NCL Rewards Card

[US2INNJ]

After moving from NJ to FL, we maxed out the number of points you can accumulate in your yearly cycle.

We opened a second NCL Mastercard, and began getting points immediately on the new account.

Keep in mind, you're only able to be awarded 250 points per month (somewhere about $8300), and a maximum of 1000 points per year.

We just booked the Spirit, March 3rd for the 14 night cruise. With the exception of the deposit (which you cannot use the vouchers for), the trip will be fully covered on NCL Certificates. Very nice deal indeed!

[jfhscott]

I love my card and have enjoyed thousands of dollars toward NCL cruises. I use the card for business travel extensively, so I knew I was bumping up against the $1000 annual max. All I had to do was to apply for a second card.

The certificates are pretty easy to use. I've had success having cruises-n-more assist with reservations using the certificates.

[phoenixlady]

[b]I'm of your generation too of not wanting to pile up debt. I'm proud to say that I'm completely debt-free -- no car payments, no mortgage -- but I do use my credit card for everything to accumulate points and to be able to keep track of prescripton purchases, m.d. appt. costs, etc. Then, I pay the bill the moment it comes in the door. No problem... Julie[/b]

[cwpsy]

After the post by jfhscott, the one where he puts business air costs on his card, I wanted to share this method of accumulating points. We run a Junior Olympic Volleyball program completely non-profit, so the local kids can afford to play. We put all pass through expenses such as uniforms, tourney fees, etc...on the card. Our reward for running this program will probably be a nice cruise, thanks to the NCL card.

[98Charlie]

[QUOTE]Our reward for running this program will probably be a nice cruise, thanks to the NCL card.[/QUOTE] We do the same. DW and I do volunteer work that often requires us to make purchases and turn in the receipts for reimbursement. It's a nice bonus for doing what we would be doing anyway. :D

[debjo]

[B]For those savy MBNA NCL credit card users...[/B]
I have the card (the one of the SS NORWAY since we won't be able to sail on that ship) and have been accumulating points. I'm very close to the 500 point mark and would like to get the certificate to redeem it toward my next DAWN cruise (April 2005). I've already booked that cruise and paid the deposit. Will I still be able to request my certificate and use it for toward the final payment -or- was I supposed to have a certificate WHEN I booked this cruise?

One other question...does my MBNA credit card balance have to be "paid off" in order for them to issue the $500 certificate? (Unfortunately, I'm not one of those fortunate people to be able to pay my monthly credit card bills in full.)

Debjo

[mbisson]

The certificates can easily be used after the down payment, so you'll have no problem there.

And no, you don't have to pay off the card in order to have the certificates issued. Just watch for that spot on the statement saying you have 500 points.

Enjoy your cruise (and the $500 off)!

-Monte

[debjo]

[B]For Monte...[/B]
Many thanks for clarifying things for me...only 12 more points to go! Now I have to think...do I want the $500 off my final payment and "save" some money, or should I "use" it to get an "upsell" for a better cabin (currently booked in a BC...had a BA last trip...would really like to get into the "suite" category with an "free" upgrade...perhaps I "wish" too much!)

Debjo

[mbisson]

[quote name='debjo'] Now I have to think...do I want the $500 off my final payment and "save" some money, or should I "use" it to get an "upsell" for a better cabin (currently booked in a BC...had a BA last trip...would really like to get into the "suite" category with an "free" upgrade...perhaps I "wish" too much!)

Debjo[/QUOTE]

That's a great problem to have

Hope you have fun.

-Monte

[Cruise_More_Often]

And we promptly put away all our other credit cards.

DH and I each got a card in our own names. We plan to max out DH's card first, then work on mine. When the time comes to use the points, can you use points from both cards for one cabin? That's the only thing that wasn't clear to me from all the literature we received.

[CSM]

Yes! You can use the points from more than one card. We combined them from more than one card on our last two cruises.

[candydane]

For clarification, can you combine points on both cards toward the same $250 certificate? Or just combine 2 or more $250 certificates earned on more than 1 card?

[CSM]

My understanding is that you must order the certificates in $500 increments. You can use as many $500 certificates as you wish, but they must be in that demomination. I don't think you can use $250 from any card. You have to accrue at least $500 on one card to redeem it.

I have used $1000 for each of two cards in the past. That gave me $2000 off of my cruise fare. Not a bad deal.

[cwpsy]

The certificates are independent of the points. redeem 1000 points each from both cards and you will receive 4 (500) certificates, two from each card. There is no limit on using the certificates from the different cards.

