NCL Onboard Credit Questions

[SEM9999]

My family cannot wait to be on the NCL escape in September. We are in the midst of planning, and several questions about onboard credit have come up. I enjoy reading this board so much and trust that some of you expert cruisers can help! So, here we go.

 

• the travel agent we used is giving us onboard credit and prepaid gratuities for two. Am I correct to assume that those credits will show up upon boarding? While I see them in the travel agent’s confirmation, I do not see them in my NCL account. 

• I believe the travel agent onboard credit cannot be used for daily gratuities or the casino, correct? But they can be used for things like excursions, spa, drinks? Any unused credits also are forfeited at the end of the cruise, yes?

 

• I am thinking about paying for additional onboard credits myself to cover the additional daily service fees for my family and spa visits. Is that a good idea? Does NCL return any of those credits if they go unused? Back to the card or do I have to wait in line for cash? I prefer to not get a big bill at the end, but perhaps I’m just being silly. It’s all coming from the same place after all.  

[ggTexasGal]

1 hour ago, SEM9999 said:

My family cannot wait to be on the NCL escape in September. We are in the midst of planning, and several questions about onboard credit have come up. I enjoy reading this board so much and trust that some of you expert cruisers can help! So, here we go.

 

• the travel agent we used is giving us onboard credit and prepaid gratuities for two. Am I correct to assume that those credits will show up upon boarding? While I see them in the travel agent’s confirmation, I do not see them in my NCL account. 

• I believe the travel agent onboard credit cannot be used for daily gratuities or the casino, correct? But they can be used for things like excursions, spa, drinks? Any unused credits also are forfeited at the end of the cruise, yes?

 

• I am thinking about paying for additional onboard credits myself to cover the additional daily service fees for my family and spa visits. Is that a good idea? Does NCL return any of those credits if they go unused? Back to the card or do I have to wait in line for cash? I prefer to not get a big bill at the end, but perhaps I’m just being silly. It’s all coming from the same place after all.  

You might want to have your TA ask NCL to email you an Amenities Invoice (which 'should" include any perks that might not otherwise be showing on the TA's invoice).

[ggTexasGal]

"Refundable" OBC can be used for everything onboard, so, if your TA gives "non-refundable OBC," then you'll need to pay the things you listed out of your own pocket.

Edited August 16, 2023 by ggTexasGal
typing error fixed

[Sundiego]

4 minutes ago, ggTexasGal said:

You might want to have your TA ask NCL to email you an Amenities Invoice (which 'should" include any perks that might not otherwise be showing on the TA's invoice).

 

^^ This. And as @ggTexasGal states, it's from NCL and NOT the TA's invoice, but only the travel agent can ask NCL to generate it for you. It will show all the NCL promo codes in the upper right corner of page 1. We also have prepaid gratuities (actually called service charges which is the daily service charge for the cabin and has nothing to do with the beverage or dining package gratuities). On our Amenity Invoice these are shown on page 2 under "Add-ons" and are listed as "FREE PREPAID SERVICE CHARGES".

 

Denise

[cruiser2015]

1 hour ago, SEM9999 said:

My family cannot wait to be on the NCL escape in September. We are in the midst of planning, and several questions about onboard credit have come up. I enjoy reading this board so much and trust that some of you expert cruisers can help! So, here we go.

 

• the travel agent we used is giving us onboard credit and prepaid gratuities for two. Am I correct to assume that those credits will show up upon boarding? While I see them in the travel agent’s confirmation, I do not see them in my NCL account. 

• I believe the travel agent onboard credit cannot be used for daily gratuities or the casino, correct? But they can be used for things like excursions, spa, drinks? Any unused credits also are forfeited at the end of the cruise, yes?

 

• I am thinking about paying for additional onboard credits myself to cover the additional daily service fees for my family and spa visits. Is that a good idea? Does NCL return any of those credits if they go unused? Back to the card or do I have to wait in line for cash? I prefer to not get a big bill at the end, but perhaps I’m just being silly. It’s all coming from the same place after all.  

