NCL Mastercard FAQ

[HBCcruiser]

How long does it take for the OBC to show up in your account Summary? I filled out the OBC form online through BofA. Do I still need to call NCL? Thanks for any insight! 

[TifffanyD]

1 minute ago, HBCcruiser said:

How long does it take for the OBC to show up in your account Summary? I filled out the OBC form online through BofA. Do I still need to call NCL? Thanks for any insight! 

Call them. The online thing will get you the item but it won't apply it to your cruise even tho they ask for the date. I keep forgetting and buying it online and then having to call anyways 

[Jana60]

On 10/27/2021 at 1:32 PM, Jana60 said:

having enough points for a mirror or Double Meta upgrade does not necessarily guarantee that they will have rooms available in that category qualifying for upgrade. If I were you I would call the Cruise Line and ask to be connected to the department that does these so that you can book a room category in which there are meta Upgrade‘s possible.  I always thought that if I booked the highest category in an inner room and had 60,000 points to spend that I could upgrade to a balcony but I found that this is not the case because they have to have the highest category of balcony available to use the points. This is why it’s important to call.  For a long time I have been saving points hoping to use them for a Double Meta Upgrade but I have become handicapped and require a wheelchair accessible room. It is almost impossible to book a wheelchair accessible room and use a Double Meta upgrade. I haven’t really found a cruise that I want to use the points for so I will investigate this further with the Cruise Line when I see a cruise that I want to go on that would be good use of the points. The points by themselves are worth $600 as a balance adjustment on my credit card so I don’t want to use 60,000 points to book a cruise in which the balcony cabin only cost $400 more than the inner cabin.

Because I require a handicapped accessible cabin I finally called the World Points department and had them Tell me which category I would have to book to get to the desired handicapped accessible balcony.   They also have much more up-to-date listings of what handicapped accessible balconies are still available. I found that the website was constantly telling me no accessible balconies were available when indeed there were many!

[Shadygap]

If I book 2 connecting oceanview rooms can I use my 60,000 points to upgrade to 2 connecting balcony rooms.  My husband and I want to take our 10 and 13 year old grandsons to Alaska. 

[julig22]

42 minutes ago, Shadygap said:

If I book 2 connecting oceanview rooms can I use my 60,000 points to upgrade to 2 connecting balcony rooms.  My husband and I want to take our 10 and 13 year old grandsons to Alaska. 

I don't see reason you shouldn't be able to but I suggest you upgrade early and check to see what's available before you call- from the information I've gotten, they seem be limited to specific rooms.

[mscdivina2016]

10 hours ago, Shadygap said:

If I book 2 connecting oceanview rooms can I use my 60,000 points to upgrade to 2 connecting balcony rooms.  My husband and I want to take our 10 and 13 year old grandsons to Alaska. 

That could be hard but depending on the date, ship, and its capacity, it's possible.

Book OA that way you have the best chance for two adjoining.

 

Have you thought about the balcony for you and directly across the hall inside for the kids?

[denas]

I'm sorry if this is repeatedly asked and answered.  I am cruising in three weeks.  I got the NCL card just for the 20,000 points and will not be regularly using it as I don't think I will cruise NCL again in the near future.  I currently have 20 points shy of a full $250 OBC,  Should I wait until after my cruise and then request a statement credit OR should I request the $200 OBC I can get now?  Trying to maximize the value.  Thanks.

[julig22]

29 minutes ago, denas said:

I'm sorry if this is repeatedly asked and answered.  I am cruising in three weeks.  I got the NCL card just for the 20,000 points and will not be regularly using it as I don't think I will cruise NCL again in the near future.  I currently have 20 points shy of a full $250 OBC,  Should I wait until after my cruise and then request a statement credit OR should I request the $200 OBC I can get now?  Trying to maximize the value.  Thanks.

You can use your card onboard to get more credits (3x) then request the statement credit. Buying obc is the worst use of points imho.

[denas]

1 minute ago, julig22 said:

You can use your card onboard to get more credits (3x) then request the statement credit. Buying obc is the worst use of points imho.

