Spend OBC Ahead of Time?

[JamieLogical]

I honestly can't remember if there is a way to use OBC on purchases before boarding. I have $100 of OBC from my Shareholder's Benefit and I want to possibly book some excursions with it. Do I have to wait until I am onboard or can I call in to use it? Does not appear to let me use it booking through the website. I have gotten spoiled by Celebrity I guess. There I can just spend OBC when booking things in advance through their Cruise Planner website.

Edited September 20, 2022 by JamieLogical

[Dthomas1]

4 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

I honestly can't remember if there is a way to use OBC on purchased before boarding. I have $100 of OBC from my Shareholder's Benefit and I want to possibly book some excursions with it. Do I have to wait until I am onboard or can I call in to use it? Does not appear to let me use it booking through the website. I have gotten spoiled by Celebrity I guess. There I can just spend OBC when booking things in advance through their Cruise Planner website.

OBC must be used while aboard.

[603NHCruiser]

9 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

I honestly can't remember if there is a way to use OBC on purchases before boarding. I have $100 of OBC from my Shareholder's Benefit and I want to possibly book some excursions with it. Do I have to wait until I am onboard or can I call in to use it? Does not appear to let me use it booking through the website. I have gotten spoiled by Celebrity I guess. There I can just spend OBC when booking things in advance through their Cruise Planner website.

I believe the work around to this is that as long as the excursion is more than two days(maybe 3) out from embarkation, purchase the excursion, and then cancel it onboard. You can then rebook it ensuring that they apply the OBC before the refundable credit. You may get an eye roll or two but it shouldn't be an issue once they understand why you are requesting it to be processed that way. That way if you end up with a credit at the end of the cruise it will be refunded to your card on file. I read someone doing this either on another post or site...

[UKstages]

6 minutes ago, 603NHCruiser said:

I believe the work around to this is that as long as the excursion is more than two days(maybe 3) out from embarkation, purchase the excursion, and then cancel it onboard. You can then rebook it ensuring that they apply the OBC before the refundable credit. You may get an eye roll or two...

 

i'm not sure you'll get any eye rolls at all. when i explained my frustration with this very same issue at the excursions desk on the joy, THEY told me to do exactly what you suggested. book it, then cancel it onboard, then immediately rebook it.

 

crazy.

 

there's gotta be a better way.

 

i have heard that the pre-cruise concierge desk (for haven and suites) can reserve excursions ahead of time without payment, but i've never been able to have them do it.

[JamieLogical]

4 minutes ago, UKstages said:

 

i'm not sure you'll get any eye rolls at all. when i explained my frustration with this very same issue at the excursions desk on the joy, THEY told me to do exactly what you suggested. book it, then cancel it onboard, then immediately rebook it.

 

crazy.

 

there's gotta be a better way.

 

i have heard that the pre-cruise concierge desk (for haven and suites) can reserve excursions ahead of time without payment, but i've never been able to have them do it.

 

Yeah, the better way is the way Celebrity does it. Your OBC shows up as a potential payment method when booking anything through their Cruise Planner website when you book excursions, package upgrades, specialty dining, etc. And, if you don't have enough OBC to cover the full amount, you can put the difference on your credit card.

 

Oh well. Maybe I will try the book, then cancel, then rebook trick.

[603NHCruiser]

6 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Yeah, the better way is the way Celebrity does it. Your OBC shows up as a potential payment method when booking anything through their Cruise Planner website when you book excursions, package upgrades, specialty dining, etc. And, if you don't have enough OBC to cover the full amount, you can put the difference on your credit card.

 

Oh well. Maybe I will try the book, then cancel, then rebook trick.

Oh, for sure celebrity's process is by far more convenient. But, you can say that about pretty much anything technology related when it comes to NCL. Their website, the app and even your onboard technology experience is far behind it competitors (don't get me wrong, NCL is still my preferred line, I'm just comparing things.) I just read that Virgin is going to allow you to order drinks and food through your phone app that it will be delivered to you anywhere on the ship thanks to location sensors. On RCCL you can control most of the features in your guest room through their app. And that isnt even going into how the overall user experience is just a cleaner more up to date look. But, given NCL's track record with the performance of their website, I would be almost afraid to trust the transaction If/when they start letting you book this way. They tend to have far too many glitches LOL. They are still my favorite though, but it is getting hard now that they have tightened up their casino offers and RCCL seems to be giving them away for nothing lately.

[shof515]

Carnival updated their system a few months ago were you can use your OBC for shore excursions and other things in their version of the planner

 

I really really wish Norwegian updates their system with this feature.