What to spend OBC on.....

[Petoonya]

Have $250 OBC on a 7 day cruise.

Haven't been on a cruise line before where service charges could not be paid with OBC, but first time for everything 🙂  Since I booked an inside the drink package is all I'm entitled to. Thought I'd prepay for the online discounted dining and internet packages but looks like there's not a whole lot else I'm interested in to spend that OBC on onboard....besides specialty coffee. Prices on clothing etc are inflated and don't see anything else I'm interested in. Best to just forget the discount and book something like an internet package onboard- forget the discount? Don't want to use it or lose it on the OBC.

 

Thanks for your kind reply and help. I've been full of questions since I started contributing on this particular forum and can't believe how thoughtful and helpful NCL folks are. You are the greatest!

Edited September 7, 2019 by Petoonya

[aero777]

4 minutes ago, Petoonya said:

Have $250 OBC on a 7 day cruise.

Haven't been on a cruise line before where service charges could not be paid with OBC, but first time for everything:)  Since I booked an inside the drink package is all I'm entitled to. Thought I'd prepay for the dining and internet package online but looks like there's not a whole lot else I'm interested in to spend that OBC on....besides specialty coffee. Prices on clothing etc are inflated and don't see anything else I'm interested in. Best to just forget the discount and book something like an internet package onboard?

 

Thanks for your kind reply and help. I've been full of questions since I started contributing on this particular forum and can't believe how thoughtful and helpful NCL folks are. You are the greatest!

CruiseNext certificates. 2 with a value of $500 will cost $250. 

[Petoonya]

Just now, aero777 said:

CruiseNext certificates. 2 with a value of $500 will cost $250. 

Aero....unfortunately I won't be sailing NCL again in all probablity. My cruise lines of choice are Oceania and Windstar, and don't like the big ships. I'm on Bliss this time because of a family reunion. NCL owns Oceania, so I should probably check into if a certificate might be applicable to O. Looking like I should hold off on the packages till I board.

Appreciate your input though!!! Thanks very much 🙂

[pcakes122]

Are you in the Haven?  What's your destination?  If you are not in the Haven, a Vibe pass might be nice if you are cruising in warm weather!  If you are going to one of the private islands, what about a cabana rental?  Assuming you've already considered spa (even a hair blow-out or pedicure is nice if you are not into a massage or facial.)

[Petoonya]

2 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

Are you in the Haven?  What's your destination?  If you are not in the Haven, a Vibe pass might be nice if you are cruising in warm weather!  If you are going to one of the private islands, what about a cabana rental?  Assuming you've already considered spa (even a hair blow-out or pedicure is nice if you are not into a massage or facial.)

No not in the Haven. And we're doing Alaska. But you ticked my brain to consider doing a shore excursion with NCL. Was planning to do them all independently but maybe do one with NCL. I don't know how interested I am in the spa services. Still might be best to just wait till we board to sign up for the dining or dinner packages.

Thanks for your reply! Very helpful! 🙂

[coastcat]

I'm on the Bliss in a couple weeks and decided to splurge on the weekly Thermal Spa pass so I could luxuriate in the tiled loungers, therapy pool, salt room, sauna, etc. Your OBC would cover most of the cost, if that sounds appealing?

[Petoonya]

Just now, coastcat said:

I'm on the Bliss in a couple weeks and decided to splurge on the weekly Thermal Spa pass so I could luxuriate in the tiled loungers, therapy pool, salt room, sauna, etc. Your OBC would cover most of the cost, if that sounds appealing?

It's just not me I guess. I couldn't spend money on stuff for just me. Have to include dh. Thanks for the suggestion though! 🙂

[coastcat]

1 minute ago, Petoonya said:

It's just not me I guess. I couldn't spend money on stuff for just me. Have to include dh. Thanks for the suggestion though! 🙂

That's why I travel solo. No way I could drag my DH into a spa! (or onto a cruise ship, for that matter)

 

Using the OBC on an excursion sounds like a good plan, then.

[FranknBeans]

Cash it out through casino you'll lose 3% then go back and put to your on board acct.

[KeithJenner]

If the OBC would otherwise go to waste or be spent on something you don’t really want then would it not be better to wait and but the dining and/or internet onboard.

