priceline cruise onboard credit

Cruise onboard credit: What it is, where to get it and how best to use it

Spend any time shopping for cruises online, and you'll likely come across the term "onboard credit," also known as OBC. Cruise lines and online travel agencies often promote it as a booking bonus. They might offer as little as $25 cruise onboard credit for booking an inside cabin on a short sailing and all the way up to thousands of dollars for booking suites on longer cruises or with luxury lines.

But what exactly is onboard credit, and what can you do with it once you have it? Find out here if cruise onboard credit is a perk you can use on your next sailing.

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What is onboard credit?

Onboard credit is free money you can use to buy things on your cruise ship. It's a financial credit to your shipboard account; the amount of your onboard credit will be deducted from your final bill of purchases made on board during your cruise.

If you've never cruised, know that a cruise ship is a cashless society. You don't use credit cards, either. Instead, the cruise line opens a charge account for every passenger on embarkation day. You will either connect the account to a credit or debit card or pre-load it with a cash payment.

Your onboard account is how you pay for almost everything you need that isn't included in your cruise fare or wasn't paid for in advance. That includes store purchases, bar drinks, spa and salon treatments, fitness classes, and shore excursions. The same cruise keycard that opens your cabin door also functions as a shipboard credit card. Hand it over to the bartender or salesperson to bill a purchase to your onboard account.

Most cruise lines place no restrictions on the use of onboard credit; if you can bill it to your account, you can cover the cost with your cruise onboard credit. A few don't allow OBC use in the casino or to pay for crew gratuities. Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line , offer specific onboard credits, limited to one type of purchase. For example, NCL's "shore excursion credits" can only be used to purchase tours.

In most cases, onboard credit is nonrefundable. If you don't use it up on your current cruise, you neither get paid out in cash nor can you roll it over to your next cruise.

How do you get onboard credit?

Cruise travelers have several ways to acquire onboard credit; some are easier than others.

Booking bonuses

Onboard credit is a popular booking bonus , offered during a cruise sale instead of (or in conjunction with) price drops, reduced deposits and other free perks.

Cruise lines that regularly post booking bonus offers of onboard credit include most of the popular big-ship lines: Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises , plus more luxurious lines, such as Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Some lines offer extra onboard credit for first responders and members of the military .

Travel agents, both online and in person, often have onboard credits at their disposal to use as booking bonuses, as well. Sometimes, the amounts they hand out are larger than what the cruise lines are offering. I booked an Alaska cruise recently through United Cruises and got $50 OBC; the cruise line was offering $25 for the same cabin.

The sales agents on board your cruise also have onboard credit booking bonuses to hand out, almost always in amounts larger than you'll find elsewhere. If you are loving the cruise you're on, it pays to book the next one while you're still on board .

Price drops

Once you've paid for your cruise in full, some lines will offer you a refund in the form of onboard credit if you notify them that the price of your cabin category dropped. This isn't quite the same as free spending money since you already spent it on your cruise. But it's fun to have a little of that money back to use for extras instead of the base fare. It happens more often than you might think. Your travel agent might already be watching those fares for you; if not, you should be doing it yourself.

For some cruise lines, having you share your enthusiasm for their brand with your friends is reason enough to send a bit of OBC your way. Windstar Cruises , for example, offers both you and friends you refer $100 each in onboard credit once they pay in full for a cruise.

Credit cards

If your favorite cruise line has a cobranded credit card , check to see if it offers onboard credit, either as a sign-up bonus or as one of the points redemption options. Celebrity Cruises' and Royal Caribbean's branded Bank of America Visa Signature cards both feature My Cruise Points redemptions for onboard credit. Sign-up bonus points are frequently advertised on the cruise line websites. The cards have no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.

The information for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

When things go wrong on board

Cruise lines don't always get everything right. Maybe your air conditioning wasn't working for a few days during your cruise. Maybe you were supposed to have an unobstructed view, but your cabin faced a lifeboat. If you can document the problem and politely inform guest services, chances are good they'll offer you compensation in the form of onboard credit — either for the current cruise or a future one.

Stockholder onboard credit offers

If you have done your research and decided to purchase cruise line stock, know that some lines offer onboard credit to shareholders each time they cruise, with certain restrictions. One of those restrictions is usually a minimum number of shares; another is that you might not be allowed to earn both your stockholder OBC and booking bonuses on the same cruise, only the option with the highest value.

Related: Do you own cruise line stocks? You could get onboard perks

What's the best way to use onboard credit?

Now that you have the basics, let's dig into some uses of onboard credit and how to squeeze the most out of those transactions.

But first, a note: Carnival Cruise Line , Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean allow passengers to use onboard credit to pay for pre-cruise purchases. However, that's typically only promotional credit directly from the cruise line, not bonus credit issued by third parties like travel agents. MSC Cruises , Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line do not accept OBC for most pre-cruise purchases.

If your cruise line only accepts OBC once you're on board a ship, you might need to decide between paying cash for discounted pre-cruise purchases and saving your OBC for other onboard spending, or skipping the discount and advance purchase to use your credit on a specific package or tour once you board. Note that there are certain cruise activities you should book in advance if you don't want to miss out.

Additional restrictions might apply to the use of onboard credit, so always read the terms of any onboard credit offer before you accept it.

Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren't)

Wi-Fi is expensive on a cruise compared to your home internet plan. That fact alone makes it a great use for onboard credit. The basic advice for onboard Wi-Fi is if you know you'll need it for the entire cruise, buy a pre-cruise package when prices are a few dollars cheaper per day. Apply your onboard credit to the pre-cruise purchase, and your savings have multiplied.

Here's an example: Carnival's Premium Wi-Fi for a full-cruise package is $21.25 per day for one device if you buy it before midnight the day before your ship sails. Buy it on board, and the cost is $25 per day for one device. On a four-night cruise, a pre-cruise Wi-Fi package is $85. If you happen to have $50 of onboard credit, that's a fantastic use of it. You'll get Wi-Fi for only $35 of your own money.

