PrePaid Onboard Account

[MickCruiser]

Hello. A CCL crusier....trying NCL for a small trip in Oct.

 

Is it possible to put money on our shipboard account now so it's waiting for us when we get on?

 

I would search these boards but I am swamped at the office.

Thanks in advance!

[Hopes4]

Hello. A CCL crusier....trying NCL for a small trip in Oct.

 

Is it possible to put money on our shipboard account now so it's waiting for us when we get on?

 

I would search these boards but I am swamped at the office.

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes. You can purchase on board credits through the "Bon Voyage" section on NCL's website. You can also pre-pay your DSC if you'd like. Your TA can do that for you or you can do so from your vacation summary when you sign into your NCL account.

[agabbymama]

Be careful doing this. The money will not be there waiting for you. You will still need to provide a credit card or money to "open" your on-board Sail and Sign account.

 

Then when you get to your cabin, you will find vouchers that you have to sign and take to the Pursers Desk. Your pre-purchased OBC will appear on your account the next day after you turn them in to the Pursers Desk.

[garycarla]

Sure.

 

But, do you really want to give your money to somebody else? And hope it is all the way you thought it was?

[Nalagh]

Hello. A CCL crusier....trying NCL for a small trip in Oct.

 

Is it possible to put money on our shipboard account now so it's waiting for us when we get on?

 

I would search these boards but I am swamped at the office.

Thanks in advance!

 

We do this every trip as a way to make it easier to budget our trip. Yes, there may be a day delay to show up, but if you check right away and ask them to find it, they will. We have never had a problem. We still give a CC at check-in. We walk off the boat most times with a cash refund because we did not spend it all.

 

If you buy OBC, keep the hard copy with you if you need it. NCL will always make it right, so do not worry.

 

Hope this helps and Happy planning!

 

 

Cherie

[Fine and Jim Dandy]

We do this every trip as a way to make it easier to budget our trip. Yes, there may be a day delay to show up, but if you check right away and ask them to find it, they will. We have never had a problem. We still give a CC at check-in. We walk off the boat most times with a cash refund because we did not spend it all.

 

If you buy OBC, keep the hard copy with you if you need it. NCL will always make it right, so do not worry.

 

Hope this helps and Happy planning!

 

 

Cherie

 

 

I always use a cc and would never purchase OBC. Taking hard copies, waiting for it to show up, double, triple checking. Why put yourself thru that hassle when you don't have to? If you can't budget a few hundred dollars maybe you shouldn't be cruising?

[garycarla]

... If you can't budget a few hundred dollars maybe you shouldn't be cruising?

 

Somebody will come along in a minute and bash your for this posting, but I have to agree. Paying ahead does not change anything. We all have to make daily decisions about spending - paid for or not.

[gma_pat]

On our last cruise we did purchase the OBC to help with the budgeting... when we got to our cabin, the certificates had been mixed up with another passenger... when I went to the front desk to correct, they already had the amt correctly on our account... and I was told I did not really even need to sign and apply to acct, it was already done - and done correctly. So was not sure why I had to wait in the line at all :rolleyes:...

[Hopes4]

I always use a cc and would never purchase OBC. Taking hard copies, waiting for it to show up, double, triple checking. Why put yourself thru that hassle when you don't have to?Taking a hard copy of any reservation, pre-paid or not is always a good idea. There is no reason to double or triple check.

If you can't budget a few hundred dollars maybe you shouldn't be cruising?

 

 

Purchasing on board credit IS budgeting. It is not your way of doing it but that doesn't make it "wrong". Some people prefer to vacation knowing everything is paid for in advance. That peace of mind is worth more to them than the $1 in interest they might have gotten if they had held onto their money until the last moment.

[MrsNancyG]

Purchasing on board credit IS budgeting. It is not your way of doing it but that doesn't make it "wrong". Some people prefer to vacation knowing everything is paid for in advance. That peace of mind is worth more to them than the $1 in interest they might have gotten if they had held onto their money until the last moment.

 

You said it!

 

With our past cruises, we had money in the bank to cover our final bill, but it never failed, we wound up stressing money the entire time. And, speaking for myself, that is not conductive to a relaxing vacation. Hubby stresses 365 with his job, the least I can do is make sure our upcoming celebration is a total release of worry for a change. Therefore, I'm purchasing OBCs right up until cruise time as well as purchasing casino promos.

