Question about Cruise Next Ultimate

[Lupush]

So it's been almost 2 years since my last NCL cruise, and I had a question on the "Cruise Next Ultimate" program. So if I buy 2 $250 Cruise Next certificates and book a room for myself and my in-laws for a February sailing I'll get whatever the current promotions are (Choose 2 Free at Sea) plus one additional free at sea perk as well?

 

Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

Thanks a bunch as always.

[Linda the Book Lover]

We use Cruise Next Certificates because we enjoy the onboard $$ you receive when you purchase them. Yes, you may use one certificate per stateroom unless you are booking and sailing by the end of August I believe for the current offering when you can use two certificates.

 

Not sure about the additional perk you mentioned. If you are booking when on your cruise the CruiseeNext usually offers something which we have found varies. My DH is getting ready to disembark on the Dawn and went to check on pricing for cabins for Europe cruise next year. They offered him a $500 onboard credit perk if he booked a Haven.

[luvtheships]

There is no obc when you purchase them although Ncl would like you to think there is!!!!

 

The cost $150 or $125. And that's what you pay. No extra obc. It's just a marketing game they play

 

 

Your benefit comes in when you book the cruise and get the full $250 applied

[Linda the Book Lover]

There is no obc when you purchase them although Ncl would like you to think there is!!!!

 

The cost $150 or $125. And that's what you pay. No extra obc. It's just a marketing game they play

 

 

Your benefit comes in when you book the cruise and get the full $250 applied

 

Sorry luvtheships;50679147 you are incorrect. Every time we purchased the certificates we received onboard credit. This is what happened in April 2016.

 

My DH and I purchased four CruiseNext Deposits on our Jade cruise this year for $1000 total. The offer on our cruise was if you purchased four (4) certificates/deposits you would get $500 OBC on the cruise we were on. We did purchase the four (4) certificates/deposits) and we did receive $500 OBC. So instead of the $1000.00 we paid for them we actually paid $500 as the other $500 was given to us as an OBC. This meant we had four (4) certificates for the price of two. This is the number to CruiseNext (866) 234-7352. I am sure they can explain which offers are available during which times on the ships as they change periodically much better than I can.

 

The CruiseNext Deposit may be used per stateroom. The $250 certificate may be used as a full deposit with the exception of specialty suites and the Haven which then may be used a partial deposit towards the full deposit.

 

In the past we have used our CruiseNext certificates to book our suites on the smaller NCL ships. This time however my DH could purchase a Haven CruiseNext Certificate or use one of our existing certificates and pay the rest of the deposit with a credit card. Since I already sent him the best price we could get through military TA (my husband is a Viet Nam Vet 3x) he decided to wait until he returned home.

 

For us the Certificates have been a good value. It is a personal choice should anyone decide to also purchase them.

[sarcher]

Sorry luvtheships;50679147 you are incorrect. Every time we purchased the certificates we received onboard credit. This is what happened in April 2016.

 

My DH and I purchased four CruiseNext Deposits on our Jade cruise this year for $1000 total. The offer on our cruise was if you purchased four (4) certificates/deposits you would get $500 OBC on the cruise we were on. We did purchase the four (4) certificates/deposits) and we did receive $500 OBC. So instead of the $1000.00 we paid for them we actually paid $500 as the other $500 was given to us as an OBC. This meant we had four (4) certificates for the price of two. This is the number to CruiseNext (866) 234-7352. I am sure they can explain which offers are available during which times on the ships as they change periodically much better than I can.

 

The CruiseNext Deposit may be used per stateroom. The $250 certificate may be used as a full deposit with the exception of specialty suites and the Haven which then may be used a partial deposit towards the full deposit.

 

In the past we have used our CruiseNext certificates to book our suites on the smaller NCL ships. This time however my DH could purchase a Haven CruiseNext Certificate or use one of our existing certificates and pay the rest of the deposit with a credit card. Since I already sent him the best price we could get through military TA (my husband is a Viet Nam Vet 3x) he decided to wait until he returned home.

 

For us the Certificates have been a good value. It is a personal choice should anyone decide to also purchase them.

 

You guys are both technically right. The last I heard (and observed myself) NCL uses credits and debits. So, if you purchased 4 CruiseNext certificates and just that... you would have a balance of $500 (debit) on your account. You have no obligation to spend the $500 credit that was given to you, it instantly takes effect and cuts your bill from $1000 down to $500.

 

NCL even allows you to cash out at the casino without actually playing. Exceptions to this are some onboard credits awarded before the cruise... it must be used or forfeit. Also, you cannot use onboard credit to pay for gratuities... which is why I pre-pay them.

 

Happy Cruising Everyone :)

[casofilia]

So it's been almost 2 years since my last NCL cruise, and I had a question on the "Cruise Next Ultimate" program. So if I buy 2 $250 Cruise Next certificates and book a room for myself and my in-laws for a February sailing I'll get whatever the current promotions are (Choose 2 Free at Sea) plus one additional free at sea perk as well? Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

Thanks a bunch as always.