Drinks and beverage packages

Getting the most out of your onboard credit when it comes to drinks depends on what kind of drinker you are. Don't think only in terms of beer, wine and cocktails. On a cruise, you'll also have to pay for specialty coffees, sodas, smoothies, nonalcoholic cocktails and bottled water.

If you don't plan on purchasing many drinks, consider using your onboard credit for a fun splurge like an occasional poolside beverage, a bottle of wine at dinner, or a mixology class or cocktail tasting.

Cruisers who plan on buying multiple drinks a day will save by purchasing an inclusive beverage package . If you've got onboard credit and your cruise line allows it, use the OBC to buy the package pre-cruise when it's on sale.

Related: Best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package (and 3 to avoid)

Spa and salon treatments

Relaxing treatments at a cruise ship spa are tops on many cruisers' splurge lists, which makes them worthy of onboard credit use. Sometimes, adding a massage, facial or manicure to your cruise plans makes the whole trip even more special. If your cruise allows pre-cruise spa purchases, the prices might be slightly lower. Also look for first-day and port-day specials to stretch your OBC further. These will usually be posted in each day's ship highlights, or you can always call or visit the spa to ask for specials.

Specialty restaurant meals and dining packages

On some ships, the paid specialty restaurants are what add the wow factor to the overall food experience on board. That fact alone makes them a good way to spend onboard credit.

If a multinight package is available, that might lower your cost, as would a pre-cruise purchase where available. Otherwise, book your specialty meals as soon as possible after boarding because prime times disappear quickly. You can do this via the cruise line's app (if there is one), at the restaurants of your choice or at stations set up on embarkation day specifically so you can make dining reservations throughout the ship.

Onboard charges for specialty dining usually show up at the end of your meal, rather than when you make reservations. That's important to know so you can budget your OBC accordingly.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Shore excursions and activities

Shore excursions offered by the cruise line are a terrific use of onboard credit. In some ports, you'll have plenty of options, even after you board the ship. I've seen people in line at the shore excursion desk booking tours as the ship arrives in port.

The best use of your onboard credit would be an advance purchase at a discounted price on cruise lines that offer that option. When that's not possible, it's best to book and pay for the excursions that matter most to you, leaving OBC purchases for the tours you could live without.

For instance, if salmon fishing is what you've dreamed of doing in Alaska, don't wait until you can use onboard credit on embarkation day. You probably won't find any availability because Alaska excursions like that often fill up months in advance. Save that credit for something else.

In addition to shore excursions, some ships and even some private islands owned by the cruise line have attractions that aren't included in the cruise fare, from private cabanas to escape rooms. Hello, onboard credit. It's rare to find deals on these kinds of extras, but it never hurts to ask. The strongest possibilities are port-day specials for onboard activities like thermal suite passes or thrill rides that come with a charge.

Shopping and souvenirs

Onboard shopping and professional portraits let you bring back tangible mementos from your cruise vacation. If the credit is there, and you really want a new scarf, or one of the formal night photos is the best one of you and your partner in years, use that OBC to treat yourself. Check the daily newsletter or even shop signage for special offers to reduce your costs a tiny bit.

Necessities and practicalities

Unless you pay tips in advance, most cruise lines add a daily gratuity amount to your cabin account during the cruise. It's something you'll pay one way or another, so using OBC to cover the expense makes sense on ships where it's allowed. Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line specifically state that onboard credit cannot be used to pay for service charges and gratuities.

I also know people who have used their onboard credit for laundry or dry cleaning . Who cares if cruise line laundry prices are high when you're using free money? It's especially smart to do this if you will end up paying for laundry or dry cleaning once you get home (and if you're on a ship where drinks or tips are included).

I also know a guy who got his hair cut on board using OBC, saving him the cost of his next haircut at home. Smooth move.

Casino play

You usually can fund your casino play with OBC — but watch out. Some cruise lines put restrictions on using OBC in the casino (Holland America bans it outright) or charge a convenience fee for using your onboard account for funds at the gaming tables.

Slot machines will generally accept a transfer from your account without fees. When you have finished playing, your winnings will be paid out as a credit slip which you take either to a machine or the cashier for actual money.

If you're going to gamble on board, please play responsibly. Here's what I did recently with $50 in onboard credit that did not involve risking any of my own money. I found a slot machine with a minimum play of 25 cents. I was comfortable playing $1.25 at a time, which meant I had 40 plays before my original $50 was used up. Once those 40 plays were done, I was playing with my winnings, not my OBC. I chose to cash out at that point, and happily walked away with $52. Plus, I earned points in the cruise line's casino loyalty program .

Related: I earned a 'free' cruise in a ship casino — here's what it cost, plus tips for getting comped

Bottom line

Onboard credit is money in your account to do with almost whatever you wish. The more you collect in your account, the more you have available to spend or play with. You can think of it as a license to do something you wouldn't do if you were paying or a way to reduce your anticipated vacation bill by using it to cover costs you already planned to incur.

Either way, you should always keep your eye out for onboard credit offers when booking a cruise, or ask your travel agent or cruise line if they have OBC to hand out to thank you for your business.

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What Is Onboard Credit (OBC) & How Can You Use It?

Onboard credit may be completely new to you, but even if you’re a seasoned cruiser there are probably things we can shed some light on.  Commonly abbreviated as “OBC” or referred to as "shipboard credit", onboard credit can be thought of as a gift card of sorts for a specific cruise - money that you can use on your cruise for any number of things, including beverages, shore excursions , retail purchases, and more.  What many people don’t realize is there are actually different types of onboard credit , which can affect how you can use it.  Let’s look at how you get onboard credit , what you can do with it, and what happens if you don’t use it.

