Are prepaid shore excursions considered an onboard purchase?

We just became 3 star Mariners---earlier than expected---due to our onboard spending. I know our bar bill goes towards earning days. I assume buying the wine package does as well. What about the shore excursions we purchase online??

We have to get another 125 days to get to the next level. It might not be an impossible feat if those expensive shore excursions can help get us there.

Yes, the shore excursions you pay for ahead of time, as well as wine packages, speciality dinners, spa packages, OBC, anything at all you pay for except your fare, counts toward your days. You get one day for each $300 spent but I think you are limited to a maximum of the number of days you are actually cruising. So, on a 10 day cruise, you can only get 10 extra days. Right experts?

Stay in any cabin called a 'suite' and you get double days there, too.

I believe it has to be a Neptune Suite in order to get double credit.

Roz

I believe it has to be a Neptune Suite in order to get double credit.

 

Roz

Nope, we got double credit when we were in an SY.

That's good to know. Thanks for the info.

Roz

That's good to know. Thanks for the info.

 

Roz

We were surprised, so I went back and re-read the 'rules'.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're upgraded to a suite, you don't get the bonus points. It has to be that your original booking was a suite and that's what you paid for.

Roz

I believe that is correct.

Nope, we got double credit when we were in an SY.

Wow...that is good to know!! Tried to get an SY for our Iceland cruise in July. Most everything was gone. I guess they are very popular. Maybe next time!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're upgraded to a suite, you don't get the bonus points. It has to be that your original booking was a suite and that's what you paid for.

 

Roz

If you have an upgrade or an upsell to a Suite, you will earn double days if the cabin from which you were upgraded (upsold) was eligible for double days. If you came from a cabin that would not be credited for double, then you don't get it.

It is definitely NOT only Neptune and Pinnacle Suites that earn double Mariner days.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're upgraded to a suite, you don't get the bonus points. It has to be that your original booking was a suite and that's what you paid for.

 

Roz

Nope, it doesn't say original booking. It says "a guest who pays a published fare", not the published fare at booking time but a published fare.

From the Mariner page

Earn Bonus Cruise Day Credits

In addition to earning Cruise Day credits for each actual day sailed, there are also easy ways you can earn bonus Cruise Day credits. The more Cruise Day credits you collect, the faster you increase your Mariner Star status, and the more exciting rewards you’ll receive.

◾Suite Bonus when you pay a published fare for a spacious suite on your next cruise. For example, a guest who pays published fare for suite accommodations for a 10-day cruise earns 20 cruise day credits.

◾Onboard Spending Bonus Earn one bonus cruise day credit for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases. This is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. There is a limit of one bonus day for each day sailed, and 3rd and 4th guests on the same booking do not earn the onboard spending bonus*.

◾Guests can earn bonus days for cruises beginning September 18, 2009 in accordance with the Program Launch Schedule.

So if you pay for an upsell to a SZ/SY/SS suite from a verandah/OV/Interior and the price you pay is at least the cost of a published fare for the SZ/SY/SS category you upsell to then you should get double points. This can happen if you upsell and the price of the SZ/SY/SS drops to what you paid or less. Keep a screen shot of the published fare.

We have received an OBC of say $500. If we spend $600 do you think we will still get bonus days for having spent $600 or will the OBC which reduces the amount to $100 effect whether we will receive the bonus days?

I understand getting the bonus points if it's an upsell situation, but what about an upgrade from a cabin that wasn't eligible to start with? Now I'm totally confused.

Roz

I understand getting the bonus points if it's an upsell situation, but what about an upgrade from a cabin that wasn't eligible to start with? Now I'm totally confused.

 

Roz

If you are upgraded/upsold from a cabin that was not eligible, you will not get double days.

We have received an OBC of say $500. If we spend $600 do you think we will still get bonus days for having spent $600 or will the OBC which reduces the amount to $100 effect whether we will receive the bonus days?

If the total amount of money you spend is $600, that is what you will be credited. Your OBC will offset $500 of it and you will only have to pay a bill for $100 but your Mariners Accounts will be credited with $600...... or two days.

We have received an OBC of say $500. If we spend $600 do you think we will still get bonus days for having spent $600 or will the OBC which reduces the amount to $100 effect whether we will receive the bonus days?

