HAL Visa Card

[HamburgAvonLady]

I see you can earn points when using HAL's Visa card. We are booked on the Westerdam next Oct. 2012 for a 30 day trip to Hawaii/Tahiti. If I pay for the cruise with this Visa card (final payment is due in July, I believe) ----- will I be able to redeem the OBC's earned to that trip or will they be applied to a future cruise ?? Can I also use shareholder OBC's as well ?

[RuthC]

Yes, you can combine the credits; I have done that, and toss in the Future Cruise Credit, to boot. :D
It's been a while since I redeemed any Barclay credits, so I don't remember everything clearly. But I used them for the next cruise I had coming up at the time. I don't remember if it was before or after final payment.

It's a very easy process. They appeared as another on-board credit on my account when I boarded.

[kjw869]

I see you can earn points when using HAL's Visa card. We are booked on the Westerdam next Oct. 2012 for a 30 day trip to Hawaii/Tahiti. If I pay for the cruise with this Visa card (final payment is due in July, I believe) ----- will I be able to redeem the OBC's earned to that trip or will they be applied to a future cruise ?? Can I also use shareholder OBC's as well ?

You can use them for your upcoming cruise. We just made our final payment for our January cruise, and after that, I submitted another redemption. We will have at least a $700 discount on our cruise.

[VermeulT]

after I made final payment for the cruise I have coming up next week... I had enough points to take $1500 off this cruise.

it's the credit card with the best benefits I've ever found.

[cthamburg]

I obtained a HAL Barclay's Visa almost as soon as they were available. I use it exclusively for HAL and use it for every HAL purchase I make including shipboard account since I earn two HAL points for each dollar spent. By saving up all my points, I was able to knock off $7500 from the upcoming world cruise. Well worth getting the HAL Visa card for those that do serious cruising on HAL!

[billroddy]

If you are going to use points for an upcoming cruise, remember you have to apply them 15 days before sailing. I phoned Rewards a week before cruise and was told could they could not be used.

Bill
Anciemt Mariner

[HamburgAvonLady]

Guess i will put in my application. Forgot to ask --- do the points expire ??

[RuthC]

Forgot to ask --- do the points expire ??
I've never seen a mention that the points can expire. Doesn't mean that a change in terms can't be made someday, but as for now I am saving mine up.
The best deal is to use the points toward payment of the cruise itself; you get a better rate. So, that's exactly what I'm doing now. I'm trying for a high enough total that I can make a good-sized dent in my balance-due on next September's cruise.

[kakalina]

I've never seen a mention that the points can expire. Doesn't mean that a change in terms can't be made someday, but as for now I am saving mine up.
The best deal is to use the points toward payment of the cruise itself; you get a better rate. So, that's exactly what I'm doing now. I'm trying for a high enough total that I can make a good-sized dent in my balance-due on next September's cruise.

Really! I hadn't heard of this Ruth. I have saved and saved and saved and now I will see if I can use them this way as we are booked on the same cruise as HamburgAvonLady. Thanks for posting this information, the Barclay folks sure didn't share this with me. :D

[Sea42]

IMO, you would be better off using a card like Discover,and others, that have the 3 month special categories which offer 5% cash back and use that cash for OBCs. The categories rotate every 3 months but they have offered travel twice this year. It's certainly a better return than the 1% the HAL card gives.

[Big Dawg CC]

When I took out the application, the small print said that the points will expire after 5 years.

Also, to clarify another post, the 1% is only at lower reward levels. The more points you save, the better the rewards. For example, if you save up to 300,000 points, you will get $7,500 off a cruise, which is a 2.5% return. Moreover, since you get 2 points for HAL purchases, at that rate, you are effectively getting 5% off HAL purchases.

[RuthC]

IMO, you would be better off using a card like Discover,and others, that have the 3 month special categories which offer 5% cash back and use that cash for OBCs. The categories rotate every 3 months but they have offered travel twice this year. It's certainly a better return than the 1% the HAL card gives.
Another card I have has that offer. Problem with that is I never want to use my card to buy anything they have on special. Some things I just don't want, and I use cash/check for other things. I won't put every expense on credit card.

I use the HAL Barclay card for HAL purchases only. Easy to keep track, and I get double points. May not be the best deal out there, but it's all right for me.

[Big Dawg CC]

I just went to the Terms and Conditions on the Barclay website. It states the following: "Points will expire 5 years from the end of the billing cycle in which they were earned."

So, yes, they do expire if you do not use them in five years.

[Sea42]

When I took out the application, the small print said that the points will expire after 5 years.

Also, to clarify another post, the 1% is only at lower reward levels. The more points you save, the better the rewards. For example, if you save up to 300,000 points, you will get $7,500 off a cruise, which is a 2.5% return. Moreover, since you get 2 points for HAL purchases, at that rate, you are effectively getting 5% off HAL purchases.
Thanks for the clarification. I had looked into the card and didn't see the graduated level of rewards. I guess it would depend on OP's spending levels as to which card would be the better way to go. But for me and maybe others it would be a long time before I would ever get to 300,000 points!

[VermeulT]

With 5000 points ($5k on non-HAL purchases) you can get a $50 beverage card.
40,000 in points is $500 off your cruise (given as credit on you card).

So basically, the more points, the more you can get... And the better point for product return you get.

[protocrone]

We have been charging everything on our HAL/Barclay card and then paying it off every Friday. I've got the electric, cable and now, property taxes set up for auto payments. If I'm at the grocery store and need cash back, I use my debit card since I won't put cash advance on the card.

We had the extra bonus points for signing up, double points for paying balance of cruise so we hit the $100 OBC really fast. Already redeemed for our upcoming cruise.... And adding on points for the next cruise in hopefully, April.

[cthamburg]

I agree with Ruth C and Big Dawg CC. I hadn't heard that the points expire after 5 years but that's not been an issue for me. And if it's getting close to expiration, I would just make sure I made some charge, any charge, to keep the points active. 5 years is much better than the 18 months that most airline credit cards have. (However, does it mean that if the points are not redeemed within 5 years they are lost, or that there must be activity on the credit card within 5 years or the points expire?)

Again, I am in agreement that it's best to get as many points as possible and use them for something more expensive. Perhaps Discover is good if you are booking rare and inexpensive cruises as they set a limit in each 3 month period when their 5% cashback bonus applies. The $800 travel limit is a total between January and March and is worth $40. I do use that, but just charge the $800 once. Initially I had thought that it could be used each month of the three months and was surprised when the second month I earned a nifty .25% ($2 on $800) or something like that on my second $800 charge. That cured me of charging any more than the $800 ifor the quarter.

I don't believe it has been mentioned but the HAL Visa (like Discover) has no annual charge like most airline and other credit cards do. That's another plus.

[Sea42]

Again, I am in agreement that it's best to get as many points as possible and use them for something more expensive. Perhaps Discover is good if you are booking rare and inexpensive cruises as they set a limit in each 3 month period when their 5% cashback bonus applies. The $800 travel limit is a total between January and March and is worth $40. I do use that, but just charge the $800 once. Initially I had thought that it could be used each month of the three months and was surprised when the second month I earned a nifty .25% ($2 on $800) or something like that on my second $800 charge. That cured me of charging any more than the $800 ifor the quarter.

Thank you for that information. I didn't know about the limit!

[EGCruisers]

I like to wait until after a cruise to redeem my points. In addition to the cost of the cruise itself, I charge all of my HAL charges during the cruise to the card. When I get back, I use all of the points to get a statement credit.

[KirkNC]

I see different statements like 300,000 = $7,500 and 40,000 = $500, where can one find documentation on this (I am not saying it is not true, I just want to understand the progression). I am like Carol2765, I use cards that give me between 1-3% rebates depending what I buy and I can use these rebates for anything, not just cruises. In order to get 300,000 points you need to spend $300,000, thats a lot of dough :eek:. While I would love to spend $150,000 on cruises to get 300,000 points, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Kirk

[cthamburg]

I see different statements like 300,000 = $7,500 and 40,000 = $500, where can one find documentation on this (I am not saying it is not true, I just want to understand the progression). I am like Carol2765, I use cards that give me between 1-3% rebates depending what I buy and I can use these rebates for anything, not just cruises. In order to get 300,000 points you need to spend $300,000, thats a lot of dough :eek:. While I would love to spend $150,000 on cruises to get 300,000 points, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Kirk

I found the following link on the HAL site advertising the HAL Visa. If you open this website, scroll down below the second "Appy now", and click on the part that says "Click here for Holland America Points Rewards Options." It give you a list of how you may use your points. You may not make $150,000 in HAL purchases to give you 300,000 points, but you can still qualify for some of the other options.

https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=1593&cellNumber=7

[Dbedros]

I agree that this is not a good card for the average cruiser. I got the card for the free initial points. I will use those to go to the Pinnacle Grill as my DH hates paying additional for a meal. Due to our spending habits most of us will be better off using some other card. There is no general OBC which allows you to do what you want with the credit.

As an example for my upcoming RCCL cruise I got their card (two for me and one for DH) which gives me $50 OBC for $5000 in regular spending. With the initial bonus points and my regular spending I will have tips, speciality restaurant, some drinks and wine paid for and no annual fee. The only card I will pay an annual fee for is the SW airline card because the two free tickets or worth the fee for one year only!

[Cruising-along]

I agree that this is not a good card for the average cruiser. I got the card for the free initial points. I will use those to go to the Pinnacle Grill as my DH hates paying additional for a meal. Due to our spending habits most of us will be better off using some other card. There is no general OBC which allows you to do what you want with the credit.

As an example for my upcoming RCCL cruise I got their card (two for me and one for DH) which gives me $50 OBC for $5000 in regular spending. With the initial bonus points and my regular spending I will have tips, speciality restaurant, some drinks and wine paid for and no annual fee. The only card I will pay an annual fee for is the SW airline card because the two free tickets or worth the fee for one year only!

Actually, there is general OBC which allows you to do what you want with your credit. Your OBC is taken right off your onboard account -- so if you have $300 OBC and your onboard account at the end of the cruise is $400, you will only pay the difference. Tips are included, as is most everything else you buy or spend money on, including playing Bingo.

It's unfortunate that the website makes it look like you must use your OBC for what they have listed. You don't earmark your OBC towards one thing, it's just the amount taken off your final bill.

[Dbedros]

Actually, there is general OBC which allows you to do what you want with your credit. Your OBC is taken right off your onboard account -- so if you have $300 OBC and your onboard account at the end of the cruise is $400, you will only pay the difference. Tips are included, as is most everything else you buy or spend money on, including playing Bingo.

It's unfortunate that the website makes it look like you must use your OBC for what they have listed. You don't earmark your OBC towards one thing, it's just the amount taken off your final bill.

If there is a general OBC with the Visa Card I have not been able to locate it. I went to Barclay set up my account which gave me a link to HAL's reward redemption site. The same rewards that are listed on HAL's web site (actually a link to Barclay) are listed as rewards. You select a specific item just as listed on the web site.

What is very misleading is the HAL web site link shows the Pinnacle Grill as 2500 points pp and the link from Barclays account to HAL Rewards shows 3200 points pp are needed. I agree that there is general OBC but not from the HAL Visa Card. This comes from my TA, other credit cards and options. If it is there please give me a link!

[KirkNC]

I found the following link on the HAL site advertising the HAL Visa. If you open this website, scroll down below the second "Appy now", and click on the part that says "Click here for Holland America Points Rewards Options." It give you a list of how you may use your points. You may not make $150,000 in HAL purchases to give you 300,000 points, but you can still qualify for some of the other options.

https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=1593&cellNumber=7

Thanks, that is what I was looking for. It seems like outside of the double points for HAL purchases, it is about the same as most reward cards. I already get 2% rewards for anything I book through HAL via my Costco AMEX which is as good as anything on this card until you hit $300,000 in total spending.

Kirk

[Cruising-along]

If there is a general OBC with the Visa Card I have not been able to locate it. I went to Barclay set up my account which gave me a link to HAL's reward redemption site. The same rewards that are listed on HAL's web site (actually a link to Barclay) are listed as rewards. You select a specific item just as listed on the web site.

What is very misleading is the HAL web site link shows the Pinnacle Grill as 2500 points pp and the link from Barclays account to HAL Rewards shows 3200 points pp are needed. I agree that there is general OBC but not from the HAL Visa Card. This comes from my TA, other credit cards and options. If it is there please give me a link!

That's why I said it's unfortunate that the website doesn't tell people how it really is. We've sailed many times after getting the HAL Visa card and have used a lot of OBC since then.

Yes, when you go to the redemption site you pick a reward, but really, at the end of the cruise, it won't matter because the amount of OBC you're redeeming will come off your final bill no matter what. I've come to believe that they don't really look at what you "signed up for", they just take the amount off your final statement. I've seen others post the same here.

We thought the same thing the first time we used it! And then found that it's very confusing, because like you, we thought we had to redeem only for something that was listed (shore excursion, beverage pkg, Pinnacle, etc.) Hopefully someone else will come and explain better, I know I must sound confusing too! :o:)

[RuthC]

Yes, when you go to the redemption site you pick a reward, but really, at the end of the cruise, it won't matter because the amount of OBC you're redeeming will come off your final bill no matter what. I've come to believe that they don't really look at what you "signed up for", they just take the amount off your final statement. I've seen others post the same here.
That's been my experience, too. You allocate the credit toward something specific, but the credit is just tossed into the mix.

I had already purchased shore excursions on-line, so had paid for them via credit card. Later, I redeemed credit card points for shore excursion credits, but didn't purchase any more once on board.
The credit appeared, and was used against my general expenses.

[Dbedros]

That's why I said it's unfortunate that the website doesn't tell people how it really is. We've sailed many times after getting the HAL Visa card and have used a lot of OBC since then.

Yes, when you go to the redemption site you pick a reward, but really, at the end of the cruise, it won't matter because the amount of OBC you're redeeming will come off your final bill no matter what. I've come to believe that they don't really look at what you "signed up for", they just take the amount off your final statement. I've seen others post the same here.

We thought the same thing the first time we used it! And then found that it's very confusing, because like you, we thought we had to redeem only for something that was listed (shore excursion, beverage pkg, Pinnacle, etc.) Hopefully someone else will come and explain better, I know I must sound confusing too! :o:)


Thanks you so much. I just got off the telephone with Barclay's redemption center (lot of punching to get to correct place) and was told that this is correct. The best option is to use 5000 points increment and $50 will be added as OBC for each 5000 points reward. And yes the Pinnacle Grill reward has increased but the web sites have not been corrected. This makes the card more acceptable and in line with others. Thanks everyone for the correct information. Cruise Critic Rocks! :cool:

[Cruising-along]

Thanks you so much. I just got off the telephone with Barclay's redemption center (lot of punching to get to correct place) and was told that this is correct. The best option is to use 5000 points increment and $50 will be added as OBC for each 5000 points reward. And yes the Pinnacle Grill reward has increased but the web sites have not been corrected. This makes the card more acceptable and in line with others. Thanks everyone for the correct information. Cruise Critic Rocks! :cool:

You are very welcome! And thanks to Ruth for explaining it too. Like I said, we didn't know either until after we'd used it once, but it has been this way every time. :)