How to Get Onboard Credit

What onboard credit can be used for.

In short, you can use onboard credit for nearly any expense you incur onboard.  We’ve listed out some examples below - but essentially, if if goes onto your onboard account (just like charging something to your hotel room), your onboard credit will be automatically applied.

• Spa services, such as massages or haircuts
• Alcoholic drinks (including beverage packages )
• Specialty (up-charge) dining
• Shore excursions
• Gratuities (aka service charges) 
• Onboard retail purchases (gift shop merch )
• Gambling and other onboard games
• Internet access

We should note that certain things onboard will not go towards any onboard credit .  Ship’s medical services for example, are billed independently, and often don’t go to your onboard account.  Gratuities will usually go toward onboard credit , but any cash tips of course, is a different story - and some lines have not allowed gratuities to go towards OBC, but this doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

Gratuities are an entire discussion in themselves, so check out our article which explains who is usually tipped and how.

It should also be noted that more and more cruise lines let you book shore excursions , beverage packages , and more online in advance of your cruise.  More and more lines have added functionality to their website to allow you to use your onboard credit when paying for these items online, but some OBC, such as gift onboard credit isn’t available until embarkation day.

What happens if you don’t use your onboard credit?

If you search this question you’ll find many conflicting answers, and that is because for the most part, it depends on what type of onboard credit you have.  Before I explain, know that in scores of cruises, I’ve had one single cruise in which I didn’t quickly go through my onboard credit without trying - but it can certainly happen.

If your OBC was offered as a booking incentive from the cruise line, then it is considered non-refundable - so you either use it or lose it.  If you somehow get a lot of this type of OBC and don’t use it all by the end of your cruise (again, this is rare), then stock up on staple sundries or other items in the gift shop, see if you can use it for a future cruise credit if you book another cruise while onboard (most lines don’t allow this - but it does vary), or go gamble with it (we don’t personally gamble, but if you don’t use it then you’re guaranteed to lose).  In the past, one trick was to buy casino chips with non-refundable OBC and then cash out - but now most lines give you “gift chips” for this credit, which must be plaid or turned back into non-refundable credit.  If you win money with that play however, it’s yours to keep.

If you’re onboard credit is refundable, meaning it was offered up as a gift from your travel agency, then you can get back any unused portion at the end of your cruise.  If however you had both types of OBC, it isn’t always clear which is “used” first, so you may want to talk to guest services to be sure, if allowed by cruise line policy, that the non-refundable onboard credit was used up first.

Wrapping Up on Onboard Credit

To me, onboard credit is like cash, because I am confident each and every time that I’m going to spend it.  Gratuities alone can quickly chip away and onboard credit , and if you’re buying drinks that too can offset things right away.  Some shore excursions are pricey enough to eat up even generous amounts of OBC all at once.  It is important however to keep track of how much credit you should have and from what sources - mistakes happen and you want to ensure you get what you paid for (or your friends/family gifted you).  

More and more ships allow you to check your onboard account (including any OBC) on your stateroom television, but you can go to guest services at any time to check on your tab as well - just don’t wait until disembarkation day, as the queues can get quite long.  If you’re still unsure of just how onboard credit works, just buy us some for our next cruise and we’ll tell you all about it ;-)

Have questions about onboard credit ?  Have you ever "lost" OBC because you didn't use it?  Comment below or reach out on  Twitter  or  Facebook !

View the discussion thread.

Cruise 101: Onboard Credit—And How To Spend It

Think of this perk as bonus “cruise cash.”.

The Kate Spade boutique onboard Harmony of the Seas.

Credit: Royal Caribbean

When you booked your cruise, you may have received a promotional bonus of onboard credit. You also might have purchased them before your cruise through Shop Royal Gifts —perhaps picking up some gift certificates to surprise your friends or family, or even yourself, before setting sail.

However you got them, think of these credits as “cruise cash” that you can apply toward a wide array of purchases when you’re on the ship. We’ve got the complete rundown of how you’ll receive and use your onboard credits, as well as some inspired ideas for spending them.

How They Work

It’s common for guests to wonder about how to access their credits once they have them. When you board your Royal Caribbean cruise, all travelers set up a cashless SeaPass account card, which you’ll use for purchases while sailing. Conveniently, your onboard credit will automatically appear on your account for this card (typically two or three days into your cruise.) To enjoy them, simply use your SeaPass—almost like a debit card—and the credited amount will be deducted from your total balance at the end of the trip.

All forms of onboard credit can be applied to purchases while you’re on board. Bonus: If you received credits as part of a special offer when you first booked your cruise, you can now apply them to purchases and reservations you want to make before you set sail. Your credits will be associated with your reservation number, so once shore excursions, specialty dinners and other experiences and amenities are open to book in our  Cruise Planner , you can reserve online or over the phone in advance.

What’s the best way to use them? They’re a great way to indulge, whether that’s with a massage or an exciting shore excursion, especially if you received them as a gift or from a special offer when you booked. Luckily, there are plenty of options.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Afternoons at sea are perfect for strolling and shopping, especially along the tree-lined Central Park neighborhood on our Oasis-class ships.

Whether you’re looking to pick up nautical attire or splurge on a Swiss timepiece, the Royal Shops have you covered: there are labels like Michael Kors and Kate Spade for fashion, Regalia for fine jewelry, and Hublot for luxury watches. If you want to take home a one-of-a-kind item, there also are world-class pieces of art for sale at Park West gallery.

Each ship has its own stores, but the Royal Esplanade at the heart of Quantum of the Seas shows just how varied your options can be:

Luxurious Spa Services

Since “cruise cash” may be bonus spending money, it’s also perfect for treating yourself at the Vitality Spa. Found on every ship, this is one of the best ways to spend a day at sea .