Thanks. This was what I was hoping!  I appreciate the fast response. 

[smillerholmes]

9 hours ago, denas said:

I'm sorry if this is repeatedly asked and answered.  I am cruising in three weeks.  I got the NCL card just for the 20,000 points and will not be regularly using it as I don't think I will cruise NCL again in the near future.  I currently have 20 points shy of a full $250 OBC,  Should I wait until after my cruise and then request a statement credit OR should I request the $200 OBC I can get now?  Trying to maximize the value.  Thanks.

If I wasn't planning to cruise NCL for a while in addition to the fact I was a little shy of the full $250 OBC, here's what I would do.  Use the card while on my cruise to pay for something that would put me over the necessary points (why not earn triple points when you can?) and then I would request the statement credit.  

[Shadygap]

Ok I just booked 2 connecting OV rooms - my husband are going to take our grandsons on a cruise ages 10 and 13.  Since they are minors, booked one of them in a room with me and one of them in a room with a husband.  My Norwegian credit card is in my name.  When I tried upgrading both cabins, they said I could upgrade the cabin with my name on it since the card is in my name.  Suggestions?  Help appreciated!  

[Clay Clayton]

20 minutes ago, Shadygap said:

Ok I just booked 2 connecting OV rooms - my husband are going to take our grandsons on a cruise ages 10 and 13.  Since they are minors, booked one of them in a room with me and one of them in a room with a husband.  My Norwegian credit card is in my name.  When I tried upgrading both cabins, they said I could upgrade the cabin with my name on it since the card is in my name.  Suggestions?  Help appreciated!  

Are you trying to upgrade both rooms?  If so, I don’t know that you can do that. 

[TifffanyD]

36 minutes ago, Shadygap said:

Ok I just booked 2 connecting OV rooms - my husband are going to take our grandsons on a cruise ages 10 and 13.  Since they are minors, booked one of them in a room with me and one of them in a room with a husband.  My Norwegian credit card is in my name.  When I tried upgrading both cabins, they said I could upgrade the cabin with my name on it since the card is in my name.  Suggestions?  Help appreciated!  

 

I don't think you can upgrade both. What if you used 60k to upgrade one from inside to balcony and then just pay balcony prices for the other?

[Shadygap]

10 minutes ago, TifffanyD said:

 

I don't think you can upgrade both. What if you used 60k to upgrade one from inside to balcony and then just pay balcony prices for the other?

Ok that makes sense.

[Shadygap]

Ok I was.  I realize I can’t now. 

[mscdivina2016]

17 hours ago, Shadygap said:

Ok I just booked 2 connecting OV rooms - my husband are going to take our grandsons on a cruise ages 10 and 13.  Since they are minors, booked one of them in a room with me and one of them in a room with a husband.  My Norwegian credit card is in my name.  When I tried upgrading both cabins, they said I could upgrade the cabin with my name on it since the card is in my name.  Suggestions?  Help appreciated!  

Yes you can do it, just need a World points rep that can push it. You can keep calling back or...

  Call BOA and add your husband to the account.  5 minute call and all done.

Or upgrade your room.  Then call back and switch rooms with your husband. Then call again.  Make sure you use the booking numbers when calling. Say I am in xxxxxx344 with name of other person and  I want to be in xxxxxx351 with name of person instead instead.  Verify it.

 End call, call back and use points again.

[ricruise]

Hi,

 

Hopefully a quick question - what is the phone number to redeem the points? I quickly looked thru this chat but didnt see it.

 

Thanks!

[mscdivina2016]

2 hours ago, ricruise said:

Hi,

 

Hopefully a quick question - what is the phone number to redeem the points? I quickly looked thru this chat but didnt see it.

 

Thanks!

1-866-954-4077

 

I think it is still NCL, but ask for world points.

[smillerholmes]

Looking for input here so no response is too far out there.  I've got a pretty expensive cruise coming up and I had planned to just apply the double meta, get my balcony and be done with it, but then the cruise which is April 2023 dropped by $400,  That got me thinking....now I had already watched 2 iterations of this cruise come and go tracking prices all along.  I had not seen anything to make me think the double meta wasn't the best use of my points here, but now I'm not so sure.   Also, I am solo so had also been watching for the supplement to drop and I had not seen that.  So...

