Onboard Credit & Casino Withdrawals

[BeeeJay]

Going on NCL Escape in 2 weeks and have pre-purchased $1,000 onboard credit certificates. I have also pre-paid all service charges, drink packages, etc.

 

A few questions:

 

#1 Are the onboard credit certificates automatically credited to the bill----receipt shows "1st day in room" delivery, so I'm wondering if I have to take a physical certificate to the front desk to apply the credits. If so is the credit applied immediately.....or would I need some other deposit option to be able to make charges?

 

#2 Am I correct to assume that at check-in at the terminal, I can avoid putting a credit card down by telling them I have pre-paid everything and pre-purchased the $1,000 OBC---is this true? Or will I be required to make some CC hold or minimum cash deposit?

 

#3 Will I be able to access the OBC via the casino? Either via cage, or as I was able to do last year....directly via download to Video Poker machines? Also, is there a fee for doing so? I believe last year I was able to do this up to a certain amount without a fee. I'm bringing cash for gambling, but was thinking this would be an easy "no-line waiting" way to pull out any remaining cash at the end of the cruise.

 

My current plan for this cruise is to put maybe $200 cash down at the cruise terminal just in case the onboard credit takes a little time to cover any first day expenses.....rely on the $1,000 OBC to cover any addiitional expenses for the balance of the cruise----ie...souvenier, last-minute specialty dining or excursions, etc. Then on the final day, hit up the casino to auto-cash out my remaining balance to avoid awaiting some check from NCL for the balance.

 

Thanks in advance for answers to above questions and comments on the "plan"!!! :)

[pegdave]

I know a couple of answers. We usually use cash as our deposit. You cannot give them cash at the terminal. You will have to go directly to guest services after you get on the ship to set up your account. I don't know how the OBC works. I do know if you use cash, on the night before your departure day you can close out your account and receive the cash back if you have money left. No waiting on a check. Again this is for making a cash deposit not OBC. Never did that. I can tell you it's 100% positive on the way the cash deposits work. We have done it 10 times out of our last 12 cruises. Including the Escape last year [emoji41]

 

 

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[luvmycorgis]

Following

[vince_g]

OBC will automatically show up on your folio. You can probably avoid giving them a credit card in the terminal, but for me that is fine. I just look at it as back up. You can access your OBC at the Casino for a 3% fee, which I don't feel is worth it... just bring lots of cash.

[BeeeJay]

OBC will automatically show up on your folio. You can probably avoid giving them a credit card in the terminal, but for me that is fine. I just look at it as back up. You can access your OBC at the Casino for a 3% fee, which I don't feel is worth it... just bring lots of cash.

 

Thanks!!! agree with you---bringing cash......just wanted to see if that is an option to grab last $100 or so on final day without waiting in line, waiting for check to be mailed.

[seashells]

Just back from Escape.

Last month purchased 2.....$500.00 certificates.....specifically for casino....They charged me 3 % to transfer the funds to the casino even though they (Miami) told me in an email that there would be NO charge.

 

Land based HQ of NCL personal doesn't know what the ship accepts/does.

 

Only way to avoid that, is to deposit $5k and opening an account with a voided blank check.

 

It's a process we didn't want to do..

 

If you leave it in as certificates to pay your bill, there will be no charge of 3 % but you will wait for them to mail a refund.

 

 

Take CASH.....or pay the 3%......You do it on a machine in the casino...day you were born and year you were born is info you put in.

 

Sorta crazy....Another thing if playing machines....CASH OUT first....Then take your card out..... or you have to go into the machine to get your ticket...Day of birth and year.

 

I don't know if the 3% will show up on my credit card.....Will look into my CC in a few days and report back.

Edited January 1, 2017 by seashells

[BeeeJay]

Thanks SeaShells---EXACTLY the information I was looking for!

[seashells]

I don't know where my mind was when I thought the 3% would be charged to my CC....We just returned when I saw this post....We also had pre-paid for what we wanted including the tips.

 

Of course NCL takes the 3%...It sat there on my account and about the third day I took it out at the machine.

 

When you go into the machine (there is a button with 3 buttons at the bottom or somewhere) You push the largest of the three then up pops a screen where they want your pin number....Well your pin number is the ...day you were born and the year... you were born ...as NCL has that info on you....The gift card amount will show up and you can take it all at one time or a little at a time....Taking a little at a time you have to use the pin number again and again.

 

If you don't know the info on ...CASHING OUT FIRST...At ALL TIMES....then take out your card...Someone in the casino comes over to show you....Well now "they" know your birth info.

 

If you don't use a casino card or your cabin card...The machine will kick out your ticket.

 

You can give them a pre-paid CC if you don't want to give them the CC you use all the time for expenses bought on the ship.

 

I gave them the CC at check-in as a backup, but the casino paid my bill at the end of the cruise so it was worth the 3%.