OBC use

[umpy10]

Hi everyone, finally going on a cruise since 2018 (no thanks to covid) and curious if we can still use the OBC you get from purchasing a CruiseNext in the Casino?

We always had that option previously but DW thinks she's read somewhere on here that that is no longer available. Have done a numerous searches on CC with no success.

Thanks in advance The Ump!

[dbrown84]

Technically, yes.  If you buy a $250 cruiseNext, you get $125 in OBC.  I say technically because it really just goes against the cost of the cruisenext.  So it's not like you're really getting anything extra.  they could just sell the cruisenext for $125 and have it be worth $250, like they do the cruisefirst certs. BTW, these aren't sold thru the casino, although I believe they may host a cocktail party in the casino.  The cruisenext desk is located down with customer service, credit desk, and shore excursion desk

[phillygwm]

14 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

Technically, yes.  If you buy a $250 cruiseNext, you get $125 in OBC.  I say technically because it really just goes against the cost of the cruisenext.  So it's not like you're really getting anything extra.  they could just sell the cruisenext for $125 and have it be worth $250, like they do the cruisefirst certs. BTW, these aren't sold thru the casino, although I believe they may host a cocktail party in the casino.  The cruisenext desk is located down with customer service, credit desk, and shore excursion desk

I read the OP as asking whether they could charge casino expenses to their room, offsetting with the Cruisenext OBC.  As you mentioned, you CAN, but you probably wouldn't want to bother because they surcharge 3% and the OBC just nets against the cost of the certs.

[mpcaruth]

20 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

Technically, yes.  If you buy a $250 cruiseNext, you get $125 in OBC.  I say technically because it really just goes against the cost of the cruisenext.  So it's not like you're really getting anything extra.  they could just sell the cruisenext for $125 and have it be worth $250, like they do the cruisefirst certs. BTW, these aren't sold thru the casino, although I believe they may host a cocktail party in the casino.  The cruisenext desk is located down with customer service, credit desk, and shore excursion desk

People seem excited about the value of CruiseNext. I am not sure I understand... what are the benefits of a CruiseNext when you can purchase a CruiseFirst right before you decide to book? CruiseFirst is $150 for $300 deposit.  Cruise Next is $250 deposit for free $100 OBC. With the latter, it appears you are loaning NCL $, and only getting a perk of OBC; which I typically don't "need". Maybe I am missing something.

Edited October 31, 2022 by mpcaruth

[dbrown84]

1 hour ago, mpcaruth said:

People seem excited about the value of CruiseNext. I am not sure I understand... what are the benefits of a CruiseNext when you can purchase a CruiseFirst right before you decide to book? CruiseFirst is $150 for $300 deposit.  Cruise Next is $250 deposit for free $100 OBC. With the latter, it appears you are loaning NCL $, and only getting a perk of OBC; which I typically don't "need". Maybe I am missing something.

ahh, you are right.  I read the casino part wrong.  But my answer would still be same.  

[dbrown84]

1 hour ago, mpcaruth said:

People seem excited about the value of CruiseNext. I am not sure I understand... what are the benefits of a CruiseNext when you can purchase a CruiseFirst right before you decide to book? CruiseFirst is $150 for $300 deposit.  Cruise Next is $250 deposit for free $100 OBC. With the latter, it appears you are loaning NCL $, and only getting a perk of OBC; which I typically don't "need". Maybe I am missing something.

Yeah, I feel the cruise first is a better value, as well as you can buy it when you need it.  The one downside to the cruise first is if you cancel and rebook the same cruise, you lose the extra value of the cruise first.  I don't know how strict they are with this rule, but it is in the T&Cs

[laudergayle]

The Cruise Next OBC can be either returned to the credit card on file if no onboard charges, and/or can be used to offset the Daily Service Charge.

[dbrown84]

that's just it, there is always an onboard charge.  The cruisenext is charged to your onboard account, not directly to a credit card.  So even if you don't charge anything else to your account, you will have a charge for $250 for the cert and $125 OBC.  So you will owe NCL $125 at the end of the cruise, which will be charged to your credit card on file

[umpy10]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I guess I should have mentioned that we know how the cruise next works as we have cruised W/NCL before. Before 2018, we would "cash-in" the $100 OBC in the casino as opposed to using it towards Specialty restaurants/gift shop etc. We are Platinum and know how it works. We were just curious if anyone else had heard that NCL was not allowing you to use the OBC in the casino same way you can't use it towards the DSC or was it another unfounded rumour.

Many thanks again to all.

Edited October 31, 2022 by umpy10

[phillygwm]

10 hours ago, umpy10 said:

Before 2018, we would "cash-in" the $100 OBC in the casino as opposed to using it towards Specialty restaurants/gift shop etc.

I always view the OBC as an offset to the cost of the certificates themselves.  I usually buy two, so get a $500 charge and $250 OBC.  I'm net $250 charge.  Whatever else I do is added on top of that bill.  It's easier because I don't need to "find" another use for the OBC.

[hallux]

13 hours ago, laudergayle said:

and/or can be used to offset the Daily Service Charge.

