CruiseNext trying to confirm what I have been told onboard

[TeresaJ]

7 hours ago, Bonthewater said:

Currently sailing on the Encore and visited the CruiseNext desk. The individual I spoke to told me I can add 2 $250 to any balcony or higher booked. I can’t seem to find anything that doesn’t say the $500 is only for Haven.  I know they have promotions but he said that it’s always 2x$250 available for balcony and higher. I guess I am somewhat distrustful that he’s not trying to sell me more than I can use. 

There is a double up promotion running right now but I think it only lasts a few more days.  We just sailed NCL and I remember the CruiseNext gal telling us about it. 

[dhanakorn]

I just don’t understand why NCL doesn’t make a rule that the nonrefundable OBC from buying CruiseNext couldn’t be applied to the CruiseNext purchase. This’d remove all the confusion and benefit NCL financially. You’d still get the OBC from buying CN but you’d be forced to use it on other things you don’t want but NCL has huge profit margin. 
 

Another big benefit is we’d not have to explain about this OBC confusion on this board anymore. I think it’s a big win since this issue comes up every month. Who wants to sign a petition to NCL to change the rule on the OBC from CN purchase?

[cruiseny4life]

6 minutes ago, dhanakorn said:

I just don’t understand why NCL doesn’t make a rule that the nonrefundable OBC from buying CruiseNext couldn’t be applied to the CruiseNext purchase. This’d remove all the confusion and benefit NCL financially. You’d still get the OBC from buying CN but you’d be forced to use it on other things you don’t want but NCL has huge profit margin. 
 

Another big benefit is we’d not have to explain about this OBC confusion on this board anymore. I think it’s a big win since this issue comes up every month. Who wants to sign a petition to NCL to change the rule on the OBC from CN purchase?

Why on earth would you even consider this? Are you a NCL mole?? 

 

[complawyer]

hey, cruiseny4life

 

while this has nothing to do with this post, it's the only way i seem t o be able to respond to  your post, i dont know why or how, but for  some reason when you respond to any of my posts (ie the most recent dealing with taylor swift) nothing ever comes on. this is for most of your responses to me.

 

which i consider a massive problem, as i always enjoy reading your points of view

[Russiamomm]

16 minutes ago, dhanakorn said:

I just don’t understand why NCL doesn’t make a rule that the nonrefundable OBC from buying CruiseNext couldn’t be applied to the CruiseNext purchase. This’d remove all the confusion and benefit NCL financially. You’d still get the OBC from buying CN but you’d be forced to use it on other things you don’t want but NCL has huge profit margin. 
 

Another big benefit is we’d not have to explain about this OBC confusion on this board anymore. I think it’s a big win since this issue comes up every month. Who wants to sign a petition to NCL to change the rule on the OBC from CN purchase?

 

9 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Why on earth would you even consider this? Are you a NCL mole?? 

 

Completely agree with cruiseny4life.  This is a terrible idea!  I have a better idea.  Why can’t NcL just tell it like it is.  “Pay me $125 and I’ll take $250 off your next cruise.”  All this business about OBC does nothing but confuse the situation and make people spend more money on stuff they don’t want fearing that the have to “use it or lose it”.  But I guess that’s the point.

[UKstages]

21 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Why can’t NcL just tell it like it is.  “Pay me $125 and I’ll take $250 off your next cruise.”

 

they do in fact have a sales program that goes exactly like that.

 

it's called "cruise first."

 

except it's "pay me $150 and I’ll take $300 off your next cruise."

 

and "pay me $250 and I’ll take $500 off your next cruise."

 

i never understood the fascination and obsession with buying cruise next credits onboard. i suppose it's like touring the bacardi factory and buying a bottle of rum, even though it's not much cheaper than your local liquor store and it's a hassle to get home.

 

Edited March 12 by UKstages

[julig22]

54 minutes ago, dhanakorn said:

I just don’t understand why NCL doesn’t make a rule that the nonrefundable OBC from buying CruiseNext couldn’t be applied to the CruiseNext purchase. This’d remove all the confusion and benefit NCL financially. You’d still get the OBC from buying CN but you’d be forced to use it on other things you don’t want but NCL has huge profit margin. 
 

Another big benefit is we’d not have to explain about this OBC confusion on this board anymore. I think it’s a big win since this issue comes up every month. Who wants to sign a petition to NCL to change the rule on the OBC from CN purchase?

