Take the OBC Challenge!

[Love.II.Cruise]

We need help. Our second cruise with NCL is in the Haven.

 

This time around we have a ton of OBC and want to hear your suggestions for using them. We've never had this much OBC on any cruise we've taken. We have $495 refundable OBC (meaning we can use that towards gratuities - what isn't used would go back to our Travel Agent), and $600 from NCL (we can't use this portion towards gratuities). So I think we will need to talk with the reception desk when we board to sort this out?

 

We are taking the Nov 5 Transatlantic on the Epic this year. How would you best use your OBC?

 

NOTE: Below is what is already included in our cruise

Beverage Package

Specialty Dining for 4 nights

250 Free Minutes Internet Package

$50 per port excursion credit

[khaide612]

If you know you will sail NCL again within 4 years buy Cruise Next Certificates - Cruise Rewards - whatever they are called now. :)

 

Any non-refundable that I would lose I would buy something like jewelry or booze. Chai lattes, espressos & other un-included coffee drinks for me and my friends.

 

Cash out & play in casino.

[Pitzel]

Typically, refundable OBC comes back to YOU, not your travel agent. We have had NCL mail us a check after our cruise for credit that we did not use on board.

[tomberly]

We need help. Our second cruise with NCL is in the Haven.

 

This time around we have a ton of OBC and want to hear your suggestions for using them. We've never had this much OBC on any cruise we've taken. We have $495 refundable OBC (meaning we can use that towards gratuities - what isn't used would go back to our Travel Agent), and $600 from NCL (we can't use this portion towards gratuities). So I think we will need to talk with the reception desk when we board to sort this out?

 

We are taking the Nov 5 Transatlantic on the Epic this year. How would you best use your OBC?

 

NOTE: Below is what is already included in our cruise

Beverage Package

Specialty Dining for 4 nights

250 Free Minutes Internet Package

$50 per port excursion credit

 

 

You can use it for spa treatments or on the Thermal spa passes for the duration of your cruise. Photos, specialty coffee, shopping, or put the extra towards shore excursions because we all know that $50 per port does not cover much😀

[casofilia]

I agree Refundable OBC is yours and any unused will be returned to you. If you have Non-Refundable OBC it will be used first for anything you BUY and that includes Cruise Next Certificates.

[sanger727]

Since you have so much non refundable OBC and the port credit, I'd use it towards shore excursions. Always have the spa as a backup.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

Buy yourself a gift at the onboard shops. Or start your Christmas shopping early onboard.

[CoffeeGoddess]

I'd totally use that to buy Cruise Next certificates, spa treatments, something nice from the stores, and some high grade booze.

[df5250]

Your Butler and Concierge tips can be put on your on board account to use the refundable OBC. You could always take a cash advance at the casino, but have to pay the service charge of 3% (I think).

[perkydebrajean]

We had about that much on a cruise. We used it for 3 or 4 excursions, several photos, and a few presents from the gift shop for my daughter, grandson, and a couple of things for ourselves. My daughter and I used some on a spa visit.

 

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[hawkeyetlse]

So I think we will need to talk with the reception desk when we board to sort this out?

There's nothing to sort out. As casofilia said above, they deduct onboard charges from your non-refundable OBC first, if they can. (For gratuities, they will use up your refundable.) And both types of OBC are all yours, you just need to make sure to spend all of the non-refundable type while you're on board.

 

If you're planning to take advantage of your $50 shorex credit in some ports, paying the difference will use up a lot of OBC… And if you appreciate having internet access, you may be able to pay to upgrade your 250 minutes to the unlimited package.

[cage keeper]

Buy yourself a gift at the onboard shops. Or start your Christmas shopping early onboard.

 

 

This got my vote.

[emcelh]

Your Butler and Concierge tips can be put on your on board account to use the refundable OBC. You could always take a cash advance at the casino, but have to pay the service charge of 3% (I think).

 

 

You can also use non refundable OBC for the tips for butler and concierge. We've done it several times, most recently in January.

[don't-use-real-name]

When buying the Next Cruise certificates - you will be getting even more OBC of the non-refundable type i.e

Buy the $250 certificate and get $100 OBC.

I believe the current promo is Buy $1000 and get $500 OBC (4 $250 certificates) some destinations will

allow 2 certificates to be used at one time - validity period MUST sail before or within 4 years of issue.

[Love.II.Cruise]

With regard to using it for thermal spa passes - I know the Haven gets the chance to reserve it ahead of time, but isn't it still true you have to pay for it at that time? All the passes on our last cruise sold out before the cruise. Is there a way to use our OBC nonrefundable for these passes?

