Unused OBC

[jsn55]

I have a pretty hefty amount of OBC for my next cruise on NCL.  I'm told that if I can't 'spend it all' I should go to the casino, use my cruisecard to 'buy chips' or whatever it's called.  Play a few games of poker or some slots.  I could then 'cash out' and NCL Epic would refund me in cash before I disembarked. 

 

First, does this work well?  And second, what if it doesn't work well?  I certainly don't want to leave a cruise having not spent all my lovely OBC.  Any advice very much appreciated.  

[julig22]

It depends on the type of OBC. Nonrefundable (usually comes from NCL) can't be used in the casino. OBC that comes from a 3rd party and has been purchased is usually refundable, no need to go to the casino, you can cash out at guest services at the end of your cruise.

[ontheweb]

Just to add to that, non-refundable OBC will be used up first. Also, it has been posted that if you have refundable OBC at the end of the cruise, NCL will page you to go to customer service to get it refunded before you are allowed to disembark.

[PATRLR]

@jsn55 You really need to understand which type of OBC you have.  Once you know, there is a topic here that discusses what you can use each type for. 

Also - as mentioned above - NCL will not let you off the ship at the end until they have returned your unused refundable OBC in cash.  Take care of that the night before you disembark or they will pull you out of line in the morning and make you go to another line to get your refund.

[Szt]

Or just buy yourself or do one else a nice piece of jewelry on the last sea day. They usually have big sales then. 

[BirdTravels]

8 hours ago, Szt said:

Or just buy yourself or do one else a nice piece of jewelry on the last sea day. They usually have big sales then. 

As long as you don’t exceed customs limits, then you need to declare and pay duty on it. 

[KateQ22003]

7 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

As long as you don’t exceed customs limits, then you need to declare and pay duty on it. 

Unless you buy EFFY. It is manufactured in the US so there is no duty. You will have to show up with your customs form, but they just rubber stamp it.

Edited October 12, 2023 by KateQ22003

[pghflyer]

On 10/11/2023 at 8:03 AM, PATRLR said:

@jsn55 You really need to understand which type of OBC you have.  Once you know, there is a topic here that discusses what you can use each type for. 

Also - as mentioned above - NCL will not let you off the ship at the end until they have returned your unused refundable OBC in cash.  Take care of that the night before you disembark or they will pull you out of line in the morning and make you go to another line to get your refund.

Did you ever post a V2 of that list?  Your list was very helpful and should really be a sticky post IMO.

[Escaping2016]

Another possible option is to purchase Cruise Next certificates with the OBC.

 

[DorothyB]

1 minute ago, Escaping2016 said:

Another possible option is to purchase Cruise Next certificates with the OBC.

 

I don't think they can be purchased with shareholder OBC ??

[Escaping2016]

6 minutes ago, DorothyB said:

I don't think they can be purchased with shareholder OBC ??

I didn't realize that.

 

[DorothyB]

23 minutes ago, Escaping2016 said:

I didn't realize that.

 

That was an "I don't think" - not positive.  I am sure that they can NOT be used for daily service charge.

[dbrown84]

46 minutes ago, DorothyB said:

I don't think they can be purchased with shareholder OBC ??

correct, it can not.  Not unless you "wash" it by buying cheap excursion and waiting for the excursion refund to come back, which will be refundable OBC

[julig22]

1 hour ago, dbrown84 said:

correct, it can not.  Not unless you "wash" it by buying cheap excursion and waiting for the excursion refund to come back, which will be refundable OBC

Don't remember which ship but they did apply my SH OBC to a  CruiseNext purchase I made a year or so ago. Each ship seems to have its own accounting system and I've only had it happen the 1 time (since they changed the rules). So it can slip through - but don't count on it.

[Middleager]

Supposed you cannot buy CruiseNext certs with SH OBC.  In a cruise either late 2022 or early last year 2023, the CN Desk allowed it for me, that was after hearing some other people were denied on other ships.

 

So it was YMMV.  But it's possible NCL is clamping down on most or not all ships from doing that.