NCL Mastercard FAQ

[kismetique]

Just now, smillerholmes said:

I'm not sure if this was made clear or not, but you are not taking a cash advance on your card.  You are "charging" to your room which is in turn billed to your NCL card.  They charge you 3% for the convenience, but it goes on your folio as a charge and then you pay your total folio with your NCL card to earn the 3X points.

Gosh - I'm feel like a newbie.  I had no idea this was even possible.  So, does the ship then give you cash back at the end of the cruise after your folio is paid?

 

For a non-gambler, can you explain the process? Sorry to be so dumb.

[smillerholmes]

2 minutes ago, kismetique said:

Gosh - I'm feel like a newbie.  I had no idea this was even possible.  So, does the ship then give you cash back at the end of the cruise after your folio is paid?

 

For a non-gambler, can you explain the process? Sorry to be so dumb.

The only money I ever leave with is if I have received a hand pay, but in theory/practice you could "charge" your room and move the $$$ to the machine (I pay slots) then simply cash out and take your ticket to the cashier.  I only move what I intend to actually play on the machine, but it is possible to get some "cash back" if that's what you want to do.  This process is separate from paying your folio.

[julig22]

7 minutes ago, kismetique said:

Gosh - I'm feel like a newbie.  I had no idea this was even possible.  So, does the ship then give you cash back at the end of the cruise after your folio is paid?

 

For a non-gambler, can you explain the process? Sorry to be so dumb.

The cash-advance goes onto your casino account, so you would need to cash that out, in the casino, before you leave (or whenever you want it).

To get cash, you'd go to one of the slots in the casino, access your account and make a charge to your account. Once you've done that, you would transfer the cash to the machine - play or not, your choice. Then cash out, take the receipt to the cashier. If you have problems, one of the casino staff can walk you through it.

 

[kismetique]

11 minutes ago, julig22 said:

The cash-advance goes onto your casino account, so you would need to cash that out, in the casino, before you leave (or whenever you want it).

To get cash, you'd go to one of the slots in the casino, access your account and make a charge to your account. Once you've done that, you would transfer the cash to the machine - play or not, your choice. Then cash out, take the receipt to the cashier. If you have problems, one of the casino staff can walk you through it.

 

Thank you both for the information!  Wow. 

My mom was a casino nut, I'm angry that she never shared this idea with me!  🙂

[kismetique]

I also learned a lesson last night in redeeming points.  I called and got ahold of someone that did not know what they were doing.  I know, I know, I know...I should have just said nvm and hung up and called back.  But she was so very nice and seemed to be trying so hard.  This was my only second time to redeem points so I stuck it out with her.  BIG MISTAKE. 

 

She took my points asked me which cabin I wanted and promptly rebooked me into an O4, as I was already in!  No upgrade.  When I pulled up the confirmation I realized that line in the invoice for the amount "saved" was missing.  The confirmation showed 04 - BA, with the cabin we discussed, and I didn't realize until I called NCL, but the cabin number online was 10014, which is an Oceanview, not a balcony.  

 

In the meantime, I had decided I wanted to change the cabin we had discussed and so I called NCL and told them the price had dropped, and I wanted to change my cabin.  We went round and round and she kept putting me on hold and coming back after 10 solid minutes and acting like she was a new CSR, only her accent gave her away.  I let her get away with it the first time, then the second, third and fourth times, I laughed at her and said - how many times do you plan to pretend to be someone new?  Dead silence.  She ended up taking away all mentions of an upgrade and sticking me in a guarantee balcony, charging me full price!

 

I called Points Rewards back this morning and they got it all straightened out with the price drop as well.  But the invoice STILL doesn't show the "saved" line. Everything else is correct and the cabin is showing correct online, so I'm guessing it all worked out. 

