Advantage to waiting until after 1st cruise to book another 2 mnths late

[VPMJ]

Hi, taking our first NCL cruise in 2 weeks. Now another family wants us to also go with them in November on a different NCL cruise. I see there is a 20% past cruiser discount but it looks like it is only for cruises after 2020. 

 

Also, I see the Cruise Next Certificates, but not sure we can use them if the cruise is 2 or 2 1/2 months later? The "get all promotions" special is running now, and I don't want to miss that either by waiting until late August to book the November cruise. What would you do? Thanks!

[Peachypooh]

As of now you are correct, the 20% off is for cruises in 2020 so that won't help you if the cruise is in Nov.2019.

The get all promotions (if I had to guess) will still be going on after your cruise in two weeks. If it isn't, there

probably will be something else that would be acceptable. As for the cruise next certificates I will leave it to

those that know all the ins and outs of the rules.

[HuliHuli]

I concur with Peachypooh that the 20% off is "currently" for cruises in 2020, but last month it was applicable to some 2019 cruises.  Such "sales" come and go almost daily on NCL, so nothing says NCL won't bring it back in the future to stimulate sales of select 2019 cruises.  "Take All Free" is a core part of NCL's marketing strategy and will likely be a theme of their sales strategy for months to come.  As a shareholder in NCLH, and having tuned into their earnings calls, the CEO has made it clear that "packaging" of perks is at the heart of their forward strategy.  Cruise Next Certificates can be used on any cruise for the downpayment - sometimes two certificates, sometimes only one.  Check the NCL website for the details.  If you know you are going to cruise on NCL again, CNC's are a no brainer.

[morrisretired]

You need to think about buying 2 Cruise Next Certificates while on your NCL Cruise. You can buy 2 certificates for $250, and they are worth $500 toward future cruises. (Don't take the OBC.) They expire 4 years from date of purchase. Normally one certificate (worth $250) can be used for booking a 6 day or longer cruise that is 6 months or more out, for an inside cabin or ocean view cabin. You can use 2 (worth $500) certificates for a balcony cabin or above, with the same conditions. Right now NCL is running a Cruise Next Double Up Offer from August 1-31, 2019, where you can apply 2 certificates for any category. You need to talk to the Cruise Next People while onboard. They will be able to help you. If you book your next cruise with them while onboard, they will usually give you a free 1 level cabin up grade. You could sell one of your certificates to the family going with you, or buy extras for them.  The certificates can only be purchased while onboard.           

[smplybcause]

You can't use Cruise Next on any cruises paid in full. If the Nov cruise isn't already past final payment, it will be by the time you return. So if you book it before you leave you won't be able to use Cruise Next. But if you wait until after you return you might miss out on the "take all offer".

[don't-use-real-name]

1 hour ago, morrisretired said:

You need to think about buying 2 Cruise Next Certificates while on your NCL Cruise. You can buy 2 certificates for $250, and they are worth $500 toward future cruises. (Don't take the OBC.) They expire 4 years from date of purchase. Normally one certificate (worth $250) can be used for booking a 6 day or longer cruise that is 6 months or more out, for an inside cabin or ocean view cabin. You can use 2 (worth $500) certificates for a balcony cabin or above, with the same conditions. Right now NCL is running a Cruise Next Double Up Offer from August 1-31, 2019, where you can apply 2 certificates for any category. You need to talk to the Cruise Next People while onboard. They will be able to help you. If you book your next cruise with them while onboard, they will usually give you a free 1 level cabin up grade. You could sell one of your certificates to the family going with you, or buy extras for them.  The certificates can only be purchased while onboard.           

 

The certificates can only be purchased while onboard. ???

 

This needs a tweek - while they can be purchased on board they

can also be purchased from offerings here on CC and eBay without the OBC feature.

 

Transfers between Latitudes members no fees or service charges - a simple call to NCL.

 

From time to time you will see posts about needing the certificates or selling of same.

On eBay search for NCL cruise certificates

 

What you pay for them buyer beware - know something about the value and pricing.