 

From my standpoint, you can look down, up, or sideways at me for putting this money aside in this manner, but frankly, I could care less. My goal is to see to it hubby has the best possible completely stress-free vacation we have ever had, and for us, through experience, prepaid OBCs is the way to accomplish this.

[peg013]

You said it!

 

With our past cruises, we had money in the bank to cover our final bill, but it never failed, we wound up stressing money the entire time. And, speaking for myself, that is not conductive to a relaxing vacation. Hubby stresses 365 with his job, the least I can do is make sure our upcoming celebration is a total release of worry for a change. Therefore, I'm purchasing OBCs right up until cruise time as well as purchasing casino promos.

 

From my standpoint, you can look down, up, or sideways at me for putting this money aside in this manner, but frankly, I could care less. My goal is to see to it hubby has the best possible completely stress-free vacation we have ever had, and for us, through experience, prepaid OBCs is the way to accomplish this.

 

I personally don't care which way you make your vacation less stressful but I'm trying to understand what the difference, for example of having XXXX amount of dollars in you onboard account or the same amount of money in your saving account makes.....don't you still have to make sure you don't spend more than you have budgeted? Don't you have to wait 3 weeks to have any you did not spend refunded? How is this less stressful?

[Hopes4]

I personally don't care which way you make your vacation less stressful but I'm trying to understand what the difference, for example of having XXXX amount of dollars in you onboard account or the same amount of money in your saving account makes.....don't you still have to make sure you don't spend more than you have budgeted? Don't you have to wait 3 weeks to have any you did not spend refunded? How is this less stressful?

 

Possible explanations...

1. It's a perception thing, a head game if you will. ;)

2. Doesn't want a long hold on a debit card. :mad:

3. Doesn't want to pay extra interest if using a CC that already has a balance. :eek:

 

Clearly pre-paying holds a lot of appeal or there wouldn't be so many "all inclusive" resorts thriving.

[peg013]

Possible explanations...

1. It's a perception thing, a head game if you will. ;)

2. Doesn't want a long hold on a debit card. :mad:

3. Doesn't want to pay extra interest if using a CC that already has a balance. :eek:

 

Clearly pre-paying holds a lot of appeal or there wouldn't be so many "all inclusive" resorts thriving.

 

1. I agree

2. No one should use a debit card.

3. No extra interest since you pay the total amount of the cruise expenses with the money in the savings or vacation account.

 

All-inclusives are attractive for their total amount pricing - not because you have to pay ahead of time. I don't think pre-paying is the appeal at all!

 

If something happens and you have to cancel at the last minute, the money you have already paid towards your OBC is not available for whatever emergency has occurred.

[MickCruiser]

Hi everyone.

 

Hopes4 and others who confirmed I can purchase OBC if I choose to do so.....thanks for the info!!!! :D Have a great Friday!!!!

 

The other stuff....if I don't know how to budget I shouldn't be cruising? Really? Go stuff a sock in it. If I wanted financial advice, I wouldn't be asking here. I just asked if it was possible. I thought this stuff only happened on the CCL forum!!!! :rolleyes:

[MrsNancyG]

I personally don't care which way you make your vacation less stressful but I'm trying to understand what the difference, for example of having XXXX amount of dollars in you onboard account or the same amount of money in your saving account makes.....don't you still have to make sure you don't spend more than you have budgeted? Don't you have to wait 3 weeks to have any you did not spend refunded? How is this less stressful?

 

By having a nice bundle put away on our OBC, we won't have to sweat a huge bill at the end of the cruise. We may very well go over what we put away in OBCs, still having a bill at the end of the cruise, and that's OK and we can handle that. The fact remains that a nice chunk of it will be covered by our OBC and casino promos will take the edge off of that final bill. Also, it *is* a headgame thing. By having that money already sitting there in OBCs, therefore "spent" money, using some of it for a week at the thermal spa doesn't feel like a big expense, its just something we're taking money out of our OBC for. Same with specialty restaurants. It really is just a matter of preference and this way of doing it jibes with what we want this upcoming cruise experience to be.

 

Also, who knows, we may not go over in which case we have presaved some of our deposit on whichever cruise we book next...hopefully while still enjoying the current one.

[mitsugirly]

I've done this several times, but I didn't buy OBC from the bon voyage part. I simply called NCL and told them I wanted to add money to my on board account, gave them my cc# and that was it.