 

The information I have seen does not specify what the "perk" is; there is certainly no mention of an "additional free at sea" perk.

 

The statement actually says "Know where you want to go? Select your ship and sail date today and get an additional FREE offer available on board only!"

[Crusin6]

Sorry luvtheships;50679147 you are incorrect. Every time we purchased the certificates we received onboard credit. This is what happened in April 2016.

 

My DH and I purchased four CruiseNext Deposits on our Jade cruise this year for $1000 total. The offer on our cruise was if you purchased four (4) certificates/deposits you would get $500 OBC on the cruise we were on. We did purchase the four (4) certificates/deposits) and we did receive $500 OBC. So instead of the $1000.00 we paid for them we actually paid $500 as the other $500 was given to us as an OBC. This meant we had four (4) certificates for the price of two. This is the number to CruiseNext (866) 234-7352. I am sure they can explain which offers are available during which times on the ships as they change periodically much better than I can.

 

The CruiseNext Deposit may be used per stateroom. The $250 certificate may be used as a full deposit with the exception of specialty suites and the Haven which then may be used a partial deposit towards the full deposit.

 

In the past we have used our CruiseNext certificates to book our suites on the smaller NCL ships. This time however my DH could purchase a Haven CruiseNext Certificate or use one of our existing certificates and pay the rest of the deposit with a credit card. Since I already sent him the best price we could get through military TA (my husband is a Viet Nam Vet 3x) he decided to wait until he returned home.

 

For us the Certificates have been a good value. It is a personal choice should anyone decide to also purchase them.

 

 

Nobody is saying they aren't a good value as they absolutely are a good value...there just isn't any obc....it's a marketing ploy

 

Unfortunately you do not actually understand the cruise next obc marketing speak

 

 

Others here do

 

 

You buy a cert for $250. Ncl charges your acct that amount

 

Then. Ncl posts a $100 obc. Making the cert technically cost you $150

 

 

Now if you go out and spend that so called $100 obc on a gift from the gift shop or a specialty dining they will charge you for that as well.....

 

 

So. Cert. $250

 

Less obc. $100

 

Net cost of cert. $150

 

 

You go and spend $100 somewhere on the ship thinking you have an obc and they will charge your account which just brings the cert cost back up

 

 

Again as posted by luvtheships..... The certs cost $150. Not $250. There is no usable obc but ncl would like you to think there is obc

 

 

The real benefit to the certs comes when you book your next cruise as you get the full $250....that only cost you $150

 

 

There is NO OBC.....ncl likes you to think there is though so you can spend more $$$onboard but by spending it onboard all you are doing is paying $250 instead of $150

 

It makes no sense at all to spend this fictitious obc .... Unless of course you aren't happy with paying $150 (or $125) for the cert and would prefer to spend $250 for it. Lol

 

 

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Edited August 5, 2016 by Crusin6

[frank212]

I was told the same thing and then when I asked about it they said no that's not how it works. You must have misunderstood, I was like no that's what the sales person told me when I purchased it

 

 

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[frank212]

You get an extra perk

 

 

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[luvtheships]

Nobody is saying they aren't a good value as they absolutely are a good value...there just isn't any obc....it's a marketing ploy

 

Unfortunately you do not actually understand the cruise next obc marketing speak

 

 

Others here do

 

 

You buy a cert for $250. Ncl charges your acct that amount

 

Then. Ncl posts a $100 obc. Making the cert technically cost you $150

 

 

Now if you go out and spend that so called $100 obc on a gift from the gift shop or a specialty dining they will charge you for that as well.....

 

 

So. Cert. $250

 

Less obc. $100

 

Net cost of cert. $150

 

 

You go and spend $100 somewhere on the ship thinking you have an obc and they will charge your account which just brings the cert cost back up

 

 

Again as posted by luvtheships..... The certs cost $150. Not $250. There is no usable obc but ncl would like you to think there is obc

 

 

The real benefit to the certs comes when you book your next cruise as you get the full $250....that only cost you $150

 

 

There is NO OBC.....ncl likes you to think there is though so you can spend more $$$onboard but by spending it onboard all you are doing is paying $250 instead of $150

 

It makes no sense at all to spend this fictitious obc .... Unless of course you aren't happy with paying $150 (or $125) for the cert and would prefer to spend $250 for it. Lol

 

 

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Exactly

 

There is no obc to speak of

 

No extra money to spend

 

But if you decide to spend the "obc" then all you do is make the cert more costly to you

 

 

I buy my certs....but never ever go and spend an extra $100 or $125 onboard because they told me I had an "obc"

 

If I did it just increases the cost of the cert

[luvtheships]

You get an extra perk

 

 

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Yes that is true but I dont want

 

Excursion credits to apply to overpriced Ncl excursions

 

Nor do I want to pay the 18% on ubp

 

And I don't care for the specialty restaurants any longer

 

 

I buy the certs for the clear cut savings when booking my next cruise

[Linda the Book Lover]

You guys are both technically right. The last I heard (and observed myself) NCL uses credits and debits. So, if you purchased 4 CruiseNext certificates and just that... you would have a balance of $500 (debit) on your account. You have no obligation to spend the $500 credit that was given to you, it instantly takes effect and cuts your bill from $1000 down to $500.

