Future cruise credit (FCC) is a bit like store credit from a cruise line. Many times, in lieu of a direct cash refund, a cruise line will take the price of a refunded cruise and issue it as a kind of gift certificate to be used toward booking a new sailing. When cruises are greatly affected or canceled, or if passengers are given compensation for any reason, a nonrefundable future cruise credit is a common form of payment.
The amount of FCC that a cruise passenger qualifies for is calculated on the base fare that they paid, less any taxes, fees, upgrades or additional purchases like excursions. (Those are often reimbursed to the original form of payment, like a credit card.)
Have you qualified for a future cruise credit but aren't sure how to use it? Check out the following tips.
- Port taxes and fees
- Initial deposits
- Prepaid gratuities
- Shore excursions
- Onboard spending
- With each cruise line's form of credit comes its own stipulations on when and how to use it. Take note of the fine print, and when in doubt, call your cruise line to clarify important things like expiration date or any blackout dates.
- If the cruise you booked with future cruise credit is canceled, the full amount may again be refunded in the form of an FCC, and the expiration dates will likely be adjusted accordingly.
- Don't rely on the cruise line to keep track of your credit; bookmark, print or save the email with your future cruise credit information so you have everything you'll need -- or your agent needs -- when you're ready to rebook.
- It's easy to confuse future cruise credit with a future cruise program; the latter is a benefit, like onboard credit, offered for booking another cruise while you're onboard a current cruise. FCC is almost always a compensation due to a canceled, interrupted or rebooked cruise.
Updated March 17, 2020