Which Option is Best to Book the Prima?

[greatestvalue]

 

@BirdTravelsfabulous review has convinced me to book a cruise on Prima. 

 

Here are my options...

 

I have an offer on my Amex spend $1000 get $350 back, this offer expires 12/31/2022 (I am struggling to find a way to use this)  OR 

I head to the Bliss next week, would you wait and book while on board?

 

[stefmaia]

18 minutes ago, greatestvalue said:

 

@BirdTravelsfabulous review has convinced me to book a cruise on Prima. 

 

Here are my options...

 

I have an offer on my Amex spend $1000 get $350 back, this offer expires 12/31/2022 (I am struggling to find a way to use this)  OR 

I head to the Bliss next week, would you wait and book while on board?

 

Why not buy yourself 2x $500 obc vouchers using your Amex card then use them to buy your next cruise while on board?

[greatestvalue]

1 hour ago, stefmaia said:

Why not buy yourself 2x $500 obc vouchers using your Amex card then use them to buy your next cruise while on board?

That may be a fabulous idea. 

 

The only hiccup I can think of with this is I already have $980 OBC for the Bliss cruise.  The good thing is $530.00 of it is refundable.  

 

The DSC are pre-paid, drinks package good, we are going to do a a few excursions thru the ship this time around which is also new for us.  I should be able to get thru the non-refundable if the ones we want are available when we get on board.

 

Also, I just had my TA do the pre-paid gratuities on the Amex and it isnt categorizing as 1) travel and 2) as Norwegian.  Its categorizing as some USD Reservation, so making me nervous. 

 

Ive never "bought" OBC through the NCL Manage Reservation.  But Im under the impression when you do that it is refundable OBC? 

 

Can you just ask NCL when you get on board to refund the refundable OBC to you? 

 

Thanks for your insight here...

[stefmaia]

@greatestvaluewe use our gift certificate obc to buy our massages, pay for shore excursions and to use in the casino. To the best of my knowledge the gift certs are refundable but I’ve never had anything left over to try and refund. This is how we got our $350 AMEX deal on my husband’s card, and I paid a $1000 deposit on our December 2023 cruise to get it on mine.

I hope you figure out a way to get yours.

Edited December 27, 2022 by stefmaia

[ggTexasGal]

4 hours ago, greatestvalue said:

That may be a fabulous idea. 

 

The only hiccup I can think of with this is I already have $980 OBC for the Bliss cruise.  The good thing is $530.00 of it is refundable.  

 

The DSC are pre-paid, drinks package good, we are going to do a a few excursions thru the ship this time around which is also new for us.  I should be able to get thru the non-refundable if the ones we want are available when we get on board.

 

Also, I just had my TA do the pre-paid gratuities on the Amex and it isnt categorizing as 1) travel and 2) as Norwegian.  Its categorizing as some USD Reservation, so making me nervous. 

 

Ive never "bought" OBC through the NCL Manage Reservation.  But Im under the impression when you do that it is refundable OBC? 

 

Can you just ask NCL when you get on board to refund the refundable OBC to you? 

 

Thanks for your insight here...

Two things:

1) No matter how obtained, NCL allows only $1000 OBC per stateroom (Refundable/Non-Refundable).

2) If your OBC is REFUNDABLE, you may "cash-out" within 24 hours of disembarkation. (In fact,

they insist!)

[greatestvalue]

23 hours ago, stefmaia said:

Why not buy yourself 2x $500 obc vouchers using your Amex card then use them to buy your next cruise while on board?

I got the OBC to work, and it should be refundable. 

 

I remembered why you may not want to use the OBC to purchase the new cruise.  Im not sure the Amex Cruise Priviledge Benefits would work. Have you bought with OBC and had the priviledges kick in on that newly purchased cruise?

 

It does work if you use a CNC, as Ive dont that.  But the T & S on Amex says the "entire fare" must be paid with the Amex card.   

 

I will ask my TA and see if she can confirm OBC would or wouldnt work. 

[stefmaia]

47 minutes ago, greatestvalue said:

I got the OBC to work, and it should be refundable. 

 

I remembered why you may not want to use the OBC to purchase the new cruise.  Im not sure the Amex Cruise Priviledge Benefits would work. Have you bought with OBC and had the priviledges kick in on that newly purchased cruise?

 

It does work if you use a CNC, as Ive dont that.  But the T & S on Amex says the "entire fare" must be paid with the Amex card.   

 

I will ask my TA and see if she can confirm OBC would or wouldnt work. 

If you book the cruise on board use cruise next certs, then have the booking transferred to a TA who is affiliated with the AMEX privilege group then complete the purchase with your card.

this is what worked for us.

[laudergayle]

On 12/27/2022 at 12:30 AM, greatestvalue said:

Also, I just had my TA do the pre-paid gratuities on the Amex and it isnt categorizing as 1) travel and 2) as Norwegian.  Its categorizing as some USD Reservation, so making me nervous. 

Don’t worry. USD Reservations Norwegian is how it shows on the Amex statement. The DSC will count towards your $1000.  
 

I would do both cruises.  Use the needed Amex amount to put down payment on Prima.  Take the Bliss cruise and use your refundable OBC towards two Cruise Next certificates. But I believe you have to chose a sailing 180 days out to use CN certs.

Edited December 28, 2022 by laudergayle

[greatestvalue]

7 hours ago, laudergayle said:

USD Reservations Norwegian is how it shows on the Amex statement. The DSC will count towards your $1000.  

It all worked immediately. 

 

When I used the second offer on a different NCL cruise, that worked as well. 

 

Your idea will work brilliantly.  I will add the new CNC to the (4) remaining ones I have left.  Those will expire 1 year after the old ones as well.  So will work, like a charm. 

[greatestvalue]

19 hours ago, greatestvalue said:

It does work if you use a CNC, as Ive dont that. 

Wow...this was good English on my part ....lol Sorry