 

It may be more expensive, but if you have nothing else to use the OBC on then I’d have thought it would be better to wait despite the price difference.

Edited September 7, 2019 by KeithJenner

[emcelh]

1 hour ago, Petoonya said:

No not in the Haven. And we're doing Alaska. But you ticked my brain to consider doing a shore excursion with NCL. Was planning to do them all independently but maybe do one with NCL. I don't know how interested I am in the spa services. Still might be best to just wait till we board to sign up for the dining or dinner packages.

Thanks for your reply! Very helpful! 🙂

If you want to use OBC for the dinner package I think you have to do it on board.  I could be wrong but I believe, if you do in advance online, they charge you when you make the purchase.

[Petoonya]

2 hours ago, coastcat said:

That's why I travel solo. No way I could drag my DH into a spa! (or onto a cruise ship, for that matter)

 

Using the OBC on an excursion sounds like a good plan, then.

I'll have to scrounge the boards maybe and see what looks good with NCL.

2 hours ago, FranknBeans said:

Cash it out through casino you'll lose 3% then go back and put to your on board acct.

Thanks! I just don't know why you say to put it back in shipboard account rather than just keep it in cash? Because it's refundable that way? If I can do this and only lose 3% it would be terrific.

I'm so sorry to be such a dunce. Again NCL is brand new to me and I really don't know how things work. Don't think I've ever even been in the casino on Oceania 😞

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

If the OBC would otherwise go to waste or be spent on something you don’t really want then would it not be better to wait and but the dining and/or internet onboard.

 

It may be more expensive, but if you have nothing else to use the OBC on then I’d have thought it would be better to wait despite the price difference.

Keith....do you know what the discount for dining and internet is online? Maybe it's not such a biggie to just book onboard.

1 hour ago, emcelh said:

If you want to use OBC for the dinner package I think you have to do it on board.  I could be wrong but I believe, if you do in advance online, they charge you when you make the purchase.

Yeah, kind of figured that they'd not let me use OBC for online package purchases. I'll probably use on a shore excursion or maybe suck it up and purchase the packages onboard. Sure appreciate your advice 🙂

 

Edited September 7, 2019 by Petoonya

[KeithJenner]

18 minutes ago, Petoonya said:

Keith....do you know what the discount for dining and internet is online? Maybe it's not such a biggie to just book onboard.

To be honest, It was only you saying about the discounted online prices that made me think there was one.

 

It’s not that easy for me to see as my prices for online purchases are in pounds, so it depends on the exchange rates, but it doesn’t look like there is any discount at all on my bookings.

 

I don’t recall there ever being an online discount on the beverage package. I do recall the online price for the dining package being lower in the past, but only by a few dollars.

 

When we have OBC to use then we sometimes wait until boarding to buy the dining package. Sometimes we buy it for one person so we can make bookings in the fixed price places with no charge and then buy the other peoples packages onboard.

[Petoonya]

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

When we have OBC to use then we sometimes wait until boarding to buy the dining package. Sometimes we buy it for one person so we can make bookings in the fixed price places with no charge and then buy the other peoples packages onboard.

 

Thanks Keith...I only knew about the discount as I'd read it in a few places here. But checking into it some more looks like it's a very little savings to purchase online.  We'll just wait to book onboard. I was picturing a line across the room to book onboard but doesn't sound like it'll be quite that bad. We'll wait. Thanks so much.

[dbrown84]

If you have any cigar smokers in your party, you can buy them some in the cigar lounge.  You can get some drinks not fully covered by the drink package, like Johnny walker blue.  You can also buy some bottles of liquor to take home from the gift shop

[dbrown84]

If course, there's other stuff besides liquor in the gift shop.  Guess I have a one track mind 😁

[Beachiekeen]

You should rethink the thermal suite. It was absolute heaven after being out in the Alaskan air all day. Hubby might surprise you—mine loves it now! 😀

[casofilia]

As it is "FREE" money splash out on one of NCL's really expensive but "earth shattering" shore excursions.

[Sand and Seas]

With family on-board you might want to buy some nice group pictures. 

