Can NCL's onboard credit be used for restaurant/drinks service charge?

NCL said their OBC cannot be used for daily service charge. I forgot to ask the rep if that can be used for service charge on drinks and specialty restaurants. When I pay for food/drink with obc, will they put 18% service charge on my credit card at end of cruise? Or do they just charge the entire bill against OBC? Thanks.

It will be applied to your OBC balance

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I believe the only limitation is that NON-refundable OBC cannot be used for the DSC.

Nor can it be used for gambling in the casino. But, all other types of charges on the ship will be covered by Non-refundable OBC (i.e. purchases in ship stores, photos, excursions, drinks & gratuity, specialty meal & gratuity, spa services, etc).

Can unused non refundable OBC be transferred to another scheduled cruise?

NCL said their OBC cannot be used for daily service charge. I forgot to ask the rep if that can be used for service charge on drinks and specialty restaurants. When I pay for food/drink with obc, will they put 18% service charge on my credit card at end of cruise? Or do they just charge the entire bill against OBC? Thanks.

“Cannot be used on daily service charge”, means you cannot use it for your gratuities. You know the ones everyone is obligated to pay so that every housekeeping crew and server gets paid. When you make purchases anywhere on the ship whether it’s at the bar, specialty dining, shops, spa, your OBC is applied to those purchases. As far as the 18%, I cannot remember where that goes... but def not totaled up at the end of your cruise.

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↑ Damn.

Yes it can.

“Cannot be used on daily service charge”, means you cannot use it for your gratuities. You know the ones everyone is obligated to pay so that every housekeeping crew and server gets paid. When you make purchases anywhere on the ship whether it’s at the bar, specialty dining, shops, spa, your OBC is applied to those purchases. As far as the 18%, I cannot remember where that goes... but def not totaled up at the end of your cruise.

 

 

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The 18% gratuity is added to your bill every time you order a drink, or specialty meal, or spa treatment. "Non-refundable OBC" DOES cover that 18% gratuity.

If in doubt, check your account on the cabin tv, or iConcierge app after your first day of charges. You can see what's being covered by OBC, and what's not.

Thanks for your replies. After speaking with 2 NCL reps, I received 2 different answers. The online chat gal said NCL's obc is not usable for 18% service charge associated with food/drink purchases. I also asked if it's ok to use obc for Cruise Next cert, the answer was yes, great! Since I read different answers here, I also called, phone rep said completely the opposite, obc is good for food/drink and 18% but cannot use for Cruise Next. So confusing but it's fine to just find out onboard. Thank you all for sharing your experience. Happy cruising!

A Captain and Pepsi, yes Pepsi only, which ruins the drink in my opinion, will run you just shy of $12.

If you order two drinks each for a couple, that’s about $48.

In what place on earth would I tip over $8 for four rum and cokes?

ANSWER: Aboard an NCL ship without a drink package.

Which they jacked the beverage package prices up so high that you couldn’t possibly drink your quota every single day and even be remotely functional every single day on a 7 night cruise even if you can drink and party most people under the table.

So you don’t buy it, but at the end of night one when you’re smashed out of your mind, you think hey maybe the beverage package is a good idea. But then you forget about the days you’ll be off the ship, and get smashed on shore and not really need the beverage package.

Then you real other “superior” cruise lines don’t charge as much, and offer higher quality drinks, and you’re like wow...

A Captain and Pepsi, yes Pepsi only, which ruins the drink in my opinion, will run you just shy of $12.

 

If you order two drinks each for a couple, that’s about $48.

 

In what place on earth would I tip over $8 for four rum and cokes?

 

ANSWER: Aboard an NCL ship without a drink package.

 

Which they jacked the beverage package prices up so high that you couldn’t possibly drink your quota every single day and even be remotely functional every single day on a 7 night cruise even if you can drink and party most people under the table.

 

So you don’t buy it, but at the end of night one when you’re smashed out of your mind, you think hey maybe the beverage package is a good idea. But then you forget about the days you’ll be off the ship, and get smashed on shore and not really need the beverage package.

 

Then you real other “superior” cruise lines don’t charge as much, and offer higher quality drinks, and you’re like wow...

I think you might have replied to the wrong thread.

You can of course just go to the casino cage and ask for the amount of cash you have in obc. There is a 3% charge for this and it will just be added to your room account. Then when leaving take the cash to reception and pay your DSC with it.

Can unused non refundable OBC be transferred to another scheduled cruise?

Technically, no, but it am be used to buy a future cruise credit, which can be applied to an existing sailing to offset the cost of the cruise.

You can of course just go to the casino cage and ask for the amount of cash you have in obc. There is a 3% charge for this and it will just be added to your room account. Then when leaving take the cash to reception and pay your DSC with it.

They will not give you anything that you have in non refundable OBC.

They will not give you anything that you have in non refundable OBC.

We actually were able to do this a while back, maybe 3 or so years ago. Have they changed the policy? The person called for approval to give the cash, so maybe policy was no, but they made an exception?

You can convert OBC to cash in the casino for a 3% fee? Seriously?

They will not give you anything that you have in non refundable OBC.

I don't know why people keep replying to this with stuff they don't know about. It's common practice.

I just did it on the Epic this year. We had $400 non refundable OBC from NCL. Went to the cage and asked for $390 cash and to put it on my room account. Walked off with money, looked on room account and there it was, $390 casino and $11.70 charge. Took money home with us.

Apologies to the OP for being somewhat off topic. But does anyone know if you can use OBC to tip the concierge and butler in the Haven? Thanks!!

But does anyone know if you can use OBC to tip the concierge and butler in the Haven? Thanks!!

Yes you can.

Go to Guest Services and give them the name and amount for each. They will give you a receipt with the name and amount. You can then give that receipt to the person so that they know what you did.

You can convert OBC to cash in the casino for a 3% fee? Seriously?

Yes

I don't know why people keep replying to this with stuff they don't know about. It's common practice.

I just did it on the Epic this year. We had $400 non refundable OBC from NCL. Went to the cage and asked for $390 cash and to put it on my room account. Walked off with money, looked on room account and there it was, $390 casino and $11.70 charge. Took money home with us.

It is not allowed with non refundable OBC. It is OK with refundable OBC. If you pulled it off you were lucky, but the rules do not allow it.

I had non refundable OBC I didn't need, so I contacted a crew member friend and asked what he and his friends could use from the shops.

I made the purchases and gave them to him.

Result ---- Everybody happy !!!

It is not allowed with non refundable OBC. It is OK with refundable OBC. If you pulled it off you were lucky, but the rules do not allow it.

We didn't "pull it off," there is lots of evidence on here of people that have done it. I have yet to hear of anyone that has attempted it and failed.

Now whether its "not allowed" is another discussion, and I am aware of something in the rules of non refundable OBC about using it in the casino to buy chips but strictly you are not necessarily using it in the casino, you are getting a cash advance and adding it to your room account.

Yes you can.

 

Go to Guest Services and give them the name and amount for each. They will give you a receipt with the name and amount. You can then give that receipt to the person so that they know what you did.

Perfect, thanks!!