NCL Mastercard FAQ

[lkcous]

Hello....just found this thread great info...just got the card in 2015. I have 11,000 points. i have a owners suite booked on the sky in july and balcony on the getaway in nov. is the only upgrade you can do with 60,000 points is from inside to balcony? or can i go higher form balcony? i am going to but both of these on my card. i might be pretty close by time nov rolls around.

[mscdivina2016]

Hello....just found this thread great info...just got the card in 2015. I have 11,000 points. i have a owners suite booked on the sky in july and balcony on the getaway in nov. is the only upgrade you can do with 60,000 points is from inside to balcony? or can i go higher form balcony? i am going to but both of these on my card. i might be pretty close by time nov rolls around.

 

Yes that is the biggest reward available. You cannot go higher than a balcony and afts are excluded.

 

Pay the cruise off earlier, get your double or triple points on that charge then redeem. I never carry a balance so paying early does not cost me anything really. Oh yeah, the .005 my checking earns.:p:D

 

Steve

[lkcous]

Yes that is the biggest reward available. You cannot go higher than a balcony and afts are excluded.

 

Pay the cruise off earlier, get your double or triple points on that charge then redeem. I never carry a balance so paying early does not cost me anything really. Oh yeah, the .005 my checking earns.:p:D

 

Steve

 

Thanks! we will just leave the nov cruise as is cause my brother and family are joining us and we got rooms close to each other. Another question...we are thinking about booking a alaska cruise july 2018. when i book do we have to have the 60,000 points then or just use a cruise next to hold book a inside then when we have to pay in full use points to upgrade to balcony? or do they need to know using points when I book?

[mscdivina2016]

Thanks! we will just leave the nov cruise as is cause my brother and family are joining us and we got rooms close to each other. Another question...we are thinking about booking a alaska cruise july 2018. when i book do we have to have the 60,000 points then or just use a cruise next to hold book a inside then when we have to pay in full use points to upgrade to balcony? or do they need to know using points when I book?

 

Book inside now if you want and when you have enough points, call and upgrade.

Let me caution you though. If you book cheapest inside, when you upgrade you need to hope they have cheapest Balcony available or you will pay the current rate for an inside category that is high enough to equal a balcony.

 

IA+BA

IB=BB

IC=BC and so on.

So I would book higher inside now and you should be safe later. You are usually only talking a $100 difference really.

 

Steve

[twopizz]

5 years from date earned. so if you don't use them for 5 years (60 months)every month after 60 months,the 61st month will drop off or expire.

 

Steve

 

Thank you, Steve!

[twopizz]

Book inside now if you want and when you have enough points, call and upgrade.

Let me caution you though. If you book cheapest inside, when you upgrade you need to hope they have cheapest Balcony available or you will pay the current rate for an inside category that is high enough to equal a balcony.

 

IA+BA

IB=BB

IC=BC and so on.

So I would book higher inside now and you should be safe later. You are usually only talking a $100 difference really.

 

Steve

 

Steve, I booked an inside for a TA -2018.

I should reach the 60 000 points in the next couple of months.

Only have paid so far the $100 booking.

Should I have paid in full the inside before I call for the doble meta?

Thank you in advance!

[mscdivina2016]

Steve, I booked an inside for a TA -2018.

I should reach the 60 000 points in the next couple of months.

Only have paid so far the $100 booking.

Should I have paid in full the inside before I call for the doble meta?

Thank you in advance!

 

twopizz,

 

As soon as you get 60,000 "earned" points" call them.

No need to pay off right now. You get double points for charging NCL so you could make a partial payment to get you over the 60K points if you are in one of the cheaper insides. If you are in a higher priced inside than no real need to worry about it.

Since its also in 2018, you have plenty of time.

 

Steve

[jmele999]

I just called and tried to upgrade from an oceanview to an Aft balcony using 30K points. They told me that aft balconies don't qualify for the upgrade. The best I can do is get a BA from OA.

[mscdivina2016]

I just called and tried to upgrade from an oceanview to an Aft balcony using 30K points. They told me that aft balconies don't qualify for the upgrade. The best I can do is get a BA from OA.

 

You cannot go higher than BA. That is the ceiling no exceptions. Afts are high demand rooms.

 

Steve

[twopizz]

twopizz,

 

As soon as you get 60,000 "earned" points" call them.

No need to pay off right now. You get double points for charging NCL so you could make a partial payment to get you over the 60K points if you are in one of the cheaper insides. If you are in a higher priced inside than no real need to worry about it.

Since its also in 2018, you have plenty of time.

 

Steve

 

Thank you Steve! You are very helpful!

[SandyBShores]

I really wish they would start this sticky fresh as there's literally 10 years of info on here. I tried to search for answers but my keywords hit posts from 2009 and 2012 and I'm afraid it's outdated info. So...sorry for the (probable repeats) but:

 

1) How far in advance of my cruise should I call to redeem my points if I want them as OBCs?

 

2) Will they show up on my NCL account page or do I receive/need to take paper proof?

 

3) I read the disclaimer on BOAs website and it says "credits cannot be used toward service charges". Does this mean I cant use the OBC money to pay a tip I add for a drink?

 

4) Also in the disclaimer it says any unused amounts can be refunded. So if I don't spend every penny they're wasted?

 

On a possibly helpful note, this past month I have used my card to pay for extras purchased via NCLs website and received triple points, not just double. :)

[Casino Comp Chick]

I wish had gotten this card sooner. I have 2 cruises booked and plan on maxing out the card in the casino(20k). Taking the cash home and paying off the card. I will get 60,000 points on each cruise. The best thing is that I am Golden in the casino so I save the 3% cash advance fee that the casino normally takes. Has anyone been able to use an upgrade on an already CAS comped room?

 

No I tried last year and it cannot be used on a CAS booking.

[mscdivina2016]

I really wish they would start this sticky fresh as there's literally 10 years of info on here. I tried to search for answers but my keywords hit posts from 2009 and 2012 and I'm afraid it's outdated info. So...sorry for the (probable repeats) but:

 

1) How far in advance of my cruise should I call to redeem my points if I want them as OBCs?

 

2) Will they show up on my NCL account page or do I receive/need to take paper proof?

 

3) I read the disclaimer on BOAs website and it says "credits cannot be used toward service charges". Does this mean I cant use the OBC money to pay a tip I add for a drink?

 

4) Also in the disclaimer it says any unused amounts can be refunded. So if I don't spend every penny they're wasted?

 

On a possibly helpful note, this past month I have used my card to pay for extras purchased via NCLs website and received triple points, not just double. :)

 

1.You can do it up to a week before sailing

 

2. It should show up on your NCL cruise page but print it anyway

 

3.Its not supposed to be used for DSC, but it seems like it does sometimes so dont count on it.

 

4. Again, not supposed to, but I have gotten a check at cruise end,so assume you will lose it.

 

If you are redeeming that much OBC, take the statement credit an avoid all the above.

 

Steve

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I agree it would be nice to restart this sticky with current pertinent information for card holders. When I got my card last year, I took a look and just reviewed the last page or so--wasn't going to wade through 100s of posts that, as you said, are probably outdated...

 

I really wish they would start this sticky fresh as there's literally 10 years of info on here. I tried to search for answers but my keywords hit posts from 2009 and 2012 and I'm afraid it's outdated info. So...sorry for the (probable repeats) but:

 

1) How far in advance of my cruise should I call to redeem my points if I want them as OBCs?

 

2) Will they show up on my NCL account page or do I receive/need to take paper proof?

 

3) I read the disclaimer on BOAs website and it says "credits cannot be used toward service charges". Does this mean I cant use the OBC money to pay a tip I add for a drink?

 

4) Also in the disclaimer it says any unused amounts can be refunded. So if I don't spend every penny they're wasted?

 

On a possibly helpful note, this past month I have used my card to pay for extras purchased via NCLs website and received triple points, not just double. :)

 

 

 

On #3, this has nothing to do with tips you add to drinks or dinners, etc. "Service charges" is referring to the DSC that is added to your on-board account.

 

You should have received a notice from them that NCL puchases now receive triple points. I've had my card almost a year and have gotten triple on every NCL purchase I've made--it adds up fast if you use your card to pay for your cruises! :D

[att2detail]

Hi all,

 

Fist time NCL cruiser here. For clarification, can the OBC from the earned credit cards points be used toward gratuities, or is that considered a service charge?

 

Thanks in advance for your reply.

[mscdivina2016]

Hi all,

 

Fist time NCL cruiser here. For clarification, can the OBC from the earned credit cards points be used toward gratuities, or is that considered a service charge?

 

Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

Technically no. You might be better with a statement credit instead if you are not going to spend nothing on board.

 

Steve

[att2detail]

Technically no. You might be better with a statement credit instead if you are not going to spend nothing on board.

