Non Refundable credits on NCL cannot be applied to daily service charge

[shof515]

I guess some of the travel agents are getting pretty savvy by making it non-refundable. I'd bet if the person doesn't use it on the cruise, it is refundable to the TA.

it depends on the travel agents. Some travel agent, buy it as a "gift to you" using a page similar to this: https://www.ncl.com/onboard-gifts/onboard-credit and other TA might treat it as a promotion perk

[mizLORInj]

What other cruise lines have this policy (specifically, that non-refundable OBC given by them as a perk cannot be used for daily gratuities / service charges)?

 

Celebrity allows you to use the OBC given to you as a perk on gratuities. HAL allows it. Even RCL allows it. Princess allows it also.

 

What other line restricts the non-refundable, given-by-the-cruise-line OBC like NCL? I think everyone else allows you to use it for the daily charges.

 

Yup. Of the lines I cruise, only NCL does not allow using their OBC for daily charges. I'd say it's been like that for maybe 5 years max because we had used it on NCL in the past. I don't care for the policy but NCL sure doesn't care.

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Also, I would not be making purchases morning of debarkation. On NCL Gem a few years ago we were red flagged at debarkation because a couple of people in our group bought photos in the morning. We were told it was because of the charges from the morning and needed to resolve it before debarking. So we learned to 1) take a snapshot of our onboard charges screen the night before, but after all purchases are done, and 2) never buy stuff the morning of debarkation.

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Some may cruise NCL all the time, but that doesn't mean everyone who sets foot on a NCL ship knows that NCL handles obc differently than other lines. In fact, I believe I learned of the change on this Board vs. through NCL.

OBC from a TA is usually the refundable type, in my experience anyway.

Edited January 19, 2018 by mizLORInj

[NLH Arizona]

it depends on the travel agents. Some travel agent, buy it as a "gift to you" using a page similar to this: https://www.ncl.com/onboard-gifts/onboard-credit and other TA might treat it as a promotion perk

I am aware, that is why I said some are getting savvy.

[DonTheRadioGuy]

I'm not sure why anyone would expect this to be any different. They're not going to pay your tips for you.

[gambit57]

VERY old news and long since known. Nothing to get a "heads up" about here... What part of NONREFUNDABLE did you not understand?

 

What part of nonrefundable equates to not usable? Not everyone reads the fine print and the word "nonrefundable" means you can't get it back. It says nothing about what you can use it for or not.

[gambit57]

I'm not sure why anyone would expect this to be any different. They're not going to pay your tips for you.

 

It works that way on the other cruise lines. Someone new to Norwegian won't expect this quirk.

[grammy c]

It got us the first time we sailed NCL also. It has been that way on NCL for a very long time, at least 7 or 8 years. I'm sure they have the information buried somewhere, but it's not in the "Money Matters" FAQ where they discuss the service charges. And even then, why would you look for it if all the lines you have sailed let you use OBC pretty much for anything you bill to your onboard account.

 

I think this is one way that NCL gets the reputation of "nickel and diming" because it is an unexpected charge for those that get OBC as a perk when booking.

I recommend your answer become a sticky. Not being ugly, just saying we had this happen to us on Pearl last mo. And ran around half the night trying to spend $500. My post was not really very good, but I too was trying to save the next person. You can believe we now have it down pat what NOT to count on!

[DonTheRadioGuy]

It works that way on the other cruise lines. Someone new to Norwegian won't expect this quirk.

Really? Learn something every day.

[newmexicoNita]

Interesting thread. Glad I came across it becuase my thought was to put it towards daily gratuities. Am I understanding it correctly that it can be use towards duty free purchases and Cruise Next certificates?? Just want to be sure. Thank You!

No, there are several places you can use it: The spa, specialty dining, the casino, excursions, etc. You just can't use it for anything that would end up costing the cruise line. Think about it this way: if you have a certificate for $1.00 off on something at your grocery store can you walk in and ask for cash instead or if you have a $10 off coupon from your favorite restaurant can you get a $8 bowl of soup and ask the other 2.00 be used for a tip? I am not talking a gift certificate that has been purchased.That is different. In fact that is exactly what a refundable OBC is.

[Flatbush Flyer]

I’m confused on refundable OBC. For example I got $75 nonrefundable as indicated on my account from my TA. I got $280 from NCL but I am assuming that is also

non-refundable. So where do you get refundable OBC from?

 

 

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Pretty much anything from the cruise line and even the TA (when s/he is using pass-through promotional items from the cruise line or the TA's agency or that agency's consortium, if there is one) is non-refundable.

The most common source of refundable OBC is sharing of a TA's commission.

To avoid confusion, you could always request that the TA give you their perk as an actual rebate check (usually after the cruise). In that way, you can charge to your credit card any added costs beyond your non-refundable OBC, pay your CC balance off at the next billing cycle (to avoid interest accrual) and earn FF points (if you 'be got a travel savvy card).

 

 

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[Level six]

I'm not sure why anyone would expect this to be any different. They're not going to pay your tips for you.

 

I just used non refundable OBC on 31 day Princess cruise to pay gratuities.

