OBC, daily service charge and my Norwegian credit card help!!

I got the Norwegian card for the bonus points with the intent of using them for the gratuities (or daily service charge as I guess it is called) but am now discovering I can't use the OBC I get from the points for this which is such a huge bummer.

By the time of my trip, I will have about 20,000 points to use so $200 OBC. What have others done in this situation? Does it really not work for the service charges when you get your final bill? Should I cash out the OBC in the casino as others have suggested? Any other ideas?

do you have to get the OBC from the points? I have the credit card and i plan on using my points to get the dollars off of your cruise instead since i prepay the service charge.

do you have to get the OBC from the points? I have the credit card and i plan on using my points to get the dollars off of your cruise instead since i prepay the service charge.

I think that is my only option because I booked the cruise through Expedia :(

I think that is my only option because I booked the cruise through Expedia :(

that should not matter. I booked with a travel agent and still was able to get the dollars off of your cruise using my points.

that should not matter. I booked with a travel agent and still was able to get the dollars off of your cruise using my points.

Sorry to be a pain, but can you tell me how you did this? Thank you in advance!

You will have call 1-866-954-4077 . make sure you have your booking number.

I was just thinking about this last night and was going to call the Credit Card/Bank. I also have the NCL credit card with the OBC. So, what you're saying is that the OBC is non refundable? It's too late for me to upgrade or get $$$ off. I guess I need to think about what I will be spending money on and try to transfer that much credit. Use the balance credit for something else maybe.

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Buy a Future Cruise Credit or two.

These are some draw backs with cruise line branded credit cards . I've heard similar stories with other credit cards.

I got the Norwegian card for the bonus points with the intent of using them for the gratuities (or daily service charge as I guess it is called) but am now discovering I can't use the OBC I get from the points for this which is such a huge bummer.

 

By the time of my trip, I will have about 20,000 points to use so $200 OBC. What have others done in this situation? Does it really not work for the service charges when you get your final bill? Should I cash out the OBC in the casino as others have suggested? Any other ideas?

I have the NCL card also. I was planning on setting up OBC for my December cruise (will probably have about $700 then), but after reading several forums, I got another idea...

I plan on putting all of my onboard changes on my NCL card (getting the extra points), then when I get home, I am going to request a cash payment from my rewards. To me, that's a win win. However, since you'll only have about $200, I am not sure if you will get as good of a "cash in" rate. Double check the cash option in their terms.

I'm confused as to why you can't use the OBC for gratuities on board? I was not told there are any restrictions when I just called to redeem them. Can someone please advise? I used them on my trip last year on the Getaway.

I'm confused as to why you can't use the OBC for gratuities on board? I was not told there are any restrictions when I just called to redeem them. Can someone please advise? I used them on my trip last year on the Getaway.

there is two kinds of onboard credit: Non refundable and Refundable. Non refundable OBC can not be used for gratuities . If the OBC from the credit card is not inputted in the system correctly, it might show up as non refundable which can not be used

there is two kinds of onboard credit: Non refundable and Refundable. Non refundable OBC can not be used for gratuities . If the OBC from the credit card is not inputted in the system correctly, it might show up as non refundable which can not be used

Thanks. Just so others know, on my amenity invoice, it comes up as on board credit certificate -- not non or refundable OBC.

While the OBC that I got with my booking says non refundable.

Its been about two years ago but I used mine towards my daily service charges.

I believe they told me I couldn't, but when I got on board my credit was showing on the tv screen and each day it was deducted. No issues.

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Your credit card points can be used for the daily service charges if you have your points turned into OBC. This OBC is different than the non-refundable credit that NCL gives you as part of a promotion.

NORMALLY only non-refundable ODC is disallowed from being applied to the DSC. Non-refunable OBC also cannot be used in the casino. Pretty much if it akin to turning yoru OBC into cash you cannot do that with non-refundable OBC.

Non-refundable OBC can be used in the casino to obtain cash, with a 3% service charge applied. In the example of $200, go to casino cash desk and ask for cash. Your account will be charged $206, and you get $200 in your hand. Go to Guest Services and pay that cash into your account. That way your DSC is accounted for using non-refundable albeit at a further 3% cost.

We did that on the 30 April Jade Transatlantic, and have also done so previously.

you can also transfer those points into your bank account as real money

Non-refundable OBC can be used in the casino to obtain cash, with a 3% service charge applied. In the example of $200, go to casino cash desk and ask for cash. Your account will be charged $206, and you get $200 in your hand. Go to Guest Services and pay that cash into your account. That way your DSC is accounted for using non-refundable albeit at a further 3% cost.

 

We did that on the 30 April Jade Transatlantic, and have also done so previously.

I feel like this might be my best bet. I think I will wait a day or two and see if, by some chance I get lucky, and the OBC is counting against the daily service charge as some people have said theirs did. If not, I'll just take the money out in the casino. Thank you!

