The one thing savvy cruisers do to save more on their next cruise

Savvy cruisers have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to saving money on cruise fares — because the less they spend, the more often they can cruise. But there’s one thing repeat cruisers often do that many newbies don’t even know exists as a money-saving option.

The trick? Booking a future cruise while you’re already on board a cruise ship.

You might have seen this type of booking referenced as a “next cruise” or “future cruise” booking in a social media cruise group or in onboard advertisements. Almost every cruise line offers a way to do it because it’s much easier to convince you to book another fabulous trip while you’re blissfully enjoying your current one. Plus, folks in vacation mode already have their wallets open, ready to spend on more fun.

What’s in it for the cruiser? You can expect cheaper deposits, competitive rates or discounts, and gifts of onboard credit. In other words, you’ll find savings that should make your next vacation cheaper.

You might be wondering if there are any drawbacks to this strategy or if it really is free money in your pocket. I dug into the process to see how it works on most major cruise lines and what you stand to gain or lose.

Here’s everything you need to know about booking a future cruise on your current sailing.

The basics of booking your next cruise on board your current cruise

Future cruise booking is facilitated on most large ships at a specific office or desk, usually in a high-traffic location. You’ll often need to schedule an appointment with a consultant who can walk you through the savings offered and the terms and conditions of the booking.

On some ships, you could be invited to join the consultant for a special preview event of upcoming new ships or itineraries. This might be done in a small-group setting or with a larger group in a lounge area on board.

You will generally be offered a discounted cruise fare, onboard credit (often in higher amounts than you can find elsewhere) and a lower-than-normal deposit. You might even have access to cabin inventory not yet available to the general public, including on new ships.

If you booked your current cruise with a travel agent, the next-cruise booking will automatically transfer to the same agent. If you booked directly with the cruise line but want to use an agent next time, the consultant can set that up for you also. Just note that there could be a time limit for adding an agent with some cruise lines.

Lines often give you the option to put down an “open” deposit without applying it to a specific cruise. For those who don’t want to spend precious cruise time listening to sales pitches, some cruise lines make it easy to pay an open booking deposit via an app or by filling out a simple form and returning it to the future cruise desk.

Related: Cruise payment plans: All you need to know about paying for a cruise

When booking a future cruise during your vacation, it’s important that you understand the terms and conditions. In some cases, deposits are nonrefundable, meaning if you change your mind and don’t go on the cruise you book, you could end up forfeiting the deposit. Open bookings have a cutoff date for you to book a cruise and apply the onboard deposit. If you miss that cutoff date, again, you might lose the deposit.

Changes to your onboard booking could also result in your reservation reverting to the prevailing rate at the time of the change — which could be a higher amount than what you paid on board.

Every cruise line handles onboard cruise bookings slightly differently. Here’s what the major cruise lines offer for booking your next cruise while on board.

Carnival’s Future Cruise Vacation Welcome Home program

You can visit with a Carnival Cruise Line Adventures Expert while on board to learn more about booking a future cruise vacation, but the line also makes it easy to handle all the arrangements yourself, either online or in the FunHub app. You’ll get Early Saver rates with price protection, upgrades, 50% off standard deposits, and up to $50 per cabin or up to $100 per suite in onboard credit.

The best thing about Carnival’s Future Cruise Vacation program

Carnival also has a Future Cruise Vacation Welcome Home program that allows you to take advantage of these offers for up to four weeks after you return home from your cruise. You don’t have to spend time during your cruise making decisions. You can wait until you are unpacked and wishing you were still on board enjoying the food and fun.

Fine print

The FCV offers are not combinable with other promotions. That means you can’t stack onboard credit from an FCV offer with your VIFP loyalty program status offers or any other special rate classes.

Related: Mistakes to avoid when booking your cruise

Celebrity Cruises’ Future Cruise Vacation program

Celebrity Cruises‘ onboard booking program offers two options — Book Now and Book Later. Both offers give you initial deposits as low as $100, as well as up to $500 in onboard credit (based on cabin category and length of sailing) on your next cruise.

You’re also guaranteed the best promotional fare available when you book. If you wish to choose your cruise later, you have six months to finalize the arrangements using your Book Later nonrefundable deposit.

The best thing about Celebrity’s Future Cruise Vacation program

If you choose the Book Later option, you do not need to make an appointment with a consultant. A convenient drop-off form is available.

Fine print

You need to choose wisely with these deposits. In most cases, changes to your reservation will result in a forfeit of the onboard credit and a change in rate to the applicable rate of the new cruise chosen.

