$1000 OBC Limit for Canadians - Anyone had the difference refunded?

[xcell]

yes

[lettienets]

yes

 

Oh good, I might get some OBC for future cruise rewards then the bill won't come after my trip.

[santacap]

Dont see it anywhere...

 

Is this change per stateroom, or per booking?

 

two 'singles' sharing a room would have the opportunity to buy 1K each?

[pisenor]

Dont see it anywhere...

 

Is this change per stateroom, or per booking?

 

two 'singles' sharing a room would have the opportunity to buy 1K each?

 

per stateroom unfortunately, not per person.

[Belci]

I guess the next question now is. If they changed up the max OBC to buy. What will they do at the casino cage when you try and access your OBC in cash?? Hope they don't change that rule. Really will upset a lot of people if they change that rule. ????

 

 

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[NLH Arizona]

I guess the next question now is. If they changed up the max OBC to buy. What will they do at the casino cage when you try and access your OBC in cash?? Hope they don't change that rule. Really will upset a lot of people if they change that rule. ????

 

 

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If they decided to change the casino rules, they could do what Celebrity is doing with non-refundable OBC, when one gets money from the Casino, they give them promotion chips or slot play. That way if someone really wants the money for the casino, they have to play it in the casino.

[rochelle_s]

If they decided to change the casino rules, they could do what Celebrity is doing with non-refundable OBC, when one gets money from the Casino, they give them promotion chips or slot play. That way if someone really wants the money for the casino, they have to play it in the casino.

 

That is true, but it should be made clear that purchasing OBC is refundable credit so when the guest goes to get cash in the casino they will not be given promotional chips or slot play.

 

 

Rochelle

[CanadianMommyof2]

No wonder that NCL doesn't know whether it is Arthur or Martha!!

 

My bank, the BMO, is quoting Buy/Sell rates of 1.3466 and 1.4134 so the median is 1.38. I bet this is a great change from yesterday!!

 

Mike

 

I booked a cruise on Feb. 1 and got an exchange rate of 1.39 for the cruise but when I went to purchase the drink/dining package the exchange was 1.46! I thought I was doing the calculations wrong so I went to check the OBC and sure enough it was $100 US OBC for $146.41 CAD.

[NLH Arizona]

That is true, but it should be made clear that purchasing OBC is refundable credit so when the guest goes to get cash in the casino they will not be given promotional chips or slot play.

 

 

Rochelle

Even if it is not made that clear, when they go to cash out money in the casino and find out it is for promotion chips or slot play, they can say no and get their unused OBC back in Canadian funds applied to their credit card at hopefully the exchange rate they paid.

[Frenchsnowhite]

Just checked my account and here's what is written:

 

 

$100 On-Board Credit Certificate (amount purchased cannot exceed USD $1,000 per reservation)

[Frenchsnowhite]

Spend the last 45 minutes on the phone with NCL.

 

And they confirmed that even if I bought the OBC before January 21st 2016 the maximum amount is 1000$

 

So they are refunding it today to my cc. Should be on my account by 5-7 business days.

 

My advice? Don't wait until they call you, call them and get YOUR money back!!!:)

[agabbymama]

Don't excursions have to be paid for at the time of booking now? Sounds to me like NCL is encouraging folks to book and pay for as much as possible before the cruise (drinks package, dinner package, soda cards, etc) so OBC only covers the DSC. That's exactly what I would do, and purchase minimal OBC maybe for photos or misc purchases.

[bfamily4]

Spend the last 45 minutes on the phone with NCL.

 

And they confirmed that even if I bought the OBC before January 21st 2016 the maximum amount is 1000$

 

So they are refunding it today to my cc. Should be on my account by 5-7 business days.

 

My advice? Don't wait until they call you, call them and get YOUR money back!!!:)

 

 

just did the same thing. was on hold for 30 min. we originally bought $2000. they will refund the other $1000 to my cc in 5-7 business days. lady I spoke to didn't even know about the limit. She had to talk to her supervisor. said I was the only one who called about it.

[abe3]

What is such the big deal here. If they give you back money I don't see why people get worked up about it?

