For those who have received and used shipboard credits

[Orcrone]

If you receive a shipboard credit from HAL, when do you receive the voucher? I understood it was received with your travel docs, however, HAL said it is in your stateroom upon arrival.

Which is it?

[sail7seas]

We have ship board credits for almost every cruise.

IF you do not receive it with your documents, pressure your TA to get it from Seattle before you board the ship.

Make a xerox copy of it before you give it to the front office....they sometimes get lost and with no "proof", you will not get the credit on your final bill.

If you do not have the "coupon" in your possession when you arrive at the ship, you well could have difficulty proving you are supposed to have it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

Every cruise that we have been on, we have gotten ship board credit.

And the voucher that you have to turn into the front office when you get on the ship, will be in your documents. Ours has always been there.

I always make a xerox copy of the voucher just in case when we get the final bill on board the ship that the ship board credit doesn't appear. Then I can show them the copy. So far nothing like that has happened.

If the voucher isn't in you documents, have your TA call HAL and have HAL fax a copy of the ship board credit to your TA.

:)

[Orcrone]

Thank you very much S7S and KK.

And S7S, I hope you had a great cruise and enjoyed your 35th celebration. Looking forward to hearing about it.

Well, we're off to the beach. Good day.

[Giorgi-one]

We had credit on our July 3 cruise on Zuiderdam. There was no voucher. My documents just indicated that I had a room credit and it showed up on my bill on day one.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

OOPS - When I first opened this thread, sail7seas post wasn't there. After I had posted, then it showed up.

Guess I will get flamed for repeating what she said.

:)

[Golfgrl1911]

At least your responses are consistant!! LOL

[anngie]

Last time ours was in our cabin on the dresser when we boarded the ship. My TA told us this time that it will show up on our bill as a credit and she also told them to put it on the dresser again but I made a copy of our invoice with the shipboard credit and will take it with us in December.

[sail7seas]

Orcrone.....Thanks.


We had a fabulous, wonderful, fantastic time. We got home a few hours ago....easy travel as we live only 30 minutes from Black Falcon Cruise Terminal.

"MY" Maasdam is as beautiful as ever and has a Terrific crew.

[Lisa63]

Thanks for the suggestion of making a Xerox copy of the coupon, s7s. We will be sure to do so with the coupons that were in our travel document booklet.

[RevNeal]

On my last Cruise the Sunday School classes in my church had taken up a secret offering and called HAL and placed an order for a number of items for me in my Cabin. Flowers, a mug with chocolates in it, and a credit for $500. That was very nice of them.

The credit notification was on the bed when I got to my cabin.

[superstein61]

Different but related question - with the new tipping policy - can the credits be applied against the tips on your bill? Or are they only for other shipboard charges?

How about excursions - especially those booked in advance?

[gizmo]

Different but related question - with the new tipping policy - can the credits be applied against the tips on your bill? Or are they only for other shipboard charges?

How about excursions - especially those booked in advance?
I would think there would be no problem with using the credit for the new auto tips. The credits I have had in the past were applied to our account as a credit. It didn't make a difference if we had booze, purchases or excursions purchased on board.

Excursions booked in advance require a credit card and are charged against your card immediatley. I really don't know if you can do it or not. You can try calling Hal and ask.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Something also to think about with Ship Board Credits. This has not happened to me but my TA said it has happened to a few of her clients. If you each get a Ship Board Credit of say $100 each make sure you each use your card for at least that much in charges. She told me that one of her clients was upset because the wife had never used her card and DH bought everything. When they received final bill they only recieved one credit. To my understanding they never did get it resolved with HAL. She said she always advises couples that if there is the credit per person to make sure that they each use their card for expenses. That has never been a problem with us.:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We have never had a problem with ship board credits and husband having 99% of the charges appearing on his portion of the bill. On the final bill everything was combined for a grand total which included the ship board credit for both of us. Since everything goes onto one credit card, there hasn't been a problem.

Maybe the husband was using one credit card and the wife a different one?