Disney Cruise Line’s Placeholder reservations

Disney Cruise Line offers reduced deposits of $250 for voyages of seven nights or longer and 10% off prevailing cruise rates when you book while on board. Placeholder Reservation deposits are valid for two years and can be purchased in the Navigator app while on board.

The best thing about Disney Placeholder reservations

Disney cruises are pricey, so any discount you can get is a reason to book on board.

Related: How to save money on a Disney cruise

Fine print

Placeholder Reservations cannot be used on select cruise sail dates, including holiday sailings. You also cannot use them for guaranteed room categories (where Disney chooses your cabin location) or combine them with other rate specials. There’s a two-cabin limit per Placeholder Reservation and sailing date.

Holland America’s Future Cruise program

Book your next cruise with the future cruise consultant on board a Holland America ship, and you will get onboard credit and pay a reduced deposit. Amounts vary based on the length of the booked cruise and cabin category.

Cruises of three to 10 days in length earn $50 to $150 in onboard credit per person, cruises of 11 to 21 days earn $125 to $250, cruises of 22 to 50 days earn $225 to $375, and cruises of 51 or more days earn $350 to $500.

Reduced deposits start at $100 per person for cruises of up to 21 days, $300 for cruises of 22 to 50 days and $1,000 for cruises of 51 days or longer.

You can put the booking under your travel agent’s name, so they can handle your reservation, final payment and other travel details.

The best thing about Holland America’s Future Cruise program

Holland America has one of the most extended expiration dates on its onboard booking perks. The deposit you make on board is valid for four years (and you must apply it to a booking for a cruise departing within four years from the deposit date).

If you choose to put down an open-ended deposit (rather than choosing a specific sailing at the time of booking) but don’t manage to choose a cruise within four years, the deposit amount will be refunded rather than lost.

Fine print

The onboard booking perks do not apply to cruises shorter than three days, chartered voyages, world cruises, Grand Voyages or segments of those longer sailings. If you need to cancel the cruise you booked on board, you can apply the deposit to another voyage, but you’ll forfeit the onboard credit.

MSC Cruises’ Future Cruise program

Book your next MSC cruise on board a ship, and you’ll receive $20 to $200 in onboard credit per cabin, based on the length of the sailing booked and the cabin category. You can also score a reduced deposit of $100 and earn double points with the MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program.

Cruisers can switch their future cruise deposit to a different sail date before final payment without penalty. However, you’re responsible for any difference in fares.

MSC also offers an open-booking option that gives you up to one year to choose the sailing you want.

The line claims that if you find a lower price advertised by MSC Cruises on the same sailing after your onboard booking (but before final payment), you can request a one-time price match.

The best thing about MSC Cruises’ Future Cruise program

No other cruise line offers extra loyalty program points for booking on board. With this perk, not only does booking on a ship earn you some extra shipboard spending money, but it helps you fast-track your rise up the elite status ranks, should you be a devoted MSC cruiser.

Fine print

The Future Cruise bonuses are combinable with other MSC Cruises offers, including Voyagers Club offers exclusive to loyalty program members.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

NCL’s CruiseFirst and CruiseNext programs

Norwegian Cruise Line has a unique CruiseFirst program that allows anyone to put down an open deposit for a future cruise right from the website, even if you haven’t ever cruised with the line.

CruiseFirst deposits are valid for cruises that are six nights or longer and begin at least 120 days after purchase. You have three full years to pick and take your cruise. Your choices are to purchase a $150 CruiseFirst certificate to receive $300 off the cruise you select or purchase a $250 CruiseFirst certificate worth $500 off the cruise you book.

When you are on board a cruise ship, you can save on your next cruise and the one you’re on by purchasing CruiseNext deposits in either $250 or $500 denominations. You use the $250 denomination CruiseNext deposit as a full deposit for nonsuite categories or as partial payment of suite deposits. The $500 deposits are full deposits for bookings in suites or The Haven.

You buy the deposits on board and then have four years to apply them to any reservation you make. The reward for purchasing CruiseNext deposits on board is the instant onboard credit they earn for the cruise you are on.

Related: When is the best time to book a cruise?

Buying one of either denomination ($250 or $500) earns $100 in onboard credit; buy two and earn $250 in onboard credit or three for $375 onboard credit. You earn $500 for buying four deposits of either denomination. CruiseNext deposits are only valid as deposits (not payments), and only one may be applied per new cruise booking outside of special Double Up promotions.