[CasinoCruzGirl]

What is such the big deal here. If they give you back money I don't see why people get worked up about it?

 

Are you Canadian Abe?

[rochelle_s]

What is such the big deal here. If they give you back money I don't see why people get worked up about it?

 

Okay imagine you need 50 shirts for the upcoming football season. You contact the NFL (as they are the best and most convenient supplier of the shirts) and you find that they have the best offer in terms of cost. You place your order for 50 shirts and pay in full for them(possibly months in advance). All is well and good and you will receive the shirts at the start of the football season.

 

After the fact the NFL change their mind. They now want to limit the number of shirts you purchase to 10. Even though you have bought and paid for the shirts they are not grandfathering you in but instead are making this new policy retroactive.

 

The NFL know exactly who you are and how to contact you but have not notified you of any change, even though the change in the policy took affect last month. The only way you are hearing about this is randomly on the internet site, Football Critic. If you were someone who does not frequent Football Critic you would have no idea at all. There has been no indication the the NFL has made any attempt so far to refund you the money owing even though it is the NFL themselves that have changed the terms. At this point the only way to ensure your money is promptly returned is for you to call the NFL yourself and ask about it. And when you do the phone reps are unaware of any changes in policy and must escalate to a supervisor.

 

So there are multiple problems that can be seen here.

 

First off a change in policy that becomes retroactive.

 

Secondly lack of communication about the said policy from the corporation to the customer.

 

Thirdly the failure to refund the said funds on the day the new policy came into effect.

 

NCL has once again demonstrated how completely unprofessional they can be in terms of communication which unfortunately highlights how little they value their customers at times.

 

 

Rochelle

[rochelle_s]

Even if it is not made that clear, when they go to cash out money in the casino and find out it is for promotion chips or slot play, they can say no and get their unused OBC back in Canadian funds applied to their credit card at hopefully the exchange rate they paid.

 

Sorry I am not following why you are introducing another cruise lines policies into this thread. This discussion is about refundable OBC that is purchased by the customer prior to the cruise. There is no indication whatsoever that NCL will be adopting the OBC policies of Celebrity. Adding 'what if's" only muddles the discussion. People are here seeking clarification on exactly what the change is. What the policy is going forward. How it affects those who purchased prior to the change. And what those who have already purchased need to do to get their money back.

 

 

Rochelle

[abe3]

Okay imagine you need 50 shirts for the upcoming football season. You contact the NFL (as they are the best and most convenient supplier of the shirts) and you find that they have the best offer in terms of cost. You place your order for 50 shirts and pay in full for them(possibly months in advance). All is well and good and you will receive the shirts at the start of the football season.

 

 

 

After the fact the NFL change their mind. They now want to limit the number of shirts you purchase to 10. Even though you have bought and paid for the shirts they are not grandfathering you in but instead are making this new policy retroactive.

 

 

 

The NFL know exactly who you are and how to contact you but have not notified you of any change, even though the change in the policy took affect last month. The only way you are hearing about this is randomly on the internet site, Football Critic. If you were someone who does not frequent Football Critic you would have no idea at all. There has been no indication the the NFL has made any attempt so far to refund you the money owing even though it is the NFL themselves that have changed the terms. At this point the only way to ensure your money is promptly returned is for you to call the NFL yourself and ask about it. And when you do the phone reps are unaware of any changes in policy and must escalate to a supervisor.

 

 

 

So there are multiple problems that can be seen here.

 

 

 

First off a change in policy that becomes retroactive.

 

 

 

Secondly lack of communication about the said policy from the corporation to the customer.

 

 

 

Thirdly the failure to refund the said funds on the day the new policy came into effect.

 

 

 

NCL has once again demonstrated how completely unprofessional they can be in terms of communication which unfortunately highlights how little they value their customers at times.

 

 

 

 

 

Rochelle

 

 

I see but are people just purchasing OBC to make money on a favorable exchange or really using it for OBC?

[NLH Arizona]

I see but are people just purchasing OBC to make money on a favorable exchange or really using it for OBC?

I think it is for both. Some have bragged about how they are working the system and NCL rightfully closed that loophole by limiting the amount they can purchase. Those that want to make the money can still make money off the $1,000, but that certainly has some ticked off.

