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Worth buying OBC?


designgirl
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First time cruiser and I was wondering if it would be worth buying OBC before embarkation? We do not have any credit cards so would it make it easier to pay for things on the ship with OBC verses the hold they would put on our debit card?

 

We aren't big drinkers, or gamblers so I was thinking maybe $100-$200 max. We already have excursions, tips, and specialty dining covered.

 

Thanks!

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I'm not sure OBC is easier than debit but it would eliminate any concerns on a hold with a debit card. We are cruising next month and will be buying OBC ahead of time. This way we won't need as much cash. We don't want to use a debit card.

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Do NOT use a debit card!! Either take cash to put in your folio for on board purchases or buy OBC. Pay for as much as you can before boarding. They will probably want you to put $300 on the folio.

 

Remember if you "cash out" it will cost 3%.

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I'm not sure OBC is easier than debit but it would eliminate any concerns on a hold with a debit card. We are cruising next month and will be buying OBC ahead of time. This way we won't need as much cash. We don't want to use a debit card.

 

 

It is dangerous to give your debit cart. You are basically exposing all your funds (debit is your funds, credit is bank’s for which bank will fight)

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I would, we sail in July and are buying $25 a week just to have without running up the credit card too bad, since Alaska is a bit pricey. I would also take the advise not to use a debit card. I don't know if they will take it but maybe a prepaid credit card may be another option.

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A friend of mine just sailed on the Breakaway. She posted $500 cash ( $300 is required for a 7 day ). She planned on "cashing out" $200 for the casino. She was NOT allowed to because she posted cash. She then asked to just leave the $300 required on account and she couldn't. Everything ( when posted in cash ) remains until the last night of the cruise. My suggestion is to post the minimum ( $300 ) in cash and do nothing else but bring cash to put in the safe in your room. Onboard credits to yourself are wonderful only if you are posting a credit card.

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I wouldn’t bother with OBC. If you don’t have a credit card, don’t give them a debit card; just request a cash account. Put as little down as they will let you and you can add more as needed. And that way the cash you bring that you don’t use for your account, you’ll have for in port.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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You need to have an account to pay for your drinks.

 

NCL:

A cash deposit may be placed on your account in the following amounts:


  • 7 day cruises - $300/person
  • Less than 7 days - $150/person
  • More than 7 days - $450/person

Once you have exceeded the deposited amount, your account will be closed to further charges. You can deposit as much money as often as you'd like throughout the cruise, however, refunds cannot be made until the day of disembarkation for any excess. US Traveler's Checks can be cashed onboard and are the same as cash.

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A friend of mine just sailed on the Breakaway. She posted $500 cash ( $300 is required for a 7 day ). She planned on "cashing out" $200 for the casino. She was NOT allowed to because she posted cash. She then asked to just leave the $300 required on account and she couldn't. Everything ( when posted in cash ) remains until the last night of the cruise. My suggestion is to post the minimum ( $300 ) in cash and do nothing else but bring cash to put in the safe in your room. Onboard credits to yourself are wonderful only if you are posting a credit card.

 

This is not correct. I suspect that the charges to her on board account had already built up to the point where cashing out $200 for any use would have pushed the remaining balance on her account below what she needed to cover her existing charges, and thus the request to remove cash from the account was denied.

 

If you have available funds you can always remove them for cash, but you will pay a 3% convenience fee to do this.

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I'm buying some for my next cruise too. I'm actually buying extra to cash out and use at the ports too. I don't want to carry that much cash driving down to Miami.

 

Just be aware that getting cash out from your on board account will be subject to a 3% fee each time you do it, and plan accordingly.

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Simply pull cash out of your account and bring it with you. If you don't need it, you can redeposit it when you get home. DEBIT cards are a BIG "NO NO"....no protection, long-lasting holds on your money....just use cash. Certainly you can put money on your account, if you wish. I wouldn't put too much tho....just bring a good amount of cash with you...there's a safe in the cabin to store it.