The best things about Norwegian’s CruiseFirst and CruiseNext programs

CruiseFirst is an ingenious way for anyone to save on an NCL cruise. As long as the cruise you are planning is at least four months away (120 days), it’s absurd not to double your deposit money by buying a CruiseFirst certificate to apply.

The coolest part about CruiseNext is that you can use the reward right away — even to pay for the CruiseNext deposits themselves. If you buy four $250 CNDs for $1,000, the charge goes on your onboard account. But guess what? The terms and conditions specifically state you can use the nonrefundable onboard credits given for buying the CNDs to pay for the purchase. That essentially makes the $250 deposits double in value when you buy two, three, four, six or eight, which is the maximum purchase.

Fine print

The two programs are not combinable. That means you cannot apply both a CruiseFirst certificate and a CruiseNext deposit to the same cruise. That does not mean you cannot use a CruiseFirst certificate to book your first NCL cruise and then buy your CruiseNext deposits while on board. Both programs are guided by a slew of terms and conditions, mostly pertaining to expiration dates and use with other offers, so be sure to read them carefully before making a purchase.

Oceania Cruises’ future cruise program

Oceania Cruises passengers wishing to book their next sailing during their current one can save up to $8,800 when they lock in a voyage, based on the cruise booked. They’ll also pay reduced deposits of $250 and earn up to $100 in onboard credit.

The best thing about Oceania’s future cruise program

If you want to book on board but aren’t yet able to commit to a specific sailing date, you can purchase a Future Deposit Certificate. The certificates are sold in increments of $750, which constitutes a deposit and allows cruisers to lock in the savings listed above. Passengers can redeem the certificates up to two years after purchase, providing flexibility in travel planning.

Fine print

Travelers who choose to lock in their sailing date right away are allowed one date change free of charge while retaining the offered perks. FDCs must be redeemed within two years, but the sailing does not have to commence within that time frame. FDCs come with an expiration date; prior to that date, they are fully refundable. Inside cabins are not eligible for the cruise fare discounts.

Princess Cruises’ Future Cruise Deposits

Princess Cruises keeps things simple with an offer of up to $150 in onboard credit with the purchase of a refundable deposit of $100 per person, which secures your cruise until final payment. The amount awarded depends on cruise length and the cabin category. You can book a specific sailing on board with the cruise consultant or leave your deposit as an open booking, in which case the deposits will show up in your My Princess Circle Savings account.

The best things about Princess Future Cruise Deposits

Princess’ Future Cruise Deposits are fully refundable. If not used within one year, they are automatically refunded to the purchasing credit card — so your deposit isn’t lost. Purchases can be made in person at the Future Cruise Office on board or via a drop-off form.

Fine print

When Princess says “fully refundable,” it means prior to final payment on your chosen cruise. Once final payment is made, standard cancellation policies kick in, and your deposit might not be refunded. Also, FCDs may not be applied to world cruises or any world cruise segment.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Onboard Savings program

Any Regent Seven Seas cruise you book from 30 days before an upcoming cruise until the final day of a current cruise is eligible for savings of up to $4,000 per suite, along with $200 in shipboard credit, which can be applied to the current cruise or to the one you book. You’ll also pay a reduced deposit, as low as $500 per person.

The best things about Regent’s Onboard Savings program

That 30-day advance window is something you won’t find elsewhere. Just when you’re getting antsy to be on board, you can book the next trip and be rewarded with savings. You are also allowed a one-time change of your advance booking.

Fine print

Waitlisted cruises are not eligible for the Onboard Savings Program.

Royal Caribbean’s NextCruise program

Royal Caribbean‘s current deal gets you up to $600 (depending on the cruise you book) in onboard credit for putting down as little as $100 (nonrefundable) toward your next cruise. If you’d like the deposit to be refundable, you can opt for a $150 deposit.

The deposit required for an open booking is $200. Open-booking deposits are nonrefundable, but you have one full year to pick your cruise. You can make an open booking via a drop-off form or within the cruise app. You can book up to three rooms for yourself, friends or family members with the same benefits.

The NextCruise program also pairs with Casino Royale instant certificates given for reaching certain levels of game play in the casino during your cruise. If you earn a certificate and then pay for a deposit toward a future cruise, you might be eligible for a bonus offer.

In most cases, the bonus is free casino play added to your next cruise. In a few cases, these bonuses can even be free cruises, so you don’t want to miss out just because you didn’t do a NextCruise deposit. The bonus is earned for any deposit, even on open bookings placed through the app. To learn the details about instant certificates (and whether you have earned one), you can visit the casino host on board.

