Norwegian Future Cruise Certificates on eBay

[ddlb]

So I've been reading up on the $250 cruise certificates you can buy when on board and discovered lots of people are selling them on eBay. Most give expiration date etc. and the prices seem pretty good.

 

So before I booked my current cruise I could have bought one off eBay and saved some money? If anyone has ever done this would you do it again or would you rather do it on board?

 

FWIW I have never had a problem buying stuff on eBay but boy people buying those Carnival gift certificates have taken a beating!

[shof515]

at best, you are only saving about 100 dollars per certificate.

[vince_g]

Lately NCL has reduced deposits so frequently, I don't find myself using the certificates any more. Why put down $250 when $100 will do? As for buying certs on board, you will save some money IF you do not put charges on your account. That way if you buy 4 certs, you will actually end up paying $500 for them. NCL is counting on getting that $500 back, but play it smart and you can save on them. Often you can use 2 certs for balcony cabins.

 

If you have the beverage plan it makes not spending much more doable.

[ddlb]

Well here is my idea - on eBay I checked what they sold for - example one good till 6/19 sold for $150. So If i bought it today and booked my cruise next week or whatever - since I almost always have to pay in full because it is within 90 days with my TA I would be able to apply $250 toward my balance due correct? To me this sounds pretty good unless I am missing something! In other words you just don't have to use it as a deposit right? Thanks.

[shof515]

Well here is my idea - on eBay I checked what they sold for - example one good till 6/19 sold for $150. So If i bought it today and booked my cruise next week or whatever - since I almost always have to pay in full because it is within 90 days with my TA I would be able to apply $250 toward my balance due correct? To me this sounds pretty good unless I am missing something! In other words you just don't have to use it as a deposit right? Thanks.

it is only good to place the initial deposit on a future cruise , it can not be used as a payment for a cruise to pay off the balance.

[Gimmiethebeach]

it is only good to place the initial deposit on a future cruise , it can not be used as a payment for a cruise to pay off the balance.

 

 

 

I just booked my cruise a few weeks ago for this March and had to pay in full and they took $250 off the total price for each cabin since I had two certificates. It is not only good for the deposit.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[hawkeyetlse]

Lately NCL has reduced deposits so frequently, I don't find myself using the certificates any more. Why put down $250 when $100 will do?

In order to save $125.

[vince_g]

I just booked my cruise a few weeks ago for this March and had to pay in full and they took $250 off the total price for each cabin since I had two certificates. It is not only good for the deposit.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

In your case you were paying a deposit in the full amount. If you had booked a while ago and already made a deposit with CC or certificate, they would not allow you to use a certificate towards your final payment.

[karoo]

In order to save $125.

 

 

 

Yes- that’s exactly why I purchase and use them.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[CruisingUS]

Are they transferrable? Or is this just a scam?

[AKR2011]

Are they transferrable? Or is this just a scam?

 

They are absolutely transferable. They just expire 4 years after purchase.

[JillK]

Are they transferrable? Or is this just a scam?

 

Yes the certificates are absolutely transferable! My parents purchased one and transferred it to me when I was booking my last NCL cruise.

 

I believe I read somewhere the only caveat is that the person that the certificate is being transferred to has to have a Latitudes number (so if you hadn't cruised NCL before you would need to sign up for a number).

 

As for whether it's a scam... well, I would assume that it is just someone who purchased them and aren't sure if they can use them (I am in that boat with two I purchased last year and am unsure what to do). But of course there could be some people who could be dishonest. It takes trust by both parties.

 

That being said, since the certificate cost the seller $150 (if they bought one certificate) or $125 (if they bought two certificates) and they are worth $250, that savings gets passed on to you if they are selling them at the cost that they paid.

[Gimmiethebeach]

In your case you were paying a deposit in the full amount. If you had booked a while ago and already made a deposit with CC or certificate, they would not allow you to use a certificate towards your final payment.

 

 

 

Well yes, but regardless of when you use it, as a true deposit many months out, or if you have to pay in full, it’s still $250 off your fair. I’ve done it both ways. No you don’t have to put down a $250 deposit when booking, but if you do it is $250 off the total you owe. Anyway, the OP said they were booking short term so my comment was directed at that.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[ddlb]

Well as the OP I want to thank everyone for their input! I think eBay is the way to go - as long as I buy from a reputable eBay seller - then book my cruise when payment in full is due (as mentioned I have to pay at 90 days out) thus I can use the whole amount regardless of what the deposit is - so any amount I pay less than $250 for the certificate is money saved. This beats those darn Carnival $100 gift cards where you make $10 per card!

