OBCs and pre-booking excursions

[BabsterA]

This is NOT a deal breaker and, no, I won't leave NCL because of it, but I am a little disappointed in one of NCL's practices.

 

BACKGROUND: the planets aligned so that my son and I will enjoy a $750 OBC on the Star in January. NICE! I made my final payment today and decided to reserve an excursion that really interests us both. The website only specified a credit card for payment so I chatted with my PCC who has NEVER before steered me wrong. In fact, he's taken a real interest in helping me finalize details for each of our cruises. He said 'not a problem...call the excursion desk...'

 

ISSUE: The excursion desk informed me that NCL does not let customers use their onboard credit to pre-book an excursion. You CAN take your chances in securing the excursion you want after you board, but this one excursion is likely to sell out. We'd be disappointed to miss it so I went ahead and paid via my credit card. The very nice lady informed me that we could use the OBC for a number of things including the casino, but since we limit our 'casino contributions' to a conservative amount, this is not an interesting option to me.

I suspect we'll be hitting all of the restaurants and the spa. Gee, THAT will be a hardship....NOT!!!!! :)

 

Let me repeat...this restriction does NOT affect my sailing decision or my overall satisfaction with NCL, but it does seem a little petty. I think we should be able to use this for a service that can be purchased and paid for with the OBC after we board the ship. It's not like we wanted to use it for our daily service charge. :rolleyes:

 

Others may have already posted this and I just missed it. If so, I apologize for posting again.

[bonvoyagie]

Since the pre pay excursion policy is fairly new I suspect that they will tweak it a bit over time - perhaps allowing one to use OBC to pay for it.

 

I suspect that they implemented the policy because of people reserving excursions and then cancelling them once they got onboard. I am sure that people will think twice about booking an excursion if they have to pay for it in advance.

 

Personally I like the old way - but like you - it is not a deal breaker.

[cruisegirl06]

Seems like it would be nice if you could hold the excursion with a credit card then pay with OBC:)

[BabsterA]

Seems like it would be nice if you could hold the excursion with a credit card then pay with OBC:)

Great idea, cruise girl! I'd be FINE with that!

[peg013]

Since we have $1050 in OBC for our December cruise, I asked on Facebook if NCL has any intentions of allowing us to pre-book excursions with NCL issued OBC. The excursion we planned to book on our May cruise to Bermuda was sold out by the time we boarded so we missed out on it. After about two weeks - they answered me that the answer is no. :mad::(

 

Keep in mind you can purchase a Freestyle Cruise Reward using $150 of your OBC thus making your next deposit entirely paid by NCL. I purchased two for $300 on my May cruise so I "earned" an extra $200 worth of deposits with $300 of the OBC they gave me to begin with = My net output is $0.00 for $500 worth of future deposits.:)

[BKCallaway]

Just curious how you guys have these huge amounts of OBC? I got 75 for my stateroom and 150 for the mini suite for my trip on the jewel to alaska next year.

[DMRick]

We went to the casino and paid the 3% to take out obc out in cash. No way would we have been able to spend it all on board, since we were not doing excursions, don't drink alcohol, didn't want to shop on the ship, and never go to the spa. It was worth the 3% loss.

[rvsullivan]

This has been in place and highly publicized for quite a while now. Mostly due to abuse in the past. Many people booked several/many excursions to make sure of availability and then canceled some/most after they boarded. Really made a mess of the system. We've never had an excursion sold out before we boarded, I'm sure some do, but we've never experienced it.

I think the only other choice NCL has is to make booking in advance non refundable in any circumstance. I'm sure some would get really angry about that also?

[4774Papa]

Our bar and wine bill for a two week cruise would use that amount of OBC.

[spacepotatoes]

NCL changed their policy over a year ago so that all excursions had to be paid for at the time of booking. It is incovenient if you were planning to use OBC, sure, but they are now in line with what almost every other cruise line has been doing for years. I always find it interesting to see this complaint pop up repeatedly on the NCL boards but rarely, if ever, on the HAL or Carnival ones.

[emcelh]

NCL changed their policy over a year ago so that all excursions had to be paid for at the time of booking. It is incovenient if you were planning to use OBC, sure, but they are now in line with what almost every other cruise line has been doing for years. I always find it interesting to see this complaint pop up repeatedly on the NCL boards but rarely, if ever, on the HAL or Carnival ones.

 

 

Maybe there's fewer complaints because the others have been doing it longer.

[coscab]

This is NOT a deal breaker and, no, I won't leave NCL because of it, but I am a little disappointed in one of NCL's practices.

 

BACKGROUND: the planets aligned so that my son and I will enjoy a $750 OBC on the Star in January. NICE! I made my final payment today and decided to reserve an excursion that really interests us both. The website only specified a credit card for payment so I chatted with my PCC who has NEVER before steered me wrong. In fact, he's taken a real interest in helping me finalize details for each of our cruises. He said 'not a problem...call the excursion desk...'