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

The best thing about Royal Caribbean’s NextCruise program

The top offer of $600 in onboard credit (based on length of cruise, number of people and cabin category) is one of the highest offers in the industry. That amount can be applied to beverage packages, specialty dinners, Wi-Fi or even shopping on board.

Fine print

Though your open-booking deposit is valid for a year, you only get the dollars-off or onboard credit offers if you choose your cruise within two months of making the deposit.

Seabourn Cruise Line’s Future Cruises and Deposits

If you’re enjoying your current Seabourn sailing so much that you’re already thinking about the next one, you can utilize the line’s Future Cruise program to snag a 5% discount on fares when you book on board.

The best thing about Future Cruise Deposits

If you can’t commit to another voyage date but still want to reap the savings, you can invest in a Future Cruise Deposit while you’re on board, which entitles you to a 5% discount when you eventually book a sailing.

Fine print

Future Cruise Deposits are nontransferable; they’re good only for the person named on the deposit. FCDs must be used within four years of purchase.

Viking Cruises’ Past Guest Travel Credit

Viking cruise ships have cruise consultants on board who can help you book any cruise across the line’s ocean, river and expedition fleets. These consultants can often offer low deposits and discounted fares.

But in a twist on future cruise bookings, Viking offers repeat customers discounts on bookings made within two years of their last sailing. Reserve your next cruise within one year of your last voyage, and you’ll earn $200 off fares. Book within two years of your most recent cruise, and you’ll earn a $100 discount.

The best thing about Viking’s Past Guest Travel Credit

All recent cruisers have the opportunity to participate, and you aren’t limited to booking on board to be rewarded for your loyalty to the brand.

Fine print

The travel credits might not be combinable with certain offers, so read the fine print carefully.

Virgin Voyages’ My Next Virgin Voyage program

While on board a Virgin Voyages cruise, you can opt into the My Next Virgin Voyage program by paying a $300 deposit either at the Get Lost desk on board or via an online link within the Sailor App. The deposit can be used on bookings made within the next two years. The deposits are valid only on Sea Terrace or higher accommodations, and the cabin category must be chosen when the deposit is paid on board.

Buying the deposit earns passengers anywhere from $300 to $500 in overall value (when combining onboard credit and fare discounts), depending on the length of the sailing chosen. For voyages of four to five nights, you’ll earn $150 in onboard credit (known on Virgin as “Sailor Loot”) and $150 off cruise fares. For six- to eight-night sailings, you’ll score $200 in onboard credit and $200 off cruise fares. For cruises of nine nights or longer, you’ll be awarded $250 in onboard credit and a $250 discount on fares.

The best things about Virgin Voyages’ My Next Virgin Voyage program

Virgin’s deal gives you money off your next cruise plus the onboard credit. Each cruiser may purchase four $300 deposits, but you can only apply one per each future cruise booking you make. The deposits are transferable once to another traveler. My Next Virgin Voyage offers can be stacked with most other fare discounts and promotions, with some exceptions.

Related: First impressions of Scarlet Lady, the first Virgin Voyages vessel

Fine print

Virgin Voyages is pretty relaxed about things like date changes within certain limitations. However, if you wish to downgrade your reservation below the Sea Terrace level, you will forfeit all of the bonuses.

Windstar Cruises’ Yacht Club loyalty program discounts

After your first voyage with Windstar Cruises, you’ll reach the first tier of the line’s Yacht Club loyalty program. At that point, you’ll be eligible for a 5% discount on sailings, plus an additional 5% when you book on board. (Plus, other perks — such as Wi-Fi and laundry discounts and, at higher tiers, onboard credit and money off of drink packages — provide additional savings when you become a loyalty member.)

The best thing about Yacht Club loyalty program discounts

The best part is that the additional 5% onboard booking discount extends up to 60 days after your sailing ends, so you don’t have to rush to decide on a voyage while you’re still on the ship.

Fine print

The 5% onboard booking offer is subject to availability and does not apply to already reduced cruise fares.

Bottom line

One way to save on your next vacation at sea is to book it on board your current cruise or, in some cases, immediately upon returning home.

Not only will an onboard booking almost always involve a lower deposit to hold the cruise, but it will likely get you the best available promotional offer and earn you valuable onboard credit. Savvy cruisers often max out onboard opportunities by booking all their cruises on board or by paying open-ended deposits on future cruises they can book at their leisure.

As long as you read the fine print and are aware of any restrictions or limitations, you could find yourself swimming in an ocean of cruise discounts and onboard credit that can help pay for all those cruise extras.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories: