NCL Mastercard FAQ

[c breeze]

Okay.... I called back and spoke with someone else, who was able to provide a second tracking number, which I immediately looked up, and it appears that it is in transit. Hopefully it will arrive without incident. The first shipment is already banked!

[weloverunning]

I am still looking for my new credit card of choice. Is anyone looking at Citi Cash Returns Mastercard? Although, it only pays 1% cash back on all purchases, it pays an additional 4% cash back on over 400 participating merchants INCLUDING NCL, Carnival, Celebrity, RCI, etc. You can also purchase gift certificates for some normal purchase stores like CVS, BB&B, etc. at an additional 4% cash back. I would not use the online shopping merchants. There is no limit to how much you can earn. It has the other bells and whistles including travel insurance, car rental insurance, extended warranty, etc. There is also a 20% bonus on cash back earned the first 12 months. (meaning if you earn $100 cash back they will send you an additional $20) Since we have two NCL cruises coming up this year (one with 8 of us all on our credit card which still has a $4000 balance) and all the money we spend in the casino I may try this card for a year. There is NO annual fee. We don’t carry a balance so it doesn’t matter what the rates are.

**Just typing this I think I have convinced myself to give it a try. I will call first to make sure I have all the facts right. We have a Citi ThanK You point card but I am afraid the value of the points will be going down.

Any ideas/comments?

[abugs]

I was hoping someone can give me some advice on whether or not I should even try to get the last $500 voucher.

 

We just redeemed one, sent it in and it all went fine. We need 333 more points by 12/31 to get 1 more. My billing cycle ends 12/4, so it could be doable. My big question is about timing. Final pmt. for our April cruise is due 1/19. I am not even sure I would have the certificate in hand by then. Is it worth it to make final pmt and then submit and hope they honor it and make a refund? I know some people have said that worked for them, but it makes me a bit nervous.

 

Anyone have any suggestions? I wish I had done the math a couple of months ago so I could have gotten the points THEN. :(

[weloverunning]

Abugs: How many more points towards the $333 will you have with the billing period ending tomorrow? We have sent in certificates after final payment and it was credited back to our credit card. What's the worse that can happen? If you don't use this card to get to $500, you will only get 1% somewhere else for this month on a different card?

Edited December 3, 2008 by rpbcouple

[abugs]

I think I will have ~133, depending on some of my pending purchases. So I will need another 200. I was going to put another $1K down on the cruise, so that's 40 there, right? I don't think I will have a problem getting the other 160. I am thinking I will just go for it and if I don't get it until after final pmt is due, I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best. You're right - another card would not even compare. Thx!

[nkmustang]

I am still looking for my new credit card of choice. Is anyone looking at Citi Cash Returns Mastercard? Although, it only pays 1% cash back on all purchases, it pays an additional 4% cash back on over 400 participating merchants INCLUDING NCL, Carnival, Celebrity, RCI, etc. You can also purchase gift certificates for some normal purchase stores like CVS, BB&B, etc. at an additional 4% cash back. I would not use the online shopping merchants. There is no limit to how much you can earn. It has the other bells and whistles including travel insurance, car rental insurance, extended warranty, etc. There is also a 20% bonus on cash back earned the first 12 months. (meaning if you earn $100 cash back they will send you an additional $20) Since we have two NCL cruises coming up this year (one with 8 of us all on our credit card which still has a $4000 balance) and all the money we spend in the casino I may try this card for a year. There is NO annual fee. We don’t carry a balance so it doesn’t matter what the rates are.

**Just typing this I think I have convinced myself to give it a try. I will call first to make sure I have all the facts right. We have a Citi ThanK You point card but I am afraid the value of the points will be going down.

Any ideas/comments?

 

 

Do you or anyone know where I can get a list of the 400 participating merchants? I did search and can not find it anywhere. Thanks

[Marlissa]

Do you or anyone know where I can get a list of the 400 participating merchants? I did search and can not find it anywhere. Thanks

 

Try here https://www.bonuscashcenter.citicards.com/ I finally found a reference to bonus cash center in one websites that mentioned the 400 mercants.

