On Board Credit use

[sunscreen]

Can someone tell me if you can use your onboard credit that you received booking thru a travel agency towards your gratuities that are charged daily to your account on board?

[marelind]

This is a recent thread that covers this subject thoroughly. I found it very informative.

[SliceOfLife]

Can someone tell me if you can use your onboard credit that you received booking thru a travel agency towards your gratuities that are charged daily to your account on board?

 

No you cannot use it towards the daily service charge.

[Pikaia]

If the OBC was from your TA, chances are good that at least a portion of it can be used for the daily service charge. But you need to find out what kind of OBC you've got. Ask your TA whether the OBC is termed "refundable" or "non-refundable." It is possible that you have a mix. Any amounts that are refundable can be used to pay the daily service charge.

[OneWiseCruiser]

I suppose someone at your TA or at NCL can tell you which type of OBC you have, but if not you will learn when you arrive at your cabin and receive your "notices" about your OBC. While the small gray cards about your OBC are clear about the amount of each Credit, they are not clear about what you have to do to ensure your OBC is posted to your account. To be safe, take the notices from your cabin to the main Customer Service Desk and the representative will let you know if each Credit is in-fact posted. At that same time be sure to inquire as to if your Credit/s are "Refundable" or "Non-Refundable". Ours were of each type. We learned about two-days prior to the end of our Cruise that we needed to spend our Non-Refundable OBC right away or lose it. That Credit could not be used to off-set any of the daily service charges. Again, please be sure you "Sign" the small gray OBC form/s and take them to the Service Desk early in your Cruise.

[che5904]

If the OBC was from your TA, chances are good that at least a portion of it can be used for the daily service charge. But you need to find out what kind of OBC you've got. Ask your TA whether the OBC is termed "refundable" or "non-refundable." It is possible that you have a mix. Any amounts that are refundable can be used to pay the daily service charge.

 

Agree completely contact your TA and find out if they are refundable or non-refundable. If they do not know get a copy of the terms and conditions of the OBC. If it won't cover the DSC it will say something to the affect of cannot be used for gratuities and/or service charges or may even say "some conditions may apply". If the latter is the case, chances are they will not cover the DSC.

[gra2172]

Can someone tell me if you can use your onboard credit that you received booking thru a travel agency towards your gratuities that are charged daily to your account on board?

 

 

The last cruise we were on I had an OBC from NCL and it was basically worthless to use for anything other than that amount of dollars off the end of trip cost. I couldnt apply it to anything. So if I spent 100$ and had a 50$ OBC I ended up paying 50$. Which is fine, but pretty much worthless for applying it to anything specific like drinks or excursions.. Just some off the total. *shrugs*:rolleyes:

[SuiteCruiser]

The last cruise we were on I had an OBC from NCL and it was basically worthless to use for anything other than that amount of dollars off the end of trip cost. I couldnt apply it to anything. So if I spent 100$ and had a 50$ OBC I ended up paying 50$. Which is fine, but pretty much worthless for applying it to anything specific like drinks or excursions.. Just some off the total. *shrugs*:rolleyes:

 

Confused here...don't you mean you couldn't apply it to the DSC? You can use it for drinks, meals, excursions, shopping, soda card, everything except the DSC.

 

It is a credit on your onboard account so you have to charge stuff against it.

[che5904]

Confused here...don't you mean you couldn't apply it to the DSC? You can use it for drinks, meals, excursions, shopping, soda card, everything except the DSC.

 

I'm glad I wasn't the only one confused by that post. Since the only thing that non-refundable (OBC from NCL) is not able to be used against is DSC, gratuties and cash advances.

 

But the poster did say "I couldnt apply it to anything." Which is true that you cannot apply it specifically to a use it is just taken off the bottom line of the allowable expenses.

[gra2172]

"But the poster did say "I couldnt apply it to anything." Which is true that you cannot apply it specifically to a use it is just taken off the bottom line of the allowable expenses."

 

That is correct. Thats what I meant to say. Sorry for the confusion.

I thought Id be able to use it for stuff like the gift shop, or drinks or whatever. But the reality was that it just comes off the bottom line of whatever my total costs were at the end of the cruise.

 

I just called it a lesson learned and I dont take 25$ or 50$ OBC into consideration when looking for new cruises. Its just not a useful sales pitch to me. Its only noticed when my bill comes after the cruise is over and I see 50$ credit. Of course by then the other costs far outweigh that couple of dollars of savings.

 

Now if they want to give me 500$ for an inside room, im all over that! :p

[computerworks]

I thought Id be able to use it for stuff like the gift shop, or drinks or whatever. But the reality was that it just comes off the bottom line of whatever my total costs were at the end of the cruise.

 

I just called it a lesson learned and I dont take 25$ or 50$ OBC into consideration when looking for new cruises. :p

 

I'm still mystified by the issue you cite. :confused:

 

If you spent $50 in the gift shop, that gets added to your bill.

If you had a $50 OBC, that gets subtracted from your bill.

 

So to speak, it covered your gift purchase with a credit against the charge.

 

...right?

[Fine and Jim Dandy]

It's $50 off your total final bill. I don't see the issue at all.

[che5904]

It's $50 off your total final bill. I don't see the issue at all.

 

I think there are a few of us that just don't get it.

[Wildcatllamas]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was confused by their statement.

 

We had a $400 OBC($300 from NCL and $100 from the NCL credit card) and it was posted first to our account. Then as our charges posted the balance dropped until we finally owed $38.

Our charges for LeBistro, Internet cafe, drinks etc all came off the OBC.

 

One of the folks in our group said that their DSC also came out of their OBC and the last night they had to really splurge to use up their remaining amount. We had prepaid our DSC so can't attest to that.

[acl12345]

had a similar situation on our recent Gem cruise. had $900 obc, half from NCL and half from on line TA. called the TA and they said theirs was non refundable too. On board I double checked at the desk and the TAs OBC came in as refundable. Also went to the casino and took out cash against the room (3% charge) as we don't drink and was doubtful we'd spend the full amount. Everything was drawn off the OBC and we ended up with a $28 bill due. Maybe a fluke but that's what happened

[che5904]

had a similar situation on our recent Gem cruise. had $900 obc, half from NCL and half from on line TA. called the TA and they said theirs was non refundable too. On board I double checked at the desk and the TAs OBC came in as refundable. Also went to the casino and took out cash against the room (3% charge) as we don't drink and was doubtful we'd spend the full amount. Everything was drawn off the OBC and we ended up with a $28 bill due. Maybe a fluke but that's what happened

 

LOL I guess your TA doesn't know what they give :eek:.

 

Highlighted above: I know you used to be able to do that but there have been conflicting reports on whether that was allowed or not.

Glad it all worked out for you.

[spacepotatoes]

It's $50 off your total final bill. I don't see the issue at all.

 

I think this poster is saying that they would prefer to have credits that are meant for specific things/services rather than just a lump sum against the total charges. Personally, it all comes out in the wash anyway, but to each their own.

 

OP, check what type of OBC you have because NCL is now enforcing their policy of certain types not being applicable towards the DSC.