OBC cant be used towards the $12/day mandatory tipping?

[againin13]

Againin13

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[againin13]

New question, the itinerary on the Caribbean cruise out of Houston was changed from Rotan Honduras to banana coast Honduras is anyone familiar with the new itineraries excursion am very interested

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[againin13]

Back to the onboard credit issue(obc) from what I understand it can be used for almost any charges aboard ship except the automatic tipping charges which I believe are $12 a day per person. Over and over I read complaints about the automatic tipping charges. This I don't understand. I approve of the mandatory tipping or automatic charges, even if you had two meals in the main dining room and one snack a day you'd be paying more than the 10 to 15% rate you would pay in any on land restaurant. Plus you're clean room ,everything. Our first cruise ever was in 2010,(we were late bloomers) but have been lucky enough to be able in 2012 and 2013, we will be going on the jewel November 2014 and are booked and paid for for the getaway in 2015. We make sure we take small bills for tipping, on top of the mandatory charges. We just work that into our spending budget. We save all year to go on the cruise and every one has been amazing on every cruise the crew and staff have gone out of their way to make me feel important and special. And if a few dollars here and there can show them my appreciation i'm going to do it. And for those that go to the desk and remove those charges I'm sorry but shame on you.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[emcelh]

Back to the onboard credit issue(obc) from what I understand it can be used for almost any charges aboard ship except the automatic tipping charges which I believe are $12 a day per person. Over and over I read complaints about the automatic tipping charges. This I don't understand. I approve of the mandatory tipping or automatic charges, even if you had two meals in the main dining room and one snack a day you'd be paying more than the 10 to 15% rate you would pay in any on land restaurant. Plus you're clean room ,everything. Our first cruise ever was in 2010,(we were late bloomers) but have been lucky enough to be able in 2012 and 2013, we will be going on the jewel November 2014 and are booked and paid for for the getaway in 2015. We make sure we take small bills for tipping, on top of the mandatory charges. We just work that into our spending budget. We save all year to go on the cruise and every one has been amazing on every cruise the crew and staff have gone out of their way to make me feel important and special. And if a few dollars here and there can show them my appreciation i'm going to do it. And for those that go to the desk and remove those charges I'm sorry but shame on you.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

For some it's a difference in customs. Tipping isn't common where they come from. Others remove some or all of the DSC because they can. The system works for us though. Although I think I understand why some complain I don't necessarily agree with them.

[dwjoe]

I'm not debating the policy, I am attempting to understand the rational behind the policy.

My guess is that they have to pay out the DSC in cash to the crew, so they will not allow OBC to be used for that. Only for onboard "extras" like specialty restaurants, drinks, casino chips, etc. However there is "refundable" OBC that can be used for anything and will be refunded to you if you don't use it. Refundable OBC is for something like if you buy OBC with cash prior to the cruise. Non-refundable OBC is more common and includes most or all of the free OBC that you get from NCL or a TA.

[agabbymama]

As I see it once someone gives you a gift it's yours to use as you see fit. NCL gave me a gift of $300 OBC for booking a full suite nine months in advance of the sailing and I WILL use it towards to daily gratuity. If I have to cash it out in the casino and loose the 3% service charge so be it. When I booked my cruise i took into consideration the bottom line of the cruise cost which included that $300.

 

Good luck with that. On the Star, I had $100 OBC from NCL plus $1200 I had purchased in the year before the cruise. With our excursions, dinner, purchases, etc. the last night of the cruise, I had $200 of mine left and the $100 from NCL. When I tried to cash out at the Purser's Desk, I was told my remaining $200 would be mailed to my home address, and that I would lose the $100 NCL OBC.

 

I was furious. I went to the casino to cash out, they gave me my $200 with the 3% fee, but apologized that she couldn't cash out the NCL OBC. So on my way back to my room I stopped in the gift shop and bought a $100 Guess watch. I left the ship with something like a 32 cent credit.

 

My point being, NCL gives you the OBC, but you can't use it anyway you want to. NCL decides that, even to the point of using my purchased OBC for everything before touching the NON-REFUNDABLE NCL OBC.

 

I would never remove the DSC, the staff works too hard to make my cruise enjoyable. It's not rocket science, NCL expects revenue to be generated when they give OBC, not to pay the employees of NCL.

[gooch47]

Because the DSC (tip) is actual money that goes to the crew. Other charges on board like restaurants, drinks, pastries are only valued at what they are because NCL sets the price. In other words, $100 spent on the ship isn't really $100 of value. NCL charges $2.25 for a soda but it only costs them about 25 cents. The extra $2 is pure profit. If you use OBC for that $2.25 charge, NCL only really loses 25 cents, not $2.25. But you as a customer are fooled into believing you got a whopping $2.25 out of NCL.

 

That makes total sense.

 

We go to casinos way more than we should. Most of the time we get "free" meals during our visits but once in a while the casino host gets pi$$y and refuses. Even though that buffet is priced at say, $24.99, it certainly doesn't cost the casino that much to feed us.

[peg013]

Good luck with that. On the Star, I had $100 OBC from NCL plus $1200 I had purchased in the year before the cruise. With our excursions, dinner, purchases, etc. the last night of the cruise, I had $200 of mine left and the $100 from NCL. When I tried to cash out at the Purser's Desk, I was told my remaining $200 would be mailed to my home address, and that I would lose the $100 NCL OBC.

