NCL Mastercard FAQ

[mscdivina2016]

11 minutes ago, WYB! said:

Just doing the math, does that mean in August 2017 you spent $50k on a NCL cruise?

 

- WYB 

I used to use my card for business and was able to rack up over a million in points years ago.  Keep in mind its triple for NCL products and double for other travel and single for all else.  I thought I had a high limit, but there could be higher.

[BSR]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

I used to use my card for business and was able to rack up over a million in points years ago.  Keep in mind its triple for NCL products and double for other travel and single for all else.  I thought I had a high limit, but there could be higher.

I actually have over 315K points.  Haven't used any in a long time.

[karinad]

8 hours ago, WYB! said:

Book a cruise for later (2023, whatever) but call immediately after you book to redeem the points to Meta upgrade (or whatever) before you reach the expiration date  (August 2022) and you should be fine.

The earlier you book, the greater the chance of you getting the Meta upgrade.

Additional information on what you can redeem points for can be found here:
https://www.ncl.com/world-points

Safe travels,

 

- WYB

Thank you very much! I don't have a lot of points but enough to get a double meta plus a little left over.

[mthayer295]

I booked a cruise last weekend and accidentally didn't use my NCL mastercard.  I called immediately and they charged it and said they would request reimbursement on my other credit card.  Today I see they reimbursed the NCL card instead - any ideas on how to resolve this?

[julig22]

26 minutes ago, mthayer295 said:

I booked a cruise last weekend and accidentally didn't use my NCL mastercard.  I called immediately and they charged it and said they would request reimbursement on my other credit card.  Today I see they reimbursed the NCL card instead - any ideas on how to resolve this?

Do you have a pcc?  Mine has been helpful in getting refunds put back correctly.  But it helps to spell it all out and tell them exactly what needs to be done.  Good luck, they have the strangest accounting system ever!

[mscdivina2016]

17 hours ago, mthayer295 said:

I booked a cruise last weekend and accidentally didn't use my NCL mastercard.  I called immediately and they charged it and said they would request reimbursement on my other credit card.  Today I see they reimbursed the NCL card instead - any ideas on how to resolve this?

You need to cancel all and rebook is easiest.

 

[Debifluff]

FYI - I just tried to do a double meta upgrade and was denied because I was using a 20% coupon that I had received from NCL because we had missed multiple ports on my New Years Epic cruise.  Their system only allows the coupon or the upgrade.      I was on the phone over an hour and they tried everything they could to allow it.     A supervisor also could not seem to override this issue.     The agent helping me was awesome and says that she will sent multiple emails to others to see what can be done as this seems unfair and makes no sense.

[julig22]

1 hour ago, Debifluff said:

FYI - I just tried to do a double meta upgrade and was denied because I was using a 20% coupon that I had received from NCL because we had missed multiple ports on my New Years Epic cruise.  Their system only allows the coupon or the upgrade.      I was on the phone over an hour and they tried everything they could to allow it.     A supervisor also could not seem to override this issue.     The agent helping me was awesome and says that she will sent multiple emails to others to see what can be done as this seems unfair and makes no sense.

If true, it's something new or something specific to the coupon.  I have an upcoming cruise, booked last July using a 10% coupon from a cancellation. In January I used points to request  a meta upgrade - no issues.

[Shadygap]

If I book 2 book connecting OV rooms and use 60K points to upgrade them both can I still get connecting balcony rooms? 

[Debifluff]

22 hours ago, Debifluff said:

FYI - I just tried to do a double meta upgrade and was denied because I was using a 20% coupon that I had received from NCL because we had missed multiple ports on my New Years Epic cruise.  Their system only allows the coupon or the upgrade.      I was on the phone over an hour and they tried everything they could to allow it.     A supervisor also could not seem to override this issue.     The agent helping me was awesome and says that she will sent multiple emails to others to see what can be done as this seems unfair and makes no sense.

Update- They emailed me back later in the day and told me to contact them as they were able to do the upgrade!!!   

[julig22]

4 hours ago, Shadygap said:

If I book 2 book connecting OV rooms and use 60K points to upgrade them both can I still get connecting balcony rooms? 

You would have to call and ask. As far as I know there is no reason you couldn't if there are connecting rooms available.  But it appears that not all rooms are available for upgrades. Not sure if it's because they have a limited number or if it's specific rooms.

[mscdivina2016]

12 hours ago, Shadygap said:

If I book 2 book connecting OV rooms and use 60K points to upgrade them both can I still get connecting balcony rooms? 

Yes sort of. They will screw with you a little but it will work out.

You did not say what ship.

So what you need to do is book 2 OA cabins nothing less and you will end up with adjoining BB or less. They won't give up the 2 BA cabins side by side. No big deal really.

If you are on a mega ship and there is plenty of availablity then you might get BA cabins.

 I have a booking where my IA with a double meta only got me a BD. But it was still a deal.

 

Be careful as there have been reports of the balcony divider not being opened.

[Shadygap]

8 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Yes sort of. They will screw with you a little but it will work out.

You did not say what ship.

So what you need to do is book 2 OA cabins nothing less and you will end up with adjoining BB or less. They won't give up the 2 BA cabins side by side. No big deal really.

If you are on a mega ship and there is plenty of availablity then you might get BA cabins.