You’ll find signature treatments like facials and manicures—administered by skilled staff—but there’s much more. Massages done with warm bamboo sticks or poultices of steamed herbs are excellent, energizing choices, as well as body wraps, scrubs and acupuncture.

With a dedicated medi-spa area, you could even opt for treatments like Botox, teeth whitening or microdermabrasion to rejuvenate your skin. On Oasis-class ships, teens have their own program called Yspa, and those onboard credits can make a perfect gift for younger travelers.

Gambling at the Casino Royale

It’s always better to gamble with “free” money—and here, onboard credits are eligible at the Vegas-style Casino Royale, found across the fleet. When you step onto the floor, you’ll be greeted by the bright lights from a whole manner of slot machines and video poker, as well as spinning roulette wheels and the flying dice at the craps table.

If cards are your game, there’s an assortment of poker games, blackjack, popular side bet “lucky ladies” and baccarat for all types of players. High rollers will appreciate the poker, blackjack and slot tournaments, too.

Deluxe Dining & Drinking

There are ample complimentary dining options, with dinner every night in the Main Dining Room and casual meals available in the Windjammer Café, but you can use your credits to experience the thrill of  hibachi at Izumi or enjoy handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian —both specialty dining options. If you’re a meat and potatoes type, try the prime cuts at the American steakhouse Chops Grille , which offers dry-aged steaks at the peak of tenderness and flavor.

Or order drinks at our pubs, lounges and bars. Our signature robotic bartenders can shake something up at the Bionic Bar , and cocktail buffs should visit the bar at Wonderland , where the craft cocktails are as whimsical as the food—and come served in sub-zero glasses chilled by liquid nitrogen.

However you spend your onboard credits, you can book your cruise here and start planning for them now.

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A Complete Guide To Booking Travel With Priceline [2024]

David Slotnick

Former Content Contributor

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Keri Stooksbury

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Director of Operations & Compliance

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Table of Contents

Priceline hotels, priceline flights, priceline rental cars, priceline bundle + save, priceline cruises, priceline vip, priceline app, priceline rewards card, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

You are probably familiar with Priceline, an online travel agency (OTA) you can use to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more.

The key thing that differentiates Priceline from its competitors is its opaque  travel booking products. If you’re willing to be flexible with your travel plans (to the point of not knowing which airline you’re flying or what hotel you’re staying at when you make a reservation), you might be able to snag a deep discount.

As part of Booking Holdings Inc. — which includes Booking.com, Agoda, Kayak, Momondo, and other OTAs and metasearch sites — Priceline has also been able to use its combined resources to build its published-rate hotel offerings. Its Name Your Own Price tool has ceased to exist as an option, but low prices are offered through its other opaque tools — Express Deals  and Pricebreakers .

Below, we’ll take a look at the various services offered by Priceline, including how to use it to find the best prices on flights, hotels, rental cars, and more!

Booking a hotel on Priceline is straightforward. Enter your search preferences, pick a hotel, and confirm your reservation, just like with any other OTA like Travelocity or Expedia . Although Priceline has a few extra options to help you find a great rate, there can be some additional terms.

How To Book a Hotel on Priceline [Step-by-Step]

To search for a hotel on Priceline, enter a destination, choose your check-in and check-out dates, and specify the number of rooms you need.

By default, results are organized in recommended  order, determined by a combination of user reviews, general ratings, and price. You can change this to sort results by price or customer rating instead. Semi-opaque Pricebreaker options, in which you’ll get 1 of 3 hotels listed, will also be suggested at the top of the search results. If you have tons of flexibility, check out the Express Deals , completely opaque bookings in which you won’t know the hotel you booked until your reservation is complete.

At the top, you can switch to Map View, or even select from top filters. On the left sidebar, you can adjust filters for amenities, budget, guest rating, neighborhood, and hotel brand. If you have a specific property in mind, you can also search for it by name.

The terms and conditions vary between properties, so make sure to read everything before making a reservation. If your travel plans are concrete, you can usually save money with a prepaid and/or non-refundable rate.

Some properties require payment at the time of booking, while others allow you to pay at check-in. You can see each hotel’s policy on the results page — if a hotel says Pay Later  your card won’t be charged (unless you choose to pay upfront). If the hotel allows you to cancel the reservation without penalty, Priceline highlights that as well.

Hot Tip: Keep in mind that taxes aren’t included in the rate shown on the results page or a specific property’s profile page — you’ll see all additional fees included once you choose a room and rate. When comparing prices between different websites and services, it’s always good to check the total price rather than the initial per room rate.

Select any hotel by clicking Choose your room , which will bring up the hotel’s page to select your room type. You’ll be able to review payment and cancellation terms, guest ratings, and amenities. Scroll further down to select your room type, then click Book.

Toggle the button above the results to see the true  total price, including taxes and fees. This will also be displayed before you checkout.

Enter your personal and payment details, then click Complete Booking .

Trip Protection

Before completing your reservation, you’ll be offered the opportunity to add Trip Protection, a travel insurance product offered by Allianz through Priceline.

While adding this protection is a personal choice, it’s important to understand that there may be no need to purchase extra insurance if you have a credit card with travel insurance like trip cancellation insurance or travel accident insurance . in your wallet.

Hot Tip: Check out our guide to credit card insurance for more information about the various protections and benefits offered by different credit cards.

Best Price Guarantee

Priceline VIP members that can find a better deal within 24 hours of making their air, hotel, rental car, and cruise reservations can submit a Best Price Guarantee claim to Priceline for the difference.

For Express Deals, Priceline members who find a better price up to midnight before they travel can be refunded 200% of the difference.

To make a claim for a hotel, you’ll need to contact Priceline by phone at 800-PRICELINE (800-774-2354). The representative will check the lower rate to verify it. Note that to qualify, the lower rate must be available to the public and have the same availability.

