Has anyone on NCL gifted themselves OBC ?

[PATRLR]

On 11/1/2022 at 8:02 AM, dbrown84 said:

I do the same with my discover card, buying a little every month until I hit the amount I want, up to $1000 max.  That way I earn the cash back.  I used to prepay the service charge, but now I buy enough OBC to cover it.  

What is the advantage of buying OBC to then pay the DSC vs just prepyaing the DSC using your charge card or letting the DSC accrue against your on board account and paying that with your charge card?

For Casino funding, I understand there is a 3% charge somewhere in the process that buying OBC ahead of time avoids.  I don't see what the advantage is for DSC.

Edited November 7, 2022 by PATRLR

[di T]

38 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

What is the advantage of buying OBC to then pay the DSC vs just prepyaing the DSC using your charge card or letting the DSC accrue against your on board account and paying that with your charge card?

For Casino funding, I understand there is a 3% charge somewhere in the process that buying OBC ahead of time avoids.  I don't see what the advantage is for DSC.

Sorry what is DSC? 

[PATRLR]

6 minutes ago, di T said:

Sorry what is DSC? 

"Daily Service Charge".  More commonly thought of as the gratuities paid to the cabin steward and dining room servers.  Instead of the old days of handing your stewards and servers an envelope with cash at the end of your cruise, NCL now charges your on board account a "Daily Service Charge" which they claim is then split with all the people on board that contribute to your experience on board.

[dbrown84]

4 hours ago, PATRLR said:

What is the advantage of buying OBC to then pay the DSC vs just prepyaing the DSC using your charge card or letting the DSC accrue against your on board account and paying that with your charge card?

For Casino funding, I understand there is a 3% charge somewhere in the process that buying OBC ahead of time avoids.  I don't see what the advantage is for DSC.

Honestly, not much.  Now, I never (and never will) put a card on my account when checking in, so that's not an option.  The only real reason to not prepay is in case I'm not satisfied with something and want to adjust the DSC.

[phillygwm]

On 11/3/2022 at 3:08 AM, MissRabbit said:

same here. If I bought $100 USD in cash right now it would cost me $136 CAD at today’s exchange rate. When I booked my cruise, it was only at $100 USD to $126 CAD.  So by buying OBC, I’m saving myself $10 on every $100. Doesn’t seem like much but when you figure in several hundred bucks, it all adds up! The $1000 limit will save me $100 in the end! 

OK, but were you intentionally trying to time the currency market?  If so, great, but it could have equally moved against you.

 

All this said, if it forces some people to save (think of the old Christmas Club accounts) that's fine.  Ultimately, "lending" NCL $1000 for a year isn't going to cost you a lot if it provides you with some level of comfort.  The best savings accounts today are 3%, so call it $30. 

 

Personally, I prefer to do it by prepaying DSC and purchasing excursions, extra premium meals, and FAS+ up front so I don't run into a lot of charges onboard.  I usually get $200 of NROBC each cruise which I have difficulty using.  In fact, I bought a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in the duty free on my last cruise with excess credit 🙂

Edited November 7, 2022 by phillygwm

[rochelle_s]

2 hours ago, phillygwm said:

OK, but were you intentionally trying to time the currency market?  If so, great, but it could have equally moved against you.

 

All this said, if it forces some people to save (think of the old Christmas Club accounts) that's fine.  Ultimately, "lending" NCL $1000 for a year isn't going to cost you a lot if it provides you with some level of comfort.  The best savings accounts today are 3%, so call it $30. 

 

 

I think you misunderstood how it works for Canadians booking and paying for their cruise in American funds.

 

The exchange rate on the day of booking carries through. Any payments or pre cruise purchases are charged the rate of exchange at time of booking. 
 

If the rate of exchange were to go lower then it would be best to wait to purchase or pay for things on board. If the rate of exchange goes up then it makes financial sense to pay for as much as possible in advance.

 

Rochelle

[phillygwm]

49 minutes ago, rochelle_s said:

The exchange rate on the day of booking carries through. Any payments or pre cruise purchases are charged the rate of exchange at time of booking. 
 

If the rate of exchange were to go lower then it would be best to wait to purchase or pay for things on board. If the rate of exchange goes up then it makes financial sense to pay for as much as possible in advance.

I actually do understand that.  My point was simply that you probably don't know which way the currency markets are going to move.  And while I understand the desire of some to buy OBC to assist in budgeting etc., I'm a bit skeptical of those who are doing it with the intention of benefitting from movement in the exchange rate because that could just as easily bite one in the tail.  

[MissRabbit]

On 11/7/2022 at 4:23 PM, rochelle_s said:

I think you misunderstood how it works for Canadians booking and paying for their cruise in American funds.

 

The exchange rate on the day of booking carries through. Any payments or pre cruise purchases are charged the rate of exchange at time of booking. 
 

If the rate of exchange were to go lower then it would be best to wait to purchase or pay for things on board. If the rate of exchange goes up then it makes financial sense to pay for as much as possible in advance.

 

Rochelle

 
exactly! When I go to purchase USD a week or so before my cruise (for travel expenses or things not pre-paid) , I’ll either buy from the bank if the rate is lower than my cruise rate or buy OBC. With the way the exchange rate has been going, I’m pretty sure it’ll be OBC! 

[rochelle_s]

On 11/7/2022 at 8:17 PM, phillygwm said:

I actually do understand that.  My point was simply that you probably don't know which way the currency markets are going to move.  And while I understand the desire of some to buy OBC to assist in budgeting etc., I'm a bit skeptical of those who are doing it with the intention of benefitting from movement in the exchange rate because that could just as easily bite one in the tail.  

Yes it could, but as MissRabbit just stated above she waits to see what the rate is right before the cruise. 
 

I have a cruise in two and a half weeks and the exchange rate is higher now than when I booked. I too will be purchasing OBC at the better rate. I had no intention of purchasing it back when I booked the cruise last December. As you have pointed out the rate of exchange could have not been in my favour at the time of cruising. If I had purchased at time of booking I could have easily lost money as well as given NCL an interest free loan for a year.

 

Rochelle

[eileeshb]

I’m starting to think about pre-purchasing OBC as well but in the meantime I’m using a “vault” on my revolut account to save up money. Using revolut will also help me on the currency change as I’m in Ireland on euros and revolut is my best option for reducing exchange rate fees. I definitely would not be buying US$ right now anyway , I’m just hoping the euro will have strengthened before my next cruise.

[MarkusToe]

Just checked to prepay OBC Option to cover DSC.... not worth, only a litte bit of savings 

 

The actual exchange (EUR / USD) rate is not in favor....

The better Option is to prepay DSC

NCL ask for 12€/day vs 18US/day.

Nobrainer....prepaid....

[eileeshb]

42 minutes ago, MarkusToe said:

Just checked to prepay OBC Option to cover DSC.... not worth, only a litte bit of savings 

 

The actual exchange (EUR / USD) rate is not in favor....

The better Option is to prepay DSC

NCL ask for 12€/day vs 18US/day.

Nobrainer....prepaid....

I always pre pay the DSC during booking, given the way NCL increases the DSC charges the price at booking is always going to be cheaper unless you’re booking last minute. The OBC would be more for incidentals in my case. 

[ziggyuk]

I just purchased $200
With the current exchange rate of $1.12 to the UK pound this gives me $1.34 to the pound which is a great rate.

Can I just check, as this is a refundable OBC they will just settle in cash on the last day? I don't want it going back on the credit card.

[Jetswdo]

You know, I am the original person who started this thread.  I never gave it any thought regarding people who reside outside of the US in terms of exchange rate.   I just was wondering if any one HAS gifted themselves OBC of lets say $500 or so for a 1 week cruise, and had refunded back to their credit card any money that wasn't used on the ship.  You see, I do this all the time on Princess and Celebrity- so that I don't have any charges from the vacation showing up on my credit card, well after vacation is over.  Psychologically I like to think of my cruise as an "ALL inclusive resort"----   It has worked out for me very well on the other cruise lines.  I haven't been on NCL  for several years, so I am wondering what the policy is recently.  I would only do my usual $500 if I know for sure that I will get unused money refunded.  Never had a problem on the other cruise lines.

[julig22]

5 minutes ago, Jetswdo said:

You know, I am the original person who started this thread.  I never gave it any thought regarding people who reside outside of the US in terms of exchange rate.   I just was wondering if any one HAS gifted themselves OBC of lets say $500 or so for a 1 week cruise, and had refunded back to their credit card any money that wasn't used on the ship.  You see, I do this all the time on Princess and Celebrity- so that I don't have any charges from the vacation showing up on my credit card, well after vacation is over.  Psychologically I like to think of my cruise as an "ALL inclusive resort"----   It has worked out for me very well on the other cruise lines.  I haven't been on NCL  for several years, so I am wondering what the policy is recently.  I would only do my usual $500 if I know for sure that I will get unused money refunded.  Never had a problem on the other cruise lines.

Under those circumstances I would assume you'd get it back BUT it will most likely be a cash refund, not a refund to your CC, if that's important. But mine was a refund because of cancelled excursions, not obc, so only speculating.

