Cruise Next or Cruise First??

[CruizinKittie40]

So I have a cruise booked in December and am looking at another one for next year (seven day).  I'm torn between Cruise First and Cruise Next certificates.  On one hand, I like the thought of doubling my money with Cruise First.  But then again if I get Cruise Next and don't spend any money on the ship I will get my money (cash) back at the end of the sailing. 

 

Thoughts?  

Edited October 28, 2021 by CruizinKittie40

[phillygwm]

1 hour ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

So I have a cruise booked in December and am looking at another one for next year (seven day).  I'm torn between Cruise First and Cruise Next certificates.  On one hand, I like the thought of doubling my money with Cruise First.  But then again if I get Cruise Next and don't spend any money on the ship I will get my money (cash) back at the end of the sailing. 

 

Thoughts?  

If I recall CruiseNext, the first certificate costs $150 for $250 credit and subsequent ones were $125.  CruiseFirst is $150 for $300.  So other than the $25 additional cost on the first certificate, not sure it makes a big difference.  

[hallux]

22 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

If I recall CruiseNext

There's no need to guess, NCL posts the information online - https://www.ncl.com/cruisenext

[AnitaVacation]

This is our plan....keep it simple.  We do not pre-pay our gratuities, and we will buy 2 Cruise Next Certificates which will give us $500 off our next cruise and $250 towards our current bill (gratuities).

 

Does anyone know if they still have the deal where you can get more credit if you use it in the casino??

 

We are doing a b2b in January...so we will purchase 2 certificates on each leg.

 

But if we didn't have any Cruise Next Certificates, I would probably purchase the Cruise First....

Edited October 28, 2021 by AnitaVacation

[krittykat]

Curious, I have heard of CruiseNext but what is Cruise First?  Sorry, if that is a dumb question.
We are sailing in Dec also and planning another cruise for 2022.  So, am interested in this question.

[lixogab]

With CruiseFirst you have to book 6+ months in advance.

CruiseNext doesn’t have that restriction.

[MeHeartCruising]

2 hours ago, krittykat said:

Curious, I have heard of CruiseNext but what is Cruise First?  Sorry, if that is a dumb question.
We are sailing in Dec also and planning another cruise for 2022.  So, am interested in this question.

@krittykat  Here are the CruiseFirst details…anyone getting ready to book an NCL cruise should visit this page first if they don’t have a CruiseNext certificate to use. 

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruisefirst-program
 

 

[dd likes to cruise]

9 hours ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

So I have a cruise booked in December and am looking at another one for next year (seven day).  I'm torn between Cruise First and Cruise Next certificates.  On one hand, I like the thought of doubling my money with Cruise First.  But then again if I get Cruise Next and don't spend any money on the ship I will get my money (cash) back at the end of the sailing. 

 

Thoughts?  

They use the terminology of Ship Board Credit, I think to encourage people to spend it. But, you don’t have to.  If you purchase $500.00 dollars of vouchers they net the $250 SBC.  If you spend nothing else, you go home with a $250.00 bill. 

[CruizinKittie40]

16 hours ago, lixogab said:

With CruiseFirst you have to book 6+ months in advance.

CruiseNext doesn’t have that restriction.

ah that's the missing piece I was looking for, thanks

[CruizinKittie40]

15 hours ago, dd likes to cruise said:

They use the terminology of Ship Board Credit, I think to encourage people to spend it. But, you don’t have to.  If you purchase $500.00 dollars of vouchers they net the $250 SBC.  If you spend nothing else, you go home with a $250.00 bill. 

Right, thus my last sentence about getting cash back at the end of my next cruise

[Russiamomm]

16 hours ago, dd likes to cruise said:

They use the terminology of Ship Board Credit, I think to encourage people to spend it. But, you don’t have to.  If you purchase $500.00 dollars of vouchers they net the $250 SBC.  If you spend nothing else, you go home with a $250.00 bill. 

Be careful.  This is how it used to work.  I just got off the Breakaway on Sunday.  I had purchased 3 certificates to round out the four I like to keep on my account.  At the end of the trip the folio shows that I lost $193 of the “onboard credit”.  When I questioned it this week they told me that the OBC is non refundable and can’t be used toward the cost of the certificates or gratuities.  I’m still arguing with them over it.  This is a change but I’m not seeing it any of the terms or conditions.

[CruizinKittie40]

11 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Be careful.  This is how it used to work.  I just got off the Breakaway on Sunday.  I had purchased 3 certificates to round out the four I like to keep on my account.  At the end of the trip the folio shows that I lost $193 of the “onboard credit”.  When I questioned it this week they told me that the OBC is non refundable and can’t be used toward the cost of the certificates or gratuities.  I’m still arguing with them over it.  This is a change but I’m not seeing it any of the terms or conditions.

wow thanks for this!! 