 

Was just reading thru the fine print. Looks like there is a varing %, not a flat 4% paid. Also looks like for the online merchants, you have to click thru Citi's bonuscashcenter site to earn the money. No different than other 'click-thru' sites that offer rebates.

Edited December 3, 2008 by Marlissa

[judyf]

I am still looking for my new credit card of choice. Is anyone looking at Citi Cash Returns Mastercard? Although, it only pays 1% cash back on all purchases, it pays an additional 4% cash back on over 400 participating merchants INCLUDING NCL, Carnival, Celebrity, RCI, etc. You can also purchase gift certificates for some normal purchase stores like CVS, BB&B, etc. at an additional 4% cash back. I would not use the online shopping merchants. There is no limit to how much you can earn. It has the other bells and whistles including travel insurance, car rental insurance, extended warranty, etc. There is also a 20% bonus on cash back earned the first 12 months. (meaning if you earn $100 cash back they will send you an additional $20) Since we have two NCL cruises coming up this year (one with 8 of us all on our credit card which still has a $4000 balance) and all the money we spend in the casino I may try this card for a year. There is NO annual fee. We don’t carry a balance so it doesn’t matter what the rates are.

**Just typing this I think I have convinced myself to give it a try. I will call first to make sure I have all the facts right. We have a Citi ThanK You point card but I am afraid the value of the points will be going down.

Any ideas/comments?

 

This card sounds fairly good. Thanks for sharing.

[judyf]

I think I will have ~133, depending on some of my pending purchases. So I will need another 200. I was going to put another $1K down on the cruise, so that's 40 there, right? I don't think I will have a problem getting the other 160. I am thinking I will just go for it and if I don't get it until after final pmt is due, I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best. You're right - another card would not even compare. Thx!

 

I have the same issue coming up. I might just pay my May cruise off in full to get the points. Then worst case I will have to book another cruise to use my Award Cert.'s Poor me. :D

[weloverunning]

Marlissa: Like I said, I would not be using the online merchants. It would basically be gift certificates at a total of 5% i.e., CVS and ATT. I can use ATT gift certificates/cards at 5% to pay my monthly $150 cell phone bill and my usual CVS and certain restaurant gift cards. What I'm really looking at is the NCL or any of the other cruiselines offering 4-5% CASH back since I have $4000 left to pay on one cruise and with the two cruises coming up I am sure our onboard charges will be UP there. All the rest will be at 1%.:(

[smeyer418]

you know I just had to have my cards replaced when I reactivated the new card the BoA employee told me of the great deal to earn 3 per hundred--- he didn't know the program was ending and he couldn't find it in the notes about the program!

[lumofny]

If you have a PayPal account you can get an instant 1% cash back on all purchases. No need to earn points or wait until you've racked up $2500 or more in spending to request a $25 statement credit. While its technically not a credit card (you can only spend what you have in your PayPal account) it is great logging in every day and seeing those credits posted to your account. If you do a lot with eBay and PayPal, this might be the best bet for you to go.

 

Are there any other programs out there that give an instant (or monthly) cash back credit regardless of amount?

[AFT_LOVER]

I just got one this morning via email. It asked what banks I have credit cards with so I answered Citi, B of A, Amex, and then it sked what credit cards I have with each bank: HH Signature Via with Citi, Norweigan Plat Plus MC for B of A & Blue with Amex. They asked if I pay an annual fee, and all were NO.

 

Then it asked if I received a letter in October that one of my cards was being cancelled & I said YES. Then which card: Norwegian's. Then it asked if I was given a choice of a new card: NO. Then it asked what card was the replacement: WORLDPOINTS I marked.

 

Then it asked ratings for the original card vs Worldpoints. Then it sked how many time I cruised & with whom in the past year. NCL TWICE. If my cruising will be less this coming year & why. I stated the loss of Compass Rewards from the Norwegian Platinum Plus MC. Then it asked the rewards I wanted: $500-$3000 discount for each cruise for 500-3000 points. Then it asked earning the awards & my answer: from cruiseline & from everyday spending with warranty protection of an additional year. Then I marked 5 points per dollar for groceries including warehouse clubs,

gas, drugstores, 10 points per $1 for NCL purchases (cruise fare, cruise gifts, excursions). Then I added special promotions each month on cruises or large ticket items.

