Cruise Next Question/Using OBC to Offset CN purchase

[catbro]

I've only purchased a Cruise Next certificate once and used it for a new booking But I've discovered the double up promotions and am interested in getting more, but I'm somewhat confused about how the OBC works. I have $350 of OBC upon boarding. If I purchase two $250 certificates ($500 value) how does the balance work out.

 

I'm assuming since the credit is applied instantly my balance initially will be negative $150, but will the two $125 on-board credits from the CN purchase be applied against the negative $150 balance, leaving me $100 OBC overall? I'm a novice on this subject so would appreciate advice. Thanks

[hallux]

That depends on what type of OBC you have - 

From the CruiseNext T&C's: 

Only refundable Onboard Credits and the Non-Refundable Onboard Credit given for purchasing CruieNext deposits may be used towards your CruiseNext purchase.

https://www.ncl.com/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions#cruisenext

[dhanakorn]

I had $100 non-refundable OBC in my accounts. Bought 2 cruise next certificates for $250. Ending balance on my account was $150. It’s a very good use of non-refundable OBC. 

[PATRLR]

12 minutes ago, dhanakorn said:

I had $100 non-refundable OBC in my accounts. Bought 2 cruise next certificates for $250. Ending balance on my account was $150. It’s a very good use of non-refundable OBC. 

That's not how it's supposed to work, you are not supposed to be able to use NON-Refundable OBC to purchase CN certs.  I'm not saying it didn't happen that way for you, just commenting that isn't how it's supposed to work.

@catbro You need to determine what kind of OBC, Refundable or Non-refundable.  If it's the former, your numbers are right, if the latter, you'll have the $350 OBC still to spend and $250 due on your account that will eventually get charged to your card.

Edited August 30, 2023 by PATRLR

[dhanakorn]

Although NCL is not supposed to apply non-refundable OBC for cruise next purchase, don’t give too much credit to their system to accurately distinguish non-refundable vs refundable OBC when applying towards the balance of your account. 
 

You can try to purchase the cruise next on your first day of cruise and after a day or two, check back your ending balance to see if your OBC is applied towards the balance of your account. 

[n4w]

1 hour ago, catbro said:

I've only purchased a Cruise Next certificate once and used it for a new booking But I've discovered the double up promotions and am interested in getting more, but I'm somewhat confused about how the OBC works. I have $350 of OBC upon boarding. If I purchase two $250 certificates ($500 value) how does the balance work out.

 

I'm assuming since the credit is applied instantly my balance initially will be negative $150, but will the two $125 on-board credits from the CN purchase be applied against the negative $150 balance, leaving me $100 OBC overall? I'm a novice on this subject so would appreciate advice. Thanks

 

It's not really instant, and all the math is done at the end of the cruise.  You will have a line item for +$500 (or +$250 and +$250) and another line item for -$250 (or -$125 and -$125).  Ultimately, your $500 purchase costs you $250.  If your OBC applies, you have $100 left to spend; if your OBC does not apply, you still have $350 to spend and also a $250 bill to pay. 

[n4w]

29 minutes ago, dhanakorn said:

I had $100 non-refundable OBC in my accounts. Bought 2 cruise next certificates for $250. Ending balance on my account was $150. It’s a very good use of non-refundable OBC. 

Years ago, you could use non-refundable OBC for CruiseNext, not anymore.

[catbro]

Thanks for the replies. I have a lot to learn. I have confirmed it is non-refundable OBC. So I guess the original amount cannot be used and the OBC from the first purchase is NR as well and cannot be used either. Sounded too good to be true.

 

Question about buyin CN certs online. $250 certs have a going rate of $125 which people say is what they paid, but the onboard credit for a 250 cert is only $100, what am I missing? Thanks

[catbro]

Also, I see many people buying the certs and say they are using them on an already booked cruise. Is this the norm because the TC say must be new cruise. Thanks again.

[Asawi]

7 hours ago, catbro said:

 

Question about buyin CN certs online. $250 certs have a going rate of $125 which people say is what they paid, but the onboard credit for a 250 cert is only $100, what am I missing? Thanks

Most of us buy at least two. Two certs give 250 back making price 125.

As for what is the norm I don't know but I have successfully applied most of my certs to already booked cruises.

