CruiseNext certificate changes -> No more OBC!

i am on the gem to Quebec.

i visited the cruisenext mgr to get more certs for my upcoming cruises this year.

in the past:

you pay $500, get $250 in obc, and get two $250 certificates.

you make $250 profit. (+$125 per certificate x 2)

Now:

you pay $500 and get four $250 certificates

you make $500 profit. (+$125 per certificate x 4)

or did i understand it wrong?

i am on the gem to Quebec.

i visited the cruisenext mgr to get more certs for my upcoming cruises this year.

 

in the past:

you pay $500, get $250 in obc, and get two $250 certificates.

you make $250 profit. (+$125 per certificate x 2)

 

Now:

you pay $500 and get four $250 certificates

you make $500 profit. (+$125 per certificate x 4)

 

or did i understand it wrong?

So if you pay $250 for a cruisenext certificate, do you get two certificates? If so then nothing has really changed.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

i am on the gem to Quebec.

i visited the cruisenext mgr to get more certs for my upcoming cruises this year.

 

in the past:

you pay $500, get $250 in obc, and get two $250 certificates.

you make $250 profit. (+$125 per certificate x 2)

 

Now:

you pay $500 and get four $250 certificates

you make $500 profit. (+$125 per certificate x 4)

 

or did i understand it wrong?

They have “offered” the second option for a while. It is a gimmick to get you to buy more certs. They made the same offer on the Getaway a couple of weeks ago. We just take the first option and add a couple when we need them

They have “offered” the second option for a while. It is a gimmick to get you to buy more certs. They made the same offer on the Getaway a couple of weeks ago. We just take the first option and add a couple when we need them

dont you come out ahead with this new way?

old way:

pay $500

get $250 obc + two $250 certs = $750.

so $250 profit

new way:

pay $500

get four $250 certs = $1000

so $500 profit?

like i said, maybe i misunderstood the $500 for 4 certificate benefits???

There never was an obc to begin with. It's just a marketing gimmick to make you think you have free money to spend on your current cruise which of course negates any "deal" you got buying the certs

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Does the cert have an expiration date?

dont you come out ahead with this new way?

 

old way:

pay $500

get $250 obc + two $250 certs = $750.

so $250 profit

 

new way:

pay $500

get four $250 certs = $1000

so $500 profit?

 

like i said, maybe i misunderstood the $500 for 4 certificate benefits???

No. It’s the same. In the end you pay $125 per certificate either way, whether you buy 2 or 4. You can only use up to 2 per room. So not really any benefit to buy more unless you sell them.

Does the cert have an expiration date?

4 years

old way:

pay $500

get $250 obc + two $250 certs = $750.

so $250 profit

 

new way:

pay $500

get four $250 certs = $1000

so $500 profit?

That is not how I would look at it. You do not make a profit when you ultimately spend less. That's a discount, not a profit.

Old way:

• Pay $500 (this amount is charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $500 in certificates
  
• Receive $250 credit to your onboard account.
  
• Net cost: $250. For this you have $500 in future value. In other words, a 50% discount.
  

New way:

• Pay $500 (charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $1,000 in certificates.
  
• Nothing is credited to your account.
  
• Net cost: $500. For this you have $1,000 in future value. In the end you have paid twice as much and you have received twice as much in future value. A 50% discount.
  

The two illustrations are not parallel, because you wind up with different value in certificates. The correct comparison would be

Old way:

• Pay $1,000 (this amount is charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $1,000 in certificates
  
• Receive $500 credit to your onboard account.
  
• Net cost: $500. For this you have $1,000 in future value. In other words, a 50% discount.
  

If you look at this as saving on future fares, to save twice as much you have to advance twice as much.

The new way would be easier to understand. The first time I purchased Cruise Next certificates, I had a hard time grasping that the OBC would apply toward their purchase cost.

(There is also some opportunity cost in having the money tied up until you use it toward a booking, but for most of us this is trifling.)

dont you come out ahead with this new way?

 

 

 

old way:

 

pay $500

 

get $250 obc + two $250 certs = $750.

 

so $250 profit

 

 

 

new way:

 

pay $500

 

get four $250 certs = $1000

 

so $500 profit?

 

 

 

like i said, maybe i misunderstood the $500 for 4 certificate benefits???

Pay $1000 for four and get $500 OBC... so your final total is $500.

It’s the same deal it’s always been.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I used to use the OBC to offset my wife's losses in the casino with my claim that we could do cruises in the future.

If all we get with Cruise Next deals is discounts on future NCL cruises, that's going to end, because we've already got three $250 credits on future cruises and adding onto that is not going to happen without the OBC.

It is a ploy by NCL to try to get you to spend the NON-REFUNDABLE OBC on other things on the ship!!! (I have just referred to my actual Preliminary Invoices for a cruise where I bought 5 certificates.)

When you come out of the Future Cruise office your folio will have a debit (Cruise Next Deposit) of $500 ($1000) for 2 (4) certificates. The next line (later on depending on what you spend) will have a credit of $250 ($500) for the 2 (4) certificates called NON-REFUNDABLE Onboard Credit.

If you are logical you just use the non-refundable onboard credit to decrease the actual cost of the the certificates. If you take the NCL bait/ploy you will spend it on other things on-board and not get the benefit of the discount.

We got the OBC every time we bought them. Right on our account was the cost of the certificates and the very next line was $250 in refundable OBC. One can choose to call that a marketing gimmick if one so chooses (as opposed to just selling them for ½ of face value in the first place) but the OBC is real.

