NCL ship board credit can't be used for everything !

[cruis247g]

I completely understand why cruise lines choose to limit the use of specific types of OBC, however, I wish that all types could be used for everything. It would be simpler for me to receive less credit and use it for anything. Unfortunately a smaller credit might not look as enticing to many!:p.

 

Is it enough to prevent me from cruising? No, but I would like the simplicity.

[cruzsnooze]

All of the cruise lines limit what you can do with "free" promotional OBC. I don't know of one that lets you use it for gratuities.

 

Y

PRINCESS DOES, check your facts before posting. We get loyalty OBC for Elite and then Military OBC and always use it for auto gratuity. I have been on 3 cruises this year with Princess so I can say with certainty and (and it's recent) OBC that princess issues has no restrictions.

Edited July 25, 2014 by cruzsnooze

[sjbdtz]

PRINCESS DOES, check your facts before posting. We get loyalty OBC for Elite and then Military OBC and always use it for auto gratuity. I have been on 3 cruises this year with Princess so I can say with certainty and (and it's recent) OBC that princess issues has no restrictions.

 

 

Neither of those is the same as the non-refundable price-discount OBC which we are discussing.

 

 

 

.

[JenLovesToTravel]

PRINCESS DOES, check your facts before posting. We get loyalty OBC for Elite and then Military OBC and always use it for auto gratuity. I have been on 3 cruises this year with Princess so I can say with certainty and (and it's recent) OBC that princess issues has no restrictions.

 

 

I know my facts, thanks! Loyalty and Military (or AARP) is not promotional OBC!!

 

 

 

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[genealogyfan]

Regarding $150 credit, it's the principle! It's credit to do with whatever I want ! And believe me, we've spent way over the 150, and we go over the $12 per day service charge and tip on top of that!

 

 

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You aren't entitled to the on board credit - it's a gift from the cruise line - to do under their conditions. It's not an entitlement.

[Kortehgehn]

I do think it can be confusing for new cruisers with NCL about the DSC. It is on their website FAQ and in the contract but I don't think many of the passengers read that, even if it is their responsibility to do so. NCL mentions it certainly but I don't think they are as up front about it as they could be.

 

I think most guests assume the credit can be used for anything charged on-board and in fact, for a while it was able to be used that way even though NCL officially said otherwise. I also think it is very misleading of NCL in that when you view your account on-board the DSC charges will appear to come off of the credit balance until that last night when you get the final printout and a surprise balance.

Edited July 26, 2014 by Kortehgehn

[Amo57]

I usually don't comment on threads like this because every comment is just someone's opinion and leads to more unnecessary bickering, but.......now that I've gone through 56 posts with the hopes of seeing an explanation of what the real problem is (since more than $150 was spent on other things) and my heads spinning, all I can figure is this...."it's the principle" must be some other language I'm not familiar with and best I can figure is it translates into "I NEED something to complain about"

 

 

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[pokerpro5]

I usually don't comment on threads like this because every comment is just someone's opinion and leads to more unnecessary bickering, but.......now that I've gone through 56 posts with the hopes of seeing an explanation of what the real problem is (since more than $150 was spent on other things) and my heads spinning, all I can figure is this...."it's the principle" must be some other language I'm not familiar with and best I can figure is it translates into "I NEED something to complain about"

 

 

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Yeah the OP was a bit odd in this way, as it seems he shouldn't have a problem if he spent $150 on other things.

 

But anyway, the "slot machine trick" solves this whole thing, so that should be that.

 

Pretty funny how so many people lectured the poor guy from a self-righteous standpoint, acting like he was some kind of ingrate for not liking that the couldn't use the OBC to pay for the DSC.

 

This is not communicated very well at all to the passengers (even if it's buried in the fine print), and it's completely understandable why people would be upset upon finding out that their OBC can't be used in the way they expect. They don't have a "right" to this, but at the same time, you shouldn't lecture them for being unhappy about the policy being poorly communicated.

 

The right thing to do on a forum like this would be to instruct him how to (legally) get around it if such a way exists, but most people here were too busy lecturing him like a parent.

 

Sad.

[KeithJenner]

Yeah the OP was a bit odd in this way, as it seems he shouldn't have a problem if he spent $150 on other things.

 

 

 

But anyway, the "slot machine trick" solves this whole thing, so that should be that.

 

 

 

Pretty funny how so many people lectured the poor guy from a self-righteous standpoint, acting like he was some kind of ingrate for not liking that the couldn't use the OBC to pay for the DSC.

 

 

 

This is not communicated very well at all to the passengers (even if it's buried in the fine print), and it's completely understandable why people would be upset upon finding out that their OBC can't be used in the way they expect. They don't have a "right" to this, but at the same time, you shouldn't lecture them for being unhappy about the policy being poorly communicated.

 

 

 

The right thing to do on a forum like this would be to instruct him how to (legally) get around it if such a way exists, but most people here were too busy lecturing him like a parent.