[MLinFL]

[color=navy][i][QUOTE] MBISSON stated: [/i][/color]
[i][color=navy]"But say you had the certificate for close to a year, you could apply it to a future cruise."[/i]
[i][/color][/i]
[i][color=navy][/QUOTE] [/color][/i]
[color=darkgreen]You need to be VERY careful with the expiration dates. I had 2 $500 certificates that I was going to use on a cruise. The final payment date was within the 1 year expiration but the cruise was AFTER. I thought that since I would have paid for the cruise before the certificate expired that I was OK - however, when my Travel Agent sent them in, at first they refused to accept them. They said you had to have CRUISED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE. They ended up letting me use one for my cruise which was after the expiration date and I gave the other one to my sister who was able to cruise before the expiration date. [/color]

[color=#006400]Mary Lou[/color]

[mbisson]

[quote name='Mary Lou In Ohio'][color=navy][i] [/color][/i]
[color=darkgreen]You need to be VERY careful with the expiration dates. I had 2 $500 certificates that I was going to use on a cruise. The final payment date was within the 1 year expiration but the cruise was AFTER. I thought that since I would have paid for the cruise before the certificate expired that I was OK - however, when my Travel Agent sent them in, at first they refused to accept them. They said you had to have CRUISED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE. They ended up letting me use one for my cruise which was after the expiration date and I gave the other one to my sister who was able to cruise before the expiration date. [/color]

[color=#006400]Mary Lou[/color][/QUOTE]

Interesting. Last time I called them about using the certificate (over a yr ago) I asked about booking a cruise before the cert expired I was told that it was OK as long as I paid for the cruise in full before the cert expired. I went so far as to ask if I booked and paid in full at time of deposit (if cert were about to expire) could I book a cruise well in the future and again was told that would be OK. So I guess it can depend on who you talk too. BUT to be safe, I'll follow your experience in the future. Thanks

-Monte

[cwpsy]

I'll keep that in mind, great tip!!!!

[Cruise_More_Often]

Thanks, everyone, for your answers and tips. I took the sheet that has all the "rules" on it, highlighted everything important, and I'm keeping it out to refer to when questions arise. Hopefully the rules won't change too often!

[roboref]

We have $1500 in vouchers to use. I want to be able to use all of it for the cruise payment. If we book within the final payment time (70 days or less), can we have the TA or NCL, hold our credit card for payment and overnight the certificates to them? I don't want to have to pay for the deposit or the whole price of the cruise and have them charge my card and then wait for the credit back to the card. Also the way I have read the fine print is that it is only used toward final payment.

[98Charlie]

Roboref - I would suggest that you check with the TA. Yes, they say that it is for the final payment. But, our TA was able to get approval to use it for full payment.

We booked the cruise, charged deposit to the credit card, sent the certificates, and received credit back on the card all within a two week time span. We use an internet agency but have one TA with them that we contact when we are ready to book. She has gone to bat for us on at least 3 occasions to help us with different "situations". :D

[zimmerjulie]

Am working on those last few points, then am going to order my certificates!

 

I am going to do the research back in this thread and others to find out how long it takes to get them once you have ordered them, but if anyone has a quick answer, it might save me some time!

Thanks,

Julie

[WaxonWaxov]

Cruise rewards are like casino points.

 

Seems like people buy $25 a pound beef just to get the green stamps.

[98Charlie]

Cruise rewards are like casino points.

 

Seems like people buy $25 a pound beef just to get the green stamps.

Humbly Disagree - While there may be an incentive to overspend in order to receive the cruise rewards, using a cruise credit card for purchases that you would be making anyway and paying the bill off at the end of the month is truely receiving something for nothing.

 

We put all of our normal purchases (gas, groceries, haircuts, internet account, etc.) on our credit card. We pay no interest and there is no annual fee. I would be making the puchases anyway. How is that like paying $25 a pound for beef just to get the green stamps (do they still have them around?).

 

Last cruise on the Majesty cost us about $200 for the cruise portion. Used the credit card points for the rest.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charlie (Who with DW purchased our marriage license using Top Value stamps - Really :eek: )

[mbisson]

Cruise rewards are like casino points.

 

Seems like people buy $25 a pound beef just to get the green stamps.

 

Not us. We don't buy for the points, but when we do buy (what we would anyway), we try to use the card to get the points. And we normally pay the card off each month.

 

-Monte

[CTCruisers]

We just received our $2,000 worth of travel certificates in 10 days after calling to redemm the points.

 

We never "overspend" to get the points. I was lucky in that for a few years I was doing a lot of business travel and racked up the dollars to our cards.

 

Next year, our son goes to college, woo hoo! Mama & Poppa need a cruise!

 

I have to pay for his tuition, so what's wrong with charging it and paying it off every month?

 

We haven't paid interest charges to any credit card in over years.