lnhoney Posted September 24, 2017 #1 Share Posted September 24, 2017 If I purchased onboard credit before my cruise would I still have to provide a credit card when we embark? I would like to avoid giving my credit card and I don't want to carry a lot of cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare shof515 Posted September 24, 2017 #2 Share Posted September 24, 2017 yes, it is best to setup the account as cash instead of credit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuterlmt Posted September 24, 2017 #3 Share Posted September 24, 2017 when we embarked a few weeks ago, I had $170 in OBC saved up, and gave them $100 cash for our account. We did a back to back, and only spent about $50 of it, so they gave me $100 cash back at the end, and are hopefully sending a check for the remainder. I was surprised that it was so easy, and they didn't give me a hard time about the $100. But we had pre-paid all of our gratuities, so it was no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom23krzkidz Posted September 24, 2017 #4 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Super easy to set up a cash account, you just go to guest services once on board:) Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnhoney Posted September 25, 2017 Author #5 Share Posted September 25, 2017 I've done a cash account before but this is a 10 day cruise, myself and hubby. NCL wants $900 for a cash account. Will be spending time in Rome before cruise and don't want to have large amount of cash on hand. I'm thinking I'll purchase onboard credit in that amount and if we don't use all of it they can give us a check to take home. Excursions will take most of it. And we prepaid the service charge. Can I just show that we have that amount in onboard credit when we embark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuterlmt Posted September 25, 2017 #6 Share Posted September 25, 2017 we were on 2 seven day cruises, and they accepted the $100 cash, no question, even though the website says different. If you get close to the amount you have in OBC plus the cash, I have read that they will freeze your account until you give them more. But I really think you'll be ok with a smaller amount. I had pre-purchased $170 in OBC, and pre-paid our DSC for both cruises. When I gave them the cash at guest services, they had our OBC amount available so they had that when I checked in. Be aware though that they would only give me the cash amount we had given them upon embarkation ($100) and would not give us the rest of the OBC, but said they would mail a check to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnhoney Posted September 25, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Thank you for the responses. Sounds like we'll be ok with the OBC. Our excursions will take most of the 900 so we may end up adding some cash part way through the cruise. Do you know if the excursions will be deducted the first day of the cruise or as we do each port? I will be keeping a close eye on our account to make sure we always have credit available for what we need, ha ha, but good to know the timing of deductions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawk/hornfan Posted September 25, 2017 #8 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Another suggestion to carrying a lot of cash is a have a no foreign transaction fee CC ie Capital One, and withdraw the $$$'s before you board the ship. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomberly Posted September 25, 2017 #9 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Thank you for the responses. Sounds like we'll be ok with the OBC. Our excursions will take most of the 900 so we may end up adding some cash part way through the cruise. Do you know if the excursions will be deducted the first day of the cruise or as we do each port? I will be keeping a close eye on our account to make sure we always have credit available for what we need, ha ha, but good to know the timing of deductions. We just got off the Star last week. I had purchased $1000 refundable OBC before we went because we had the shore excursion credit as one of our perks. We were charged the first day for all of the shore excursions I had prebooked. I had booked this cruise before the discount for shore excursions started so I went to the shore excursions desk after getting on the ship and they adjusted the cost of each excursion. If you happen to have the shore excursion credit as a perk they apply the $50 credit for each port only after you complete each excursion. We still had a refundable credit on our account towards the end of the cruise and they sent us a letter explaining how it could be handled if we had money left over. Of course we spent it all so we didn’t need to worry about getting any back. Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnhoney Posted September 26, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I like the part where you say 'of course we spent it all' so didn't have to worry about how you wanted it back. LOL exactly what I would/will be doing! And we also have the excursion credit but haven't called to book them yet as we still have 8 months to go. Will probably try to book them in January. Am waiting to see if any new ones get listed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Cruisin Qball Posted September 26, 2017 #11 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Thank you for the responses. Sounds like we'll be ok with the OBC. Our excursions will take most of the 900 so we may end up adding some cash part way through the cruise. Do you know if the excursions will be deducted the first day of the cruise or as we do each port? I will be keeping a close eye on our account to make sure we always have credit available for what we need, ha ha, but good to know the timing of deductions. As another option, you can always purchase before you leave a prepaid card (Visa or Mastercard) most banks carry them. Just purchase the amount you want to put on your account and then give it to them at check in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnhoney Posted April 23, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted April 23, 2018 If you purchase on board credit through Norwegian's website using a credit card will the credit card company consider it a cash advance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smplybcause Posted April 23, 2018 #13 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Honestly wondering... If you're using a credit card to buy obc why the aversion to giving them a credit card at check in? It's going on your credit card either way. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare shof515 Posted April 23, 2018 #14 Share Posted April 23, 2018 If you purchase on board credit through Norwegian's website using a credit card will the credit card company consider it a cash advance? no, it should be a regular purchase. a cash advance is something that can be done at the guest services or the casino Honestly wondering... If you're using a credit card to buy obc why the aversion to giving them a credit card at check in? It's going on your credit card either way. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk credit card holds. depending on your credit card company, when Norwegian places a 200 dollar hold on your card that sometimes decrease the available balance on that card until the hold is removed. some people forget this and wonder why their card is declined if they use it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnhoney Posted April 23, 2018 Author #15 Share Posted April 23, 2018 I know. We're still tossing the idea around. If I buy it now, and they are only giving the option for a credit card, then I can pay it off before we even go and have a finite amount to spend while on the cruise. I would like to have it all paid before we go and not have to carry a large sum of money to the ship. So just wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smplybcause Posted April 23, 2018 #16 Share Posted April 23, 2018 no, it should be a regular purchase. a cash advance is something that can be done at the guest services or the casino credit card holds. depending on your credit card company, when Norwegian places a 200 dollar hold on your card that sometimes decrease the available balance on that card until the hold is removed. some people forget this and wonder why their card is declined if they use it Ah. I've never seen/noticed a hold on my credit cards. But that may be because I rarely come close to my limits on my credit card. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnhoney Posted April 23, 2018 Author #17 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Thank you for the response shof515, I had forgotten about the hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xriva Posted April 23, 2018 #18 Share Posted April 23, 2018 As another option, you can always purchase before you leave a prepaid card (Visa or Mastercard) most banks carry them. Just purchase the amount you want to put on your account and then give it to them at check in. You may run into the hold issue here. If you have $800 of credit on the card and the first day, a $400 hold is placed, it won’t cover an $800 final charge. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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