Can't you just use it to pay for the specialty dining and some cocktails on board?

I’d spend it on board. I’m not big on specialty dining unless there is hibachi, kids love that! There was a hibachi restaurant on one of the RC ships. My kids also like getting souvenirs on board, playing at the arcade, doing the indoor skydiving (on some RC ships) and getting smoothies and mocktails.

If you are going to do excursions anyway, I would use it on that. You spend so little time in your room that I don't find upgrades worth it, I'm not much of an on board spender.

PP’s are right that it will barely cover gratuities on the cruise. Just use it to pay down your room bill.

Your dollar value will go much farther if you spend it away from the cruise line. Things are just way too overpriced to really get much for $500.

Also, avoid using private hot tubs on cruise ships, per news reports. CDC did a study, too:

"Legionnaires disease is a serious pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. During November 2022–June 2024, CDC was notified of 12 cases of Legionnaires disease among travelers on two cruise ships; eight on cruise ship A and four on cruise ship B. CDC, in collaboration with the cruise lines, initiated investigations to ascertain the potential sources of on-board exposure after notification of the second potentially associated case for each ship. Epidemiologic data collected from patient interviews and environmental assessment and sampling results identified private hot tubs on selected cabin balconies as the most likely exposure source."

$500 will go quickly on incidentals for the cruise. Don’t sweat it too much!

If you haven't already paid for the gratuities, I would use it for that.

As long as you already have a balcony I wouldn't switch to a smaller room with a balcony/hot tub. Can you upgrade to a suite? That would probably get you a lot more amenities.

If you want to use it on this kids, why not ask them? I have teen girls so they would love spa treatments and/or a generous souvenir budget.

Spa treatments. Depending on kids ages they might like a manicure or massage

Agree that upgrade is not appealing. Balcony, yes. Hot tub, hard no.

Would you want to use the credit toward specialty dining? I've been looking at cruises lately and generally reject the idea of spending money on food when included food is supposed to be one of the perks of cruising, but some people love the specialty dining.

Not sure that upgrade is actually a better room.

Hot tub, yuck. They don’t change the water after each group

They don’t clean the private hot tubs so I wouldn’t upgrade for it.

We don’t typically do cruise line excursions; instead we hire private drivers/guides/boats.

If it’s a credit with the cruise line, you can use it in the gift shops on the ship. You could let your kids go wild in the stores.

Depending on the ship, they might have a specialty ice cream service that is extra.

You could have them decorate the cabin and leave welcome gifts for the kids.

If you are visiting the cruise line’s private island, the credit extends there as well. Nonalcoholic smoothies and souvenirs perhaps?

We have a cruise booked, and we got a $500 Visa card with the booking. We can use it as a cruise credit, or for anything.

It is $527 to be exact..

What would you apply it to for the best time?
-one option is an upgrade for our room which we’ve already talked to the cruise line about applying. Trade off is smaller space, could be annoying for sleep for 2 parents, 2 kids. But, it has a bigger balcony with private hot tub.

-all other options: spa, excursion, specialty dining, anything else I’m not thinking of

A note on the excursion: I feel confident we already chose our excursions (not booked yet). I don’t think this credit would influence the choice either way… that is the only issue the idea of applying it to an excursion.

*last comment: I want it to stand out to the kids as a bonus (not just for me—mom—personally). I don’t know why.. I get spoiled enough personally in our family.. I don’t feel the need for it to be mine.

**last, last comment: it could also be spent completely off the cruise.

Thanks!