[Thrilled2012]

I would definitely use it for buying Cruise Next Certs and therefore get more OBC. I always use independent vendors in ports for excursions if possible but if there are excursions that you want to do that you cannot do through an independent vendor, then I'd recommend using some for that. Enjoy!

[Thrilled2012]

Oh and I just realized that you are on the Epic. I would use a portion of that to go to the Cirque show as well. Back when we sailed the Epic, it was not included in the SDP. And although the food left quite a bit to be desired, we loved the show. LOL...I'm not sure that this show is still on the Epic though :o

[Love.II.Cruise]

With regard to using it for thermal spa passes - I know the Haven gets the chance to reserve it ahead of time, but isn't it still true you have to pay for it at that time? All the passes on our last cruise sold out before the cruise. Is there a way to use our OBC nonrefundable for these passes?

 

I would definitely use it for buying Cruise Next Certs and therefore get more OBC. I always use independent vendors in ports for excursions if possible but if there are excursions that you want to do that you cannot do through an independent vendor, then I'd recommend using some for that. Enjoy!

 

 

So if I got more Cruise Next Certs, then I get more OBC - is that the refundable kind?

 

Thanks to all that have replied so far!

 

P. S. I know a few people said our refundable OBC would be "ours" in the end if we didn't spend it all, but our TA told us anything we didn't spend would go back to them. They told us to try to spend our non-refundable first, then our refundable.

Edited March 5, 2017 by Love.II.Cruise

[don't-use-real-name]

So if I got more Cruise Next Certs, then I get more OBC - is that the refundable kind?

 

NOPE !

 

NCL is luring you into buying future travel that you may forget you have until it becomes a travel you had

but didn't use (within the 4 year period) !

No that is not scheme of NCL but that's what will happen if you forget you have them and don't use them !

It would be hard to ignore the Next Cruise certificates anyway as they appear on your NCL website account !

 

Use those certificates - remember you have them and find away to take another NCL cruise.

I believe that you can use the certificates as a down payment applied on your next cruise without any

additional down payments - read the fine print $250 down beats 10-20-30 % of a cruise down payment.

 

As for that OBC bonus - use that NR OBC - buy anything something drain your on board account to ZERO !

As a side note plan on reducing your account before midnight on the last sailing day least any unused OBC

be written off the books (forfeited) to generate you final statement before leaving the ship next day in the morning.

 

Next Cruise is a great program for those hooked on NCL cruise travel.

I have bought it on my last three trips and am very pleased with how it works.

"BUT" understand how it works and what it can do for you - if working thru a TA make sure the agents records

have the certificates on file. Check your NCL account to see that they are posted there also !

Also remember to use them before your NCL coach becomes a pumpkin 4 years later !

[Mac4YYZ]

NCL is allowing redemption of 2 Cruise Next certificates for all cruises in 2017. Take the certs.

 

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[NMLady]

I would definitely use it for buying Cruise Next Certs and therefore get more OBC. I always use independent vendors in ports for excursions if possible but if there are excursions that you want to do that you cannot do through an independent vendor, then I'd recommend using some for that. Enjoy!

 

 

When you buy Cruise Next certificates it's not really additional obc but more like a discount on the cost of the certificates.

A $250 certificate gets $100 obc which means the certificate costs $150 since both the cost and the obc are put on shipboard account.

[shof515]

A $250 certificate gets $100 obc which means the certificate costs $150 since both the cost and the obc are put on shipboard account.

the last time i bought a cruise next certificate, my credit card on file was charged $250 dollars and my onboard account was credited $100 dollars

[newmexicoNita]

We need help. Our second cruise with NCL is in the Haven.

 

This time around we have a ton of OBC and want to hear your suggestions for using them. We've never had this much OBC on any cruise we've taken. We have $495 refundable OBC (meaning we can use that towards gratuities - what isn't used would go back to our Travel Agent), and $600 from NCL (we can't use this portion towards gratuities). So I think we will need to talk with the reception desk when we board to sort this out?

 

We are taking the Nov 5 Transatlantic on the Epic this year. How would you best use your OBC?

 

NOTE: Below is what is already included in our cruise

Beverage Package

Specialty Dining for 4 nights

250 Free Minutes Internet Package

$50 per port excursion credit

 

 

enjoy: we thought we had a lot on our upcoming cruise; you certainly have us beat: the non refundable of course you can go to the casino, use part of it. You do pay 3% for putting money on your cabin card, but it might still be worth it. The other possibility is the gift shop, which isnt my favorite place on a ship or the spa.

[zqvol]

Use it in the spa, that will not last long there but is money well spent.

[tmilak]

I stay in suites and have gotten OBC from my TA ranging from $750 to $1500. In the past I have purchased a Go Pro, a cabana on GSC, and even put it toward the purchase of an expensive watch. I consider it a gift and use it to splurge on the family.