Typically, a TA credit can be used for just about anything, including your daily cabin/dining gratuities. Of course, yours are also covered on this cruise, so it doesn't matter. NCL OBC's would have otherwise not been usable for daily gratuities, but can be used for most everything else you purchase onboard. Credits are never usable in a casino - only purchases of food, beverages, excursions & services (such as in the Spa).

 

I can't imagine paying for additional credits. I'm not even aware that NCL sells them. In any event, why pay for these when you don't know how much you actually will need? You might be able to put an advance credit on your cabin account to use for these items. If so, any unused balance should be returnable. But, again, why go through the possible hassle? Pay end of cruise.

 

Also, note that any unused OBC from your TA or NCL is forfeited.

[disneydave]

40 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said:

Typically, a TA credit can be used for just about anything, including your daily cabin/dining gratuities. Of course, yours are also covered on this cruise, so it doesn't matter. NCL OBC's would have otherwise not been usable for daily gratuities, but can be used for most everything else you purchase onboard. Credits are never usable in a casino - only purchases of food, beverages, excursions & services (such as in the Spa).

 

I can't imagine paying for additional credits. I'm not even aware that NCL sells them. In any event, why pay for these when you don't know how much you actually will need? You might be able to put an advance credit on your cabin account to use for these items. If so, any unused balance should be returnable. But, again, why go through the possible hassle? Pay end of cruise.

 

Also, note that any unused OBC from your TA or NCL is forfeited.

Actually, unused OBC from my TA has always been returned to me not forfeited.  

[cruiser2015]

3 hours ago, disneydave said:

Actually, unused OBC from my TA has always been returned to me not forfeited.  

Okay. Sounds great. I do believe that that is more of an exception to the usual. Obviously, it depends on what agency you are using. Your agency is treating it as a pure kick back, so it doesn't matter how you use it.

[SEM9999]

5 hours ago, ggTexasGal said:

"Refundable" OBC can be used for everything onboard, so, if your TA gives "non-refundable OBC," then you'll need to pay the things you listed out of your own pocket.

Thank you. This is helpful. 

[SEM9999]

4 hours ago, cruiser2015 said:

Typically, a TA credit can be used for just about anything, including your daily cabin/dining gratuities. Of course, yours are also covered on this cruise, so it doesn't matter. NCL OBC's would have otherwise not been usable for daily gratuities, but can be used for most everything else you purchase onboard. Credits are never usable in a casino - only purchases of food, beverages, excursions & services (such as in the Spa).

 

I can't imagine paying for additional credits. I'm not even aware that NCL sells them. In any event, why pay for these when you don't know how much you actually will need? You might be able to put an advance credit on your cabin account to use for these items. If so, any unused balance should be returnable. But, again, why go through the possible hassle? Pay end of cruise.

 

Also, note that any unused OBC from your TA or NCL is forfeited.

Good advice. Thanks for being the voice of reason ☺️

[Pghcrews]

FYI, you do not need to go through your TA to get an Amenities Confirmation.  Just call NCL and ask for one.  They will send it to your email addy.  At least that's been my experience numerous times when I've booked through my TA.

[dbrown84]

On 8/16/2023 at 2:26 PM, cruiser2015 said:

Typically, a TA credit can be used for just about anything, including your daily cabin/dining gratuities. Of course, yours are also covered on this cruise, so it doesn't matter. NCL OBC's would have otherwise not been usable for daily gratuities, but can be used for most everything else you purchase onboard. Credits are never usable in a casino - only purchases of food, beverages, excursions & services (such as in the Spa).

 

I can't imagine paying for additional credits. I'm not even aware that NCL sells them. In any event, why pay for these when you don't know how much you actually will need? You might be able to put an advance credit on your cabin account to use for these items. If so, any unused balance should be returnable. But, again, why go through the possible hassle? Pay end of cruise.

 

Also, note that any unused OBC from your TA or NCL is forfeited.

NCL does sell credit.  You can buy up to $1000 worth.  And anything that is unused is returned to you in cash.  So, yes, you have to go to guest services on the last night to get the cash back.