No it can't.  The CruiseNext OBC is considered non-refundable.  It's kind of pointless to plan to use it 'against' another charge on the cruise.  When I buy CND's I charge them against the room, then I get OBC from the CND purchase which then goes to offset some of the cost of the CND purchase.

 

https://www.ncl.com/popup/cruisenext_terms

1. When you purchase a CruiseNext Deposit (CND), your shipboard account will be charged in USD and you will receive an instant shipboard credit (listed on your final bill as Non-Refundable Onboard Credit) towards your current cruise. Once the cruise has concluded, the CND will be converted into the currency of your current reservation and your CND(s) will be added to your Norwegian Cruise Line guest record (Latitudes Rewards account). Currency exchange rates are set at the time of purchase. To change the currency of a CND; simply email cruisenext@ncl.com with your Latitudes Rewards number and request the currency for your new reservation. Guests who elect to use their CND toward a Sixthman event at the time of purchase will have their CND added to their Sixthman Username profile in USD. Only refundable Onboard Credits and the Non-Refundable Onboard Credit given for purchasing CruiseNext deposits may be used towards your CruiseNext purchase.

 

Note the last line - the OBC from CruiseNext is non-refundable, non-refundable OBC can not be used for the DSC.

 

Bottom line here is that unless you're charging a credit card directly for your CND purchase, your net charge to your room is $125 per certificate if you buy 2 or more and there's no "extra" OBC to use up as it's offset some of the purchase cost that you've billed to your room.

[laudergayle]

56 minutes ago, hallux said:

Bottom line here is that unless you're charging a credit card directly for your CND purchase, your net charge to your room is $125 per certificate if you buy 2 or more and there's no "extra" OBC to use up as it's offset some of the purchase cost that you've billed to your room

I guess it’s a matter of perspective.  If I have $252 DSC on my onboard account, and I buy $500 CN certificate, I will get a $250 credit to my onboard account.  While technically the credit is used to offset the cost of the CN, it deducts $250 from what I owe.  $252+$500-$250=$502.  So, in my mind I was able to use it to offset the DSC.  Again, just my perspective.

[umpy10]

21 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

I guess it’s a matter of perspective.  If I have $252 DSC on my onboard account, and I buy $500 CN certificate, I will get a $250 credit to my onboard account.  While technically the credit is used to offset the cost of the CN, it deducts $250 from what I owe.  $252+$500-$250=$502.  So, in my mind I was able to use it to offset the DSC.  Again, just my perspective.

No you're still incorrect. Accounting on board will not take a "non-refundable" OBC and apply it to the DSC. It makes no difference if you have any OBC left, it can not be used toward the DSC.

 

So I guess no one has the answer to my question based on the replies. 

ATTENTION MODERATOR, please close/remove this Topic. 

[hallux]

2 hours ago, umpy10 said:

So I guess no one has the answer to my question based on the replies. 

ATTENTION MODERATOR, please close/remove this Topic.

So, because you didn't get the answer you wanted, you want the topic removed?

 

Here's my take - You're charging $500 to your room to buy two CND's.  You then get $250 in OBC, which technically offsets half the cost of the CND's you purchased.  You go to spend $100 in the casino.  With no other on-board expenses, your total bill is $350. 

 

Does it really matter if the OBC you got for the CND purchase is used toward the cost of the CND's or split to go $100 to your casino expense and $150 to the CND purchase?

[umpy10]

21 hours ago, hallux said:

So, because you didn't get the answer you wanted, you want the topic removed?

 

Here's my take - You're charging $500 to your room to buy two CND's.  You then get $250 in OBC, which technically offsets half the cost of the CND's you purchased.  You go to spend $100 in the casino.  With no other on-board expenses, your total bill is $350. 

 

Does it really matter if the OBC you got for the CND purchase is used toward the cost of the CND's or split to go $100 to your casino expense and $150 to the CND purchase?

If the answer I was looking for aka as "The Topic" is not achieved, then there's no sense in continuing now is there. 

Now there seems to be a few like yourself that have an opinion aka "Here's my take", that does not address the original topic (started by me, not you) If there are no fact based answers that would be helpful to all, then there's simply no reason to have this Post continue. 

Based on your history of posting, it appears you post comments only to increase your post "count". WOW Impressed !

Finally, what I do/don't do with this Post frankly is none of your F**KING Business ! This topic was not posted to stroke yours or anyone else's ego.

Don't have anything constructive to contribute to the topic? then please feel free to scroll on by.

No one will think any differently about you if you do.

 

p.s., you have yet to provide any answer that would confirm/deny my question.

[hallux]

54 minutes ago, umpy10 said:

Based on your history of posting, it appears you post comments only to increase your post "count". WOW Impressed !

Do tell, what about my post history indicates I'm strictly trying to increase post count?  That has NEVER been a consideration.  I see a topic that interests me, and on which I have something I feel I can contribute and I respond to it.  If that's your definition of "post comments only to increase post count", consider me guilty as charged.  This is, after all, a DISCUSSION forum.