 

When I got on board, it was...basically "in my account". No certificates to sign or anything you had to do. It was just simply on my account along with my OBC from my TA. Never had a problem.

 

(But then again, I've also not put down a cc or cash getting on and told them I have purchased all the money I'm going to spend while on board in OBC prior to getting on the cruise and they had no problem with it...and yes, I estimate to the dollar pretty much, I'm a planner, and I have always come within about $10 of my estimate) :D

 

Some people like that feeling of having everything paid for others prefer to hold on to the money until the cruise. It's a personal preference and it's your personal choice on what you do with your money. ;)

[Nalagh]

I always use a cc and would never purchase OBC. Taking hard copies, waiting for it to show up, double, triple checking. Why put yourself thru that hassle when you don't have to? If you can't budget a few hundred dollars maybe you shouldn't be cruising?

 

 

Budgets are a financial planning tool, not a balance of available funds. I never said anything about not being able to pay. I set a budget, then pay for it ahead of time. To me there is no hassle, I pay then cruise, and I do not choose to fall back on my CC when the OBC is gone. It may not be your way, but it keeps my spending in check. I think you were a bit rude.

 

Cherie

[Nalagh]

I personally don't care which way you make your vacation less stressful but I'm trying to understand what the difference, for example of having XXXX amount of dollars in you onboard account or the same amount of money in your saving account makes.....don't you still have to make sure you don't spend more than you have budgeted? Don't you have to wait 3 weeks to have any you did not spend refunded? How is this less stressful?

 

I walked of the ship with a refund each time I had one coming. My CC is held each time, but my cash is in my pocket. The difference to me is that I budget X $ a day and pre-pay it the week before the cruise. If the money is gone, then so is the spending. It keeps me in check, and focused.

[Fine and Jim Dandy]

I walked of the ship with a refund each time I had one coming. My CC is held each time, but my cash is in my pocket. The difference to me is that I budget X $ a day and pre-pay it the week before the cruise. If the money is gone, then so is the spending. It keeps me in check, and focused.

 

I agree with you 100%. This is an excellent system for people who lack self discipline in financial matters.

 

Jim

[Hopes4]

I agree with you 100%. This is an excellent system for people who lack self discipline in financial matters.

 

Jim

 

If the OP lacked financial discipline, the OP would keep spending money when their OBC was gone. Having the CC their and not using it (by choice) is, in fact, discipline.

 

Is it lonely up in that tower? :(

[Denlin]

I don't put money on my onboard account, but I think I might in the future. I wouldn't do it for budgeting per say, but because I think I tend to nickel and dime myself. If I've prepaid then I would do things I wanted to do rather than say, "oh, I really don't need that" a possibly miss out on something I would have enjoyed.

How ever someone decides to budget and pay is really a personal choice and the most important thing is they enjoy the cruise according to what works for them.

[MrsNancyG]

I don't put money on my onboard account, but I think I might in the future. I wouldn't do it for budgeting per say, but because I think I tend to nickel and dime myself. If I've prepaid then I would do things I wanted to do rather than say, "oh, I really don't need that" a possibly miss out on something I would have enjoyed.

How ever someone decides to budget and pay is really a personal choice and the most important thing is they enjoy the cruise according to what works for them.

 

 

You said it so much better than I. Thank you.

[janetz]

Hello. A CCL crusier....trying NCL for a small trip in Oct.

 

Is it possible to put money on our shipboard account now so it's waiting for us when we get on?

 

I would search these boards but I am swamped at the office.

Thanks in advance!

 

 

I called NCL, had it put on our account and they sent me a confirmation email right away. No problem. It was on out account when we boarded. :)

[agabbymama]

I walked of the ship with a refund each time I had one coming. My CC is held each time, but my cash is in my pocket. The difference to me is that I budget X $ a day and pre-pay it the week before the cruise. If the money is gone, then so is the spending. It keeps me in check, and focused.

 

 

You walked off an NCL ship with your refund? When was this? In October 2011, they sure weren't giving cash refunds. I argued for about 30 minutes to no avail, the rep and the supervisor both told me it was NCL polisy to mail refunds in the form of a check to the address of record.

[francina]

I always use a cc and would never purchase OBC. Taking hard copies, waiting for it to show up, double, triple checking. Why put yourself thru that hassle when you don't have to? If you can't budget a few hundred dollars maybe you shouldn't be cruising?

 

Hey that wasn't nice. :eek: