Unspent Onboard Credit

[hallux]

2 hours ago, cementhands said:

Can onboard credits be used to buy cruise next certificates?

Only refundable OBC can be used for that.

[cementhands]

18 hours ago, hallux said:

Only refundable OBC can be used for that.

Thanks. I guess we’ll just have to use our non refundable cc on an excursion coupled with the $50.00 from Ncl it’ll be $150.00 towards a $200.00 catamaran cruise.
Great information for planning here on CC.

We got pre paid tips with our balcony plus $300.00 refundable cc through booking so we’ll try to use/cash it out in casino 🎰 or buy next cruise certificates.

[jamminlion]

My TA gives us OBC (refundable since they are essentially purchasing a gift for our cabin). If you don't spend all of the refundable OBC, *****it goes back to the original form of payment**** i.e. the TA's account. So it's important to spend it all.

 

We aren't big spenders once on the ship, so on our last cruise Guest Services was sending letters to the cabin asking me to report to the desk regarding and "urgent matter with your on board account". I get to the desk, and the crew member pretty rudely told me "You have a large credit balance here. You need to be spending more money on board." Ha ha ha. Right-o. Next day, same thing. Day after that, I stopped asking about the 'urgent matter'. What they didn't know was that the plan all along was to cash out that refundable OBC, which they did, but weren't thrilled about. Because of course they are in the business of getting every nickel and dime they can out of you. 

 

One thing I highly recommend doing is going to the desk every day and asking for a print out of your account. Keep track. The line on the last full day of the cruise gets really long and patience starts running thing. On the morning of disembarkation, they tell you that the account is closed and you will be billed, deal with Miami office for concerns. I have seen more than one irate person on disembarkation day. 

 

I've got $1200 refundable OBC on my cruise this summer. It's a game between my husband and I -how much can we walk away with. 

 

 

[First traveler]

Can someone confirm if we can use these NCL onboard credit, https://www.ncl.com/shorex/271784528/56587201/gifts-detail/603 for gratuity? These were purchased by my TA and I was told that I can have these applied to our gratuity by telling the front desk to hit the daily gratuity to my onboard account. However, when I called NCL, they told me that these credits can't be used for casino, gratuity or excursion? Have anyone recently used these for casino and/or gratuity?  

[Russiamomm]

8 minutes ago, First traveler said:

Can someone confirm if we can use these NCL onboard credit, https://www.ncl.com/shorex/271784528/56587201/gifts-detail/603 for gratuity? These were purchased by my TA and I was told that I can have these applied to our gratuity by telling the front desk to hit the daily gratuity to my onboard account. However, when I called NCL, they told me that these credits can't be used for casino, gratuity or excursion? Have anyone recently used these for casino and/or gratuity?  

I’m afraid the link isn’t working.  But if these are purchased onboard credits, they are refundable and can be used for gratuities.  Non-refundable credits can’t be.  

[BirdTravels]

9 minutes ago, First traveler said:

Can someone confirm if we can use these NCL onboard credit,   for gratuity? These were purchased by my TA and I was told that I can have these applied to our gratuity by telling the front desk to hit the daily gratuity to my onboard account. However, when I called NCL, they told me that these credits can't be used for casino, gratuity or excursion? Have anyone recently used these for casino and/or gratuity?  

Welcome to Cruise Critic

 

First, it is never a good idea to post your reservation number on a public forum (it is in the link you posted).

 

Most Travel Agent OBC is not purchased, they are re-gifting it to you. It is normally non-refundable and can not be used for gratuities.

 

OBC is posted to your onboard account and charges are automatically deducted from it. 

 

Best to ask your TA if it is a refundable or non-refundable OBC. 

[First traveler]

25 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Welcome to Cruise Critic

 

First, it is never a good idea to post your reservation number on a public forum (it is in the link you posted).

 

Most Travel Agent OBC is not purchased, they are re-gifting it to you. It is normally non-refundable and can not be used for gratuities.

 

OBC is posted to your onboard account and charges are automatically deducted from it. 