[julig22]

1 hour ago, Russiamomm said:

Be careful.  This is how it used to work.  I just got off the Breakaway on Sunday.  I had purchased 3 certificates to round out the four I like to keep on my account.  At the end of the trip the folio shows that I lost $193 of the “onboard credit”.  When I questioned it this week they told me that the OBC is non refundable and can’t be used toward the cost of the certificates or gratuities.  I’m still arguing with them over it.  This is a change but I’m not seeing it any of the terms or conditions.

I just got off the Getaway, also bought 3 to round out my 1 remaining certificate.  But I told the guy I wasn't interested in obc because I knew I wouldn't spend it and he reversed the credits immediately.

[lixogab]

6 hours ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

ah that's the missing piece I was looking for, thanks

 Correction: Cruisefirst states 120 days, not 6 months in advance.

 

[lixogab]

I think I’ll have to revamp my CruiseNext strategy.

I’m cruising every 1-2 years and I used to:

- Book 3-6 months in advance an OX cabin when the double up promotion worked for all kind of cabin 

- Monitor the price and if/when the price went down upgrade to BX or balcony with FAS perks and/or get the 50% difference as OBC.

- Get $100 OBC as sharesholder.

- On the cruise buy 2 CruiseNext certificates with shareholder OBC + OBC I got when the price went down + some cash.

- Repeat.

Now I realized that:

- You can’t buy CruiseNext with non refundable OBC.

- If the price goes down, NCL gives just 25% ( not sure if OBC or FCC).

BTW on my next cruise the price is down $195 which is less than $200., so I still don’t qualify.

- The price goes down on the last moment so it doesn’t make sense to book in advance and/or wait for double up promo. 
So I’m changing my strategy to:

- Buy 2 CruiseNext every other trip / buy them on ebay.

- Wait until the last moment or the prices hit the bottom.

- Book a BX with 1 certificate. May be use a discount TA to get some OBC.

- Use the shareholder OBC to get Viva Vino.

- Drink less on cruises.

- Repeat.

 

[lixogab]

5 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

Be careful.  This is how it used to work.  I just got off the Breakaway on Sunday.  I had purchased 3 certificates to round out the four I like to keep on my account.  At the end of the trip the folio shows that I lost $193 of the “onboard credit”.  When I questioned it this week they told me that the OBC is non refundable and can’t be used toward the cost of the certificates or gratuities.  I’m still arguing with them over it.  This is a change but I’m not seeing it any of the terms or conditions.

How you did you  these $193?

Was it a non-refundable OBC you got from shareholder benefits/ your TA / any other source before the cruise?
Or it was the OBC that they gave you when you bought the certificates?

 

[Russiamomm]

1 hour ago, lixogab said:

How you did you  these $193?

Was it a non-refundable OBC you got from shareholder benefits/ your TA / any other source before the cruise?
Or it was the OBC that they gave you when you bought the certificates?

 

It was a combination of both.  I was on a back to back. I had two shareholder credits and also cancelled the thermal spa for the second week, giving me another $199 OBC.  Then they added the $375 for the CNs.  When everything was said and done I had $193 extra OBC which was forfeited.  I’m tempted to ask for a refund for two of them.  I’m within the 30 days for a refund.  It would cut the losses and I’d still have two in the bank.  I can buy more on next trip - with the eyes wide open.

[snorklinbarb]

22 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

It was a combination of both.  I was on a back to back. I had two shareholder credits and also cancelled the thermal spa for the second week, giving me another $199 OBC.  Then they added the $375 for the CNs.  When everything was said and done I had $193 extra OBC which was forfeited.  I’m tempted to ask for a refund for two of them.  I’m within the 30 days for a refund.  It would cut the losses and I’d still have two in the bank.  I can buy more on next trip - with the eyes wide open.

Thanks for mentioning this CN situation.  I was on 9/26/21 Breakaway, bought 4 CN's and the OBC went as an offset (though I had casino charges so I guess could have been used for those though today on another thread someone says that's not allowed, either).

 

Since you're out 193 which is a good chunk of change, it sounds reasonable to cancel 2 CN if it would also cancel your losses.  Like you say you still have 2 to hold you over.  Don't know how many cruises you generally book at once so only you can decide but seems you could buy more on your next cruise?  And, like you say - eyes wide open.

 

Good luck.  Please come back and report how things work out for you.
 

 

 

[snorklinbarb]

On 10/28/2021 at 9:55 AM, AnitaVacation said:

This is our plan....keep it simple.  We do not pre-pay our gratuities, and we will buy 2 Cruise Next Certificates which will give us $500 off our next cruise and $250 towards our current bill (gratuities).

 

Does anyone know if they still have the deal where you can get more credit if you use it in the casino??

 

We are doing a b2b in January...so we will purchase 2 certificates on each leg.

 

But if we didn't have any Cruise Next Certificates, I would probably purchase the Cruise First....

