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14 hours ago, BarnCat1 said:

Sadly, St Thomas is the main drawing point for this cruise for us.  They really should consider adding another decent port instead of a sea day.  Turks, Caicos, Jamaica, Nassau or Key West

Curious about your plans for St. Thomas and/or why the draw... St. Thomas is a scheduled port for us in Oct, still searching for ideas on things to do.

On 7/19/2022 at 5:29 AM, booger5 said:

Not opposed to going private but was trying to take advantage of their $50 off excursions in at least one port. 

Please don't let the $50 credit be your deciding factor.  It's another one of NCL's nickel and dime traps -- the official excursions are marked up over what you can find online to set up before or what you can research now and purchase at the port.  Consider that the $50 savings off guest #1 is quickly eroded after the excursion cost for you and your child.

Better reasons for opting for the official NCL excursion over 3rd party or DIY are less hassle and not being left behind.  The (up to) $50 excursion (off 1st guest only) credit works out in some situations, but is more often a trap, especially when more guests are added in.

3 minutes ago, asiantraveler said:

If I book a club balcony I get 2 specialty dining for 7 day cruise for guest 1&2. If I have 3 people in the cabin, can I use the 2nd specialty dining for the 3rd person in my cabin? Or it can only be used for guest 1&2 2x only. TIA!

1&2 only, 3 gets none unless purchased for 3 specifically.  they are assigned to each person.  2 cannot skip and pass on to 3.

Perhaps if 1 is an adult and 3 is a child, then they might just key card 1, deduct for 1&2 and 3 can pretend to be 2, but 2 is still skipping.

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

Yep, that seems to be NCL's modus operandi.  Don't know how it works on other cruise lines, but NCL does seem to squeeze those nickels pretty tightly.

Where those funds are not returned to the original form of payment, are they returned in the form of FCC, or are they in fact "stolen"?

Your comments are usually on point, this one seems off.

3 hours ago, KKB said:

Apparently they are no longer doing this by phone but only by email.

Can anyone confirm how long it might take?

Thx

Purchased evening of 6/14, seller emailed cruisenext@ncl.com with her NCL Latitude#, the cert#, and my Latitude#.  Got email from CruiseNext confirming transfer completed afternoon of 6/16.

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

NCL has been sending luggage tags for many voyages for all cabin classes since the restart. 

 

NCL usually sends luggage tags for all cabin classes for the Alaskan cruise. This is driven by the union porters in Seattle. 

Really strange then, my last cruise pre-Covid was Alaskan out of Seattle - nothing.  My Mexican Riv sailing this past March out of LA also had nothing.  We'll see if I'm lucky enough in October out of Port Canaveral.

On 9/13/2021 at 11:06 AM, graphicguy said:

Things are moving pretty quickly now.  19 days out and luggage tags arrived….

 

 

 

Are luggage tags requested, if so, how and when? I've sailed NCL many times over many years, and have only come across the opportunity to print my own and have never received any in the mail.

3 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

 

this link only shows the benefits but not the actual form. would you happen to know where i can find the form?  greatly appreciate all help.  thank you!

see post #45

https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/nclhltd/files/documents/Shareholder+Benefit+Request+Form.pdf

Submit your statement with this form.  Account number must be blacked out before submitting. If your statement has multiple pages, send enough pages to show your name and the 100 NCLH shares.

2 minutes ago, KKB said:

Been reading a couple recent threads on Princess site & no word of that.

Our Carnival is a 2 wk casino comped cruise so perhaps that might get a push back

"This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates, interline rates, tour conductors or anyone cruising on a reduced-rate or complimentary basis are excluded from this offer."

Reads like the casino comped won't fly, not sure what they consider reduced-rate.

13 minutes ago, KKB said:

Plenty of Time b4 your Sept cruise.

I just opened an E*trade acct yesterday to buy NCL & CCL for share holder OBC.

Great ROI.

I heard CCL is a little more strict with their shareholder benefit, like not getting the OBC if you booked a sale fare or if you booked with other special offers, not sure though; that's why I haven't really seriously considered it (also since I got sucked into the loyalty program as well).

"This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates, interline rates, tour conductors or anyone cruising on a reduced-rate or complimentary basis are excluded from this offer."

Submit your request any time at least 15 days before sailing.

https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/nclhltd/files/documents/Shareholder+Benefit+Offer.pdf

https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/nclhltd/files/documents/Shareholder+Benefit+Request+Form.pdf

8 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

 

of course, that's a given.  however, if it does, that means i lost everything and there is nothing?  how does that work then?

Then you have nothing except the memories.  Hopefully you had a good ride while it lasted.  On the other hand, if it rebounds like most stocks will, it's all gravy.

28 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

 

I know ncl can fluctuate and go down to $7 people talked about it last year. 

It can go down to $0.00.

15 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

 

who do I call or email with the purchase info?

https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/nclhltd/files/documents/Shareholder+Benefit+Request+Form.pdf

Submit your statement with this form.  Account number must be blacked out before submitting. If your statement has multiple pages, send enough pages to show your name and the 100 NCLH shares.

11 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

 

Ok so believe it or not I just actually started an e*trade account.  What is the deadline of purchase to get on board credit? My cruise is next weekend.  I haven't purchased just yet. Also who do I call or email with the purchase info?

So....you're in this far, and you plan on doing it anyway.

There is enough time for them to apply it to your account (experience and recent posts say within 48 hours to 5 business days).  And if you don't get it, your only loss (gain) is that the share price may go a little lower (or higher).

You might get it, if you don't you already know you missed the deadline.

