Onboard Credit Rules

[bjlaac]

Planning for our January 2014 Breakaway cruise and have various forms of onboard credit (OBC) available to me. Now I know depending on the origin of the credit there are certain restrictions. So if I understand this correctly, all OBC can be used for shore excursions and specialty dining and anything else except daily service charge (DSC). So the question is

 

1) Can Stock Credit be used for DSC?

2) Can Bank of America NCL rewards points OBC be used for DSC?

3) Can NCL booking credits be used for DSC?

4) Can travel aget OBC be used for DSC?

 

Thanks in advance from all of the experts

[mpk218]

Planning for our January 2014 Breakaway cruise and have various forms of onboard credit (OBC) available to me. Now I know depending on the origin of the credit there are certain restrictions. So if I understand this correctly, all OBC can be used for shore excursions and specialty dining and anything else except daily service charge (DSC). So the question is

 

1) Can Stock Credit be used for DSC? No

2) Can Bank of America NCL rewards points OBC be used for DSC? NO

3) Can NCL booking credits be used for DSC? NO

4) Can travel aget OBC be used for DSC? Yes ( if its directly from the TA )

 

Thanks in advance from all of the experts

 

Good luck ;) see above.

[bjlaac]

Thanks for quick reply

[Always Cruising]

Be forewarned - if you check your OBC balance on the in cabin tv, it will show that the DSC is subtracted from any OBC you have - it always looks as if NCL missed the fact that the credit couldn't be used for DSC - but - lo and behold - when you get your last night's bill....the DSC HASN'T been taken out of the OBC and you all of a sudden have $84 per person (on a 7 night cruise) to spend on board the very last night. It's happened on all three of my NCL cruises. Shops are closed the departure day, so it has to be spent the last night - lots of t-shirt souvenirs...or liquor...or jewelry that you hadn't really planned on.

[susique]

Just a thought. Did I read on these boards that you can use the non-refundable OBC in the casino for a 3% fee? If so, can't you just get some cash there and then go to the desk and pay DSC with it?

[flowers44]

I was able to get $100 in cash from the casino with a 3% service charge and it came from my non-refundable OBC that I got from NCL. Once you get the cash, you can take it to Customer Service and have it applied to your DSC on your account or take it home and use it to pay the credit card bill when it comes.

[crusinfiend]

plan ahead, go ahead use your spending, but deduct mandatory service fees, which are in reality a kickback to ncl against wages paid, i have asked 100 times, they have never denied it, especially 6 days ago,

[phrogpilot73]

The question I have, is what kind of OBC is refundable?

 

The OBC for our upcoming cruise:

$25 from NCL for booking

$300 from the NCL Mastercard

$200 from purchasing OBC on MyNCL

 

Is any of it refundable? Or is it all non-refundable?

[Demonyte]

The question I have, is what kind of OBC is refundable?

 

The OBC for our upcoming cruise:

$25 from NCL for booking

$300 from the NCL Mastercard

$200 from purchasing OBC on MyNCL

 

Is any of it refundable? Or is it all non-refundable?

 

Very roughly put one could say that any OBC that has been paid with real money is refundable, everything else is non-refundable. So going by that, from your list only $200 would be refundable and $25+$300 non-refundable.

[kcwingwalker]

OK, now I'm confused about the OBC. We have a total of $200.00 OBC from NCL for our upcoming cruise obtained through promotions. I did NOT purchase any OBC credits.

 

I usually pay my gratuities ahead and add a sum of $$$ that I think will cover our onboard expenses.

 

So my question is does NCL first take what I have paid in and then after I have exceeded that point does the OBC kick in? Or does it kick in after the gratuities?

 

Thanks!

[Two@Sea]

Ok, what if I pay the DSC prior to our cruise? How is that reflected on the daily accounting? We have the $300 booking early credit, and an additional credit from our TA. I understand that the $300 is non-refundable, and the TA credit is (most likely) refundable. Am I going to have to "do math" on my cruise, or will paying the DSC in advance alleviate having to use a calculator every day? :)

 

Thanks!

[Demonyte]

Ok, what if I pay the DSC prior to our cruise? How is that reflected on the daily accounting? We have the $300 booking early credit, and an additional credit from our TA. I understand that the $300 is non-refundable, and the TA credit is (most likely) refundable. Am I going to have to "do math" on my cruise, or will paying the DSC in advance alleviate having to use a calculator every day? :)

 

Actually most TA given OBC is actually purchased with their "points" with NCL or some other similar perks and not real money so it'd be non-refundable too.

 

But yes, by prepaying DSC you should see what your actual onboard account situation is at all times.

[Two@Sea]

Thank you. I appreciate the information. Who wants to worry about 'accounting' on a cruise?

 

The likelihood that we will have any leftover OBC is minuscule, but I would hate to 'waste' the credit from our valued TA!

[SJ]

The obc I received from my TA was refundable. Best thing to do is go to customer service desk after your obc has been posted. The print out will show what you have and what you have used. Remember, any obc can be used to purchase future cruise reward which is what I plan to do since we don't drink alcohol or spend that much at their giftshops or dine in the specialty restaurants.

[Bars7816]

"Remember, any obc can be used to purchase future cruise reward..."

 

I did not know that! Good to know. Thanks.:)

[Daisyduke70]

I have purchased OBC through myNCL, can that be used towards the DSC does anyone know? I keep seeing yes, then no on another post, then yes again! I hope so as I have been buying OBC for the last four months thinking I could!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[hpecorari]

I have purchased OBC through myNCL, can that be used towards the DSC does anyone know? I keep seeing yes, then no on another post, then yes again! I hope so as I have been buying OBC for the last four months thinking I could!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

If cash, credit card, etc. is used to PURCHASE the OBC, it can be used for DCS.

 

Harriet

[Daisyduke70]

Thanks Harriet, thats a relief.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[candygirl27540]

Any OBC obtained from the BOA Mastercard is refundable and can be used for the DSC. I have used it many times.

If you don't use all of the Mastercard OBC it can be credited back to your account as points again.Always used ours,never had to do it,but know of folks that did.

[SJ]

I redeem points last December and the rep who redeemed them specifically said the obc can not be used for dsc. I think it should be too as I earned those points and was not given them. When I got onboard, it was listed as non refundable obc. Just thought I relay my experience. Even if it's true the points will go back if not used, I wouldn't risk not using them up onboard. The same rep also told me once the points are redeemed, they are not returnable.