Are you for real? If I have to spend $250 onboard on over-priced merchandise + $250 in cash in order to get $500 in credits, why would I bother?  Pretty sure NCL benefits quite well with their "free money" campaign just the way it is.

Count me out on your peition

Edited March 12 by julig22

[Ken the cruiser]

TBH I'm just glad they got rid of the CN expiration date. 

[Russiamomm]

19 minutes ago, UKstages said:

 

they do in fact have a sales program that goes exactly like that.

 

it's called "cruise first."

 

except it's "pay me $150 and I’ll take $300 off your next cruise."

 

and "pay me $250 and I’ll take $500 off your next cruise."

 

i never understood the fascination and obsession with buying cruise next credits onboard. i suppose it's like touring the bacardi factory and buying a bottle of rum, even though it's not much cheaper than your local liquor store and it's a hassle to get home.

 

Agreed to a certain extent.  I just find the CNs to be more flexible and like to keep at least four in my account at any point in time,  I tend to book last minute.  My understanding is that you have to buy the CFs at least four months prior to using them.  But I may be wrong.  I’ve always just waited until I got onboard to refill the pot when I need to.  
 

Either way, my point remains.  The way they sell the CNs is deceptive.  It’s OK for those of us that understand how it works, but it’s obvious from all the posts on this subject that their confusing marketing is having its desired effect. 

Edited March 12 by Russiamomm

[julig22]

17 minutes ago, UKstages said:

i never understood the fascination and obsession with buying cruise next credits onboard. i suppose it's like touring the bacardi factory and buying a bottle of rum, even though it's not much cheaper than your local liquor store and it's a hassle to get home.

 

CruiseNext has been around for a long time.  CruiseFirst is relatively new - but now that nothing expires, they are fairly similar. No double-up on CF but it you buy when they are offering $250/$500 there isn't much difference, assuming your cruise is far enough in the future.

[ChiefMateJRK]

6 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

What happens if you don't spend that $2000 of nonrefundable OBC before the cruise ends?

When you buy the CNs, you've already spent it.

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

Why on earth would you even consider this? Are you a NCL mole?? 

 

16 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Are you for real?

Yeah, that would be silly.  I'm guessing that the poster may be among the many who just can't seem to fully understand the CN process.  We try.

[UKstages]

26 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

My understanding is that you have to buy the CFs at least four months prior to using them.

 

not exactly. it depends on what you mean by "using them." the cruise first credit has to have been purchased at least 120 days in advance of the sailing date, not the booking date.

 

you can book today using a credit that your purchased today, provided the cruise is not sailing for another four months. or you can book today for a cruise leaving later this week, provided the cruise first credit was purchased at least four months ago. if you're used to having cruise next credits in your account always at the ready, there is virtually no difference. you can do close-in bookings, as long as you have cruise first credits in your "bank."

 

i currently have four "aged" cruise first credits in my account (3 x $500, 1 x $250), as well as a casino next credit.

 

Edited March 12 by UKstages

[BirdTravels]

7 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

What happens if you don't spend that $2000 of nonrefundable OBC before the cruise ends?

You "spend it" to pay for the certificates. You never lose anything. 

[BirdTravels]

11 hours ago, Bonthewater said:

Currently sailing on the Encore and visited the CruiseNext desk. The individual I spoke to told me I can add 2 $250 to any balcony or higher booked. I can’t seem to find anything that doesn’t say the $500 is only for Haven.  I know they have promotions but he said that it’s always 2x$250 available for balcony and higher. I guess I am somewhat distrustful that he’s not trying to sell me more than I can use. 

Double Up (using 2 CN certificates for cruises 6+ months in the future is a promotion that is running. The default rule is that you can use 1 certificate per cruise. The double up promotion sometimes also requires a balcony or above. The double up runs more than not, so it is currently available. 

[RocketMan275]

6 hours ago, zqvol said:

You are falling prey to NCLs scheme. Don’t make it so hard, it’s not 

NCL is the one making this so hard.

Just make it a straight forward, spend $125 and get a $250 cruise credit.

[KeithJenner]

1 hour ago, julig22 said:

Are you for real? If I have to spend $250 onboard on over-priced merchandise + $250 in cash in order to get $500 in credits, why would I bother?  Pretty sure NCL benefits quite well with their "free money" campaign just the way it is.