[ggTexasGal]

12 hours ago, catbro said:

Also, I see many people buying the certs and say they are using them on an already booked cruise. Is this the norm because the TC say must be new cruise. Thanks again.

As long as the Cruise NEXT certificates are applied 120+ days prior to sail date, then Yes, it may be done. (At least in USA!)

Edited August 31, 2023 by ggTexasGal
modify

[MagnoliaBlossom]

NCL is notorious for not applying their own rules.  The TnC about new bookings only is a perfect example.

[Cruising575]

On 8/30/2023 at 4:00 PM, dhanakorn said:

I had $100 non-refundable OBC in my accounts. Bought 2 cruise next certificates for $250. Ending balance on my account was $150. It’s a very good use of non-refundable OBC. 

Just wanted to second this. I just got off the Jewel a few days ago and I was able to use my $100 non-refundable shareholder OBC to purchase my 2 cruise next. Final bill to the card was $150 for the $500 value of cruise next certificates, and they were already applied to my existing cruise reservation by the time I got off the ship.

[julig22]

50 minutes ago, Cruising575 said:

Just wanted to second this. I just got off the Jewel a few days ago and I was able to use my $100 non-refundable shareholder OBC to purchase my 2 cruise next. Final bill to the card was $150 for the $500 value of cruise next certificates, and they were already applied to my existing cruise reservation by the time I got off the ship.

On the Jewel now, as of now my SH obc has been applied to CNC purchase as well.  Also just used SH obc for CNC on a different ship. YMMV.

[catbro]

Anyone have experience using NCL Credit Card rewards for OBC. I read on some of the previous posts it was considered nonrefundable. Thanks for all the input. I'm still somewhat confused.

[PATRLR]

On 8/30/2023 at 6:12 PM, catbro said:

Question about buyin CN certs online. $250 certs have a going rate of $125 which people say is what they paid, but the onboard credit for a 250 cert is only $100, what am I missing? Thanks

Actually, the first CN cert you get a $100 credit for.  If you buy 2 CNs, then you get $100 for the first one and $150 for the second.  You will probably even see it listed that way on your account statement.

[hallux]

1 hour ago, catbro said:

Anyone have experience using NCL Credit Card rewards for OBC. I read on some of the previous posts it was considered nonrefundable. Thanks for all the input. I'm still somewhat confused.

I have the NCL credit card, and I have the 20,000 bonus points as a new member and meeting the purchase requirement.  However - it makes more sense to put ALL of your on-board charges on the credit card and use the points for bill credit rather than OBC.  You get the same money, but you also get 600 more points (3x points for NCL spend, you're charging $200 more if you don't take the OBC and use the points for bill credit).  There are a couple threads on the 'tricks' for the credit card...

[catbro]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I appreciate it. I was not aware of the bill credit option for using points. I will definitely search NCL credit card tricks on here to understand it better. If you have the time to reply here to educate me on this it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[ggTexasGal]

11 minutes ago, catbro said:

Thank you so much for sharing this. I appreciate it. I was not aware of the bill credit option for using points. I will definitely search NCL credit card tricks on here to understand it better. If you have the time to reply here to educate me on this it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Taking the credit as a payment directly to your card account is completed on the credit card sight.

Where it shows "Rewards" there is a link to View/Redeem, which will take you to another page.

There, you should see (to the right) a Redeem World Points bar.  Use that and complete your submission.

[gymbomb]

On 8/31/2023 at 6:01 PM, julig22 said:

On the Jewel now, as of now my SH obc has been applied to CNC purchase as well.  Also just used SH obc for CNC on a different ship. YMMV.

My SH OBC was not applied to my cruise next purchase on the Joy last month. I ended up needing to spend $35 or so on the last day to use it up, so I bought the embarkation photo and then sent my husband and kids back to the arcade to use the last little bit. 

[julig22]

On 8/31/2023 at 3:01 PM, julig22 said:

On the Jewel now, as of now my SH obc has been applied to CNC purchase as well.  Also just used SH obc for CNC on a different ship. YMMV.

Update, my SH obc was fully credited to either CNC purchase or cash advance in the casino. Did both transactions in the same day so can't really say which worked. On my invoice, there doesn't appear to be any difference between the SH obc and the CNC obc.