 

Steve

 

Hi Steve, thanks for the information. Every where I turn it seems like NCL is tiring to stick it to me. The ultimate drink package is far from ultimate, which I suspect is why the are offering it as part of the cabin price. Hopefully our on board experience will be good because I am beginning to regret booking a cruise with them.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Hi all,

 

Fist time NCL cruiser here. For clarification, can the OBC from the earned credit cards points be used toward gratuities, or is that considered a service charge?

 

Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

On NCL they don't call them "gratuities"...it's the DSC or Daily Service Charge, it's not just considered a service charge, it's called one. You can use the OBC for just about anything else though.

[shellmisi]

Okay so my day has been ruined. I know you all are just the messengers!

 

We plan on spending nothing more on this cruise. We had a job loss after final payment and all other travel booked. So we are going, but doing absolutely nothing extra - dining, drinks, excursions, etc. We are perfectly happy with this plan as we enjoy the included activities and food.

 

 

Now I just read that I can't pay for the service charge with my Mastercard OBC that is already processed and sitting there for me. #$&@%#%&

 

 

So this is the plan and please tell me if I have any of this wrong.

1. Go to the casino.

2. Ask to get $150 out.

3. Take $150 to guest services and place it on our account.

4. Deal with $4.50 charge and $39 remaining DSC balance.

5. End of cruise, pay $43.50.

 

 

Is this a workable plan of action? Thanks in advance!

[Curtw]

Seems like a lot of red tape and rules in order to receive a fairly minimal pct on points. We use a card that is not affiliated with any sponsor other than our credit card bank. We get double and better points for a lot of our purchases. And, we can use the cash back in any way we want, with any purchase (read: Not NCL only), it is a true cash value. I suggest using a card that offers this flexibility instead of a cruise affiliated card. Zero headaches.

[SNJCruisers]

I preferred to keep it simple. Got the card for free, used it a couple times, paid it off and got my 100 in OBC. Did the same thing a few years ago for another Bank of America card for Celebrity.

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Forums mobile app

[mkmaj]

I preferred to keep it simple. Got the card for free, used it a couple times, paid it off and got my 100 in OBC. Did the same thing a few years ago for another Bank of America card for Celebrity.

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Forums mobile app

Same here. Got it, used it to pay cruise balance, 150 OBC, the end.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app

[mscdivina2016]

Seems like a lot of red tape and rules in order to receive a fairly minimal pct on points. We use a card that is not affiliated with any sponsor other than our credit card bank. We get double and better points for a lot of our purchases. And, we can use the cash back in any way we want, with any purchase (read: Not NCL only), it is a true cash value. I suggest using a card that offers this flexibility instead of a cruise affiliated card. Zero headaches.

 

If you get a cruise card, one would assume that cruising is what you want out of it. If you want cash back you get a cash back card. If you plan it right with the right card you can get a value that is equal to 10% of your purchases. That is why I like this NCL card.

 

Steve

[Curtw]

If you get a cruise card, one would assume that cruising is what you want out of it. If you want cash back you get a cash back card. If you plan it right with the right card you can get a value that is equal to 10% of your purchases. That is why I like this NCL card.

 

Steve

 

10% ? I'm sold!

 

Problem is, when I read the fine print and the math, it's far from 10%. More like 1% on most purchases. Maybe 10% on a very limited initial offer, but not thereafter. And if you look, you'll see literally every card - not just a cruise card - has similar initial offers.

 

So mostly 1%. And red tape. Not about being a cruiser or a cash back guy, it's about realistic return and usability. My cash back paid for 100% of two of our cruises, no flim flam to deal with. (And no high interest rates for that month you don't pay in full!)

[mscdivina2016]

10% ? I'm sold!

 

Problem is, when I read the fine print and the math, it's far from 10%. More like 1% on most purchases. Maybe 10% on a very limited initial offer, but not thereafter. And if you look, you'll see literally every card - not just a cruise card - has similar initial offers.

 

So mostly 1%. And red tape. Not about being a cruiser or a cash back guy, it's about realistic return and usability. My cash back paid for 100% of two of our cruises, no flim flam to deal with. (And no high interest rates for that month you don't pay in full!)

 

Key word was value =10%

 

I used 60,000 points to go from inside cabin, upgraded to Balcony on a 40 night cruise. The difference in cost between inside and Balcony for 40 nights is/was $6000. As time went on the spread got even larger. Now it is sold out and its still a year away.

If I used the points for OBC or cash back that would be $600.

I always use the upgrade. I just booked a 15 night Panama cruise, value of inside to Balcony =$2400

 

Many of my points come from using NCL as they give triple on any of their stuff. Last 21 night cruise gave me 27,000 points just for booking and paying.:)

 

Steve

 

Steve