 

ISSUE: The excursion desk informed me that NCL does not let customers use their onboard credit to pre-book an excursion. You CAN take your chances in securing the excursion you want after you board, but this one excursion is likely to sell out. We'd be disappointed to miss it so I went ahead and paid via my credit card. The very nice lady informed me that we could use the OBC for a number of things including the casino, but since we limit our 'casino contributions' to a conservative amount, this is not an interesting option to me.

I suspect we'll be hitting all of the restaurants and the spa. Gee, THAT will be a hardship....NOT!!!!! :)

 

Let me repeat...this restriction does NOT affect my sailing decision or my overall satisfaction with NCL, but it does seem a little petty. I think we should be able to use this for a service that can be purchased and paid for with the OBC after we board the ship. It's not like we wanted to use it for our daily service charge. :rolleyes:

 

Others may have already posted this and I just missed it. If so, I apologize for posting again.

 

I was told that obc can not be used for casino unless it is a refundable obc, if it is a refundable obc then why worry about using it for the excursion, just get any left over refunded after cruise, was I informed wrong about using it in the casino if non refundable.:confused:

[agabbymama]

I was told that obc can not be used for casino unless it is a refundable obc, if it is a refundable obc then why worry about using it for the excursion, just get any left over refunded after cruise, was I informed wrong about using it in the casino if non refundable.:confused:

 

No, you are not wrong. If you want to get cash, it has to be "Refundable" OBC. I had $200 I had put in OBC, and $100 from NCL. When I went to the casino on the Star in Oct '11, they gave me the $200 less the 3% but the cashier said she couldn't give me the $100. So I stopped and bought a Guess watch on the way back to the cabin, to use the Non-refundable OBC.

[martinchem]

Seems like all cruiselines are making you pay in advance for prepaid excursions, I have always found every excursion available in advance, available on the ship with OBC or sail & sign.

[DMRick]

All of mine was non refundable, as was another couple that was sailing with us (most was from being a stockholder, some from NCL and some from my TA..but even theirs was non refundable) just a few weeks ago on the Gem, and they gave me all of it. I asked at the desk first, because I would have used it for my gratuities but they said I couldn't because it was non refundable.

I wouldn't have paid the 3% if I could have used if for the gratuties.

 

So, if I'm wrong (and that means I've been wrong on a few cruises that I have done this on), the ship gave it to me anyway with no problems.

 

No, you are not wrong. If you want to get cash, it has to be "Refundable" OBC. I had $200 I had put in OBC, and $100 from NCL. When I went to the casino on the Star in Oct '11, they gave me the $200 less the 3% but the cashier said she couldn't give me the $100. So I stopped and bought a Guess watch on the way back to the cabin, to use the Non-refundable OBC.

[cruisin07family]

how do you know if your obc is refundable or nonrefundable? I don't anticipate a problem since I onlly have $300 anyway but just curious...

[peg013]

All of mine was non refundable, as was another couple that was sailing with us (most was from being a stockholder, some from NCL and some from my TA..but even theirs was non refundable) just a few weeks ago on the Gem, and they gave me all of it. I asked at the desk first, because I would have used it for my gratuities but they said I couldn't because it was non refundable.

I wouldn't have paid the 3% if I could have used if for the gratuties.

 

So, if I'm wrong (and that means I've been wrong on a few cruises that I have done this on), the ship gave it to me anyway with no problems.

 

You must be confusing another cruiseline's OBC with NCL's since there are NO Stockholders of NCL stock since it is not publicly owned corporation. Are you possibly talking about OBC from the NCL credit card?

 

You can easily look at your statement onboard on the first full day to see what OBC is refundable and which isn't. We had $250 from our TA in May and $175 was refundable (and paid all our DSC) and the rest was non-refundable. The $650 from NCL was all non-refundable.

 

You can use non-refundable OBC for gratuties for your butler, concierge or the Kids club if you want. Just go to Guest Services and tell them how much you want each person to receive and they will give you a voucher to give that person showing how much the tip is.

[DMRick]

You are right..the stockholders was from Princess LOL.

 

However, that said, it was NCL Gem that we had quite a bit of obc..we had the HSN, my TA, and NCL's...$300 in all. We were told we couldn't use any of it for DSC so we took it all out in the Casino (I would have rather used if for the service charges). The casino had at first told us we couldn't so we went back to the desk..they called the casino and said yes, we could. So we did.

All that was on our bill at the end of the cruise was the DSC and the 3% which was $9. We had no butler, concierge or kids club. No bingo, no drinks..nada.

And that was just a few weeks ago.

 

 

You must be confusing another cruiseline's OBC with NCL's since there are NO Stockholders of NCL stock since it is not publicly owned corporation. Are you possibly talking about OBC from the NCL credit card?