They got you. It is NOT refundable OBC. It's NON refundable OBC. Essentially there is no OBC. It's a marketing gimmick for the gullible and or low information voter.

Why cash it if you can apply OBC as payment towards your CNC purchase?

As always there is a lot of discussion about refundable v non-refundable OBC. All I can suggest to everyone is to frequently check your folio, make sure that the non-refundable is being used up. The staff at "Reception"/"Guest Services" are happy to print off you folio at any time.

That is not how I would look at it. You do not make a profit when you ultimately spend less. That's a discount, not a profit.

 

Old way:

 

 

 

• Pay $500 (this amount is charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $500 in certificates
  
• Receive $250 credit to your onboard account.
  
• Net cost: $250. For this you have $500 in future value. In other words, a 50% discount.
  

New way:

• Pay $500 (charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $1,000 in certificates.
  
• Nothing is credited to your account.
  
• Net cost: $500. For this you have $1,000 in future value. In the end you have paid twice as much and you have received twice as much in future value. A 50% discount.
  

The two illustrations are not parallel, because you wind up with different value in certificates. The correct comparison would be

Old way:

• Pay $1,000 (this amount is charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $1,000 in certificates
  
• Receive $500 credit to your onboard account.
  
• Net cost: $500. For this you have $1,000 in future value. In other words, a 50% discount.
  

If you look at this as saving on future fares, to save twice as much you have to advance twice as much.

The new way would be easier to understand. The first time I purchased Cruise Next certificates, I had a hard time grasping that the OBC would apply toward their purchase cost.

 

(There is also some opportunity cost in having the money tied up until you use it toward a booking, but for most of us this is trifling.)

Great summary.

There is no difference between paying $1000 and getting $500 onboard credit VS paying $500 and not getting any onboard credit. Either way your credit card ends up with a balance that’s $500 higher and you own 4 certificates each of which is worth $250 off a future cruise.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Can you still get 2 for $250?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Just a thought... but for those hung up on the OBC... try this:

Buy your $1,000 in certificates for $500, then walk down to guest services and put $500 on you ship account.

You’ve just created the same deal and it’s refundable!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We got the OBC every time we bought them. Right on our account was the cost of the certificates and the very next line was $250 in refundable OBC. One can choose to call that a marketing gimmick if one so chooses (as opposed to just selling them for ½ of face value in the first place) but the OBC is real.

Yes so you paid half price for the cert that's the point and savvy cruisers leave it as that...of course..the newbies...and those that fall for the "marketing gimmick" will now merrily go on their way thinking they have an obc to spend...and will spend it on the ship...book and excursion...book a specialty meal...and continue to think they got those things for free using the "obc" but what really happened is that they wound up paying full price for the certs

This is exactly what ncl wants you to do

The point is..

You buy a cert...get the discount posted as an "obc" and leave things as is and you actually did get the cert at a deep discount

Or

You buy the cert...see the "obc"...decide to spend it and all you did was pay full price for the cert...but yes you got a free specialty dinner or some extra other stuff

I buy the certs on the last day...I see the net charge of $150 or $125 depending on how many I buy and leave it at that. I don't go spending this "obc" because the only reason I buy the cert in the first place is to actually get it for half price not so I can get a meal. Lol

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Just a thought... but for those hung up on the OBC... try this:

 

Buy your $1,000 in certificates for $500, then walk down to guest services and put $500 on you ship account.

 

You’ve just created the same deal and it’s refundable!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

That makes no sense at all..but I'm thinking you are trying to make a joke, right?

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It is a ploy by NCL to try to get you to spend the NON-REFUNDABLE OBC on other things on the ship!!! (I have just referred to my actual Preliminary Invoices for a cruise where I bought 5 certificates.)

 

When you come out of the Future Cruise office your folio will have a debit (Cruise Next Deposit) of $500 ($1000) for 2 (4) certificates. The next line (later on depending on what you spend) will have a credit of $250 ($500) for the 2 (4) certificates called NON-REFUNDABLE Onboard Credit.

 

If you are logical you just use the non-refundable onboard credit to decrease the actual cost of the the certificates. If you take the NCL bait/ploy you will spend it on other things on-board and not get the benefit of the discount.

Exactly

Sent from my iPad using Forums

That makes no sense at all..but I'm thinking you are trying to make a joke, right?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It’s meant to be silly.. I read a couple posts where they look forward to the credit to spend..

For me, I’d rather take the discount. I’m $500 richer in my pocket and if I choose to spend it, I can.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

4 years

Thank you.

So one has to commit to 4 NCL cruises in 4 years.

I believe RCI next cruise cert does not have an expiration date. At least didn’t used to.

Overall I find next cruise certs not worthwhile, especially expirable ones. Too much commitment for the benefit.

The two illustrations are not parallel, because you wind up with different value in certificates. The correct comparison would be

Old way:

• Pay $1,000 (this amount is charged to your onboard account)
  
• Receive $1,000 in certificates
  
• Receive $500 credit to your onboard account.
  
• Net cost: $500. For this you have $1,000 in future value. In other words, a 50% discount.
  

If you look at this as saving on future fares, to save twice as much you have to advance twice as much.

The new way would be easier to understand. The first time I purchased Cruise Next certificates, I had a hard time grasping that the OBC would apply toward their purchase cost.

 

(There is also some opportunity cost in having the money tied up until you use it toward a booking, but for most of us this is trifling.)

ahh.. so i was comparing apples to oranges.

thx for the apples to apples comparison.

so it's the same $125 for $250 certs.

with the new way, ncl is just locking you in to 4 future cruises.