 

Best to ask your TA if it is a refundable or non-refundable OBC. 

ahh i didn't realized I did it. Trying to edit my original comments. But in my account I see that these are included https://www.ncl.com/onboard-gifts/onboard-credit

[First traveler]

31 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

I’m afraid the link isn’t working.  But if these are purchased onboard credits, they are refundable and can be used for gratuities.  Non-refundable credits can’t be.  

I believed these are refundable when I called NCL but it's still doesn't apply to gratuity. How did you get it to be applied to the daily services?

[BirdTravels]

21 minutes ago, First traveler said:

I believed these are refundable when I called NCL but it's still doesn't apply to gratuity. How did you get it to be applied to the daily services?

OBC is posted to your room account as a negative balance. As things are added to your account, your negative balance gets less. You don't "do anything" to apply the credit.  

 

Refundable OBC can be used for gratuities. 

 

Again, most travel agents do not "buy" OBC. They have OBC as a TA and give it to their clients. 

[MoCruiseFan]

25 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Refundable OBC can be used for gratuities. 

 

 

Well said.  Refundable can also offset the DSC or ANY charges to your account.

[JamesIowa]

On 9/7/2022 at 5:26 AM, thedarklord said:

Are you able to transfer it to a machine in the casino, and then cash-out straight-away? I'm guessing you're probably not able to use non-refundable OBC in the casino, but it'd be good to know for sure.

If it’s refundable obc you can, but you’ll pay a 3% fee unless you have Casinos at Sea status. Oftentimes I’ll  pay the 3% money laundering fee just to avoid the line for guest services when I need to zero out my account.

[First traveler]

7 minutes ago, JamesIowa said:

If it’s refundable obc you can, but you’ll pay a 3% fee unless you have Casinos at Sea status. Oftentimes I’ll  pay the 3% money laundering fee just to avoid the line for guest services when I need to zero out my account.

Is there a way to see if it’s refundable or not?

[RocketMan275]

26 minutes ago, First traveler said:

Is there a way to see if it’s refundable or not?

Contact the TA.

[MoCruiseFan]

5 hours ago, First traveler said:

Is there a way to see if it’s refundable or not?

 

Look at your on board account once on the ship.  The amount of unspent OBC will be listed and broken down as as far as a refundability.  It will be updated as it is applied to purchases.

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, JamesIowa said:

If it’s refundable obc you can, but you’ll pay a 3% fee unless you have Casinos at Sea status. Oftentimes I’ll  pay the 3% money laundering fee just to avoid the line for guest services when I need to zero out my account.

If it is refundable, you can go to guest services on embarkation day and withdraw it for cash. Then put it in a slot machine for no fee. 

[Candy Apple 12]

6 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

If it is refundable, you can go to guest services on embarkation day and withdraw it for cash. Then put it in a slot machine for no fee. 

Have you actually done that? If so, it would avoid the risk of traveling with a large amount of cash.
 

Can you put refundable OBC on your own account using a credit card? If so, wouldn’t doing this allow you to get the points from your rewards credit card on money you would be using in the casino?

[Russiamomm]

49 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

If it is refundable, you can go to guest services on embarkation day and withdraw it for cash. Then put it in a slot machine for no fee. 

I don’t think this is true.  I had a significant amount of refundable OBC on a trip last October.  I asked, but was not allowed to cash it in until the last full day of the cruise.

[dbrown84]

40 minutes ago, Candy Apple 12 said:

Have you actually done that? If so, it would avoid the risk of traveling with a large amount of cash.
 

