Cruise Next - Advice needed

[notoriousPAB]

We're sailing on the 9-night Baltic on Breakaway on 10th August.

 

We've already decided that we're going to sail on Breakaway again in August 2019 in the Caribbean along with my parents, so I'd like some advice on how to take maximum advantage of the Cruise Next Deposits.

 

We'll be booking 2 staterooms for next year's cruise, so can I purchase 2 Deposits?

 

As I understand it, purchasing 2 Deposits will earn me $250 OBC for the cruise we'll be on; because we've already paid for our Gratuities, Drinks Package, Speciality Dining Package and Shore excursions, we don't think we'll be able to spend it all.

 

Can we:

a) use the $250 OBC to pay off some of the balance on next year's cruise?

b) cash out the OBC at the Casino?

 

Any advice appreciated

[rtkenmore]

We're sailing on the 9-night Baltic on Breakaway on 10th August.

 

 

 

We've already decided that we're going to sail on Breakaway again in August 2019 in the Caribbean along with my parents, so I'd like some advice on how to take maximum advantage of the Cruise Next Deposits.

 

 

 

We'll be booking 2 staterooms for next year's cruise, so can I purchase 2 Deposits?

 

 

 

As I understand it, purchasing 2 Deposits will earn me $250 OBC for the cruise we'll be on; because we've already paid for our Gratuities, Drinks Package, Speciality Dining Package and Shore excursions, we don't think we'll be able to spend it all.

 

 

 

Can we:

 

a) use the $250 OBC to pay off some of the balance on next year's cruise?

 

b) cash out the OBC at the Casino?

 

 

 

Any advice appreciated

 

 

 

If you’re going to boom balconies, go ahead and get four so you can apply two per room.

 

Also, if you go ahead and book while onboard, you usually get upgraded to a higher room within your category or get other free bonuses.

 

 

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[kcdcac13]

Your OBC will pay towards your deposits, so $1000 in deposits will give you $500 OBC and your deposits will only cost $500. (I think):D

[kcdcac13]

We are also on the same cruise but get onboard on the 9th :D will also be looking at getting some deposits:D

[ready2cruzagain]

 

Can we:

a) use the $250 OBC to pay off some of the balance on next year's cruise?

b) cash out the OBC at the Casino?

 

Any advice appreciated

a...no

b...yes

c...best yet...just leave the obc alone and if you purchase 2 Certificates at $500 then the $250 obc will be applied to the balance meaning you will only pay $250 on the certificates.

[Paul Bogle]

On your debarkation invoice the Cruise next certificate appears as a $250 charge while the credit appears as a non-refundable. The credit offsets part of the charge so you do not need to concern yourself with spending the credit.

 

Example: Assume you have no charges on your account. You buy four cruise next certificates for $250 each total cost $1000

 

Final statement will show $1000.00 charge $500.00 non-refundable credit $500.00 balance due.

[notoriousPAB]

a...no

b...yes

c...best yet...just leave the obc alone and if you purchase 2 Certificates at $500 then the $250 obc will be applied to the balance meaning you will only pay $250 on the certificates.

 

Option C is the winner!

 

Many thanks for the advice!

[notoriousPAB]

On your debarkation invoice the Cruise next certificate appears as a $250 charge while the credit appears as a non-refundable. The credit offsets part of the charge so you do not need to concern yourself with spending the credit.

 

Example: Assume you have no charges on your account. You buy four cruise next certificates for $250 each total cost $1000

 

Final statement will show $1000.00 charge $500.00 non-refundable credit $500.00 balance due.

 

That's great advice - thanks for making that so clear for us

[PelicanBill]

Be aware that if you are able to apply 2 cruisenext certificates to a future cruise that you are locked in to the pricing... if the price drops later and you want to rebook at a lower price they will return one cruisenext certificate to you and keep only one applied.

[FLAHAM]

On your debarkation invoice the Cruise next certificate appears as a $250 charge while the credit appears as a non-refundable. The credit offsets part of the charge so you do not need to concern yourself with spending the credit.

 

Example: Assume you have no charges on your account. You buy four cruise next certificates for $250 each total cost $1000

 

Final statement will show $1000.00 charge $500.00 non-refundable credit $500.00 balance due.

 

On two different cruises, I just told the CruiseNext desk that I would pay $500 for four certificates and they said "fine," The OBC refund is just a gimmick.

[rtkenmore]

Be aware that if you are able to apply 2 cruisenext certificates to a future cruise that you are locked in to the pricing... if the price drops later and you want to rebook at a lower price they will return one cruisenext certificate to you and keep only one applied.

 

If it’s a balcony or up room, you’re eligible to use two certificates regardless of price as long as it 6 months or more out.

[jetsfan526]

alright this intrigues me, can someone explain to me clearly how this cruise next thing works?

 

you pay for a $250 certificate while on the cruise for a future cruise and what perks do you get?

 

can i use my current on board credit to pay for this? (not from the OBC u get for buying it)

 

will the bonus on board credit go towards the certificates if i dont use by end of the cruise?

(if i buy 2 certificates for $500, i get $250 OBC.. at the end of the cruise the OBC would offset the certificates only costing me $250 out my pocket for it in the end?)

 

also do you have to declare the cruise you want to use it on or you get a window to decide and do research then book with the certificates?

Edited August 7, 2018 by jetsfan526

[rtkenmore]

alright this intrigues me, can someone explain to me clearly how this cruise next thing works?

 

you pay for a $250 certificate while on the cruise for a future cruise and what perks do you get?