Count me out on your peition

Yeah, if you had to spend the OBC on other things then I wouldn’t be buying any more CruiseNext.

 

As it is, NCL get the best of both worlds. They tie in people who want the discount by selling then CruiseNext and they also have the confused people spending the OBC on other things. I can’t see why they would change it.

[KeithJenner]

25 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

NCL is the one making this so hard.

Just make it a straight forward, spend $125 and get a $250 cruise credit.

We can’t stop NCL making it hard, but individuals can help themselves by trying to understand that this is really just a big one and get one free deal.

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

hey, cruiseny4life

 

while this has nothing to do with this post, it's the only way i seem t o be able to respond to  your post, i dont know why or how, but for  some reason when you respond to any of my posts (ie the most recent dealing with taylor swift) nothing ever comes on. this is for most of your responses to me.

 

which i consider a massive problem, as i always enjoy reading your points of view

Well, I didn't tag you, good sir! If I @complawyer then you'll get the notification. I'll try it on a post later that I don't also quote you in. 

[cruiser2015]

7 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Good to know. Thanks! But since it makes no sense to pay the full $250 per CNC, we will still ask to only be charged the $125 and opt out of the OBC being posted to our account. But if that option is not allowed the next time we buy CNCs, we will definitely verify that is in fact the case.

They are double-talking you about OBC.

There is no requirement to ask them to apply that OBC to your CN's - it happens automatically.

[outbackpaul]

3 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

Agreed to a certain extent.  I just find the CNs to be more flexible and like to keep at least four in my account at any point in time,  I tend to book last minute.  My understanding is that you have to buy the CFs at least four months prior to using them.  But I may be wrong.  I’ve always just waited until I got onboard to refill the pot when I need to.  
 

Either way, my point remains.  The way they sell the CNs is deceptive.  It’s OK for those of us that understand how it works, but it’s obvious from all the posts on this subject that their confusing marketing is having its desired effect. 

 

 

I like to book last minute too.  So you can bank them and use them for last minute bookings? Does the double up offer require it to be at least 4 months away from sailing date?

[UKstages]

cruise first does not allow for "double up" promos.  that's cruise next.

 

if you've bought wisely, however, your cruise first credit already has a value of $500.

 

yes, you can bank cruise first credits and use them for close-in bookings, provided the sail date is a minimum of 120 days from the day you purchased the credit.

[Russiamomm]

10 minutes ago, outbackpaul said:

 

 

I like to book last minute too.  So you can bank them and use them for last minute bookings? Does the double up offer require it to be at least 4 months away from sailing date?

I’m not sure of the official rules, but I always book through Casinos at Sea and have always been able to apply two CNs as long as I was booking a balcony or above.  YMMV.

[Bonthewater]

13 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

 

Yeah, that would be silly.  I'm guessing that the poster may be among the many who just can't seem to fully understand the CN process.  We try.

Thanks to all for the input. It is my first NCL cruise so you are correct I didn’t fully understand the CN process and didn’t want to get stuck with a bunch of CN certificates if I can’t use them. When I told the guy we might do 1 cruise a year and he suggests I buy 12 certificates it seemed sort of shady. So I came here to get the straight goods. 

[The Traveling Man]

8 hours ago, Bonthewater said:

Thanks to all for the input. It is my first NCL cruise so you are correct I didn’t fully understand the CN process and didn’t want to get stuck with a bunch of CN certificates if I can’t use them. When I told the guy we might do 1 cruise a year and he suggests I buy 12 certificates it seemed sort of shady. So I came here to get the straight goods. 

If you only plan to take one cruise a year, purchase two CN certificates.  You may get lucky and find a cruise to book during one of NCL's frequent "double up" offers which allow you to use two certificates for one stateroom.  If you only can use one per cruise, though, they now have no expiration date, so just save one until next year.  If you only buy one at a time, however, you only get $100 off the $250 value.  Your second one receives $150 off, so with two you average getting $125 off each one.  Additional certificates purchased at the same time earn the full $125 off the $250 value.  It's just NCL's way to encourage you to buy at least two at a time.  They used to impose a maximum limit of purchasing no more than eight per cruise.  I guess that limit is out the window now, but trying to sell you 12 at a time, particularly to a first-timer, really sounds like strong arm tactics.  Sure, the Cruise Next team members do earn Brownie points for every CN certificate they sell, but COME ON, REALLY?  12?  Tell that guy to cool his jets.