Hot Tip:  Rates booked through loyalty program discounts are excluded from the Best Price Guarantee, meaning that if there’s a membership discount (even one that’s available to the general public), Priceline may not honor it.

Price Comparisons — Hotels

Let’s take a look at some price comparisons to see how Priceline stacks up against other online travel agencies and hotel websites.

We priced out a 3-night stay in a deluxe king suite at the Conrad New York Downtown for 2 adults (refundable rate) and here’s how the prices stacked up.

In this example, Priceline had the cheapest overall rate, with Hilton itself coming in ~$72 more. You would have to weigh the overall cost savings compared to any benefits you may receive from a loyalty program like Hilton Honors since you don’t receive any elite status benefits or earn any hotel points when booking through a third party like Priceline.

Bottom Line: When you book a hotel through a third party like Priceline, you generally won’t be able to collect hotel loyalty points . Also, the property likely won’t honor any elite status you hold. For example, if you hold Hilton Honors Gold elite status, you wouldn’t get a room upgrade or food and beverage credit if you booked through Priceline.

Priceline Pricebreakers

One of Priceline’s opaque products, Pricebreakers gives travelers a heavily discounted price on one of 3 similar hotels. You will be able to see details for the 3 hotels before your purchase, including the shared amenities, location, reviews, and average retail rates. You will be guaranteed to secure a room at one of the 3 properties at the price shown, with the “winning” hotel revealed after confirmation of your purchase.

Pricebreakers is similar to Hotwire’s Hot Rates with the added benefit of narrowing down the possible hotel to one of 3 guaranteed options across various amenities and star ratings. You can also create your own deal at the bottom of the options by selecting 3 amenities and 3 neighborhoods that will help narrow the deals shown to you.

Priceline Express Deals

The basic premise of Express Deals is that Priceline can provide a deep discount on a hotel, but it won’t tell you where you’re actually staying until you confirm the reservation. Bookings are prepaid, non-refundable, non-changeable, and non-transferable … so basically, you’re stuck once you make the booking.

From the main Hotels page, you can scroll down until you see an option to Search Express Deals , or you can simply enter the city, the number of rooms, and check-in and check-out dates and filter by Express Deals at the top of the results page.

The results page looks exactly like the standard hotel search results, except that instead of hotel names you’ll only see star ratings. For example, the top result might be “4-Star Hotel.” If you click the What Hotel?  link, you’ll see a map with the hotel’s general location shaded and a list of similar hotels in the area.

Because you can’t even read guest reviews before committing — only an average rating by guests — any hotel booked through Express Deals is a bit of a gamble. You have no way of knowing exactly where you’re staying. If you’re flexible or more easy-going, this means you can get a great deal. Otherwise, it might be worth paying a bit more so you know the details of the hotel before you book.

The good news is that Priceline’s Best Price Guarantee applies, and Priceline members who find a better price up to midnight before they travel can be refunded 200% of the difference.

Bottom Line:  Priceline’s Express Deals feature can help you save up to 60% off a hotel, but you won’t know the actual hotel until you make a non-refundable reservation. If you are flexible, this can be a great deal.

How To Book a Flight on Priceline [Step-by-Step]

Booking flights on Priceline is a straightforward process, similar to any other OTA.

You start by entering details of your trip: the departure and arrival cities, dates, cabin, and the number of people traveling. You can also search for a one-way or multi-stop trip instead of a standard round-trip flight.

If your dates are flexible, you can see variable pricing across the calendar when inputting your search parameters.

By default, results are shown in price order. You can use controls on the left sidebar to filter results by the number of stops, departure or arrival time, total travel duration, and airline. If your travel involves a city with multiple airports, you can also specify which one you’d prefer.

At the top, you can also search by flexible dates to see pricing a day before and after your selected dates.

Once you select any departing flight, you’ll see options for the return flight. Any pricing at +$0.00  will not affect your total price, but you may see cheaper or more expensive options for your return.

Once you have selected your flights you’ll see a confirmation of the departure and return, baggage information, and also have an option to select your seats before continuing to checkout. Enter your passenger and billing details, then review and book.

Price Comparisons — Flights

Using the straightforward flight-search function, prices compare favorably with other tools (though Express Deals may be cheaper, see below).

We searched for the cheapest round-trip flight between Los Angeles (LAX) and Tokyo (NRT) and here’s what we found:

Priceline actually came out as the most expensive in this example. Keep in mind that this won’t always be the case, so it’s good to check prices on a few different websites before you book a flight.

Hot Tip:  When comparing prices on different OTAs, make sure the results you find are valid! In some cases, the cheapest fare you find may no longer be available.

How To Book a Rental Car on Priceline [Step-by-Step]

Priceline’s rental car tool has access to most major rental agencies, such as Alamo , Avis , Budget , Hertz ,  National , and SIXT .

To search for a rental car, enter the airport or city you’re traveling to and your pickup/drop-off dates and times. You can also specify whether you want a different drop-off location in the same city or a one-way rental.

You can sort and filter your results by a number of different parameters, including car type, location, cancellation policy, rating, and more.

Once you select Choose,  you’ll be able to view the terms and conditions — these vary by the rental company, although many reservations are cancelable.

You will then be prompted to enter your contact and driver information, as well as optional information like adding child seats, loyalty program information, and flight information.

Collision Damage Protection

Before confirming your purchase you’ll be offered an option to purchase collision damage protection, an insurance product offered by Allianz through Priceline.

Make sure to check if you have a credit card with car rental insurance , and then use it to make the reservation. This coverage usually requires you to decline coverage from the rental agency and pay for the entire rental with the card.

Hot Tip: Some of our favorite credit cards that offer primary car rental coverage are the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card  and  Chase Sapphire Reserve ® .

Price Comparisons — Rental Cars

Let’s take a look at how Priceline’s car rental rates compare to other OTAs and car rental agencies.

