What Is Future Cruise Credit and How Can I Use It?

A future cruise credit is typically delivered via email within a few weeks' time, depending on how long it takes the cruise line to process it. The voucher can be used per person, with or without a travel agent. The credit is typically broken down by each individual guest on the reservation, and their charges.

The full amount of your FCC can be applied to the base cruise fare on a new booking, but only if the passenger whose name it is under is the one who is booking. (A future cruise credit is nontransferable, so it cannot be applied to cover the cost of someone else's cruise.) It also cannot be used to pay the initial deposit.

If the amount of your credit exceeds the cost of the new cruise, then the balance will be reissued as a new FCC voucher (but likely the same expiration date). Any unused portion of the credit will be forfeited after the expiration date. If the amount of the credit falls short of the new cruise fare, you'll pay the difference out of pocket.

Depending on the cruise line, an FCC will likely not cover future charges such as:

• 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.