 

I was furious. I went to the casino to cash out, they gave me my $200 with the 3% fee, but apologized that she couldn't cash out the NCL OBC. So on my way back to my room I stopped in the gift shop and bought a $100 Guess watch. I left the ship with something like a 32 cent credit.

 

My point being, NCL gives you the OBC, but you can't use it anyway you want to. NCL decides that, even to the point of using my purchased OBC for everything before touching the NON-REFUNDABLE NCL OBC.

 

I would never remove the DSC, the staff works too hard to make my cruise enjoyable. It's not rocket science, NCL expects revenue to be generated when they give OBC, not to pay the employees of NCL.

 

I would like to add that your experience was from early 2012 shortly after the new computer system was implemented which could distinguish between Refundable and Non-Refundable OBC. As you know, things had changed for the better shortly after your experience (at least since our May 27, 2012 cruise on the Star).

Edited July 10, 2014 by peg013

[cruzsnooze]

Since things have changed what is the answer to the OBC given from NCL? Can I use it for my daily auto tip charges now with the new system?

[cruzsnooze]

You can however use that $300.obc from ncl towards your tips for the butler and concierge. They are not included in the $12/day service fee.

It is very easy to go the front desk and ask that their tips be added to your account. You will receive a slip of paper to give to them showing the tip amount .Easier than carrying cash and easy for them.

I don't use the butler or the concierge so that won't work for me. Thanks for the suggestion. I really planned to use the OBC for the daily auto gratuity. If I can cash it out at the casino and then put that cash on my account as someone suggested it would then not be an NCL OBC anymore and go to the auto daily charges.

[peg013]

Since things have changed what is the answer to the OBC given from NCL? Can I use it for my daily auto tip charges now with the new system?

 

NCL has always said you could not use it for the Daily Service Charge but the old program could not distinguish the difference so it actually did offset the charges. With the new computer program (since around April 2012) it can now tell the difference and will use your Non-Refundable first for everything you charge except the Daily Service Charge. It will only use your Refundable OBC for the Daily Service Charge until you not longer have any Non-refundable OBC left. Then it will use Refundable for all charges.

 

You can find out how much Non-refundable and how much Refundable OBC you have by getting a copy of your account at Guest Services on the 2nd cruise day. Sometimes what appears to be your Travel Agent's OBC is actually passed on by them from NCL so you never really know until you check your account.

 

It is always a good idea to get a copy of your "Amenity Confirmation" from NCL (thru your TA if you booked with one) close to your cruise date so you know exactly what to expect. In my experience, my TAs didn't purchase the OBC for us until sometime between our final payment and 14 days before our cruise date.

 

I have never tried to take money out in the casino but I have read that you can with a 3% fee. I usually use whatever we have left for more Freestyle Cruise Rewards at $150 OBC cost each, so someone else is paying my entire $250.00 deposit. :D

[khaide612]

Because the DSC (tip) is actual money that goes to the crew. Other charges on board like restaurants, drinks, pastries are only valued at what they are because NCL sets the price. In other words, $100 spent on the ship isn't really $100 of value. NCL charges $2.25 for a soda but it only costs them about 25 cents. The extra $2 is pure profit. If you use OBC for that $2.25 charge, NCL only really loses 25 cents, not $2.25. But you as a customer are fooled into believing you got a whopping $2.25 out of NCL.

 

Best explanation ever.

[cruzsnooze]

NCL has always said you could not use it for the Daily Service Charge but the old program could not distinguish the difference so it actually did offset the charges. With the new computer program (since around April 2012) it can now tell the difference and will use your Non-Refundable first for everything you charge except the Daily Service Charge. It will only use your Refundable OBC for the Daily Service Charge until you not longer have any Non-refundable OBC left. Then it will use Refundable for all charges.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure I am following this...... I only have $300 OBC from NCL for booking a suite. I booked directly with NCL. Will I be able to either use this for my daily service charge or cash it out at the casino and then use it for my daily gratuity?

Edited July 10, 2014 by cruzsnooze

[jjikids]

I'm not sure I am following this...... I only have $300 OBC from NCL for booking a suite. I booked directly with NCL. Will I be able to either use this for my daily service charge or cash it out at the casino and then use it for my daily gratuity?

 

You CANNOT use it for the daily charge. You CAN cash it out at the casino which means you get cash but they will charge you 3%. Some people think the $9 loss is worth it. Then you can use the cash any way you want to.

[cruzsnooze]

I'll cash it out at the casino and apply the $291 on my account and then it will get used for the daily service charge.

[Bars7816]

..."NCL decides that, even to the point of using my purchased OBC for everything before touching the NON-REFUNDABLE NCL OBC...."

 

That's why we do not purchase OBC. Don't mix refundable OBC with non-refundable.

[peg013]

..."NCL decides that, even to the point of using my purchased OBC for everything before touching the NON-REFUNDABLE NCL OBC...."

 

That's why we do not purchase OBC. Don't mix refundable OBC with non-refundable.

 

I don't purchase it either - my TA does and Norwegian does not use the purchased OBC before the Non-refundable OBC. That happened years ago but it keeps getting repeated as if it's still true! :rolleyes:

[agabbymama]

I'll cash it out at the casino and apply the $291 on my account and then it will get used for the daily service charge.

 

Please come back after your cruise and let us all know if that worked out for you.

[cruzsnooze]

Please come back after your cruise and let us all know if that worked out for you.

 

I'm not sailing until Dec but I will start a post and state how it worked. I don't care about loosing the 3% since it was OBC that didn't come out of my pocket but I mind loosing the use of the $300 OBC for something I need to pay.