 

NCL even allows you to cash out at the casino without actually playing. Exceptions to this are some onboard credits awarded before the cruise... it must be used or forfeit. Also, you cannot use onboard credit to pay for gratuities... which is why I pre-pay them.

 

Happy Cruising Everyone :)

 

Thank you.

[Captain Underpants]

Exactly

 

There is no obc to speak of

 

No extra money to spend

 

But if you decide to spend the "obc" then all you do is make the cert more costly to you

 

 

I buy my certs....but never ever go and spend an extra $100 or $125 onboard because they told me I had an "obc"

 

If I did it just increases the cost of the cert

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruisenext

 

My interpretation of this: If you buy $250, that full amount goes fully towards your next cruise as a deposit PLUS you get a $100 OBC to be used fit your current cruise.

 

If you buy $500, that goes fully towards your next cruise PLUS you get $250 OBC this time to use.

 

You can't buy this unless you're onboard.

[Zippeedee]

https://www.ncl.com/cruisenext

 

My interpretation of this: If you buy $250, that full amount goes fully towards your next cruise as a deposit PLUS you get a $100 OBC to be used fit your current cruise.

 

If you buy $500, that goes fully towards your next cruise PLUS you get $250 OBC this time to use.

 

You can't buy this unless you're onboard.

 

BUT...if you don't spend the OBC is just reduces the total cost on your final bill to $150 for one or $250 for two, etc. There is no need to spend it onboard.

[Lv-to-sail2]

https://www.ncl.com/cruisenext

 

My interpretation of this: If you buy $250, that full amount goes fully towards your next cruise as a deposit PLUS you get a $100 OBC to be used fit your current cruise.

 

If you buy $500, that goes fully towards your next cruise PLUS you get $250 OBC this time to use.

 

You can't buy this unless you're onboard.

 

I just bought 2 on my cruise in May. I was given a choice that if I wanted to buy 2 $250. next cruise deposits then I would be charged $250 on my account and receive 2 deposit certs. I was given the choice of getting 1 cert and 250 OBC but chose 2 deposits instead with no OBC. If you only want to buy one cert for $150 then you get 100 obc. Each next cruise cert is used just like $250 cash and can be used with any other deals and promos and it counts as your full deposit. Sometimes they have promos that will let you use 2 certs on 1 cabin.

 

If you know you are going to cruise with NCL again they are a good way to save a little money and hold a future cruise. You have 4 years to use them and you can sale or gift them to anyone else.

 

I bought them because I sail 2-3 times a year.

[tinkr2]

I always have a balance on my account so i am confused as to why you think there is no OBC. I do not spend more because I have it, it just reduces the balance I would ultimately end up paying. And i will still have the next cruise deposit paid....

[Crusin6]

I always have a balance on my account so i am confused as to why you think there is no OBC. I do not spend more because I have it, it just reduces the balance I would ultimately end up paying. And i will still have the next cruise deposit paid....

 

 

The certs cost $150 net

 

 

 

 

 

But if you think ncl has just given you an extra $100 obc to be used onboard for say a spa treatment all you have done is brought the cost of the cert back up to $250

 

 

 

I prefer to pay $150 for my certs though

 

 

Ncl wants you to think they are giving you $100 obc though to spend as you please

 

 

 

 

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Edited August 6, 2016 by Crusin6

[Crusin6]

BUT...if you don't spend the OBC is just reduces the total cost on your final bill to $150 for one or $250 for two, etc. There is no need to spend it onboard.

 

 

Exactly!!!!!!

 

 

The point is there is no need to spend "extra" onboard because of the $100

 

 

You are better off NOT spending extra than you normally would

 

 

I love when they tell pax..." Now you have $100 obc to spend however you want!"

 

 

Talk about slick sales talk

 

 

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Edited August 6, 2016 by Crusin6

[Linda the Book Lover]

I always have a balance on my account so i am confused as to why you think there is no OBC. I do not spend more because I have it, it just reduces the balance I would ultimately end up paying. And i will still have the next cruise deposit paid....

 

This is what I tried to say but in a long winded way. Thanks:D

[jjikids]

Our last cruise in January on the Gem was the first time they advertised pay $150 and get a $250 certificate to use on your next cruise as your deposit. No words about paying $250 and getting the $100 as OBC. It was the first time we felt NCL was honest with explaining the program. In the past all we heard was free credit over and over.