 

As for the question you asked - I guess you didn't like my answer.  Re-read the terms I posted in my first reply - if the Casino will let you use non-refundable OBC, then have at it, and use your $250 OBC at the tables or in the slots.  Your bill will be the same as if you couldn't use the OBC in the casino and still spent $250 at the tables and in the slots, if you charged the CND's to your room as I believe most people do.

[peg013]

OBC earned by purchasing any Cruise Next Deposits is considered Non-refundable OBC. Only the OBC earned by this purchase can be used towards it's purchase. All other Non-refundable OBC cannot be used in the casino, for daily service charge, for gratuities for any persons onboard (Butler/Concierge/Room Steward or anyone else) or to purchase CNDs. Disallowing Grats for crew & CNDs went into effect earlier this year.

[smillerholmes]

16 hours ago, umpy10 said:

If the answer I was looking for aka as "The Topic" is not achieved, then there's no sense in continuing now is there. 

Now there seems to be a few like yourself that have an opinion aka "Here's my take", that does not address the original topic (started by me, not you) If there are no fact based answers that would be helpful to all, then there's simply no reason to have this Post continue. 

Based on your history of posting, it appears you post comments only to increase your post "count". WOW Impressed !

Finally, what I do/don't do with this Post frankly is none of your F**KING Business ! This topic was not posted to stroke yours or anyone else's ego.

Don't have anything constructive to contribute to the topic? then please feel free to scroll on by.

No one will think any differently about you if you do.

 

p.s., you have yet to provide any answer that would confirm/deny my question.

Wow - that escalated quickly?!?

[goldfada]

During the future cruise presentations on my recent cruises, the CruiseNext crew has stated specifically that the OBC generated from the purchase of CruiseNext certificates may be used to offset the cost of the certificates themselves. Having purchased many CruiseNext certificates since they were first offered, I believe that this has always been the case. In the past, the CruiseNext crew were reluctant to promote that feature, hoping that the ambiguity would encourage the use of the OBC elsewhere. If asked directly, however, they would always answer correctly.

[peg013]

39 minutes ago, goldfada said:

OBC generated from the purchase of CruiseNext certificates may be used to offset the cost of the certificates themselves.

 

Correct but as I stated above that is the only NR-OBC that can be used towards the purchase of the CNDs. We used to be able to use ALL OBC including Shareholder OBC to purchase CNDs so in effect NCL was paying for our whole CNDs. Can't say I blame them with their current financial status but it was nice while it lasted.

[cruiseny4life]

42 minutes ago, goldfada said:

During the future cruise presentations on my recent cruises, the CruiseNext crew has stated specifically that the OBC generated from the purchase of CruiseNext certificates may be used to offset the cost of the certificates themselves. Having purchased many CruiseNext certificates since they were first offered, I believe that this has always been the case. In the past, the CruiseNext crew were reluctant to promote that feature, hoping that the ambiguity would encourage the use of the OBC elsewhere. If asked directly, however, they would always answer correctly.

Perhaps they heard all my ranting and raving on Cruise Critic about Cruise Next crew being slimy snake oil salesmen (I doubt it though)! But, I'm glad they are being more upfront. To be fair to them, we purchased a couple more certificates in September and the guy selling it to us was more upfront than the crew in April. It helped we knew what we were getting into, so asking the right questions wasn't as important this time as in April. 

 

Overall, I'm glad they seem to be being more upfront about this! 

[dbrown84]

1 hour ago, goldfada said:

During the future cruise presentations on my recent cruises, the CruiseNext crew has stated specifically that the OBC generated from the purchase of CruiseNext certificates may be used to offset the cost of the certificates themselves. Having purchased many CruiseNext certificates since they were first offered, I believe that this has always been the case. In the past, the CruiseNext crew were reluctant to promote that feature, hoping that the ambiguity would encourage the use of the OBC elsewhere. If asked directly, however, they would always answer correctly.

yes, I also feel like it's a real sneaky trick to get you to think you actually have OBC to use.  It's really monopoly money.  That's why I feel like it's just best to think of the CND as costing $125. 

[umpy10]

8 hours ago, smillerholmes said:

Wow - that escalated quickly?!?

Yup it sure did. I'm tired of people hijacking a post in order to suit their egos. I've blocked them and will do the same to any other keyboard warriors. This used to be a great site/forum to exchange ideas and suggestions to help/improve others Cruising Experience. DW is on here all the time and reads me some of the most ridiculous comments made by others. Some appear to pop up on a regular basis. The "civility" here has gone downhill a lot more in the last 5 years. Don't like it? then just scroll on by! 

[umpy10]

14 hours ago, peg013 said:

OBC earned by purchasing any Cruise Next Deposits is considered Non-refundable OBC. Only the OBC earned by this purchase can be used towards it's purchase. All other Non-refundable OBC cannot be used in the casino, for daily service charge, for gratuities for any persons onboard (Butler/Concierge/Room Steward or anyone else) or to purchase CNDs. Disallowing Grats for crew & CNDs went into effect earlier this year.

FINALLY! Someone has found/posted the answer to my question. Appreciate the clarity peg013. I see you've not changed ( i have read many or your previous posts in the past that helped all who had issues) your ability to solve/correct questions from members here.