OBC exclusions

[CCJack]

We just got off of the Joy and we had some refundable OBC and also some non-refundable OBC from WorldPoints.   I made 3 trips to guest services to understand the exclusions and the first two people told me gratuities (service charges) are excluded from non-refundable OBC.   Finally, the 3rd trip I got the proper answer that there are 2 different kinds of non - refundable and the WP non-refundable can be used for service charges.    Here is my understanding of the exclusions:

 

refundable OBC:   no exclusions

 

non refundable OBC excludes:

• service charges
• gratuities
• casino
• cruisenext
• Starbucks gift cards
• Starbucks merchandise

 

WorldPoints non-refundable OBC excludes:

• casino
• cruisenext
• Starbucks gift cards
• Starbucks merchandise

Edited September 20, 2023 by CCJack

[UKstages]

interesting… I never researched this or thought much about it, but I always assumed world points (credit card) OBC was refundable. it’s counterintuitive for it not to be. (then again, i don’t go to starbucks or buy cruise next certificates, so I simply may never have run into this.)

 

instead of getting OBC from the NCL credit card, you can simply apply world points to the balance of your card in place of (or in addition to) making a payment, as a statement credit. it’s a cash equivalent, at least in that sense.

 

by the way, if you use your world points balance for a statement credit, you still earn points on your full folio charges, assuming you’re charging your NCL bill to your NCL credit card. in that regard, it’s superior to getting OBC.

 

using world points for upgrades is better than than all of that, of course, for most people. (it doesn’t work for me because i’m typically comped by the casino in a room that doesn’t qualify for a world points upgrade.)

[CCJack]

1 minute ago, UKstages said:

interesting… I never researched this or thought much about it, but I always assumed world points (credit card) OBC was refundable. it’s counterintuitive for it not to be. (then again, i don’t go to starbucks or buy cruise next certificates, so I simply may never have run into this.)

 

instead of getting OBC from the NCL credit card, you can simply apply world points to the balance of your card in place of (or in addition to) making a payment, as a statement credit. it’s a cash equivalent, at least in that sense.

 

by the way, if you use your world points balance for a statement credit, you still earn points on your full folio charges, assuming you’re charging your NCL bill to your NCL credit card. in that regard, it’s superior to getting OBC.

 

using world points for upgrades is better than than all of that, of course, for most people. (it doesn’t work for me because i’m typically comped by the casino in a room that doesn’t qualify for a world points upgrade.)

For sure.... statement credit is the way to go, but I had already applied for the OBC before I knew that.  Sometimes we learn as we go !

[BirdTravels]

There is no need to spend refundable OBC unless you want to. Get it back in cash from guest services 

[ihopfar]

It has been a while since we have been on NCL.  Are TA issued OBC usually refundable or non-refundable?

[leafsnation]

Refunable!

bob

[Yesimapirate]

10 hours ago, CCJack said:

We just got off of the Joy and we had some refundable OBC and also some non-refundable OBC from WorldPoints.   I made 3 trips to guest services to understand the exclusions and the first two people told me gratuities (service charges) are excluded from non-refundable OBC.   Finally, the 3rd trip I got the proper answer that there are 2 different kinds of non - refundable and the WP non-refundable can be used for service charges.    Here is my understanding of the exclusions:

 

refundable OBC:   no exclusions

 

non refundable OBC excludes:

• service charges
• gratuities
• casino
• cruisenext
• Starbucks gift cards
• Starbucks merchandise

 

WorldPoints non-refundable OBC excludes:

• casino
• cruisenext
• Starbucks gift cards
• Starbucks merchandise

They gave you the wrong info.  The credit card onboard credit is refundable.   I have been stopped by the red warning light at debarcation and handed cash.

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, ihopfar said:

It has been a while since we have been on NCL.  Are TA issued OBC usually refundable or non-refundable?

non-refundable

[Pitzel]

20 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

non-refundable

The OBC we get from our TA has always been refundable, so clearly it depends. Always best to ask your TA or ask as soon as you get onboard.

Edited September 21, 2023 by Pitzel
typo

[ontheweb]

35 minutes ago, Pitzel said:

The OBC we get from our TA has always been refundable, so clearly it depends. Always best to ask your TA or ask as soon as you get onboard.

I did both, and both agreed it was non-refundable.