2 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

I think you're out of luck. Pretty sure the deadline is 15 days before your cruise departs.

Correct.

To redeem this special offer, simply complete the attached Shareholder Benefit Request Form and mail or email (with accompanying documentation) request at least 15 days prior to sailing

https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/nclhltd/files/documents/Shareholder+Benefit+Offer.pdf

5 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

 

Here's what might be a silly question.  If I'm buying a 100 shares at $11 and it sinks to $7 a share and I have zero plans to sell, I'll always get the $100 on board credit right? I know ncl can fluctuate and go down to $7 people talked about it last year. However, as long as I remain in the long run I will always own 100 shares always giving me the $100 on board credit right?

YES!

$250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 15 Days or More.

$100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 7 to 14 Days.

$50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 Days or Less.

The only time "get my money back" via OBC applies is if the stock becomes worthless or you sold for a loss.  Then you can add up how much OBC you've used to tally up the final score.

31 minutes ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

wow!  this is all such incredible advice.  ok, so, this will be my 2nd cruise next weekend for this year but I have another booked for this year and another next year.  the plan is to do about 3 cruises a year.  i dont plan on jumping out so quick because the plan is to use it for the OBC which is likely to be $300 a year.  yes, it will take me almost 4 years to get my money back but wouldnt that be worth it?  

 

now, are there fees to buy stock or hold a stock?  because that will offset my OBC making the value less if you know what I mean.  

 

yes, this will be my very, very first stock purchase.

Buying stock is not lost money, you own the stock, you don't have to make it up.  When you buy a house, you don't have to own it for so many years to "get your money back."  If you don't want it anymore, you sell it back.  You own it, it's yours, it's not gone.  The share price may be up or down, but you still have it.

Using your example, 3 cruises for 4 years = $1200 OBC.  If you are done and the stock price is exactly the same, you've doubled your value ($1200 OBC used and $1200 stock in hand).  I hope that in 4 years, NCL will be doing better than they are now.  If their share price goes from 12 to 24, you have triple value.

I bought years ago at a much higher price per share.  I've lost a lot, but only on paper; I still have my shares and hopefully, one day it will all come back.  Meanwhile, I use the benefit every time I cruise (making up for paper losses). If I did not have any now, and planned on cruising 3 times a year for the foreseeable future, I see a lot of potential value.  It all depends on your outlook on NCL's future.

Your cost to own stock is a single transaction fee that is less than $10 through any of the many online brokerages.

5 hours ago, cruzn4abruzn said:

how do i buy NCL stock?  I have no clue about stock stuff at all!!! 😞 

If you buy 100 shares of NCL stock for the shareholder benefit, it will not increase your annual taxes, it will only affect your taxes when you sell your shares at a profit.

The onboard credit is more than worthwhile if you sell you shares at equal to or more than you purchased them for, even if you use the benefit once.  It becomes even more worthwhile if you use the benefit multiple times.

Owning 100 shares of NCLH will not increase your annual taxes that would offset OBC received from NCL.  If your taxes increase so much to outweigh the shareholder OBC received, sounds like you made a huge profit in stock value, congratulations.  No one ever got poor from paying taxes.

Your risk is the loss in value of the stock, same as any other stock.

Your gain is the increase in value of the stock, same as any other stock, plus the shareholder benefit you are able to use.

If this is your first stock, weigh your risks and rewards.  The shareholder benefit on top of the current share price leaves a lot of potential.

7 minutes ago, muffin83 said:

Does NCL offer a price adjustment if the price goes down before final payment?

Yes.  Before final, it's just a cancel & rebook.  But whatever perks and bonuses you had go away and are replaced with the current promotions; may be better, may be worse.

Have you tried chatting online?

24 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

If the stock goes under $10/share I may purchase...just want to buy as low as it'll go. Definitely not buying it if it's over $15 as I don't know if I'll ever cruise 15 times. Ten times is doable, but 15 seems like a lot of cruising!

If you sell at the same price or better compared to purchase price, you profit even if you cruise just one time.

28 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

100% wrong...it has nothing to do with my question. AFTER final payment is the key. Of course you don't see posts about adjustments after price decreases...they don't do adjustments after final payment. You presented the question without providing the complete scenario. My answer would have been different had you been upfront and stated that you were only looking/tracking after final payment date.

LOL, I didn't hide anything from you.  Few months back, there were almost daily posts about people wanting to get something for price drops after final payment.  Do a search for "price drops." That's where we learned NCL was no longer giving 25% OBC, changed to 50% and then 100% FCC for a future cruise.

I asked a question to those tracking specific fares, how they were trending: up or down - has nothing to do with my circumstances, my scenario does not matter.  Before or after final payment date does not matter, the question was were they going up or not.

Your answer would have been different if you if you did not venture off into your NOW vs. LATER question; where I've already declared you the winner.  You perfectly answered your own question, it just wasn't mine.

3 hours ago, SeaShark said:

The information highlighted in yellow above does play into the question asked, yet this information wasn't shared or hinted at in the initial post.

The question asked was if prices are trending up as evidenced by my tracking and absence of posts regarding adjustment after price decreases.  The information you cite pertains to your question regarding NOW vs. LATER.  Additional information pertaining to now vs. later: travel already booked with points, cancel at no charge.

It absolutely is a gamble, but based on watching the majority of fares decreasing as sail date approaches instead of increasing.  I agree, whenever gambling, it is best to study the odds and mitigate your risk.  So the question was intended to gather more data points to make the NOW vs. LATER decision less about gambling, and more about maximizing value.