Both of these examples are for a week-long rental in Denver including all taxes and fees. The first example compares prices for the cheapest option available, and the second example compares prices for a specific type of vehicle.

As you can see prices are all over the map, with the most expensive coming from individual car rental agencies. Priceline was essentially tied for first place for the cheapest available and tied for second place when it came to the mid-size SUV. While you can absolutely save money by booking a rental car through Priceline, it’s always smart to compare prices on a few different websites before you make a reservation.

Often you’ll need to book both a flight and hotel and maybe even a rental car at the same time. You can do that all in one go by booking a Bundle + Save package from Priceline.

How To Book a Bundle + Save Vacation Package on Priceline [Step-by-Step]

Priceline offers the opportunity to bundle a combination of hotel, flight, and car rental together to assemble a discounted vacation package. Start your search on the homepage by clicking Bundle + Save in the main search area or on the top navigation bar.

You’ll have 4 bundled options to choose from:

• Hotel + Flight
• Hotel + Flight + Car
• Flight + Car
• Hotel + Car

Enter your departure and arrival cities and dates as well as the number of adults and rooms, then click Find Your Trip .

On the left-hand side, you’re able to sort by recommended hotels, hotel name, price, and star and guest rating. You can also filter by amenities, neighborhood, star and guest rating, and hotel name and brand.

Once you select your hotel by clicking Choose your room , the rest of the booking process is just like if you were booking a hotel or flight separately. Note that there are 2 prices displayed for your Priceline vacation package — a per person rate and the total price.

After you select your hotel and begin to select your flights, you’ll see how the various options affect the package price you were initially quoted.

• +$0.00 will not affect your package price
• A positive price would increase your package price
• A negative price would decrease your package price

You’ll get a chance to review your selections fully before checking out, then add the passenger information and payment details before completing your booking.

Hot Tip: Take a peek at our guide to the best credit cards for vacation packages before making your purchase.

Price Comparisons — Bundle + Save

Let’s see if this Priceline vacation package will have you on your way to saving $382 as advertised.

This package included  2 round-trip flights from Chicago (ORD) to Cancún (CUN) plus a 7-night stay at Grand Oasis Cancun All Inclusive for a cost of $1,089 per person. The total price for this package is $2,178.

We quoted the individual components of the bundle separately for review:

If paid for separately, the total cost when booking through Priceline would be $2,446, so the actual savings for the Bundle + Save rate is $268 . The savings are a bit shy of the advertised $382, but still a substantial discount nonetheless.

The thing to note is that while you can save money with Bundle + Save vacation packages from Priceline, often the flights included aren’t great. We found many packages with flights that had long overnight connections, which, in addition to being annoying, reduced the vacation by 1 night.

Bottom Line: While you can save money with Priceline Bundle + Save vacation packages, it’s not always as big of savings as advertised. Also, be sure to pay attention to the package details, as many of the ones we found included absolutely terrible flights with overnight connections.

How To Book a Cruise on Priceline [Step-by-Step]

Start your cruise search by selecting Cruises from the top navigation bar or the main search menu, enter your destination, cruise line, departure month, cruise length, and whether you’re under 55 or not, and then click Find Your Cruise . You can fill out minimal information to see a wider variety of search results, like all destinations  or all cruise lines , etc.

You can then sort by featured cruises and departure date, or refine your search further at the top to adjust destination, length, departure date, cruise line, cruise ship, departure port, and additional discounts.

Click View Itinerary to see more details about the cruise. Choose your sailing date and click Select.

Input the number of guests in your party and the ZIP code of your current residence and click Continue. Select your room type by clicking Select. Finally, enter your full guest details and preferred dining time and click Continue.

On the final booking screen, you’ll be able to review your fare, taxes, and fees, as well as special offers like onboard spending credits. You can opt to add travel protection and choose how to pay — deposit-only, payment in full, or monthly payments. When you’ve entered all the required details, click Complete Booking .

Price Comparisons — Cruises

Will Priceline save you money when booking a cruise? Let’s take a look.

In this example, we searched the 7-Night Western Caribbean cruise for 2 adults on Ruby Princess in a balcony stateroom.

Priceline had the cheapest price in this example but if you were planning to book shore excursions, the Cruise Direct price could end up saving you money.

Bottom Line: It’s to your advantage to search on a few cruise websites to find the best price and best bonus offers (like onboard credit, free gratuities, or free specialty meals or drinks). 

Priceline’s loyalty program is called VIP. Once you join Priceline VIP, you’ll be eligible for various bonuses and perks.

There are 4 levels of status within the Priceline VIP program:

• VIP Member: No minimum requirement
• VIP Blue: Earned after 2 completed trips
• VIP Gold: Earned after 5 completed trips or Priceline Rewards™ Visa ® Cardholders
• VIP Platinum: Earned after 25 completed trips

VIP Gold and Platinum members can share their benefits with family by creating a VIP Family account . This allows up to 3 users to pool their activity and status to gain benefits 3x faster.

The free Priceline app ( iOS , Android ) can be used to book, view, and manage your hotels, flights, and rental cars , even when you’re offline.

The app offers exclusive app-only hotel deals as well as Late Night Rates  daily at 9 p.m., showcasing the best hotel deals nearby to help with last-minute check-in.

For people who use Priceline consistently, Barclays offers the Priceline Rewards™ Visa ® Card  that earns rewards on everyday spending and bonus points on everything booked through Priceline.

• 5x points per $1 on Priceline purchases
• 2x points per $1 on gas and restaurant purchases
• 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
• Automatic VIP Gold status

Hot Tip: Because Priceline itself codes as travel,  you can also use a card that offers bonus points for travel purchases, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card , both of which earn 3x points per $1 spent on all travel, not just Priceline purchases.