Over $800, so hopefully they did pay the tips for me, or their staff was left out in the cold.

 

We usually have a lot of OBC because of being stock holders. And we were going to buy some NCL stock for the same reason, but if we are not able to use it for gratuities or excursions, why bother? We never really use it for anything else.

 

I am glad I saw this thread, thanks.

[newmexicoNita]

What other cruise lines have this policy (specifically, that non-refundable OBC given by them as a perk cannot be used for daily gratuities / service charges)?

 

Celebrity allows you to use the OBC given to you as a perk on gratuities. HAL allows it. Even RCL allows it. Princess allows it also.

 

What other line restricts the non-refundable, given-by-the-cruise-line OBC like NCL? I think everyone else allows you to use it for the daily charges.

and I apologize, you are right.

[buggins0402]

Nonrefundable OBC can be used for additional tips (over and above the DSC ) to the steward and others (butler, concierge)....correct?

[MsJersey84]

Gots to outsmart the NCL non-refundable system.

The night before the cruise ends while the casino

is still open - take all your non-refundable OBC

to the casino and open an account. Play a round

or two plug a coin/credit into a slot machine -

call it quits and cash out the remaining balance

with a 3% penalty.

NOW you have cash credit that is refundable

and can be used to pay the Daily Service Charge !

And the remaining balance is payable to you in

the form of cash or a check mailed to home address.

 

Thing to remember here find out the non-refundable

OBC you have open an account at the casino while

it is still open the night before the cruise ends.

 

You can also use up the non-refundable OBC buying

gifts and duty free stuff and paying any tips to hero

crew employees that have made your cruise a

memorable time.

 

Another way to use the NR OBC is to buy the Next

Cruise certificates if planning future cruises on NCL.

You will get more OBC but this is credit applied on

your account that can be used to pay the DSC.

Balanced out you could be a few dollars ahead or

owe NCL a few dollars but will have paid the DSC.

Thank you this was great information

[don't-use-real-name]

Nonrefundable OBC can be used for additional tips (over and above the DSC ) to the steward and others (butler, concierge)....correct?

 

YES - anyone of the crew members on the ship.

When considering additional tips to the crew spread the joy and happiness around.

I often think of the 'Washy Washy' people in the eye of the health storm keeping

a cheerful disposition and you free from viruses and germs.

The sanitation people cleaning the restrooms - a thankless job.

 

Note the Butler and the Concierge are NOT part of the DSC tip pool !

[kb777]

Can we use our non-refundable OBC to purchase:

 

- Gift shop souvenirs

- Photo Gallery picture frames, albums, camera

- Duty Free purchases

[shof515]

Can we use our non-refundable OBC to purchase:

 

- Gift shop souvenirs

- Photo Gallery picture frames, albums, camera

- Duty Free purchases

yes

 

for the gift shop and duty free things, it is valid only on the gift shop on the ship not the gift shop in port

[LMaxwell]

No one said the two are equal. There is no fine print. The terms and conditions are in the same print that the rest of the site is. Failure to read a contract and all provisions to it does not mean the contract is underhanded or trying to hide anything it just means YOU failed to read it. That is on YOU, not NCL. Basically YOU made an assumptions and you know what they say about assumptions.

 

Chill out

[TexasCigarGuy]

VERY old news and long since known. Nothing to get a "heads up" about here... What part of NONREFUNDABLE did you not understand?

 

Disagree. I for one am thankful for the head's up, because I (and perhaps others) didn't know about it. And the OP did begin their post with, "I just wanted to give the heads up to anyone who doesn't frequently sail on Norwegian..." so it was pretty clear who they were addressing.

 

Also, I don't think the OP was looking for a cash refund. They were hoping the non-refundable OBC could be used towards their DSC, just as refundable OBC can. That's not something that's common knowledge to all readers (especially newbies), and being informed of this quirk is and should be appreciated, IMHO.

[ray98]

Lol.... The same old tired DSC isn't a gratuity BS.

[fshagan]

Nonrefundable OBC can be used for additional tips (over and above the DSC ) to the steward and others (butler, concierge)....correct?

 

Yes, we have given tips to people using nonrefundable OBC. There's a form at the customer service desk you can use. They post the amount to your on board account and the nonrefundable OBC is applied against it.

[fshagan]

Thank you this was great information

 

Be careful with this advice. I have never tried it, but a few people here have said the nonrefundable OBC cannot be used in the Casino. If that's true, then the amount will show up on your bill, won't be consumed by the non-refundable OBC, and you will be out 3% on your money.

[OceansMotion]

I bought a Haven $500.00 CruiseNext certificate which entitled me (or I negotiated, can’t remember) to an additional $250.00 one free. That’s $750.00 off next cruise so with the OBC I had left of $250.00 plus the $100.00 and $150.00 off each certificate it only cost me $250.00 which I applied to my Canada cruise. I’m happy with that [emoji6]

 

 

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[Hendy59]

I am really happy I saw this. Can the OBC be used to pay a bar bill?

 

 

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[shof515]

I am really happy I saw this. Can the OBC be used to pay a bar bill?

 

 

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yes, drink as much as you want