.

a. stick with the original plan and quit thinking about it. Unlikely, but I can accept that as a response.

b. keep my inside cabin until at least final payment - THEN double meta - (I would be able to take advantage of all the price drops, but risk not getting a choice cabin.

c. keep my inside cabin until final payment  - THEN do the math to see if I should do a paid upgrade to OV THEN single meta upgrade,

 

This will be my first time using points so looking for the best way and wondering if I am missing out on a feature that I had not considered. None of these are wrong, just different levels of obsessiveness for checking prices (which I am probably going to do anyway!).  For those of you that just choose the cabin you want upfront or those that are happy with an inside cabin my apologies if this induces an eyeroll.  

 

Thanks in advance!

[Clay Clayton]

My only thought is that just because you want to use the credits doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do so.  If you have booked an IC and there isn’t a BC available, then you will have to book up to a higher category of inside to be able to use the reward to move to a balcony. And if the category of inside you need isn’t available, then you may be stuck where you are.  
 

I had the best luck by reserving the particular balcony we wanted on Sun (if you know you know) and then calling and working with a knowledgeable reward person (took two calls) to reprice us into the appropriate inside cabin.  
 

I have no idea how single supplement works when using an upgrade reward, hopefully someone else can advise. 
 

Good Luck!

[smillerholmes]

On 6/26/2022 at 8:33 AM, Clay Clayton said:

My only thought is that just because you want to use the credits doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do so.  If you have booked an IC and there isn’t a BC available, then you will have to book up to a higher category of inside to be able to use the reward to move to a balcony. And if the category of inside you need isn’t available, then you may be stuck where you are.  
 

I had the best luck by reserving the particular balcony we wanted on Sun (if you know you know) and then calling and working with a knowledgeable reward person (took two calls) to reprice us into the appropriate inside cabin.  
 

I have no idea how single supplement works when using an upgrade reward, hopefully someone else can advise. 
 

Good Luck!

Thanks for the insights.  I am leaning toward paying for the OV (it's only $800 more) and saving the 30K points for something else.  I've had my eye on Greenland (very short cruise season AND very pricey!)

 

Thanks again!

[603NHCruiser]

I'm surprised this hasn't come up before, but I did a search and didn't find the answer. Does anyone travel with another person who also has the NCL card? Can guest 1 request a meta upgrade from inside to OV using 30k of their points and then guest requests OV to balcony using theirs? Seems like it would be a bit of a booking nightmare for them, but there should really be a reason why it would be a problem. TIA

[MagnoliaBlossom]

On 5/3/2022 at 7:58 AM, 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?

If you use your card for your OB account, you will get bonus points for NCL purchases.  Then use points to pay for cash back or statement credits.  That way you maximize your points.

[MoCruiseFan]

On 7/2/2022 at 5:05 AM, smillerholmes said:

Thanks for the insights.  I am leaning toward paying for the OV (it's only $800 more) and saving the 30K points for something else.  I've had my eye on Greenland (very short cruise season AND very pricey!)

 

Thanks again!

 

We have sailed in Inside, Ocean View, Balcony, Suite, and Haven cabins/  The only one I will not do again is ocean view.  We found it not to be worth the additional cost over an inside cabin.  The difference of having a porthole or a small window window in a cabin that is usually the same size is not justified.  Keep the $800 and spend it on other things.

[julig22]

1 hour ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

We have sailed in Inside, Ocean View, Balcony, Suite, and Haven cabins/  The only one I will not do again is ocean view.  We found it not to be worth the additional cost over an inside cabin.  The difference of having a porthole or a small window window in a cabin that is usually the same size is not justified.  Keep the $800 and spend it on other things.

I think you missed the point.  If you are using points to upgrade, it is 60k in points to upgrade from inside to balcony or $800 & 30k in points in this scenario.

I usually book ov and use my points to upgrade to balcony but looking at a spendy So Africa cruise and also debating which way to go.