As a standard online travel agency, Priceline performs solidly, and it is roughly on par with other OTAs in terms of selection and pricing. What makes the website stand out is its various opaque pricing tools that sometimes offer steep discounts on flights and hotels … if you’re flexible and willing to commit without knowing all the details.

Before purchasing one of Priceline’s opaque options, make sure that you’re certain about the trip, timing, and any other details you can confirm. Once you make a reservation, there’s no refund or cancellation!

The information regarding the Priceline Rewards™ Visa ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is priceline.

Priceline is an online travel agency (OTA) you can use to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more.

Why should I use Priceline?

Priceline is a great way to search and compare flights and hotel rates. It also offers a Best Price Guarantee, so there’s no risk of finding a lower price later and feeling like you missed out.

The bigger reason to use Priceline, though, is that it offers huge discounts on flights and hotels for making an opaque  booking.

What is an opaque booking?

An opaque booking is when you book a flight or hotel at a discount (sometimes a huge one), but you don’t know the exact details of what you’re reserving.

For example, if it’s a flight, you won’t know the exact time of your flights, or what airline you’re flying until you confirm the reservation.

If you’re booking a hotel, you’ll only know the hotel’s star rating, general location, and price until you pay for the reservation.

If you don't like what you've booked on Priceline, can you change it?

Your reservation may be refundable or cancelable depending on what you’ve booked on Priceline and how.

Opaque bookings through Pricebreakers and Express Deals are not refundable, changeable, transferable, or cancelable.

How do I cancel a Priceline hotel reservation?

If the reservation is cancelable or refundable, just call 800-PRICELINE.

If you booked the hotel as an Express Deal or Pricebreaker reservation, the official policy is that it can’t be canceled. However, some people report luck by calling the hotel and asking to cancel it, then contacting Priceline if the hotel is willing.

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About David Slotnick

Born and raised in New York, David still remembers his first flight when he was only four years old: a U.S. Airways trip from New York-La Guardia to Palm Beach, Florida. He formed his love of travel around that and other family vacations, including to England at age eight and Namibia when he was 13. During college, a four-country trip around Europe with a friend cemented his passion for seeing the world.

David is currently Senior Aviation Business Reporter and a photographer at The Points Guy.

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Price Drop on a Cruise? Here’s How to Get Your Money Back

If there is a drop in the price of your cruise, can you get your money back?

When you’re excited for the cruise you just booked, there’s hardly a worse feeling than checking back later and seeing that the price has dropped… after you’ve already paid.

In fact, we see this sort of thing happen across many industries — from airline tickets that get cheaper after you’ve bought to discounts on cable or cell phone plans for new customers while you’re stuck paying a higher price. It can be infuriating to know that you’re paying more than someone else who is getting the exact same service.

The good news? While you might be stuck paying more with other companies, we’ve found that many times ( although not always ) you can get cruise lines to match their new lower prices after you book . You can sometimes get the difference refunded to your credit card, or the refund might be in the form of onboard credit. Either way, you stand a good chance at getting something back.

Now as you might expect there are tips you can use to increase your chances of getting a refund on the amount you paid. Here’s what we suggest to get the best outcome…

The First Thing to Do: Check Cruise Prices Within Two Days After You Book

When it comes to getting a refund, there is an advantage to seeing a price drop right after you book. Many cruise lines have price guarantees in place as a way to give passengers confidence to book. If you book and then find a lower advertised fare within 48 hours, you can submit a claim and receive the lower price or the difference in onboard credit.

The specifics will vary by cruise line. For instance, Carnival offers 110% of the difference as onboard credit. Celebrity offers the ability to move to the lower price. 

These sorts of offers apply to several lines, including Royal Caribbean , Celebrity , and Carnival . 

For all of these situations the websites say that you’ll need to file a form (available at the links above). If you’d rather call an agent, that may speed up the process without having to worry about forms.

The bottom line: If you book a cruise, it pays to check back within two days to see if the fare has dropped. If it has, check to see if your specific cruise line has a best-price guarantee. 

Even if they don’t, it’ still worth a call to see if they can adjust the price.

Know That Different Fares Offer Different Options for Adjustments

Believe it or not, there are often several types of fares offered by the cruise lines, even for the same type of room. For example, Carnival has different fares like Early Saver, Super Saver, and Pack & Go rates . Different fare types usually have different fine print — especially when it comes to price protection.

In this case, the Early Saver rate from Carnival offers price protection. If you find a lower price (even after the initial 48 hours), then you can get the difference back as onboard credit or a free upgrade. This rate is only available for those booking early — usually a minimum of 2-3 months in advance of sailing. Other rates like the Super Saver and Pack & Go aren’t available for the price protection.

This isn’t to single out Carnival. Other cruise lines also have different fare options across rooms. But before you book, it’s a good idea to read through the terms of that fare and see if it offers any sort of protection should the cruise fare drop.

Typically, the lowest bare-bones fares will offer the least flexibility to get a refund of a price difference.

Early Bookings & Slow Paying Offer the Most Flexibility for Getting Money Back

The rule of thumb is that the earlier you book, the more flexibility you will have in getting a reduced fare. That’s because of deposit dates. Most cruise lines require full payment of your fare within 60-90 days of the departure. But book earlier than that and all you need to pay is a deposit.

With only your deposit at risk, it’s less of a financial burden for you to cancel your cruise and rebook at a lower rate. So if you put down a $200 deposit, but then see your cruise for $400 less a couple of weeks after booking, you might lose the deposit as a cancellation charge but gain $400 from the lower fare to come out ahead.

That’s why even though there may be a charge for cancelling, it could be worth it. Waiting and booking later leads to higher cancellation penalties, making it less likely to be worth the change in fare.

In addition, it’s a good idea to pay your cruise slowly if possible. Just like only paying a deposit instead of a full fare, paying a little bit at a time gives you more flexibility in getting a refund if the price drops since you don’t have as much money at stake.