 

 

 

Sad.

 

 

The info isn't buried. It takes three logical clicks to find it on the website.

 

As for helping the OP, on post 9 they showed that it wasn't actually a problem for them as they had spent the money on other things anyway. They didn't post to get help, they were just complaining on an internet discussion board, so I for one am not sorry for discussing it.

 

 

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[peg013]

I do think it can be confusing for new cruisers with NCL about the DSC. It is on their website FAQ and in the contract but I don't think many of the passengers read that, even if it is their responsibility to do so. NCL mentions it certainly but I don't think they are as up front about it as they could be.

 

I think most guests assume the credit can be used for anything charged on-board and in fact, for a while it was able to be used that way even though NCL officially said otherwise. I also think it is very misleading of NCL in that when you view your account on-board the DSC charges will appear to come off of the credit balance until that last night when you get the final printout and a surprise balance.

 

See red above....did this just happen recently? :confused: On which ship? Mine has always shown the correct balances for both the refundable and nonrefundable OBC.....no surprises at the end on the Star, Dawn, Gem and Breakaway. It is hard to tell the differences on the TV but I always get at least 2 printouts each cruise which define them better than the TV.

[pokerpro5]

The info isn't buried. It takes three logical clicks to find it on the website.

 

As for helping the OP, on post 9 they showed that it wasn't actually a problem for them as they had spent the money on other things anyway. They didn't post to get help, they were just complaining on an internet discussion board, so I for one am not sorry for discussing it.

 

 

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It shouldn't take any clicks. It should be communicated as clearly as the fact that the passenger has OBC in the first place.

[KeithJenner]

It shouldn't take any clicks. It should be communicated as clearly as the fact that the passenger has OBC in the first place.

 

 

Well they seem to have that one cracked on the website then. I have OBC on future cruises and I can't fine it mentioned anywhere on the website that I do, but it's very simple to see what it can be used for. :)

 

 

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Edited July 26, 2014 by KeithJenner

[Kortehgehn]

Originally Posted by peg013

See red above....did this just happen recently? On which ship? Mine has always shown the correct balances for both the refundable and nonrefundable OBC.....no surprises at the end on the Star, Dawn, Gem and Breakaway. It is hard to tell the differences on the TV but I always get at least 2 printouts each cruise which define them better than the TV.

Well we usually spend well over the OBC on our cruises and have had mixed OBC from NCL and our TA in the past so it only happened to us once.

 

In 2012 on the Gem we had been using the TV on-board to keep track of our credit and I had been calculating the DSC thinking that it would come out of our remaining OBC. Every day on the TV the DSC would appear to come off the OBC credit and the balance would be negative. In the end we went over a little and had a balance at the end of the cruise, but it was less than the DSC. On the last night when we got our account statement in our room the balance was more that what had shown on the interactive TV, and it showed we still had about 50$ of OBC. I fully understand it now but it was confusing at the time, and I had thought at first it was a mistake.

 

In the end it worked out and they actually credited us the difference, I just wish the TV accounting had been more clear. I never knew about different types of OBC before that.

Edited July 26, 2014 by Kortehgehn

[cruzsnooze]

Neither of those is the same as the non-refundable price-discount OBC which we are discussing.

 

 

 

.

It is OBC issued by Princess so it is exactly the same thing. Even when Princess issues OBC as an incentive it just goes onto your account without restrictions. NCL has a different policy, their ship their rules. I found a way around the system by cashing out at the casino for a 3% fee, again their rules to allow this so I'm not doing anything wrong.

[peg013]

It is OBC issued by Princess so it is exactly the same thing. Even when Princess issues OBC as an incentive it just goes onto your account without restrictions. NCL has a different policy, their ship their rules. I found a way around the system by cashing out at the casino for a 3% fee, again their rules to allow this so I'm not doing anything wrong.

 

Probably won't be long until they close that loophole too. They already introduced the 3% surcharge due to abuse. It used to be free but those that love to spread the word how to abuse the system ruin it for everyone......too bad they never manage to figure that out! :rolleyes:

[Sizzlechest]

It shouldn't take any clicks. It should be communicated as clearly as the fact that the passenger has OBC in the first place.

 

+1

 

Probably won't be long until they close that loophole too. They already introduced the 3% surcharge due to abuse. It used to be free but those that love to spread the word how to abuse the system ruin it for everyone......too bad they never manage to figure that out! :rolleyes:

 

The 3% is to cover the credit card expenses. If they didn't charge 3%, NCL would eat the credit card transaction fee and people could take out obscene amounts of cash to get points on their credit card. There's no loophole here.

[NMLady]

This was posted as I saw I still had ship board credit remaining and a daily service chafe not covered. I just think I should be able to spend my ship board credit towards what. And yes at the end of the day we will exceed our charges but it's the principle that I can't include the gratuities (other lines you can)

 

 

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I still don't understand your "it's the principle of the thing". Think of the OBC as a rewards voucher. When I get comps vouchers for meals from a casino they all say does not include tip. I have to put out cash for the tip. Your OBC from the cruise line is similar a voucher that cannot include tips. Same principle.

