promotional offers
About Alara Shannon, Cruise & Travel Writer
Alara has traveled extensively since an early age. After the birth of her daughter, when an opportunity for a career in cruise travel presented itself, Alara decided to re-enter the workforce. She hopped on board with one of the largest cruise agencies and excelled in both cruise sales and customer service. This led to the chance to dive headfirst into the Internet Marketing world; taking on the roles of resident Bloggess, custom content creator and social media expert. Beyond a love of anything travel related, her life revolves around her family of four (husband + 2 little ones), writing, playing piano, coffee, recycling, and crafting (well, attempting to craft). Her dream destination? New Zealand!