 

We understand you pay for one certificate $150 and go home with that coupon that is worth $250.

 

We actually used the certificate to book our cruise on the Gem in a penthouse for next year.

[Budget Queen]

I always have a balance on my account so i am confused as to why you think there is no OBC. I do not spend more because I have it, it just reduces the balance I would ultimately end up paying. And i will still have the next cruise deposit paid....

 

Your "balance" (IF you are talking about a CREDIT balance??) is NOT because you bought cruise next deposits. It HAS to be higher OBC's you got elsewhere.

 

Think about it- you have to PAY $250 for a cruise deposit, you GET BACK a credit, as a OBC in the amount of $100. That means you OWE $150. Later when you cruise again, you have a $250 credit to be applied to that next cruise.

[Budget Queen]

I've been using these deposits for over 10 years, multiple times and always have a stock pile of them. The are wonderful for holding cabins at low investments. But the nice bonus I take advantage of, is OBC's that I happen to get with the cruise booking are rolled over, purchasing the deposits - with no restrictions. I just about never spend anything on my account except for the service charge. So, an added bonus.

 

I'm hoping the double deposits pop up often. They have been since last year. I have already used 8 this year which have been to my benefit. I still have 4 left. :)

[luvtheships]

Our last cruise in January on the Gem was the first time they advertised pay $150 and get a $250 certificate to use on your next cruise as your deposit. No words about paying $250 and getting the $100 as OBC. It was the first time we felt NCL was honest with explaining the program. In the past all we heard was free credit over and over.

 

 

 

We understand you pay for one certificate $150 and go home with that coupon that is worth $250.

 

 

 

We actually used the certificate to book our cruise on the Gem in a penthouse for next year.

 

 

On my Jan 2 2016 cruise when I bought my certs I told the the saleswoman that she could stop telling me I was getting a $100 obc

 

I explained I knew exactly how it worked and that I was fully aware that it was not to my benefit to think I had $100 extra to spend on the ship because if I did then I actually received zero benefit and the cert would cost me $250 rather than $150. Or $125 in my case because they had a bogo and I bought 2

 

She stopped her "party line" sales pitch immediately and agreed with me and said she understood exactly what I was saying

 

I'm sure they still use the obc line to sell the certs but I'm glad they know we are on to it

 

The certs offer another benefit as well as they act as a full deposit on a cabin when you book

 

No need for $400 deposit per pax...$250 cert covers everyone.

Edited August 7, 2016 by luvtheships

[luvs2beachit]

On my Jan 2 2016 cruise when I bought my certs I told the the saleswoman that she could stop telling me I was getting a $100 obc

 

I explained I knew exactly how it worked and that I was fully aware that it was not to my benefit to think I had $100 extra to spend on the ship because if I did then I actually received zero benefit and the cert would cost me $250 rather than $150. Or $125 in my case because they had a bogo and I bought 2

 

She stopped her "party line" sales pitch immediately and agreed with me and said she understood exactly what I was saying

 

I'm sure they still use the obc line to sell the certs but I'm glad they know we are on to it

 

The certs offer another benefit as well as they act as a full deposit on a cabin when you book

 

No need for $400 deposit per pax...$250 cert covers everyone.

 

 

We have several certificates that we bought on our cruise in Nov. 2015. I have used future certificate certificates on Princess and HAL but never on NCL. When I booked with Princess and HAL the agent automatically applied the certificate when we booked the next cruise. We are booked on an NCL cruise for Dec 2016 and I am not seeing any certificates applied on our booking reservation. So, my question is....do the certificates need to be applied at time of original booking as a deposit or can I have it applied now to pay off the balance?

Thanks.

[Crusin6]

We have several certificates that we bought on our cruise in Nov. 2015. I have used future certificate certificates on Princess and HAL but never on NCL. When I booked with Princess and HAL the agent automatically applied the certificate when we booked the next cruise. We are booked on an NCL cruise for Dec 2016 and I am not seeing any certificates applied on our booking reservation. So, my question is....do the certificates need to be applied at time of original booking as a deposit or can I have it applied now to pay off the balance?

 

Thanks.

 

 

They are supposed to automatically apply them

 

Ncl puts them on you ncl account so when you book again...be it with ncl directly or with a TA ...they get applied to the deposit

 

 

I guess you need to touch base with whomever you booked with

 

 

Since you are already booked you must have put a deposit down. The cert would have been all you needed to book and you could have thus booked with zero cash outlay

 

I guess it depends how far out your cruise is if you want to see about refunding that cash and replacing it with the cert.

 

 

Unfortunately I'm thinking that ncl will give you a hard time although I hope nit

 

 

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Edited August 9, 2016 by Crusin6