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This is not correct. I suspect that the charges to her on board account had already built up to the point where cashing out $200 for any use would have pushed the remaining balance on her account below what she needed to cover her existing charges, and thus the request to remove cash from the account was denied.

 

If you have available funds you can always remove them for cash, but you will pay a 3% convenience fee to do this.

This request was made on the first evening when she wanted to take money out in the casino. She did not charge anything.

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DO NOT USE A DEBIT CARD!!!

 

If you do not have a charge card, I would get a visa/American express card that you can place Money on. If you can, I would get one and put $1000 on it and use that for your card, Anything you don't spend you put right back in the bank.

 

If you use a Debit card NCL can put a hold on it for $1000 even though you spent $400

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If you do not have a charge card, I would get a visa/American express card that you can place Money on. If you can, I would get one and put $1000 on it and use that for your card, Anything you don't spend you put right back in the bank.

 

THIS ^^^^.

 

Get a re-usable\re-loadable gift card (VISA\AMEX\MASTERCARD). Load it with whatever you think you need money wise (with a little padding for unforeseen expenses) and use that to establish your onboard account.

 

At the end of the week if you do owe, then you can use your debit card to settle your account.

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You need to have an account to pay for your drinks.

 

 

 

NCL:

 

A cash deposit may be placed on your account in the following amounts:

 


  •  
  • 7 day cruises - $300/person
     
  • Less than 7 days - $150/person
     
  • More than 7 days - $450/person
     

 

Once you have exceeded the deposited amount, your account will be closed to further charges. You can deposit as much money as often as you'd like throughout the cruise, however, refunds cannot be made until the day of disembarkation for any excess. US Traveler's Checks can be cashed onboard and are the same as cash.

 

 

 

While the website does say $300/person, when I was on the breakaway the let me put whatever I wanted. Way less than $300/person started with just $200 total.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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If you have OBC that you don't use, do you get that refunded? It sounds that way from the above posts but I'd like to clarify that.

it depends on if the OBC is refundable or non-refundable. The non refundable obc should be used first then the refundable last.

 

non refundable obc includes free at sea obc, dash sale obc and other promo

refundable obc is the obc you can purchase before your cruise

 

if a travel agent is giving you on board credit as a perk, make sure they explain if it is non refundable and refundable. some travel agent on board credit is not refundable.

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I figured I'd chime in with everyone else..

Every cruise I've ever been on I've purchased OBC ahead of time. I sometimes board the ship with anywhere from $500-$700. I use it for whatever I want. I cancelled all of my credit cards so last year when I went to put my pre-paid card on file the lady advised me of the hold that would take place. I panicked because I did not have that amount of $ on it since I had so much OBC. I advised the lady of that amount and thankfully she let me walk on the ship without putting anything on my account. This is probably something they aren't suppose to do. IDK. But I've never had it done before. I was thankful for sure.

 

On the last night of the cruise when I went to close my account, I had around $300 left that I had not used. They sent a check in the mail but it took probably 6 weeks to receive. But, when I received it, it was nice to have that extra money. So that's why I don't mind putting the OBC on my account.

 

Now what works best for me, might not work for someone else. This is just my story and how I do it. I like knowing that I have money on my account when I board the ship and that I can purchase anything that I might want.

 

Also, another thing that we all run into is the fact that employees are not all on the same page. What an employee said/done for me might not be what someone else done for you. So we have to take that into consideration too.

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  • 6 months later...
THIS ^^^^.

 

Get a re-usable\re-loadable gift card (VISA\AMEX\MASTERCARD). Load it with whatever you think you need money wise (with a little padding for unforeseen expenses) and use that to establish your onboard account.

 

At the end of the week if you do owe, then you can use your debit card to settle your account.

 

 

Will they accept these type of gift cards? Should you load it with whatever money is needed for your length of cruise?

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We usually buy OBC prior to the cruise, just because it can be bought in small increments weekly or biweekly. We also pay our DSC and usually buy excursions ahead of time. The last couple or three cruises, we've actually had a credit on our account at the end of the week. On Carnival, we used the "casino trick" the last night to get the cash. NCL will mail you a check....took about a week to receive it.

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