:)

[Lois R]

I guess its all semantics huh?....its not like they are giving me any money....its just the final balance will be reduced by whatever the on board credit will be...in my case..25.00...unless my TA can tell me somthing....about why some of these folks are getting 50...and I am only getting 25.00...and now that my tips are being charged......well.....fooeeeyyy....:rolleyes: LOL...I was thinking....its 50.00 worth of wine or liquor or whatever LOL...its not...its just a reduction of the final bill...I know, I know, its the same thing...like I said..semantics......:eek:

[Cruiseoften]

Seems US residents are the only pax who receive 'shipboard credits' on every cruise :eek:

Canadians, we've had a few but certainly not on every cruise - might add that we're in the 300+ days on HAL category. Hate to think we're being disriminated against but.............does make me wonder! Maybe we should be complaining more!

Any comments? :confused: :rolleyes:

[Barocl]

Just used our shipboard credit on the Statendam. Some was used for buying stuff and some was used for tips. Take care.

[Lois R]

Hi :) this is the first shipboard credit I have ever received, so I am not one of those folks who gets them on every cruise.

[jhannah]

The shipboard credits are separate per person ... just like the accounts (sign-and-sail cards) are separate, even though they're combined for payment on the same credit card. If one doesn't use their shipboard credit, it's lost. Now, with the auto-tip, it's not so much of an issue as it has been in the past.

[srpilo]

VegasJim..

But now on a 7 day cruise EACH person has at least $70.00 of tips charged to his or her name, so its imposible to lose all the credit, even if you don't use your card..

Isn't that logical?

Srpilo

[Cruiseoften]

Hi :) this is the first shipboard credit I have ever received, so I am not one of those folks who gets them on every cruise.

Hey!!!!! I'm not begrudging you your credit!:) I just wonder about those who get one on every cruise - wouldn't you? That we shoud be so lucky!:)

We've used ours for excursions, drinks, on board store purchases, bingo playing, hair do, manicure, etc. etc. Last time we were on board the 'tipping' edict was not in effect but see no reason not to use it for that too.

[Plut0]

My son and I returned 2 weeks ago. When I received the preliminary bill the day before departure, I noticed that they had separated everything for the two of of (almost like two accounts). Since my son did not purchased anything during the trip, I was concerned that we would lose remaining credit that was almost $100. I went to the front office and asked what would happen. He is over 18, but all the trips and drinks were on my card. She indicated that they would be combined before charging my credit card and we would get the full credit. I checked my credit card charge which came in the mail today and they did indeed combine them together and we got the full credit for both of us.

As KrazyKruiser says below, maybe you only lose it if you use two credit cards.

I hope this helps.
Mary

[jhannah]

Yes, srpilo, it's logical. That's why I mentioned the tips. If they're combining the shipboard credits, then that's wonderful ... and a change from the last time I sailed.

[Orcrone]

It sounds like, to be on the safe side, we should make sure we both use our cards. Better safe than sorry.

Just wondering. If DW and I were to give my brother our vouchers, could he use his and our vouchers for his account, or do they have to be used for the rooms to which they were assigned?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Orcrone, I believe that they have to be for the cabin the credit is assigned to. But it is worth checking into if you want to do that.

[Charliesmom]

I think that the shipboard credits often come through the travel agency. Lots of agencies use them as incentives to book. If you use an American Express Platinum card, there are promotions for shipboard credits, but your travel agent has to go after it for you (and I think they lose out on some of their commission if they do). Lots of the discount agencies give shipboard credits. There are also shipboard credits directly from the cruise line if you book another cruise while on board. If you get on the email list of the discount agencies you will be bombarded by offers for shipboard credits.

Roberta

[sheldrvrT6A]

Super
My wife and I just got off of the Oostherdam on 3 July and our 200 dollars was applied to our tips as I had pre paid all other stuff. HAL said no problem and were very cooperative.
Revneal: Looked for you on the ship and had to settle for the catholic priest.
LOL.
Jerry

[michaelark]

Newbie here trying to understand....

If you have any shipboard credits remaining at the end of the cruise, do you get that back in cash?

Does it matter whether it is a promotional shipboard credit or credit that someone called and purchased for you as a gift?

Thanks!