          

[hladygirl]

6 hours ago, morrisretired said:

You need to think about buying 2 Cruise Next Certificates while on your NCL Cruise. You can buy 2 certificates for $250, and they are worth $500 toward future cruises. (Don't take the OBC.) They expire 4 years from date of purchase. Normally one certificate (worth $250) can be used for booking a 6 day or longer cruise that is 6 months or more out, for an inside cabin or ocean view cabin. You can use 2 (worth $500) certificates for a balcony cabin or above, with the same conditions. Right now NCL is running a Cruise Next Double Up Offer from August 1-31, 2019, where you can apply 2 certificates for any category. You need to talk to the Cruise Next People while onboard. They will be able to help you. If you book your next cruise with them while onboard, they will usually give you a free 1 level cabin up grade. You could sell one of your certificates to the family going with you, or buy extras for them.  The certificates can only be purchased while onboard.           

I used a cruise certificate in April and booked the cruise 4 days from sailing. Not sure that 6 month rule is true.

[smplybcause]

I used a cruise certificate in April and booked the cruise 4 days from sailing. Not sure that 6 month rule is true.

They sometimes have a two certificates can be used on balcony and above if it's 6 months out. So sometimes they make that distinction. For August that qualifier is not on it.

I've used a cert when I booked a cruise 33 days out. And I added a cert to an already booked cruise 5 months out.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[dbrown84]

The 20% off is for 2020 sailings, but there could still be a current lattitudes offer for the cruise you're looking at.  I believe the 2019 sailings still have the OBC and extra point per night of the cruise.  I don't think you'll get your lattitudes number until after the first cruise so that's a reason to wait.  Also, if you plan on spending some time in the casino, you may earn a discount (or comped cruise) thru the casino department (CAS).  You could call them a few days after your cruise to see if you earned any offers

[teresaandvince]

On 8/2/2019 at 11:42 AM, morrisretired said:

You need to think about buying 2 Cruise Next Certificates while on your NCL Cruise. You can buy 2 certificates for $250, and they are worth $500 toward future cruises. (Don't take the OBC.) They expire 4 years from date of purchase. Normally one certificate (worth $250) can be used for booking a 6 day or longer cruise that is 6 months or more out, for an inside cabin or ocean view cabin. You can use 2 (worth $500) certificates for a balcony cabin or above, with the same conditions. Right now NCL is running a Cruise Next Double Up Offer from August 1-31, 2019, where you can apply 2 certificates for any category. You need to talk to the Cruise Next People while onboard. They will be able to help you. If you book your next cruise with them while onboard, they will usually give you a free 1 level cabin up grade. You could sell one of your certificates to the family going with you, or buy extras for them.  The certificates can only be purchased while onboard.           

I don't understand how the certificates work. We inquired about it on our last cruise and was told we would get 250.00 OBC and 250.00 towards next cruise. We didn't need any OBC so opted not to purchase. We have a cruise scheduled in September and another one for January. We talked about purchasing them in September for our January cruise but still really have no need for OBC. You stated don't take OBC is that an option? If that is the case I could see the benefit for us. 

[smplybcause]

13 minutes ago, teresaandvince said:

I don't understand how the certificates work. We inquired about it on our last cruise and was told we would get 250.00 OBC and 250.00 towards next cruise. We didn't need any OBC so opted not to purchase. We have a cruise scheduled in September and another one for January. We talked about purchasing them in September for our January cruise but still really have no need for OBC. You stated don't take OBC is that an option? If that is the case I could see the benefit for us. 

 

If you buy two $250/each CN then they give you $250 in OBC. So your onboard account looks like:

 

CN #1       $250

CN #2       $250

CN OBC  $(250)

Account Total $250

[dbrown84]

3 hours ago, teresaandvince said:

I don't understand how the certificates work. We inquired about it on our last cruise and was told we would get 250.00 OBC and 250.00 towards next cruise. We didn't need any OBC so opted not to purchase. We have a cruise scheduled in September and another one for January. We talked about purchasing them in September for our January cruise but still really have no need for OBC. You stated don't take OBC is that an option? If that is the case I could see the benefit for us. 

You wouldn't actually decline the OBC.  Just let it hit your account and it lowers the cost of the certificates by half.  So you end up paying $250 for$500 worth of future credit.  Just remember that there is no guarantee that you will be able to use both certificates for your January cruise since it would only be 4 months out.  NCL would still need to be running the promo allowing two certificates for any cruise, which is currently scheduled to end on August 31st.  You will definitely be able to use one and can use the other for a cruise over the next 4 years if the promo does end.