AMEX offer question

[Russiamomm]

3 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Just be careful using the OBC for cruise next certs due to the non-refundable OBC you will get…especially if you have prepaid your DSC.  I can’t quite wrap my brain around how it would work…but something is whispering to me that you could leave $$ on the table from that NR OBC from cruise next .  Wishing you good luck.

Good point.  I’ve gotten into a tif with them in the past about the CNs.  I wish they would charge $500 for four of them and be done with the OBC nonsense.  If I do this, I will confirm with the CN Manager that the non refundable “OBC” is applied to the cost of the certs.  I’m obviously fine using the refundable portion to pay the actual $500 cost of the certs.  If they can’t confirm it, I’ll just wait until my December trip to buy the CNs.

[Russiamomm]

6 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

But would you get it back in cash or a credit to your Amex?  And if the latter, would they pull back the $200 credit?

 

I've booked a preferred hotel and got the $200(?) credit.  I then cancelled the reservation -- not by design -- and the $200 was not pulled back.  Obviously, that's a different situation though

It’s my understanding that they refund it in cash on the last day.  If they do just credit the folio, it’s my NCL card that will be on file with the ship, not the Amex.

[phillygwm]

2 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Good point.  I’ve gotten into a tif with them in the past about the CNs.  I wish they would charge $500 for four of them and be done with the OBC nonsense.  If I do this, I will confirm with the CN Manager that the non refundable “OBC” is applied to the cost of the certs.  I’m obviously fine using the refundable portion to pay the actual $500 cost of the certs.  If they can’t confirm it, I’ll just wait until my December trip to buy the CNs.

I see a couple ways around this:  1) Purchase CFs instead of CNs; 2) Purchase CNs at the end of the cruise, after you've exhausted your NROBC.  

[Russiamomm]

1 minute ago, phillygwm said:

I see a couple ways around this:  1) Purchase CFs instead of CNs; 2) Purchase CNs at the end of the cruise, after you've exhausted your NROBC.  

I’ll bounce it around with the CN Manager.  I have no intention of using the NROBC on anything other than the CNs.  Maybe the answer is to cash in the refundable credit the last day of the cruise and then buy the CNs.  
 

I thought about the Cruise First option, but really prefer the CNs as they have double and triple up offers regularly.  I was able to use three for our TA in December.

[justhappy]

16 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Just be careful using the OBC for cruise next certs due to the non-refundable OBC you will get…especially if you have prepaid your DSC.  I can’t quite wrap my brain around how it would work…but something is whispering to me that you could leave $$ on the table from that NR OBC from cruise next .  Wishing you good luck.

Definitely something to consider.

[justhappy]

2 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

I’ll bounce it around with the CN Manager.  I have no intention of using the NROBC on anything other than the CNs.  Maybe the answer is to cash in the refundable credit the last day of the cruise and then buy the CNs.  
 

I thought about the Cruise First option, but really prefer the CNs as they have double and triple up offers regularly.  I was able to use three for our TA in December.

That’s why I prefer the Cruisenext to Cruise first.

[laudergayle]

1 minute ago, justhappy said:

Definitely something to consider.

See @Russiamomm post #29.  That might be your workaround as long as your onboard card on file is not your Amex.

[laudergayle]

1 hour ago, laudergayle said:

offer until it expires on 12/31

For clarification…offer ends 12/29.

[justhappy]

Just now, laudergayle said:

See @Russiamomm post #29.  That might be your workaround as long as your onboard card on file is not your Amex.

It is a good option, it won’t be my Amex on file.

[cruiser2015]

48 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

If your Amex is a Delta co-branded card you won’t have the offer.  

I don't know how you even know that, but my card is a Delta AMEX.

[laudergayle]

4 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said:

I don't know how you even know that, but my card is a Delta AMEX.

Oh wow…did you get the offer???  That’s awesome if you did.  In the past it has been reported that Delta Amex hasn’t got the offer.  We have 4 different Ddlta Amex card’s between DH and myself and never seen the NCL offer.

[laudergayle]

I just did three transactions for our cruise in May.  $280 DSC, $660 shore excursions and a $60 payment towards the cruise.  This is the alert I got from Amex.  I will report back in the next few days if it triggered the offer rebate.

[davencl]

9 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said:

I don't know how you even know that, but my card is a Delta AMEX.

No one posting on CC with a Delta cobranded AMEX card has reported getting this offer including me.  I do have it on my Blue Cash card.