 

So get ready to receive it & tell them off too!

 

I vote for NCL doing this, or B of A is getting Worldpoints organized for our awards with all the calls we are making to them.

[gtalum]

The process for using my compass rewards points went very smoothly. I called B of A, and the first agent I spoke to knew exactly what i was talking abotu and issued me 4 $500 certs. They arrived about 5 days after my call. I filled them out and maile dthem to NCL on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. They wer ecredited to my cruis ebooking on Tuesday. I was surprised at how smoothly it went. I notified my TA, who sent me a new invoice reflecting the credit,s and showing that I now owe -$14.27. I'm not too concerned about whether I get the $14 back. :D

 

I'm sad that they've killed this program, and this will likely be my only NCL cruise.

[lumofny]

I just got one this morning via email. It asked what banks I have credit cards with so I answered Citi, B of A, Amex, and then it sked what credit cards I have with each bank: HH Signature Via with Citi, Norweigan Plat Plus MC for B of A & Blue with Amex. They asked if I pay an annual fee, and all were NO.

 

Then it asked if I received a letter in October that one of my cards was being cancelled & I said YES. Then which card: Norwegian's. Then it asked if I was given a choice of a new card: NO. Then it asked what card was the replacement: WORLDPOINTS I marked.

 

Then it asked ratings for the original card vs Worldpoints. Then it sked how many time I cruised & with whom in the past year. NCL TWICE. If my cruising will be less this coming year & why. I stated the loss of Compass Rewards from the Norwegian Platinum Plus MC. Then it asked the rewards I wanted: $500-$3000 discount for each cruise for 500-3000 points. Then it asked earning the awards & my answer: from cruiseline & from everyday spending with warranty protection of an additional year. Then I marked 5 points per dollar for groceries including warehouse clubs,

gas, drugstores, 10 points per $1 for NCL purchases (cruise fare, cruise gifts, excursions). Then I added special promotions each month on cruises or large ticket items.

 

So get ready to receive it & tell them off too!

 

I vote for NCL doing this, or B of A is getting Worldpoints organized for our awards with all the calls we are making to them.

 

 

Did this survey come via email or on the phone? Who was putting it on? I'd be quite leary to tell someone the specifics of exxactly what credit cards I have. If it actually was a bank, chances are they already would know which ones you have :)

[OceanDreaming2]

I just got one this morning via email. It asked what banks I have credit cards with so I answered Citi, B of A, Amex, and then it sked what credit cards I have with each bank: HH Signature Via with Citi, Norweigan Plat Plus MC for B of A & Blue with Amex. They asked if I pay an annual fee, and all were NO.

 

Then it asked if I received a letter in October that one of my cards was being cancelled & I said YES. Then which card: Norwegian's. Then it asked if I was given a choice of a new card: NO. Then it asked what card was the replacement: WORLDPOINTS I marked.

 

Then it asked ratings for the original card vs Worldpoints. Then it sked how many time I cruised & with whom in the past year. NCL TWICE. If my cruising will be less this coming year & why. I stated the loss of Compass Rewards from the Norwegian Platinum Plus MC. Then it asked the rewards I wanted: $500-$3000 discount for each cruise for 500-3000 points. Then it asked earning the awards & my answer: from cruiseline & from everyday spending with warranty protection of an additional year. Then I marked 5 points per dollar for groceries including warehouse clubs,

gas, drugstores, 10 points per $1 for NCL purchases (cruise fare, cruise gifts, excursions). Then I added special promotions each month on cruises or large ticket items.

 

So get ready to receive it & tell them off too!

 

I vote for NCL doing this, or B of A is getting Worldpoints organized for our awards with all the calls we are making to them.

 

Was it a Synovate survey?

[mpk218]

I was just thinking how much I hate to see this program go. Do you think it would do any good to flood corporate with an email campain just to let them know how many people realy apreciate this type of program . And may start looking at other lines becuase of the loss of it .

I know wishful thinking , but maybe if they recieve several hundred from all the CC people they might pause .

A simple please reinstate , no tirades ..