I  personally use OBC to stock up on make-up like Clinique, Estee Lauder & Lancome (mascara,  lip-stick, face moisturizers, etc).  I've been surprised by what the 'duty-free' gift shops on larger ships like Bliss & Escape carry.  They carry some name-brand purses too.   

[don't-use-real-name]

Reading the previous posts - note nothing mentioned

 

ABOUT NOT USING THE (non-refundable) OBC FOR THE DREADED DSC (Daily Service Charge)

 

Another thing tips to crew members - stop by the Guest Services counter/desk

and fill out a voucher giving a reward for services rendered payable with OBC.

 

If buying one or more the Next Cruise certificates - that OBC can be used to pay half of the certificates cost.

 

Whatever you do - DO NOT let it become unused and sail off to the great void.

[KeithJenner]

2 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said:

Reading the previous posts - note nothing mentioned

 

ABOUT NOT USING THE (non-refundable) OBC FOR THE DREADED DSC (Daily Service Charge)

 

Another thing tips to crew members - stop by the Guest Services counter/desk

and fill out a voucher giving a reward for services rendered payable with OBC.

 

If buying one or more the Next Cruise certificates - that OBC can be used to pay half of the certificates cost.

 

Whatever you do - DO NOT let it become unused and sail off to the great void.

The OP said in her original post that it can’t be used for the gratuities.

 

And later they said that they wouldn’t be using NCL again, so cruisenext has been ruled out.

[KeithJenner]

7 hours ago, casofilia said:

As it is "FREE" money splash out on one of NCL's really expensive but "earth shattering" shore excursions.

I don’t view this as free money, as they have the option of using it to buy the dining package. Therefore, if they use it for anything else then it will have cost them the value of the dining package.

 

I know what you mean though, before an argument on what “free” means starts. 🙂

Edited September 8, 2019 by KeithJenner

[newmexicoNita]

17 hours ago, Petoonya said:

Have $250 OBC on a 7 day cruise.

Haven't been on a cruise line before where service charges could not be paid with OBC, but first time for everything 🙂  Since I booked an inside the drink package is all I'm entitled to. Thought I'd prepay for the online discounted dining and internet packages but looks like there's not a whole lot else I'm interested in to spend that OBC on onboard....besides specialty coffee. Prices on clothing etc are inflated and don't see anything else I'm interested in. Best to just forget the discount and book something like an internet package onboard- forget the discount? Don't want to use it or lose it on the OBC.

 

Thanks for your kind reply and help. I've been full of questions since I started contributing on this particular forum and can't believe how thoughtful and helpful NCL folks are. You are the greatest!

Well let me just say, as for using it for gratuities: My understanding from my TA if they are non refundable OBCs no line will allow them to be applied to tips: if refundable that is a totally different situation. Of course I am pretty much speaking about mass marketed lines, not upscale lines that you usually sail on.  Now, how to spend the OBC, we use it for a night in the casino, maybe T shirts or something that will remind us of our cruise, apply toward tours, or just pick up something like a fun piece of jewelry. Yes, we have gotten down to the end and still had to decide how to spend it but we always find a way. It pretty much appears it isn't a matter of how to spend it, as you seem to not be excited about any of the suggestions. It appears you are somewhat disappointed that you can't use it for gratuities. I understand how you feel, but also understand why the cruise lines puts restrictions on what yo can do with it. 

[SouthLyonCruiser]

On our last cruise I had OBC left of about $50 so I went with my 4 year old grandson and bought a $30 insulated cup (which, by the way, is excellent, but I would never buy it without the "free money") and an overpriced $18 key chain that my grandson liked.

You should be able to find something in the gift shop that you could use but would not buy with your own money as the stuff in there is way overpriced.

[Sea saw 56]

We had $500 worth of OBC for our 15 day Transatlantic in April.  We had prepaid our DSC, had $100 per port shore excursion credits already, with most everything paid for in advance, SDP, beverage package, etc.,  couldn't figure out how in the world we would be able to spend all that money onboard.  But it really was easy.  Mainly used for treats we wouldn't have wanted to spend "our money" on.

Hubby drank some expensive scotch, his sunglasses broke so he bought some Ray Ban sunglasses (he would've never bought those at home), bought some photos, bought some nice shorts and tops, actually it was very easy to splurge and we ended up owing $180 when we got off the ship!!