No they don't give you the little extra. benefit to use in the casino anymore.  Haven't seen that for years when they would add that little slip to the envelope.  I'd head straight to the casino, lol.

[CruizinKittie40]

14 hours ago, lixogab said:

 

- The price goes down on the last moment so it doesn’t make sense to book in advance and/or wait for double up promo. 

 

While that may be true, if you wait too long you could lose certain perks.  Before I made final payment on my December cruise, I noted the second person flies free perk had been dropped.  I immediately paid because that's one of the best parts of the cruise.  It's for the week of Christmas and they only charged us $100 (199 but bogo) each.  I don't know if I can even get a flight for Christmas week at this point or how astronomical the tickets would be.   

[julig22]

2 hours ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

While that may be true, if you wait too long you could lose certain perks.  Before I made final payment on my December cruise, I noted the second person flies free perk had been dropped.  I immediately paid because that's one of the best parts of the cruise.  It's for the week of Christmas and they only charged us $100 (199 but bogo) each.  I don't know if I can even get a flight for Christmas week at this point or how astronomical the tickets would be.   

Airfare promos drop off at 90 days.  Sometimes prices will drop on a specific cruise  because that promo isn't available but not always.  So if you want airfare included, you have to book at least 90 days out.

[hallux]

3 hours ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

Before I made final payment on my December cruise, I noted the second person flies free perk had been dropped.  I immediately paid because that's one of the best parts of the cruise.

As long as you book while the offers you want are available you will get them, you are not required to make final payment before the perk drops off.  If you re-price the room for a lower fare it's another story...

[CruizinKittie40]

2 hours ago, hallux said:

As long as you book while the offers you want are available you will get them, you are not required to make final payment before the perk drops off.  If you re-price the room for a lower fare it's another story...

exactly

[MeHeartCruising]

On 10/29/2021 at 8:46 AM, Russiamomm said:

Be careful.  This is how it used to work.  I just got off the Breakaway on Sunday.  I had purchased 3 certificates to round out the four I like to keep on my account.  At the end of the trip the folio shows that I lost $193 of the “onboard credit”.  When I questioned it this week they told me that the OBC is non refundable and can’t be used toward the cost of the certificates or gratuities.  I’m still arguing with them over it.  This is a change but I’m not seeing it any of the terms or conditions.

 

The CruiseNext Terms and Conditions page currently indicates the OBC will be categorized as non-refundable type.  It's in the first sentence in the list.  I'm assuming this is a recent update to the terms if this is a recent change.

 

CruiseNext Terms and Conditions (ncl.com)

 

However, I'm not able to find an FAQ or Term indicating that non-refundable OBC can't be used to pay the daily service charge.  I found it in an NCL blog from 2017, so I think it's been pretty well known non-refundable OBC can't be used for DSCs.

 

How to Use Your Onboard Credit | NCL Travel Blog

 

 

[Russiamomm]

On 10/29/2021 at 5:02 PM, snorklinbarb said:

Thanks for mentioning this CN situation.  I was on 9/26/21 Breakaway, bought 4 CN's and the OBC went as an offset (though I had casino charges so I guess could have been used for those though today on another thread someone says that's not allowed, either).

 

Since you're out 193 which is a good chunk of change, it sounds reasonable to cancel 2 CN if it would also cancel your losses.  Like you say you still have 2 to hold you over.  Don't know how many cruises you generally book at once so only you can decide but seems you could buy more on your next cruise?  And, like you say - eyes wide open.

 

Good luck.  Please come back and report how things work out for you.
 

 

 

I’m reporting back.  It was a challenge, but I got them to credit the $193 back.  Guest Relations was insistent that the OBC earned when you bought the CruiseNexts couldn’t be used to offset the cost of the certificates.  It had to be spent onboard on the current trip or you lose it. I went up to a supervisor and I was again told that the decision was final.  Not one to give up, I contacted CruiseNext.  A very helpful woman told me that was crazy - it defeated the entire reason for buying the cents.  I told her I couldn’t agree more.  LOL

 

Anyway, she asked me to send her the emails I got from Guest Relations and she’d look into it.  I did that and she got back to me that she had confirmed that it was done wrong - the OBC should have been applied to the CNs and I should not have lost the OBC.  But they couldn’t grant the refund, I had to go back to Guest Relations.  So I did - including the email from the CruiseNext folks and the previous emails and accounting I got from Guest Relations.  Today I got confirmation that they are crediting the $193 back to my credit card.

 

I also told them that they really need to be clearer on the rules here - both in their training to their employees and in their advertising for these certificates.  I was assured that they were taking care of that.

 

Bottom line:  Nothing has changed here.  The certs still cost net $125.  It’s obvious they want to make you spend it onboard instead on your current trip, but it doesn’t have to be.  Obviously training needs to be significantly improved.