You can have the points/ money cashed out now, deposited to your bank or towards your credit card balance. That's what I'm going to do. I don't think we will spend enough on board for the amount of OBC I get from the NCL credit card. I will use another card with good rewards to cover any shipboard expense.

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I got the Norwegian card for the bonus points with the intent of using them for the gratuities (or daily service charge as I guess it is called) but am now discovering I can't use the OBC I get from the points for this which is such a huge bummer.

 

By the time of my trip, I will have about 20,000 points to use so $200 OBC. What have others done in this situation? Does it really not work for the service charges when you get your final bill? Should I cash out the OBC in the casino as others have suggested? Any other ideas?

OBC from NCL credit card can be used to pay daily gratuity. Been doing it for years. OBC you get from NCL you cannot use to pay daily gratuity.

I have the NCL card also. I was planning on setting up OBC for my December cruise (will probably have about $700 then), but after reading several forums, I got another idea...

 

I plan on putting all of my onboard changes on my NCL card (getting the extra points), then when I get home, I am going to request a cash payment from my rewards. To me, that's a win win. However, since you'll only have about $200, I am not sure if you will get as good of a "cash in" rate. Double check the cash option in their terms.

If you'll have 70,000 points, have you considered using it for an upgrade? You can go from an inside to a balcony with that many points (actually, it's 60,000 points) and that can be worth far more than $700 depending on the cruise and the fares at the time. That's how I'm using mine as, for me, that's more important than getting OBC.

So, I am just trying to make sure I understand the points system. I am thinking about applying for the NCL credit card. We are also about to book a cruise for summer of 2018. I can use the card to make the payments towards the cruise and earn 3 points for every $1, right? If I choose to get cash for the points it's $1 for every 100 points and I use it how I want. If you use the points for OBC and you don't spend it all what happens? When you purchase future cruise credit how long is it good for? I know I threw a lot out there but I want to make sure it's a good decision and I understand how it works. :);p:o Thanks in advance.

Responses below...

So, I am just trying to make sure I understand the points system. I am thinking about applying for the NCL credit card. We are also about to book a cruise for summer of 2018.

 

I can use the card to make the payments towards the cruise and earn 3 points for every $1, right? This is correct. As long as the charge comes from NCL, you get 3 points per $1 for booking, making payments, pre-booking whatever, ship-board purchases, etc.

 

If I choose to get cash for the points it's $1 for every 100 points and I use it how I want. I believe it's issued as a statement credit, but I haven't done this.

 

If you use the points for OBC and you don't spend it all what happens? No idea--someone will know though. :)

 

When you purchase future cruise credit how long is it good for? They're good for four years.

 

I know I threw a lot out there but I want to make sure it's a good decision and I understand how it works. :);p:o Thanks in advance.

So, I am just trying to make sure I understand the points system. I am thinking about applying for the NCL credit card. We are also about to book a cruise for summer of 2018. I can use the card to make the payments towards the cruise and earn 3 points for every $1, right? If I choose to get cash for the points it's $1 for every 100 points and I use it how I want. If you use the points for OBC and you don't spend it all what happens? When you purchase future cruise credit how long is it good for? I know I threw a lot out there but I want to make sure it's a good decision and I understand how it works. :);p:o Thanks in advance.

I would go for the cold hard cash! Below, I think at $200 worth they are redeemed at less than a penny a point.

If you don't use the on board credit, you are out of luck:

Offer may be used by individuals, participants in qualified group bookings, by single guests and for use with third and fourth guest bookings. Singles paying 200% of the rate are eligible for onboard credit per stateroom amount. Onboard credit must be used or WorldPoints® will be forfeited. Onboard credit has no monetary value and is non-transferable. It may not be used toward Service Charges.

You also will have the option of using the points for reduction in cruise fare.

What I would recommend, and just did is by the future cruise deposit on board, they are good for 4 years.

I bought two credits for $500, and got $250 on board credit to use on the cruise I was on. $250 was plenty as it can't be used for service charges (which I prepaid anyhow). I waited until toward the end of the cruise to make sure I actually spent $250.

This is from the cc website:

"No, you cannot use your cash back as payment and receipt of your cash back as a statement credit does not affect your responsibility to pay your Total Minimum Payment shown on each statement you receive from us."

Does this mean that the points won't be used towards purchases made before the credit but will count towards future purchases? For some reason I am so confused by this whole thing. So maybe transfer it right before the cruise then it will go towards charges made while onboard? Or transfer it before I make final payment and it will go towards that? I find it funny that they offer a Celebrity gift card for purchase with points but not one for NCL. I got this card to earn points to use towards our cruise. How do I get the best bang for my buck for this? I don't want to pay a fee in the casino.