[gizmo]

Seems US residents are the only pax who receive 'shipboard credits' on every cruise :eek:

Canadians, we've had a few but certainly not on every cruise - might add that we're in the 300+ days on HAL category. Hate to think we're being disriminated against but.............does make me wonder! Maybe we should be complaining more!

Any comments? :confused: :rolleyes:Most who receive ship board credits on every cruise either own CCL stock or book using AMEX Plat. Lots of others book a cruise while on board which usually qualifies you for an on board credit also.
Hope this answers your question.

[PT Cruisin]

Must agree with LAFFNVEGAS about the use of the shipboard credits. Before the cruise I asked and received an e-mail from HAL on how the credits could be used. Boarded, (stayed in a suite, first cruise ever, on the Amsterdam to Alaska), headed straight to the concierge to register our credit card and was told something differently from the concierge about the use of the credits even after I showed them my e-mal from HAL. They talked to HAL in Seattle and said I was given misinformation from the rep. in the e-mail. Disappointed, but it wasn't going to ruin our cruise. And it was a wonderful cruise. On the last night on the ship, we again asked about amount of credit left (there were some funds that were going to be returned to us). I did spend at the gift shop that night the credit that I needed to spend or else the credit would be forfeited. As we settled our account the next morning we found out (as LAFFNVEGAS stated), that the credit was divided between my husband and my account and one of us still had a small credit balance. It was a small amount and I'm too embarrassed to post how small but there was so much frustration involved since we asked all the right questions in the beginning, had an e-mail from Hal to back up the conversation and checked the night before about the remaining credit. There was never any mention about the credit being divided among 2 accounts and that it wasn't combined. Our concierge had offered to even take the money out of her pocket to give to us, which we wouldn't allow her to do.... It was sad that such a little thing like that put a damper on the cruise experience. Just couldn't believe the misinformation given to us, and the lack of concern from "Seattle". With so many shipboard credits given, just couldn't believe they didn't have their "acts" straight with that one. We were never informed that each of us would have to use our separate "cards" to reduce the credit. And just so disappointed that we heard so many different things from the parties involved. Wondering if anyone else experienced anything similar? I know I'm being petty with this but miscommunication many times over really bothers me...but it just shows how something very minor left us leaving the cruise with a bad impression of HAL management. Thanks in advance for any similar stories. Donna

[PT Cruisin]

P.S. just to clarify the above. I was told in the e-mail from Hal that I could use my shipboard credits against the excursions I had already booked - to go to the front desk or concierge for credit against my credit card (this was not the case) and also only one credit card company was used for check in at the Neptune Lounge though I don't remember if we each had to produce a card to show them but regardless it would have been the same number...
Donna

[sheldrvrT6A]

PT
We did not experience anything on the Oosterdam that you ran into. All of our credits ($200.00/$100.00 each) were combined and we were told that the credits were as good as cash and we could, and did, use them anywhere and anytime. I wonder if it was a particular ship thing?
Jerry

[PT Cruisin]

Jerry, Thanks for your response. We had a large shipboard credit (around $400 if I remember correctly), most of it from winning first place at a AAA travel presentation for Alaska/HAL. We thought we would have no problem spending it onboard if for some reason it could not be credited against the shore excursions already booked. But we were happy when first told it could be credited against the shore excursions ...then being told when we boarded they have no way of crediting on board...pleeeze...that really sounded like a poor excuse to us, just to make us spend the shipboard credit.

Believe it or not, we had a hard time spending the money on board. We are not big drinkers, didn't see anything in the gift shop that we "had" to have and the excursions that we wanted to go on were already booked and paid. We were refunded approx $75 in cash but used the remainder of the money for internet minutes, transfers to Seattle airport and a few t-shirt and candy items on the last night of the cruise. We thought we had used up all the credit but found out the day of disembarking there was still a credit of $30 on "my" card. Something that was not told to us the night before. Just wondering now if that "credit" could have been transferred to any of the shipboard staff instead of just letting it go "poof" into thin air? For some reason that amount was not refundable as we had 2 different vouchers for the credit. Definately did not like the fact the the credits were not combined, we had separate onboard "accounts" and the fact that none of that was relayed to us. I do hope this has changed on all ships since our Sept. 03 trip...
PT