 

E-mail ..... ksheehan@ncl.com ( I know he has others read these , but numbers count )

 

Back to work.....;)

Edited December 4, 2008 by mpk218

[OceanDreaming2]

I was just thinking how much I hate to see this program go. Do you think it would do any good to flood corporate with an email campain just to let them know how many people realy apreciate this type of program . And may start looking at other lines becuase of the loss of it .

I know wishful thinking , but maybe if they recieve several hundred from all the CC people they might pause .

A simple please reinstate , no tirades ..

 

E-mail ..... cveitch@ncl.com ( I know he has others read these , but numbers count )

 

Back to work.....;)

 

Too bad Colin's not in charge anymore :(

[mpk218]

Ya caught that before I could change it :p:p

[lumofny]

Too bad Colin's not in charge anymore :(

 

My wife and I had lunch with Colin while we worked onboard the Pride of Aloha. Since leaving NCLA I haven't kept up with the management of the company and wasnt aware that he left. Seems as though the replacement of CEO came right along with the replacement of their credit card.. Oh well..

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I've not received anything from BoA yet, but I've not been home to check the mail (been in Galveston welcoming the new grandbaby!) DH is headed home today so maybe my 12/1 statement will be there soon.

 

I didn't receive the email that a previous poster did, but I did get one from Barclays (Carnival SeaMiles). I have a SeaMiles card but don't use it since it is such a rip-off (although, now it seems that it will be very similar to NC's program. Anyway ... there were a fair number of questions that included NCL so I am wondering if they're getting lots of inquiries from disgrunted Compass Points customers and are looking to capture them by beefing up their program. Certainly would be nice since their family includes Princess.

[EmmasNana]

Are you able to look at your statement on line? Just wondered if it would show there???

[Suni99]

I am still looking for my new credit card of choice. Is anyone looking at Citi Cash Returns Mastercard? Although, it only pays 1% cash back on all purchases, it pays an additional 4% cash back on over 400 participating merchants INCLUDING NCL, Carnival, Celebrity, RCI, etc. You can also purchase gift certificates for some normal purchase stores like CVS, BB&B, etc. at an additional 4% cash back. I would not use the online shopping merchants. There is no limit to how much you can earn. It has the other bells and whistles including travel insurance, car rental insurance, extended warranty, etc. There is also a 20% bonus on cash back earned the first 12 months. (meaning if you earn $100 cash back they will send you an additional $20) Since we have two NCL cruises coming up this year (one with 8 of us all on our credit card which still has a $4000 balance) and all the money we spend in the casino I may try this card for a year. There is NO annual fee. We don’t carry a balance so it doesn’t matter what the rates are.

**Just typing this I think I have convinced myself to give it a try. I will call first to make sure I have all the facts right. We have a Citi ThanK You point card but I am afraid the value of the points will be going down.

Any ideas/comments?

 

 

I will be using my Discover card in Feb. they have 5% cash back for tavel from jan-march, you do need to sign up for it, worth it if you have a cruise planned during those months...:)

[c breeze]

All the coins have arrived and are banked (tellers were less than happy to see me coming with the boxes)! Thank you US Mint for a one month interest free $3,000 loan, and 90 Compass Points! And thank you to the Cruise Critic members who suggested this as a way to get one more $500 certificate!

 

Good luck to the rest of you on getting that last $500 certificate! Hope we all make it! Still looking for the perfect replacement for this card - best FLEXIBLE cruise reward that give you a choice of which cruise you can use the rewards on, s or cash back. I don't care about other travel rewards.

[weloverunning]

**I posted this on the regular thread but I want to make sure all of you see it **

If you are like a number of us who will be using our final payment to get the FINAL $500 certificate on our compass rewards, be careful. With the fuel surcharges being removed from the final payment due, it will decrease the amount of 4% you will be earning on your credit card. Also, I have to watch closely on a cruise in January which is already paid in full. I need to make sure they don't credit my credit card back for the fuel surcharges already paid because they will take away my much needed last 10 points or so. I will then have to use my card one more time to make sure I have the 500 points by December 31.

I know you are all like me and have been monitoring our credit cards to make sure we get that very last drop out of BOA.