 

You can easily look at your statement onboard on the first full day to see what OBC is refundable and which isn't. We had $250 from our TA in May and $175 was refundable (and paid all our DSC) and the rest was non-refundable. The $650 from NCL was all non-refundable.

 

You can use non-refundable OBC for gratuties for your butler, concierge or the Kids club if you want. Just go to Guest Services and tell them how much you want each person to receive and they will give you a voucher to give that person showing how much the tip is.

[GSLMOM]

Just curious how you guys have these huge amounts of OBC? I got 75 for my stateroom and 150 for the mini suite for my trip on the jewel to alaska next year.

 

I am curious as well!!

[peg013]

I am curious as well!!

 

Our $1050 OBC is $500 AMEX OBC for booking a suite 9 months in advance, $150 OBC for moving up a tier in Latitude Program (No longer applies) $100 HSN OBC, $300 OBC from our TA. I can't wait to spend it!:D

[DMRick]

Mine isn't huge..but I got $100 because I read on here to ask for a brochure from the home shopping network and we would get $100 on board credit, which we did. NCL was giving $75 ($150) each for booking and our TA for this trip gave us $50 and a bottle of wine (which I traded in for a six pack of rootbeer). Then I wondered what to do with it all, once I found out I couldn't use it for the gratuities, and someone here told me I could get cash from the casino if I paid a 3% fee. So I did. On Princess I bought casino chips and then traded them in because I get so much OBC from them, even after I paid my grats. I didn't have to pay a fee on Princess.

 

You are right..the stockholders was from Princess LOL.

 

However, that said, it was NCL Gem that we had quite a bit of obc..we had the HSN, my TA, and NCL's...$300 in all. We were told we couldn't use any of it for DSC so we took it all out in the Casino (I would have rather used if for the service charges). The casino had at first told us we couldn't so we went back to the desk..they called the casino and said yes, we could. So we did.

All that was on our bill at the end of the cruise was the DSC and the 3% which was $9. We had no butler, concierge or kids club. No bingo, no drinks..nada.

And that was just a few weeks ago.

[radzer0]

Im going to come in on this one and let everyone know. There IS a ncl stock and stockholders. Its a shared stock though that includes other companys including star cruise lines (owned by the same parent company)

 

Its listed on the stock market as AINV and its called apollo investments.

[luv2cruise53]

Just curious how you guys have these huge amounts of OBC? I got 75 for my stateroom and 150 for the mini suite for my trip on the jewel to alaska next year.

 

1. These huge OBC are usually the result of 2 things....A very large suite or haven penthouse or a deluxe owners suite etc.

 

2. Sometimes the OBC is from CAS or casinos at sea, however I heard they usually just comp your whole cruise.

 

Many people recieve $500.00 from American express OBC for booking a suite etc...

 

However the astute traveler can still find a lot of OBC if they are lucky or search.

 

I am in a solo cabin on the Breakaway in June

 

1. I recieved $100.00 OBC some 3 day only promotion for all bookings so I got that

2. I got $100.00 in a HSN Home Shopping Network promo

3. I got 100.00 from some other promotion called easy fare, no idea what this was

4. I got 12.00 for my cabin choice solo, whereas suites and stuff were offered 300.00

 

So all in all booked in a solo cabin I scored $312.00 Kaching...LOL:D

[sjmbruce]

i am new to NCL, fairly new to cruising.

 

NCL gave me OBC when booking. the rest of my OBC will come from an NCL credit card rewards program. is this refundable or nonrefundable?

 

regardless of if my OBC is refundable or not, if i am reading this thread correctly, i cannot use my OBC to reserve or pay for excursions. (if true, this makes me sad. i was planning on using all of my OBC to pay for excursions)

 

so what can i use my OBC for? i don't really drink, and there won't be time for the spa on my cruise. the spa would be more of an inconvenience than relaxation.

 

just a little disappointed right now that i wont be saving all this money on excursions, the only thing i planned on buying.

[peg013]

i am new to NCL, fairly new to cruising.

 

NCL gave me OBC when booking. the rest of my OBC will come from an NCL credit card rewards program. is this refundable or nonrefundable?

 

regardless of if my OBC is refundable or not, if i am reading this thread correctly, i cannot use my OBC to reserve or pay for excursions. (if true, this makes me sad. i was planning on using all of my OBC to pay for excursions)

 

so what can i use my OBC for? i don't really drink, and there won't be time for the spa on my cruise. the spa would be more of an inconvenience than relaxation.

 

just a little disappointed right now that i wont be saving all this money on excursions, the only thing i planned on buying.

 

You can use your OBC for excursions.....you just cannot book them before you board the ship. Anything booked before boarding must be paid for at the time of booking. When you book an excursion onboard, it will be charged to your onboard account which will be offset by your OBC. You can use your OBC for anything on the ship except the Daily Service Charge. You can use it for excursions, soda card, specialty dining, purchases in the duty free shop etc.