Can you put refundable OBC on your own account using a credit card? If so, wouldn’t doing this allow you to get the points from your rewards credit card on money you would be using in the casino?

you can absolutely put refundable OBC on your account using a credit card.  The limit is $1000 though.  I can't speak on whether you can get the $$$ at guest services on embarkation.  I've never heard of it being done before

[Russiamomm]

10 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

you can absolutely put refundable OBC on your account using a credit card.  The limit is $1000 though.  I can't speak on whether you can get the $$$ at guest services on embarkation.  I've never heard of it being done before

Yup.  Last fall the new Amex offer came out a week before we sailed.  I had already paid for everything.  I ended up buying $1000 of OBC to get the $200 back from AMEX.  I am a gambler, but didn’t want to pay the 3% to use money I already had on the account, so I used cash.  I also needed more CNs, but didn’t want to use the OBC to buy them because I wanted the 3% I’d get charging it to the NCL MC.  They wouldn’t let me cash out the OBC until the last day of the cruise.  So I was in line when the Guest Services desk opened that morning and got my $1000 in cash.  Then walked over to the CN desk and bought my CNs.  It worked like a charm. 😃

 

 

Edited April 13 by Russiamomm

[Candy Apple 12]

32 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

you can absolutely put refundable OBC on your account using a credit card.  The limit is $1000 though.  I can't speak on whether you can get the $$$ at guest services on embarkation.  I've never heard of it being done before

Thanks for the info on the limit. 
 

22 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Yup.  Last fall the new Amex offer came out a week before we sailed.  I had already paid for everything.  I ended up buying $1000 of OBC to get the $200 back from AMEX.  I am a gambler, but didn’t want to pay the 3% to use money I already had on the account, so I used cash.  I also needed more CNs, but didn’t want to use the OBC to buy them because I wanted the 3% I’d get charging it to the NCL MC.  They wouldn’t let me cash out the OBC until the last day of the cruise.  So I was in line when the Guest Services desk opened that morning and got my $1000 in cash.  Then walked over to the CN desk and bought my CNs.  It worked like a charm. 😃

 

 

That makes more sense. I assume that you didn’t have any other on board charges before the last day, so you were able to take advantage of the deal. I suppose if you wanted to spend the last day of cruise in the casino, this method could work. I don’t gamble but my mom likes to feed the machines occasionally, so I’ll keep this in mind for her.  

[Russiamomm]

1 minute ago, Candy Apple 12 said:

Thanks for the info on the limit. 
 

That makes more sense. I assume that you didn’t have any other on board charges before the last day, so you were able to take advantage of the deal. I suppose if you wanted to spend the last day of cruise in the casino, this method could work. I don’t gamble but my mom likes to feed the machines occasionally, so I’ll keep this in mind for her.  

I think I had bought a few things, but I also had $100 of non-refundable OBC, so I got the refundable in cash.  And of course turned around and spent a good chink of it in the casino.  😂. I don’t mind getting the cash.  There’s never too long before the next cruise.  Just keep it in my casino stash at home.😂

[Guindalf]

BirdTravels is wrong. MOST TA OBC is refundable. Usually, only OBC provided as a perk by the cruise line is non-refundable.

 

On our last cruise (in February), we had $575 in TA-provided OBC and we also got $50 for a missed port. After spending a few dollars, we were able to go to guest services on the last evening (or final morning) and we were handed the balance of just over $600 in cash. We were also given $100 in non-refundable OBC for that missed port, which bought some Toblerone, etc.!

[RocketMan275]

4 hours ago, Candy Apple 12 said:

Have you actually done that? If so, it would avoid the risk of traveling with a large amount of cash.
 

Can you put refundable OBC on your own account using a credit card? If so, wouldn’t doing this allow you to get the points from your rewards credit card on money you would be using in the casino?

Before you put OBC on your card, check with the issuer, they may consider that a cash advance with a hefty fee which would obliterage and savings.

I usually just carry cash.

[Russiamomm]

51 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Before you put OBC on your card, check with the issuer, they may consider that a cash advance with a hefty fee which would obliterage and savings.

I usually just carry cash.

It’s shown as a charge to NCL. It’s not considered a cash advance.  Same with taking cash on your account for the casino.  This isn’t an issue.

[hallux]

13 hours ago, Guindalf said:

BirdTravels is wrong. MOST TA OBC is refundable.

I usually trust what BirdTravels says.  And you both may be correct.  It likely depends on how the OBC is 'bought' by the TA..