 

also do you have to declare the cruise you want to use it on or you get a window to decide and do research then book with the certificates?

 

If you go ahead and apply a certificate to a future cruise WHILE on board AND choose which cruise, then you typically get a category upgrade or an additional free perk. It just depends on what the current deal is...

 

One trip while we were onboard, you could book an inside and choose two free perks (where as inside is normally limited to only one) or you could book ocean/balcony and choose three (instead of two). Other times, they will upgrade you to the best available room type within a category (so you could book an IF and get upgraded to IA or likewise, an OF and get an OA). But yes, you do have to identify which cruise sailing you want at the time. That is the only way to get the additional perk.

[rtkenmore]

On two different cruises, I just told the CruiseNext desk that I would pay $500 for four certificates and they said "fine," The OBC refund is just a gimmick.

 

But you PAID $1000 for four and you got $500 in OBC which makes you're final amount $500. It's not a gimmick or a scam. It's just a matter of understanding the deal.

[YVRBassElectric]

alright this intrigues me, can someone explain to me clearly how this cruise next thing works?

 

you pay for a $250 certificate while on the cruise for a future cruise and what perks do you get?

 

also do you have to declare the cruise you want to use it on or you get a window to decide and do research then book with the certificates?

 

You have 4 years to use Cruise Next Certificates, buy them on board and then decide what vacation you want to take.

 

If you book on board, you will get a better cabin for less, but no other perks

[FLAHAM]

But you PAID $1000 for four and you got $500 in OBC which makes you're final amount $500. It's not a gimmick or a scam. It's just a matter of understanding the deal.

 

 

No, my credit card was billed for $500 and I received 4 certificates and no OBC. The OBC business is just a distraction to those who seem to need it.

[rtkenmore]

No, my credit card was billed for $500 and I received 4 certificates and no OBC. The OBC business is just a distraction to those who seem to need it.

 

Your onboard ship account was charged $1000... Your onboard ship account was issued $500 in non-refundable onboard credit... Therefore, at the end of your cruise, assuming no other charges were placed to your onboard ship account, you will billed $500 to close out your onboard ship account... Because the $500 onboard credit was applied to your onboard ship account balance of $1000 which reduced your onboard ship account to a total due of $500. How hard is that to understand?

 

You were indeed charged $1000 to your onboard ship account when you purchased the four certificates. :-/

[rtkenmore]

You have 4 years to use Cruise Next Certificates, buy them on board and then decide what vacation you want to take.

 

If you book on board, you will get a better cabin for less, but no other perks

 

Not entirely accurate, as I mentioned, one time when we purchased certificates, we were given the opportunity to choose an extra free-at-sea choice (we could have chosen two things for inside or three for ocean view/balcony instead of the customary one for inside or two for ocean/balcony.

[YVRBassElectric]

Not entirely accurate, as I mentioned, one time when we purchased certificates, we were given the opportunity to choose an extra free-at-sea choice (we could have chosen two things for inside or three for ocean view/balcony instead of the customary one for inside or two for ocean/balcony.

 

NICE!

 

only extra I've gotten was an extra year to use a Cruise Next, bought them in 2006 and they couldn't find the certificate in 2010 (CAD & USD bookings were in separate computer files), the on board Cruise Next person was VERY upset that happened & made sure I had a shore side PCC who was used to different currencies, am sad that Shelby has left NCL.

[FLAHAM]

Your onboard ship account was charged $1000... Your onboard ship account was issued $500 in non-refundable onboard credit... Therefore, at the end of your cruise, assuming no other charges were placed to your onboard ship account, you will billed $500 to close out your onboard ship account... Because the $500 onboard credit was applied to your onboard ship account balance of $1000 which reduced your onboard ship account to a total due of $500. How hard is that to understand?

 

You were indeed charged $1000 to your onboard ship account when you purchased the four certificates. :-/

 

Absolutely incorrect. Twice, I have signed contract for $500 for four certificates and received a receipt for $500 for four certificates. I had a $500 charge applied to my account--never had a $1,000 charge applied. In addition, I was offered (but declined) eight certificates if I would sign a $1,000 charge.

[cathi007]

Absolutely incorrect. Twice, I have signed contract for $500 for four certificates and received a receipt for $500 for four certificates. I had a $500 charge applied to my account--never had a $1,000 charge applied. In addition, I was offered (but declined) eight certificates if I would sign a $1,000 charge.

 

That's weird, when I purchased my 4 certs, I was charged 1000.00$. On the last night, when I got my bill, I was credited 500.00 for my OBC. But either way you are getting the certificates half price. I was able to use 2 for my Jan cruise, so it's like I put 500.00 down. I will definitely be buying more on my Jan cruise

[JamieLogical]

CruiseNext is the best! We are already almost to the point of having paid for a "free" cruise for one of us using our certificates. Our first cruise in February, we bought four deposits for a total of $500. Immediately applied two of them to our cruise on the Bliss next February and "banked" two of them. Because we booked the Bliss cruise on board, we got a BA for the price of a BD, so we saved about $50 per person.

 

On the Gem in June, we bought four more deposits for another $500. We used our two "banked" deposits to book the Encore TA in November, 2019. Again, got a BA for the BD price, so saved another ~$50 per person.

 

We have since used all four of our remaining deposits to book two balconies for the Escape in October. One for us and one for my parents. So we have already gotten the full value out of our deposits, which amounts to an extra $1000, plus the room upgrades on our Bliss and Encore sailings for about another $200 in value. So basically, we have saved the price of a cruise for one of of us already in the "free" money from CruiseNext.