 

So wow - if a person buys 4 certificates on board for $1000 (with $500 obc - thus $500 - which I presume you can cash out at the casino if you want) - each one actually costs $125 - so anything over $125 if sold or autioned on eBay is profit from the ebay sale less of course eBay commission etc. Hmmm wonder how many people are doing this?

[JillK]

So wow - if a person buys 4 certificates on board for $1000 (with $500 obc - thus $500 - which I presume you can cash out at the casino if you want) - each one actually costs $125 - so anything over $125 if sold or autioned on eBay is profit from the ebay sale less of course eBay commission etc. Hmmm wonder how many people are doing this?

 

I saw on Kijiji (resale website here in Canada) that someone was trying to sell her $250 USD certificate for $250 Canadian, claiming that she was saving them the exchange rate. While this is true (and represents a savings of $50 at today's rate), anyone who has purchased these before knows that she didn't in fact pay $250 usd for them to begin with, so she was trying to make money. I'm sure it happens!

[Budget Queen]

The cruise Next deposits are one of the best deals going. ;) Every deposit redeemed is getting $125 off your booking. (assuming a minimum of a 2 deposit purchase). I'll take that money EVERY time.

 

I'm a long time "deposit" user probably going on 15 years. redeemed 11 last year. :) Excellent savings.

 

It's a 1 minute process to transfer certificates. All that is needed is both- latitude numbers. .

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Well as the OP I want to thank everyone for their input! I think eBay is the way to go - as long as I buy from a reputable eBay seller - then book my cruise when payment in full is due (as mentioned I have to pay at 90 days out) thus I can use the whole amount regardless of what the deposit is - so any amount I pay less than $250 for the certificate is money saved. This beats those darn Carnival $100 gift cards where you make $10 per card!

 

So wow - if a person buys 4 certificates on board for $1000 (with $500 obc - thus $500 - which I presume you can cash out at the casino if you want) - each one actually costs $125 - so anything over $125 if sold or autioned on eBay is profit from the ebay sale less of course eBay commission etc. Hmmm wonder how many people are doing this?

 

You don't have to cash the obc out at the casino, it comes off the final bill. The certificates aren't really $250 with $100 onboard credit. They're really just $150 (or $125 each if you buy two). In my experience the fcc desk person on the ship has always been pretty honest and forthright about this if you ask them when you get it.

[FLAHAM]

Looks like just about everyone offering a certificate on eBay is trying to make a few bucks off of it. Prices of nearly all range from $170 to $195.

[Moby0215]

it is only good to place the initial deposit on a future cruise , it can not be used as a payment for a cruise to pay off the balance.

 

 

 

This is not true. I was able to get a $250 refund by using a certificate on a cruise I had already paid in full.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Casino Comp Chick]

it is only good to place the initial deposit on a future cruise , it can not be used as a payment for a cruise to pay off the balance.

Incorrect, I have used it towards payment after making an initial deposit many times. In fact you can use 2 for balconies and above booking 6 months out so yes that goes towards payment and not deposit.

[hawkeyetlse]

Looks like just about everyone offering a certificate on eBay is trying to make a few bucks off of it. Prices of nearly all range from $170 to $195.

Considering this is something that can only be bought on board, it's fair enough for the seller to make some money off it. Normally you can only benefit from CruiseNext if you invest in two cruises (the first one where you buy the certificate, and the second one where you redeem it). It's a reward for being a repeat customer. In a buy/sell transaction, each person is only investing in one cruise, so they should split the benefit. Not necessarily 50-50 — that's up to the buyer and seller to work out — but neither person deserves to get 100% of the benefit.

[phillygwm]

On 1/14/2018 at 9:05 AM, ddlb said:

So I've been reading up on the $250 cruise certificates you can buy when on board and discovered lots of people are selling them on eBay. Most give expiration date etc. and the prices seem pretty good.

 

So before I booked my current cruise I could have bought one off eBay and saved some money? If anyone has ever done this would you do it again or would you rather do it on board?

 

FWIW I have never had a problem buying stuff on eBay but boy people buying those Carnival gift certificates have taken a beating!

I've done this before.  I also buy them on board.  Depends whether I have any CruiseNext certs in my personal account.  If not, I'll look to eBay.  

 

The $250 cert is (or was, pre-pandemic) sold for $125-150 depending on how many you buy.  I bought one on eBay because I was about to book a cruise and didn't have any in my account.  Plus, the certificate I bought was about to expire and I got it for under $100, IIRC.  

 

In short, I'd usually do it onboard because it's easier but if I don't have enough certs I wouldn't hesitate to look on eBay.

 

EDIT:  SORRY, looks like we've revived a zombie thread 😞

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by phillygwm