 

Let this be a lesson to the first timers - don't be afraid to hang up and call back, just because they are being nice, it will likely get screwed up!  🙂

[julig22]

8 minutes ago, kismetique said:

I called Points Rewards back this morning and they got it all straightened out with the price drop as well.  But the invoice STILL doesn't show the "saved" line. Everything else is correct and the cabin is showing correct online, so I'm guessing it all worked out. 

I've never figured out the "saved" line - it's not always on my invoices. Some sort of accounting thing. I wouldn't worry about it if everything else is good.

[Kath29]

Hi guys, quick question on using WorldPoints to upgrade. Does the cruise have to be paid off before calling to upgrade the cabin? Or conversely, is it too late to upgrade the cabin once I pay off the cruise? 

[julig22]

10 minutes ago, Kath29 said:

Hi guys, quick question on using WorldPoints to upgrade. Does the cruise have to be paid off before calling to upgrade the cabin? Or conversely, is it too late to upgrade the cabin once I pay off the cruise? 

No and No. There just has to be an eligible cabin available, so sooner rather than later might be a good idea.

[kismetique]

2 hours ago, julig22 said:

No and No. There just has to be an eligible cabin available, so sooner rather than later might be a good idea.

And from experience,  don't take their first word for it, if they say there are no cabins available. If you can do a mock reservation for the cabin or cabin level you want and show availability,  tell them you can see cabins available!  They might want to charge you a little more for the correct upgrade levels.  On one of mine,  I paid $40 and on the second,  I paid $60.

[julig22]

1 hour ago, kismetique said:

And from experience,  don't take their first word for it, if they say there are no cabins available. If you can do a mock reservation for the cabin or cabin level you want and show availability,  tell them you can see cabins available!  They might want to charge you a little more for the correct upgrade levels.  On one of mine,  I paid $40 and on the second,  I paid $60.

I actually saved over $400 the last time because what I wanted happened to be a solo balcony and I had booked a regular OV (previously a request to upgrade from a solo OV had been rejected). So she rebooked the solo OV at the lower rate, I got the exact cabin I wanted.

 

I have been told in the past that just because a cabin is available to book does not mean that it is included in the inventory available for WWP - but that a little nudge might get the results you want.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

20 hours ago, Kath29 said:

Hi guys, quick question on using WorldPoints to upgrade. Does the cruise have to be paid off before calling to upgrade the cabin? Or conversely, is it too late to upgrade the cabin once I pay off the cruise? 

No, you can do it the same day you book,if you want.
And you can upgrade at any time, although there may be a limit on how close to sailing you can upgrade, but I think I have read on this thread that someone booked and upgraded six days prior to sailing.  I’m,ways book crazy early and upgrade early for the best selection of cabins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MagnoliaBlossom]

17 hours ago, kismetique said:

And from experience,  don't take their first word for it, if they say there are no cabins available. 

Amen, amen, amen!   If an agent plays this game with you, hang up and call back!  
 

the only time I had to pay extra was on the Dawn because they only have BA and BX.  I had booked a mid level balcony and needed to have booked one of the two top IAs to get a BA.

 

WP is like many companies who provide call centers, their agents are not always well trained or knowledgeable.  If it seems fishy, ask for a supervisor or just call back.

[marrashadow]

So the thing is if you were to take out a large some of cash at sea prior to returning through customs it can flag you. You are permitted $10,000 cash for travel without declaring it. Which anything higher requires documentation to be filled out.

My guess would be you'd later get an undeclared income letter from IRS on that one. No way they don't share information. Now technically since its a cash out you could then prove the charge to the IRS but it looks fishy and you'll probably get audit flagged. That's what the algorithms look for, odd things.  

Just want to add this type of cashing in gambling credits charged through cards is also used by those laundering money so it could be flagged for that as well. Now for a few hundred here and there probably not but when you start talking about high amounts like in example, buyer beware and if its flagged World Points will cancel your card.

 

 

Edited April 17 by marrashadow

[marrashadow]

https://www.flagright.com/post/the-role-of-credit-cards-in-money-laundering

[MagnoliaBlossom]

Interesting article.