Your OBC are paying down your folio account. Your final bill will determine how many days you get. The good news is, part of it will be used to pay your tips. We have 1250 OBC for our next cruise. I guess we won't be getting too many, if any, bonus days. Don't expect bonus days except for the $100 over and above spent, that you mentioned . I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt that the cruiseline would make it that easy!

I am excited to learn we may get to be 4stars in possibly 4 years or less, if we book SY's. The problem is they book up early on Prinsendam, because there aren't that many!

The double days apply to any veranda cabins on R and S class ships and to any PH, S, or S_ cabin on Vista and Signature class ships. It is based on the originally booked cabin, not the upgrade. Precruise purchases for items/activities during the cruise count, but not pre or post cruise hotels, air, or land add ons other than Alaska cruise tours.

The double days apply to any veranda cabins on R and S class ships and to any PH, S, or S_ cabin on Vista and Signature class ships. It is based on the originally booked cabin, not the upgrade. Precruise purchases for items/activities during the cruise count, but not pre or post cruise hotels, air, or land add ons other than Alaska cruise tours.

Again, "It is based on the originally booked cabin" that is not what their web site states. It states "pays a published fare". If you upsell or upgrade and what you paid is equal to or more than a published fare on HALs web site then you should get the double points. Doesn't matter if it is an upsell or upgrade but is based on what you paid versus what HAL tries to sell the suite for on their web site. Keep the screen shot of HAL's published fare and what you paid for your upsell or upgrade.

We made 4 Star status this past cruise earlier than I expected...but it adds up with the bar bill, the Daily Service Charge, specialty restaurants, on board purchases, and the shore excursions.

If you have say $630 of onboard expenses you'll get three extra credit days, too, not just two. :)

Absolutely, when we pre book a cabana at HMC, that translates into bonus days.

Your $1250 in OBC translates to the possibility of an extra 4 or 5 bonus days. An OBC is just a form of payment. It has nothing to do with earning you points, it just helps pay your bill for charges you have already accumulated. These charges may be the service charge, a dinner at the Pinnacle Grill, a shore excursion, or whatever. Before you board the ship, you pay for your cruise. That cost does not show on your bill, so doesn't earn you bonus points. But once you do board, most all other charges that appear on your bill do count towards your extra points. You are fortunate to have so many OBC's. That means you can spend $1250 and have all that qualify for points as long as you don't buy casino charges or cash advances. Anything you purchase on board is billed to your account. That is what you earn points on. It doesn't matter how you pay that bill, be it cash, credit card, or OBC. It qualifies! It sounds like you have a good start on getting to your next mariner level quickly. Congrats. There are some nice perks as you make your way up the line. I personally can't wait for that free laundry!!

Your OBC are paying down your folio account. Your final bill will determine how many days you get. The good news is, part of it will be used to pay your tips. We have 1250 OBC for our next cruise. I guess we won't be getting too many, if any, bonus days. Don't expect bonus days except for the $100 over and above spent, that you mentioned . I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt that the cruiseline would make it that easy!

 

I am excited to learn we may get to be 4stars in possibly 4 years or less, if we book SY's. The problem is they book up early on Prinsendam, because there aren't that many!

If you have say $630 of onboard expenses you'll get three extra credit days, too, not just two. :)

 

Onboard Spending Bonus. You may think you're just enjoying all of the 5-star amenities Holland America Line is known for. But in fact, you're earning valuable bonus Cruise day credits. For every $300 in onboard purchases you make over the duration of your journey, you'll earn one bonus Cruise Day credit. <snip>

 

If you spend $630, you will earn two bonus days..... as I wrote above.

 

If you spend $630, you will earn two bonus days..... as I wrote above.

 

We have been given three extra credit days when our onboard spending was above $600 but less than $700. :shrug:

I asked my PPC about shore excursions booked before the cruise counting towards on board spending Mariner days and she said that they do NOT count. They only count if you purchase them while you are on the ship. This was the relevant part of the email:

"Good afternoon!

The accrual of Bonus Days are only good for onboard spending. You would have to book the Shore Excursions once you get on the ship for them to count towards the $300."

I got this email on October 15 so I'm thinking it reflects the current policy.