 I have a booking where my IA with a double meta only got me a BD. But it was still a deal.

 

Be careful as there have been reports of the balcony divider not being opened.

I am looking at that definitely doing this on of the mega ships, maybe the Getaway. If not, then the Breakaway or the Escape.  

[UKstages]

admittedly, i haven't read through all 207 pages of this thread. and it does seem like the information has changed over time,  as the program has been revised and the reward value diminished. but i gather the prevailing wisdom is that upgrades are the best use of NCL credit card points.

 

here's my situation: through an enrollment bonus and some strategic spending, i have quickly amassed 55,000 points. but i typically cruise in a "free" room, courtesy of the casinos at sea program. on my next two cruises, i'm in a penthouse with balcony and in the haven in a family villa with balcony. so i can't really use worldpoints for upgrades.

 

am i correct that the best use of points for me would be OBC or a statement credit or some other cash equivalent like an amazon gift card?

[mscdivina2016]

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

admittedly, i haven't read through all 207 pages of this thread. and it does seem like the information has changed over time,  as the program has been revised and the reward value diminished. but i gather the prevailing wisdom is that upgrades are the best use of NCL credit card points.

 

here's my situation: through an enrollment bonus and some strategic spending, i have quickly amassed 55,000 points. but i typically cruise in a "free" room, courtesy of the casinos at sea program. on my next two cruises, i'm in a penthouse with balcony and in the haven in a family villa with balcony. so i can't really use worldpoints for upgrades.

 

am i correct that the best use of points for me would be OBC or a statement credit or some other cash equivalent like an amazon gift card?

Yes you are correct in all aspects.

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

21 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Yes you are correct in all aspects.

I also have a room fro Casinos at sea.  Can I use the point on the credit card to upgrade to a balcony if I got a comped inside cabin from CAS?

[mscdivina2016]

2 hours ago, NYFirstTimeCruiser said:

I also have a room fro Casinos at sea.  Can I use the point on the credit card to upgrade to a balcony if I got a comped inside cabin from CAS?

Probably not anymore.

A couple of years ago they tightened the rules. 

  No more upgrading past BA.

No afts and even direct cross Meta upgrades are harder based on the ship.  (IA to BA is more like IA to BB or BC)

 

[sloperate]

a few questions for the experts.....

I'm a casual user of the NCL card, currently with 4200 points and facing a $3000 NCL final bill for an upcoming cruise. We are Platinum Plus members. Usually use a card that gets me a 2% monthly card credit. Normally, I'm billing a few thousand dollars a month for that 2%, 

Is there any real advantage of paying off the upcoming cruise with the NCL card that exceeds the 2% I would be getting from the Fidelity card?

Advance thanks! 

[sloperate]

Additionally, what is a META?

[TifffanyD]

3 minutes ago, sloperate said:

a few questions for the experts.....

I'm a casual user of the NCL card, currently with 4200 points and facing a $3000 NCL final bill for an upcoming cruise. We are Platinum Plus members. Usually use a card that gets me a 2% monthly card credit. Normally, I'm billing a few thousand dollars a month for that 2%, 

Is there any real advantage of paying off the upcoming cruise with the NCL card that exceeds the 2% I would be getting from the Fidelity card?

Advance thanks! 

 

You will get triple points using the NCL card so 9k points (more if you are a higher BoA rewards level). 9k points would translate to $90 in credit which is 3% (slightly better). If you save up to get to 30k points you can move 1 meta (inside to oceanview or oceanview to balcony). If you save up to 60k you get 2 metas (inside to balcony). In this way, the 60k points can bring you better value than $600, depending on the cruise prices and number of pax

[hawk1972]

23 hours ago, sloperate said:

Additionally, what is a META?

It is one category of cabin, e.g., interior to oceanview or oceanview to balcony.

 

[sloperate]

On 5/18/2022 at 2:14 PM, TifffanyD said:

 

You will get triple points using the NCL card so 9k points (more if you are a higher BoA rewards level). 9k points would translate to $90 in credit which is 3% (slightly better). If you save up to get to 30k points you can move 1 meta (inside to oceanview or oceanview to balcony). If you save up to 60k you get 2 metas (inside to balcony). In this way, the 60k points can bring you better value than $600, depending on the cruise prices and number of pax

Thank you for your help. I think I'll stick with current usage plans and dispose of the BoA card. 

[Cruisercl]

I have a question about expiring points....August 2022?

Where can I look to see which points expire when?

I can`t say I have ever heard of them expiring, maybe I just didn`t know or forgot.

Any help is appreciated. 😊

[julig22]

2 hours ago, Cruisercl said:

I have a question about expiring points....August 2022?

Where can I look to see which points expire when?

I can`t say I have ever heard of them expiring, maybe I just didn`t know or forgot.

Any help is appreciated. 😊

You have to go to your BofA account to get the info.  I believe points are good for 7 years.

[StuckiTribe]

This is my first time using our NCL CC points. Trying to decide if I want to do an upgrade to balcony from inside or save up a few more points for a free 7 day cruise. Question: can I book the cruise with my TA and then upgrade or what are the steps to using my points? Do I need to cash in the points first and then can I book through our TA? Just wondering the process so I don’t mess up being able to use our points! Are there only certain 7 days Caribbean or Mexico sailings available for the free week?