[abe3]

If it was me in charge I would of grandfathered everyone in from the date forward, but if they are giving the money back really don't see an issue unless you really were using it for OBC maybe in the casino or something else. If you are just trying to take advantage then yes I don't see a problem with the policy.

 

Do they give you your leftover OBC at the current rate or at the rate you purchased the OBC?

[abe3]

This is a very interesting topic. Sorry for all the questions.

[xcell]

As long as I have it in writing I'm getting my money back I don't care.... but if it's just a phone call... that's not proof and how do I argue after the fact (the cruise) where's my money?

 

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[RobTheGob]

I see but are people just purchasing OBC to make money on a favorable exchange or really using it for OBC?

 

I was buying it to pay for our (over-priced!) drinks for two of us on a 21 day leg (and any any other "incidentals"). We didn't get the "Pick 1" promo because when we booked - the cruise had to be under 16 days to qualify. Of course that is now been changed - but we got such a screaming deal on the cruise, I'm OK with it.

 

I've bought $2k - but I'm assuming that will be refunded when NCL gets around to it... Limiting multiple people on long cruises to the same amount as a single person on a short cruise is ludicrous. But I'm not really expecting much else from NCL.

 

I'm a little pissed about how they're doing it (but I'm not upset that they ARE changing the policy). I'm hedging my bets by bringing more USD cash. I'll do my best to spend that AWAY from NCL... They can suck eggs.

[casofilia]

Do they give you your leftover OBC at the current rate or at the rate you purchased the OBC?

 

The situation was that those who paid for their cruise in CAD were allowed to buy OBC in USD at the same 'NCL Exchange Rate' that was used when purchasing the cruise, be it 1.07; 1.11, 1.18 or 1.33.

 

They then had refundable OBC in USD. It could be used against purchases of any kind on the boat; it could be withdrawn in USD, for a 3% fee, through the casino or it could be refunded in USD as a cheque, sent to the home address, after the end of the cruise.

 

At the present exchange rate it meant that some people were making a 'profit' of 20-30c on the dollar.

 

Hope that clarifies.

 

Mike

[cjcruises]

Okay imagine you need 50 shirts for the upcoming football season. You contact the NFL (as they are the best and most convenient supplier of the shirts) and you find that they have the best offer in terms of cost. You place your order for 50 shirts and pay in full for them(possibly months in advance). All is well and good and you will receive the shirts at the start of the football season.

 

After the fact the NFL change their mind. They now want to limit the number of shirts you purchase to 10. Even though you have bought and paid for the shirts they are not grandfathering you in but instead are making this new policy retroactive.

 

The NFL know exactly who you are and how to contact you but have not notified you of any change, even though the change in the policy took affect last month. The only way you are hearing about this is randomly on the internet site, Football Critic. If you were someone who does not frequent Football Critic you would have no idea at all. There has been no indication the the NFL has made any attempt so far to refund you the money owing even though it is the NFL themselves that have changed the terms. At this point the only way to ensure your money is promptly returned is for you to call the NFL yourself and ask about it. And when you do the phone reps are unaware of any changes in policy and must escalate to a supervisor.

 

So there are multiple problems that can be seen here.

 

First off a change in policy that becomes retroactive.

 

Secondly lack of communication about the said policy from the corporation to the customer.

 

Thirdly the failure to refund the said funds on the day the new policy came into effect.

 

NCL has once again demonstrated how completely unprofessional they can be in terms of communication which unfortunately highlights how little they value their customers at times.

 

 

Rochelle

 

Beautifully stated., I would also add that NCL clearly doesn't value informing their employees of policy changes and doesn't seem to care that those same employees will be the ones answering questions about refunds and facing angry customers as people slowly learn of the policy change. So not only to they not value their customers, it would seem they don't really value their employees, either. How difficult would it be to send an email to their approx 200 PCCs. If that's too much,they could at least inform supervisors or even the help desk. It speaks to their corporate climate and values. As a business owner, I find that as shameful as the way they are treating the customers.

Edited February 5, 2016 by cjcruises