[pieshops]

This has to be the dumbest thread ever, by the silliest OP ever.

 

The credit was used, no credit was lost, who cares how it was allocated 150 was taken off the bill.

 

Would it have made him feel better if they put it towards the DSC and not the other charges.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXACTLY THE SAME. GEEZ

[peg013]

The 3% is to cover the credit card expenses. If they didn't charge 3%, NCL would eat the credit card transaction fee and people could take out obscene amounts of cash to get points on their credit card. There's no loophole here.

 

You obviously haven't been around long enough to know that the 3% surcharge is fairly new - maybe 3 years old.......instituted because people were taking out money they had no intention of spending in the casino. :rolleyes:

[cruzsnooze]

Probably won't be long until they close that loophole too. They already introduced the 3% surcharge due to abuse. It used to be free but those that love to spread the word how to abuse the system ruin it for everyone......too bad they never manage to figure that out! :rolleyes:

I don't understand why you might think it's abuse. It is following the policy set by NCL. They make 3% for nothing so I don't foresee them changing this policy. If you follow the policy it's never abuse. If you were to say share a drink card, that would be abuse, if you were smuggling liquor that would be abuse.

[cruzsnooze]

Think of it this way. A store gives you a coupon for a discount if you buy a certain brand of coffee. You can't use it on corn flakes.

 

This is not a coupon it's more like a gift card. There are no restrictions on a gift card when you go shopping with it.

[KeithJenner]

This is not a coupon it's more like a gift card. There are no restrictions on a gift card when you go shopping with it.

 

 

No, it is like a coupon.

 

Purchased on board credit (known as refundable OBC) is like a gift card. That can be used against whatever you like, including gratuities, and anything you don't spend can be refunded (unlike most gift cards).

 

The OBC that can't be used against gratuities is non refundable OBC, which is given out as a promo, and therefore has much more in common with a coupon than it does with a gift card.

[TWELVEOHONE]

We are on the Breakaway. Just found out, the $150 ship board credit can not be used towards gratuities! When I called down to the front desk, they said ship board credit could not go towards gratuities ! They can not show me this in writing. I will never sail this line again! It's a shame because the Breakaway was a very nice ship!

 

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I understand your complaint every other cruise line deducts the onboard credit from your bill which includes gratuities.

In fact on some cruise lines if the OBC was given to you by your travel agent and not completely used, the balance will be credited back to your credit card or can be taken as cash i.e returned to you.

[rochelle_s]

I don't understand why you might think it's abuse. It is following the policy set by NCL. They make 3% for nothing so I don't foresee them changing this policy. If you follow the policy it's never abuse. If you were to say share a drink card, that would be abuse, if you were smuggling liquor that would be abuse.

 

 

The ability to get cash from your sail and sign card was a courtesy meant for casino players, which of course the house also benefited from. The intent was not to turn the slot machines into ATM's. With people treating the casino like an ATM the cruise line was having to shoulder the costs (fees) with no possible return to them. Hence they instituted the 3% fee.

 

Now people know that OBC stands for On Board Credit. It does not stand for On Board Cashback.

 

By definition;

Abuse-

noun

əˈbyo͞os/

1.the improper use of something.

 

People know that OBC given by the cruise line is meant to be spent for on board purchases. So using the 'loophole' to change it into cash could be seen as abuse as it the improper use for which it was intended. You may feel like you are justified because you incur a 3% fee to do so but that does not change the fact of the OBC purpose in the first place.

 

I am certain the cruise line is well aware that people are doing this and are just letting it pass at this point in time. I have no doubt that if this practice escalates in use they will take steps to prohibit it. They could very easily add to the conditions of the OBC : Not to be applied to DSC or for use in the casino. Or make stipulations like the now defunct SlotPlay coupons had, whereby funds drawn on your ship card must be played through once before being able to cash out.

 

Perhaps they have already taken steps to stop this practice. You can no longer pre purchase credits for the casino and SlotPlay coupons for NCL ships are no longer for sale. Perhaps the treating of the casino like an ATM is the reason or part thereof for their removal.

 

Cashing out OBC is not the policy of NCL as you stated. It is a loophole and likely the continued practice and promotion of it will only hasten NCL to close it for good as was suggested by the previous poster.

 

 

Rochelle

[KeithJenner]

I understand your complaint every other cruise line deducts the onboard credit from your bill which includes gratuities.

 

 

Not according to many people who have posted previously on this thread. Are they all wrong?

 

 

 

In fact on some cruise lines if the OBC was given to you by your travel agent and not completely used, the balance will be credited back to your credit card or can be taken as cash i.e returned to you.

 

As can some types of OBC on NCL. That given to you by NCL isn't one of those types though. I don't believe that is different to most other lines.

Edited July 27, 2014 by KeithJenner