[cruiser2015]

3 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Oh wow…did you get the offer???  That’s awesome if you did.  In the past it has been reported that Delta Amex hasn’t got the offer.  We have 4 different Ddlta Amex card’s between DH and myself and never seen the NCL offer.

Some things don't change - no, I did not get the offer.

In this case, other than some of the tricks others have suggested here, it doesn't matter. My cruise is fully paid and is in January, post offer.  🙁

[cruiser2015]

3 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

I just did three transactions for our cruise in May.  $280 DSC, $660 shore excursions and a $60 payment towards the cruise.  This is the alert I got from Amex.  I will report back in the next few days if it triggered the offer rebate.

All vendors have a code attached to them indicating a classification of their business (e.g. supermarket, pharmacy, travel). It's possible they have multiple codes so the card company can differentiate.

[FredZiffle]

56 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

It’s my understanding that they refund it in cash on the last day.  If they do just credit the folio, it’s my NCL card that will be on file with the ship, not the Amex.

Took advantage of a similar AMEX offer earlier this year.  I think it was $250 credit for a $1000 charge.  I purchased OBC for a cruise on the Getaway.  At the end of the cruise, I asked if they could just credit the card on file and was told no.  I wasn't keen on walking around Europe with $1,000 of cash in my pocket, but there was no other option.

 

ETA:  Just checked my Amex account, and I've got this new offer as well.  Guess I'll be buying some more OBC for my December cruise.

Edited October 3, 2023 by FredZiffle

[Russiamomm]

3 minutes ago, FredZiffle said:

Took advantage of a similar AMEX offer earlier this year.  I think it was $250 credit for a $1000 charge.  I purchased OBC for a cruise on the Getaway.  At the end of the cruise, I asked if they could just credit the card on file and was told no.  I wasn't keen on walking around Europe with $1,000 of cash in my pocket, but there was no other option.

Thanks.  I’m fine with getting it cash.  Do you know how soon in the trip you can do this?  I’d just as soon take it take out in cash in the beginning of the trip and use it for the casino.  Is that doable?  (I understand if you pull cash from your account in the casino, they still charge 3%.  I’d rather just cash out the OBC.

[FredZiffle]

2 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Thanks.  I’m fine with getting it cash.  Do you know how soon in the trip you can do this?  I’d just as soon take it take out in cash in the beginning of the trip and use it for the casino.  Is that doable?  (I understand if you pull cash from your account in the casino, they still charge 3%.  I’d rather just cash out the OBC.

You can charge casino play to your account rather than pulling cash out.  If you don't want to play with it, load it into your account on a slot machine and then cash out.

[Russiamomm]

1 minute ago, FredZiffle said:

You can charge casino play to your account rather than pulling cash out.  If you don't want to play with it, load it into your account on a slot machine and then cash out.

I thought they added a 3% fee if you do that.  I know they do on the tables.  Is it not the same on the slots?  

[FredZiffle]

35 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

I thought they added a 3% fee if you do that.  I know they do on the tables.  Is it not the same on the slots?  

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe there is any fee for charging slot play to your room account.  Since technically you're not supposed to be able to use OBC in the casino, I usually do a $10 test to make sure it still works.

[smokeykat]

If my final payment isn't until May 2024 and I want to charge Amex $1000.00 towards payment for the cruise fare to get the $200 back deal, what happens if I cancel the cruise before the final payment is due? Anyone know?

Edited October 3, 2023 by smokeykat

[FredZiffle]

20 minutes ago, smokeykat said:

If my final payment isn't until May 2024 and I want to charge Amex $1000.00 towards payment for the cruise fare to get the $200 back deal, what happens if I cancel the cruise before the final payment is due? Anyone know?

Check with NCL to see what their process is.  If they credit the OBC back to the AMEX card, you might have an issue (but maybe not since the Amex system is likely not set up to catch a credit several months later.).  If they write you a check, you'll absolutely be fine.

[dcipjr]

I haven’t gotten a NCL offer on my Amex card in years, and I check all the time—lo and behold, this one showed up! Hoping my wife has it on her card so we can save a few hundred on our cruise next year.

[Clashed]

does this look like it would work?
if i combine Prepaid Service Charges, add specialty dining nights & OBC will this trigger the bonus?

PPSC  $520
Specialty Dining $166 
and then buy $325 On-Board Credit Certificate

i have to pay the PPSC anyway, so this way if i cash out the OBC i get 2 "free" specialty dining

[M&JfromSDL]

Interesting. I have the HAL offer but not the NCL.