Have ship board credit but probably can't use it!

[suegrape]

I am booked in a 2 bedroom suite on the Norwegian Jewel. I booked over a year in advance and was able to get a deal that includes $450 of onboard credit. I am traveling with my husband and my children who are under 18. We are not very big drinkers and our travel agent always sends a bottle of wine to our cabin so we will not be purchasing much alcohol on board. I would like to pre-book our dinners, excursions and spa appts. since my husband will be attending a seminar onboard and I will need to schedule these things around his business commitments. When I called NCL, they told me I can only pre-book by paying with a credit card and that once we are onboard they will not refund my credit card if I try to cancel & re-book onboard. using my credit. They also told me I cannot use the credit in the casino (We are not really gamblers but I'd rather throw $450 in the slot machine than just throw it away). Basically at this point I feel that the deal I got including this credit was a scam and is pretty worthless to me. Anyone ever have this experience & how did you rectify it?

[Cubechick]

Go to the spa. Buy spa passes for the week and or treatments. Hit the gift shops.

 

Hardly a scam.

[rigs32]

It's not necessary to pre-book those things. If you're concerned about availability, book them as soon as you get on board.

 

Any anxiety you may have about specific times for spa treatments should be lessened by knowing those things are FREE if you book on board.

 

You can also use the credit for photos - have a bunch taken with the family and buy the best ones.

 

Buy gifts from the shops.

[mommyto2girls]

If you are in a suite just have the Concierge book everything for you when you get onboard. We have never been shut our of anything we requested through them. You should have no problems at all. The Concierge works miracles with reservations and appointments.

Edited December 10, 2013 by mommyto2girls

[medicalma'am]

I agree that there is no need to prebook specialty restaurants. We have always been able to get into them at a moment's notice, unless with a large group. In that case we did make reservations, sometimes even that day and had no problem.

 

Between specialty dining and the spa, you should have NO problem using the $450! What fun deciding!

[emcelh]

I agree too. There's no need to prebook anything, especially if you're in a suite. The concierge will take care of everything for you. The only restaurant that sells out quickly is Teppanyaki because the seating is so limited but the others almost always have availability.

[CAOcao]

Buy 3 FCC cost $750 minus $300(OBC) on the spot plus your OBC($450). You will have 0 balance, you can use them within next 4 years or 4 stateroom booking.

[rpb718]

Unlike a visit to DisneyWorld, booking specialty restaurants prior to arrival is not needed. I believe they hold back quite a number of spaces that cannot be selected prior to the cruise.

 

You can hit the reservations desk once you get onboard, or...

 

As a suite cruiser, you should be greeted by the concierge at the cruise port prior to embarkation. I imagine that if you had a written list of all the specialty restaurants reservations you wish to make along with your room number, you could just hand it over to the concierge at that time (and confirm with the concierge to call or leave a note in your suite when all the reservations have been made - hopefully prior to the muster drill).

Edited December 10, 2013 by rpb718

[suegrape]

I feel better now, hearing that the concierge will probably be able to honor our requests. Can CAOcao please explain the FCC and the 300 obi? Thanks

[triptolemus]

I feel better now, hearing that the concierge will probably be able to honor our requests. Can CAOcao please explain the FCC and the 300 obi? Thanks

 

You can use your OBC to purchase FCC (future cruise credit). You get $100 instant OBC per FCC purchased for the voyage you are currently on. $300 (new OBC) + $450 (your current obi) = net $0 on $750 of value.

 

Again - the OBC... hardly a scam. The consumer boogeyman is not out to get you.

 

As others have said, you're in a suite and you can be assured that you will eat where you want, pretty much when you want - no pre-booking required. Concierge had no problem arranging spa sessions for my wife and I on our last cruise with a 1 day notice for an appointment on a sea day (tough to get).

Edited December 10, 2013 by triptolemus

[CP Tech]

You are buying "Future Cruise Credits". Basically a $250 deposit on a future cruise with NCL that has to be used in the next 4 years.

 

When you purchase the FCC, they automatically give you $100 of your $250 deposit back as an on board credit.

 

But, when you go to book your future cruise, you still get to apply the whole $250 to your cruise.

 

We did it on our first cruise last December on the Star thinking "4 years? No problem".

 

Then used it in Jan to book our cruise next week on the Pearl.

 

It's a "win-win". You get a $250 credit to a future cruise for basically $150. With a 4 year window.

 

Does that make sense?

Edited December 10, 2013 by CP Tech

[suegrape]

What does the FCC offer? We don't always travel on NCL. We travel with a group so we don't usually make the decision on which cruise line to use.

[mommyto2girls]

What does the FCC offer? We don't always travel on NCL. We travel with a group so we don't usually make the decision on which cruise line to use.

 

Future Cruise Credits would probably not be for you. We have booked excursions last minute through the concierge as well as restaurants. You will use that $450 in a heartbeat, enjoy your suite, we love the Jewel.

[dmrrn73]

You will use that OBC with no problem. DH and I are by far not drinkers (I think I had 4 drinks all week that (not including the couple of rum punches I had at a cocktail party that were free) and we spent just over $1000.

[SissasMomE]

I am booked in a 2 bedroom suite on the Norwegian Jewel. I booked over a year in advance and was able to get a deal that includes $450 of onboard credit. I am traveling with my husband and my children who are under 18. We are not very big drinkers and our travel agent always sends a bottle of wine to our cabin so we will not be purchasing much alcohol on board. I would like to pre-book our dinners, excursions and spa appts. since my husband will be attending a seminar onboard and I will need to schedule these things around his business commitments. When I called NCL, they told me I can only pre-book by paying with a credit card and that once we are onboard they will not refund my credit card if I try to cancel & re-book onboard. using my credit. They also told me I cannot use the credit in the casino (We are not really gamblers but I'd rather throw $450 in the slot machine than just throw it away). Basically at this point I feel that the deal I got including this credit was a scam and is pretty worthless to me. Anyone ever have this experience & how did you rectify it?