See Price Drop? Call the Cruise Line (And Be Polite)

As you can see above, if the price is lowered within 48 hours of your booking, you can fill out a form to get your refund. But what if it’s past the 48-hour mark? We highly suggest giving the cruise line a call — even if it’s after any sort of price match deadline or even if you have a fare that is supposed to not have any price protection.

We’ve found that you can sometimes get an agent who is helpful and that can pull strings to help you out to get a refund of the price difference or onboard credit. This certainly isn’t always the case, but it never hurts to ask.

For example, we’ve personally had a great experience with Norwegian Cruise Lines, who refunded us a $40 price drop. And all it took was a phone call. Other times we’ve received onboard credit from cruise lines when the cost of the cruise gets marked down. However, it doesn’t always work.

Remember, the cruise lines want to have happy passengers that are excited to cruise with them time and again. Making exceptions for small amounts of money can go a long way in keeping guests happy.

The important thing to remember is to be polite to the agent and realize that just because the price dropped doesn’t mean you are always eligible for the difference to be refunded.

More on Saving on a Cruise:

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We booked a cruise on Royal Caribbean and put down a deposit. About 2 months later, I noticed a $400 price drop. I called them and they credited me the money (dropped my bill). The agent told me that if I see it drop again before I make my final payment, just call and they will lower my bill again. If it is after the final payment, they will give me cruise credit. I highly recommend Royal Caribbean!

Booked Norwegian cruise 2/8/23 price £4256 today price£256 cheaper rang cruisenation (part of hays travel)said they would not match price drop making their own rules up to suit themselves These travel companies just do whatever they like they are a law to themselves I’m disgusted

We booked (and paid for) a NCL cruise for this November through Priceline a month ago (6/26/23) and today we discovered it went down about $260 pp! We just got off the phone with Priceline’s Cruise Dept and our rep was able to speak with NCL directly to find out our options.

After reading all the comments here, we weren’t sure we’d have any options. But, to NCL’s credit, they gave us the choice to upgrade our interior cabin to an Oceanview stateroom for free OR we could receive a FCC for the total fare difference.

It was a no-brainer for us— we upgraded to an OV without hesitation! Plus, we asked about a free Wifi and $50 shore excursion credit (as offered in NCL’s current promotion) and they honored that as well! Total win today! : )

Norwegian Cruise Line which also owns Oceania is the hardest line to make a change with to get a deal after you are under deposit. They don’t budge and don’t care. Their excursions and daily service fees even cost more than other cruise lines. So unless you really want a certain itinerary, go book with another cruise line.

I booked an NCL cruise yesterday and paid in full since it’s 70+ days from sail date. Half a day later, the price of the cruise dropped by over $500 (ie, over 10% of cruise total). I called NCL immediately but they won’t work with me since I bought the cruise via Amex. I called Amex and they said the cancellation penalty is greater than the drop in price, but they would submit a request for waiving the penalty. I wonder if I would have better luck if I had booked directly with NCL. I’ve sailed NCL half a dozen times totaling over 3 months, and I’m about to book another cruise. If I don’t get a refund, onboard credit or future credit, I would be reluctant book with NCL again.

I had a cruise booked with Norwegian where the price went down a few hundred after final payment, and they told me that they could not do anything unless it was the same EXACT “type” of sale. I had booked under a rare 40% off sale apparently, which never happened again, I guess. BUT another option to get value out of the money that you already spent is to upgrade your cabin type. I went from a Balcony to a Club Balcony Suite, which was originally priced out of my budget, but that price also went down a lot! Yay! It did cost me $100 more, but I was very happy with the upgrade at a price that was in my budget!

My cruise went down $300 and ncl would only give me that for future cruise. One thing I have learn in planning for this cruise, never, ever book early. Everything I booked went down in price as I got closer. But I listen to all I was told and read. Stupid

It seems that Norwegian tells everyone something different. We booked a cruise and had to make final payment 120 days out. The price dropped significantly in recent weeks ( We cruise in September)I have called 3 different times and heard 3 different things. One agent said there was nothing she could do. Another agent said we would get onboard credit and the last agent said they would give us the credit AFTER we cruise. This is my first (and probably my last) cruise with Norwegian. I don’t think they really care about their customers. I NEVER had such a run around on Carnival or RCC. I booked directly with Norwegian and highly recommend using a TA instead. This has not been a great experience.

My Norwegian price dropped less than $100 so I thought I would call them and get that small $ difference as on-board credit (it was a small amount but still something!) They wouldn’t do anything to credit or give me that amount in onboard credit because I was less a week from sailing. They did not care that I was polite or happy to take on-board credit for such a small amount. I likely would have spend a lot more money on-board just to use my small on-board credit so it ended up being NCL’s loss.

Update: This is NOT published on the NCL.com website but phone rep told me: Prices change daily for their cruises. For cruises booked 120days in advance, they will credit as many times as you call them to request a price adjustment. Anything between 90-14days before your departure date, they will do a one-time courtesy adjustment if your appeal is approved. So, it is worth is to monitor your NCL cruise constantly so see if there are price drops.

We are booked on an Oceania cruise. We paid a $2000 deposit 10 months ago and now see available cabin prices have dropped by 45%!!!!!!! They say they don’t have availablity in our class if we cancel and want to rebook at a the new low price but we have photographed their website today showing they do have a cabin available. What can we do next. The agent is polite but says the website has an error so not her fault. Thanks Ni k

Ouch, that’s no fun. They won’t work to give you the new price because they say it is an error?

If the new cabin is available on the website, you could book it and then cancel your first reservation to ensure you have the room. But not sure of the cancellation policy, so it might not be worth it.

My Norwegian cruise dropped by over 900 (and I’m already paying 2x as a solo traveler.)

They are being difficult because I said can I get a credit toward an upgraded category and they said no.

Not a good experience at all.

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