[ziggyuk]

15 minutes ago, Jetswdo said:

You know, I am the original person who started this thread.  I never gave it any thought regarding people who reside outside of the US in terms of exchange rate.   I just was wondering if any one HAS gifted themselves OBC of lets say $500 or so for a 1 week cruise, and had refunded back to their credit card any money that wasn't used on the ship.  You see, I do this all the time on Princess and Celebrity- so that I don't have any charges from the vacation showing up on my credit card, well after vacation is over.  Psychologically I like to think of my cruise as an "ALL inclusive resort"----   It has worked out for me very well on the other cruise lines.  I haven't been on NCL  for several years, so I am wondering what the policy is recently.  I would only do my usual $500 if I know for sure that I will get unused money refunded.  Never had a problem on the other cruise lines.

 

I called up before my purchase, initially she said it could only be refunded prior to embarkation, I questioned it really being non-refundable so she checked.
She came back and apologised, stating it was in fact a refundable OBC that was fully refundable if not used.

[mypleasure]

On 11/8/2022 at 12:23 AM, rochelle_s said:

The exchange rate on the day of booking carries through. Any payments or pre cruise purchases are charged the rate of exchange at time of booking. 
 

 

 

Thank you for highlighting this. You along with @ziggyuk have told me something of great value to me that was passing me by. I am not sailing until sept 2023 on the Prima but can add a couple of 100 dollars each month until I get to the $1000max. It can pay for some extras and mean I am not really looking too closely at my account.

[Jetswdo]

You know, I am the original person who started this thread.  I never gave it any thought regarding people who reside outside of the US in terms of exchange rate.   I just was wondering if any one HAS gifted themselves OBC of lets say $500 or so for a 1 week cruise, and had refunded back to their credit card any money that wasn't used on the ship.  You see, I do this all the time on Princess and Celebrity- so that I don't have any charges from the vacation showing up on my credit card, well after vacation is over.  Psychologically I like to think of my cruise as an "ALL inclusive resort"----   It has worked out for me very well on the other cruise lines.  I haven't been on NCL  for several years, so I am wondering what the policy is recently.  I would only do my usual $500 if I know for sure that I will get unused money refunded.  Never had a problem on the other cruise lines.

[Jetswdo]

Thanks Zggyuk--- I had called NCL's horrible customer service and couldn't get a straight answer-- I think I will try to email customer service and get it in writing, that gifting oneself OBC is refundable after the cruise for any money not spent- going back on credit card.  Funny, Princess and Celebrity-- very easy to get a straight answer--- apparently it is common on those cruise lines for people to add OBC as a kind of small debit "bank"--- I guess on NCL not so much.  Interesting.

[ChiefMateJRK]

On 11/7/2022 at 1:58 PM, dbrown84 said:

Now, I never (and never will) put a card on my account when checking in, so that's not an option. 

Why not?

[WillCruiseForMoney]

Jetswdo - For my last cruise, October, I did a $1,000 OBC prepurchase (my credit card had a special NCL offer).  I had about $400 remaining at the end of the cruise.  It was refunded to me in cash on the last evening of the cruise.  Unlike Princess and Celebrity they refund eligible unspent OBC in cash before you leave the ship.

 

[ziggyuk]

3 hours ago, WillCruiseForMoney said:

Jetswdo - For my last cruise, October, I did a $1,000 OBC prepurchase (my credit card had a special NCL offer).  I had about $400 remaining at the end of the cruise.  It was refunded to me in cash on the last evening of the cruise.  Unlike Princess and Celebrity they refund eligible unspent OBC in cash before you leave the ship.

 

 

Thank you, that confirms what I wanted to hear and what the NCL rep told me.

[EllieinNJ]

3 hours ago, WillCruiseForMoney said:

Jetswdo - For my last cruise, October, I did a $1,000 OBC prepurchase (my credit card had a special NCL offer).  I had about $400 remaining at the end of the cruise.  It was refunded to me in cash on the last evening of the cruise.  Unlike Princess and Celebrity they refund eligible unspent OBC in cash before you leave the ship.

 

Thanks so much.  That is exactly what we want to do with $1000 from the Amex offer before it expires 12/31 and hope the balance comes back in cash or check, not to the credit card.

[ChiefMateJRK]

15 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

That is exactly what we want to do with $1000 from the Amex offer before it expires 12/31 and hope the balance comes back in cash or check, not to the credit card.

Just curious.  Why don't you want it to just go back on your credit card?

[WillCruiseForMoney]

3 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Just curious.  Why don't you want it to just go back on your credit card?

If it goes back to the credit card, AMEX might pull back the bonus offer.