 

A scam? :rolleyes: It's really not hard to get rid of $450. The kids could easily get rid of it in the game room. Book a spa appointment, or just buy something. Never really heard of anyone calling an OBC a scam before. That's definitely a new one.

[che5904]

A scam? :rolleyes: It's really not hard to get rid of $450. The kids could easily get rid of it in the game room. Book a spa appointment, or just buy something. Never really heard of anyone calling an OBC a scam before. That's definitely a new one.

 

Well said Sheri, I was thinking the same thing. They could always give it to me, I'd find a way to spend it pretty quick ;) :D

[SissasMomE]

Well said Sheri, I was thinking the same thing. They could always give it to me, I'd find a way to spend it pretty quick ;) :D

 

I think my daughter could get rid of it on her own in the game room LOL

[herdingdogmom]

As others have said, no need to pre pay for the specialty restaurants. Also, if you book excursions once on board, they can be paid with your OBC. And if you buy any Wi-Fi/internet minutes they will be deducted from your OBC. You will use up that $450 in no time.

[blindrid]

FR from a perceived problem. Book thing and buy on board. Sounds like you are inventing a problem. Relax and enjoy.

[puli]

I believe if you are in a suite you can use the OBC to tip your butler, concierge and extra tip your room attendant. Just go to the purser's office/ service desk at some point during your cruise and tell them how much you want to give to each person.

 

The desiginated amount will be deducted from your OBC and 'given' to the designated person/s . You will be given a card with the amount noted in case you wanted to add a personal note and you can then hand it to the butler, concierge, room attendant.

 

You cannot use the OBC to pay the daily service charge but since your butler and concierge are not in that pool this is an easy way to tip them and also it is a way to use some of that OBC. You can also use it to give yor room attendant and any other service person an extra tip. i.e. children' s club assistants.(not sure if they are in the DSC pool if not you can totally tip them from the OBC)

[WatchHill]

On our recent B'way cruise, we had a suite and about $700 in OBC's. Prior to the cruise I called the shore side concierge to reserve specialty dining & entertainment and when I boarded, I reconfirmed the times with the concierge while waiting for our suite to be ready. With a suite you do not have to pre-pay for the specialty restaurants. In addition, I picked up a couple items at one of the shops on the ship.

 

Yes, go to the OBC desk in the atrium and tell the manager you want to use your OBC's as tips for your butler, concierge and room steward. Although the steward is party of the daily service charge system, our was over the top fantastic, doing much more that both the butler and concierge. Be sure to have the complete name of each person to whom you wish to give an added gratuity so it can be correctly entered. Also request an extra copy of the receipt. I wrote TY notes to each person and included a copy of the tip receipt.

 

Darcy

[suegrape]

I was told that I couldn't use it for tipping. The reason I used the word scam was because I cannot use it towards any of the reservations I make in advance which leaves me in the position of hoping I can still get the times and activities that I want once onboard the ship. If I pre-book the credit is worthless since I do not really need onboard souvenirs and I am not a big drinker. I guess I'll either have to take my chances on availability or lose the credit. It seems that being in a suite may offer a better chance of getting the reservations that I want, I'll just have to wait & see.

[johnql]

I was told that I couldn't use it for tipping.

You were misinformed. OBC can definitely used for tipping (e.g., bar tabs, spa treatments, Kids Club, butler, concierge, additional tip for steward, etc.). The only thing the OBC can't be used for is the Daily Service Charge (and that's assuming your OBC is non-refundable; if it's refundable, you can even use it for the DSC).

 

Scam? Sorry but that's a ridiculous hyperbole. It's not NCL's fault that you can't seem to find a way to spend the money. I assure you that most people would have no problem whatsoever.

[Demonyte]

The reason I used the word scam was because I cannot use it towards any of the reservations I make in advance

 

No, you chose not to use it towards any reservations. Even without a suite, one can make all speciality restaurant reservations onboard just as long as the plans are ready and the reservations are made promptly within the first afternoon/evening - only about a third of the tables are available for online booking so the rest are available once onboard.

 

With excursions there is no such limit if I've understood correctly, f.ex. the Cabanas at Great Stirrup Cay seem usually to be sold out months and months before the cruise so with excursions booking in advance can be a good idea.

 

With four people in the cabin, you can easily get rid of the OBC by booking two or three speciality restaurants after boarding and then using the rest for tip vouchers for concierge, butler and room steward (and even kids/teens club staff if your children go there, kids/teens club is not covered by the DSC as are not butler or concierge).

Edited December 10, 2013 by Demonyte

[che5904]

Basically at this point I feel that the deal I got including this credit was a scam and is pretty worthless to me. Anyone ever have this experience & how did you rectify it?

 

The reason I used the word scam was because I cannot use it towards any of the reservations I make in advance which leaves me in the position of hoping I can still get the times and activities that I want once onboard the ship.

 

OP, I think where you are ruffling feathers is your use of the word scam.

 

SCAM: "a fraudulent scheme; swindle", "to cheat; defraud"

 

There is no fraud in any way. There is no deceit, you get the OBC, plain and simple. Whether you choose to use it, is your choice not NCL's.

 

Many businesses have credits, comps, coupons etc with stipulations or terms, that give their customers tidbits in order to boost sales.

 

As pointed out there are many places that you can use this on the ship, gift shop, duty free, another specialty dinner (book a couple, book the rest onboard), shore excursions, photos, arcade, non-alcoholic (if you don't drink) specialty drinks, specialty coffee, pizza, internet, spa, special seminars.