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Mariner Points for onboard spending


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I am looking for a clarification about the following information from the HAL website:

 

"When you cruise with Holland America Line, you’re automatically enrolled in our Mariner Society – the most generous rewards program at sea. As a member, you’ll earn Cruise Day credits for every day you cruise and for each time you make an onboard purchase, like an evening of fine dining in the elegant Pinnacle Grill or a rejuvenating spa treatment.These credits help you increase your Mariner Star status and earn even greater rewards just for doing what you love."

We are currently booked in a Signature Suite on the Zuiderdam and know about the suite bonus of double cruise day credits. Is the above information another way to earn cruise day credits or is it really a reference to earning one bonus credit for every $300 spent in on board purchases? If it is another way to earn cruise day credits, what other ways might qualify?

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The onboard spending adds to your Mariner status. 1 point for every $300 spent. The same as your suite earns you double points.

 

Your actual at sea credit (going towards a medallion) only pertains to the days you are at sea. (I think that is what you mean in your question?)

 

They all count towards your Mariner status which is what gets your various discounts, etc. As you get to the different levels.

 

Example: 7 day cruise in a suite with $2100 of on board spending. 7 credits for cruise, 7 credits for suite, 7 credits for on board spending = 21 Mariner points.

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... HAL is very generous in rounding up your onboard spend, so if you were to spend $350, our experience is that you'd be credited with $600 onboard spend and get 2 days' Mariner credit. Very generous.

 

I have always seen that, too. But they were less generous with our recent cruise, so maybe they're rethinking the "rounding up" point.

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... another way to earn cruise day credits or is it really a reference to earning one bonus credit for every $300 spent in on board purchases?
In the sentence you've underlined, I think they're just talking about the $300/day bonus, but it is misleading. Edited by catl331
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... HAL is very generous in rounding up your onboard spend, so if you were to spend $350, our experience is that you'd be credited with $600 onboard spend and get 2 days' Mariner credit. Very generous.

 

Generally speaking they are generous in rounding up, but sometimes not. I suspect it may vary on what items are involved (i.e. hotel service charge vs shops vs casino (likely no credit on this).

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In the sentence you've underlined, I think they're just talking about the $300/day bonus, but it is misleading.

 

That sentence makes it appear that 2 trips to the spa and 3 dinners in the PG would get you an additional 5 credits alone even though the cost does not exceed $1500. (1 credit for each $300 spent in eligible onboard purchases)

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We just got off the Rotterdam on March 25. We received 14 cruise day credits and 14 days spending credits. I know that your spending credits cannot exceed the number of days of your cruise. But there's no way we spent $4200 (14 X 300 = $4200) in pre-boarding or onboard spending. There must have been some serious rounding up going on. Same thing for an Oct/Nov TA on the Westerdam. 25 cruise day credits, and 25 onboard spending credits. 25 X $300 = $7500. Again, no way we spent $7500.

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I think I should have copied the HAL website reference in it's entirety to better illustrate why I would like a clarification. HAL provides a benefit overview and then makes an apparent distinction regarding the suite bonus and the onboard spending bonus by using the phrase "In addition". That phrase suggests, to me at least, that the spa and PG purchases they mention are separate and treated differently then other onboard spending purchases.

 

Here is the HAL website statement and link:

 

MARINER SOCIETY®

 

 

Benefits Overview

 

 

Print page shownWhen you cruise with Holland America Line, you’re automatically enrolled in our Mariner Society – the most generous rewards program at sea. As a member, you’ll earn Cruise Day credits for every day you cruise and for each time you make an onboard purchase, like an evening of fine dining in the elegant Pinnacle Grill or a rejuvenating spa treatment. These credits help you increase your Mariner Star status and earn even greater rewards just for doing what you love.

 

 

In addition, there are easy ways to earn bonus Cruise Day credits and make exploring even more rewarding.

 

 

 

  • Suite Bonus – Earn double Cruise Day credits when you pay a published fare for a spacious suite or penthouse on your next cruise.
  • Onboard Spending Bonus – Earn one bonus credit for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases you make.*

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/marinerSociety/Main.action?tabName=Rewards#

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I think I should have copied the HAL website reference in it's entirety to better illustrate why I would like a clarification. HAL provides a benefit overview and then makes an apparent distinction regarding the suite bonus and the onboard spending bonus by using the phrase "In addition". That phrase suggests, to me at least, that the spa and PG purchases they mention are separate and treated differently then other onboard spending purchases.

 

Here is the HAL website statement and link:

 

MARINER SOCIETY®

 

 

Benefits Overview

 

 

Print page shownWhen you cruise with Holland America Line, you’re automatically enrolled in our Mariner Society – the most generous rewards program at sea. As a member, you’ll earn Cruise Day credits for every day you cruise and for each time you make an onboard purchase, like an evening of fine dining in the elegant Pinnacle Grill or a rejuvenating spa treatment. These credits help you increase your Mariner Star status and earn even greater rewards just for doing what you love.

 

 

In addition, there are easy ways to earn bonus Cruise Day credits and make exploring even more rewarding.

 

 

 

 

  • Suite Bonus – Earn double Cruise Day credits when you pay a published fare for a spacious suite or penthouse on your next cruise.
  • Onboard Spending Bonus – Earn one bonus credit for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases you make.*

https://www.hollandamerica.com/marinerSociety/Main.action?tabName=Rewards#

It's poorly written, but PG and Spa spending is no different than spending in shops, excursions, alcohol, etc.

 

We just got off the Rotterdam on March 25. We received 14 cruise day credits and 14 days spending credits. I know that your spending credits cannot exceed the number of days of your cruise. But there's no way we spent $4200 (14 X 300 = $4200) in pre-boarding or onboard spending. There must have been some serious rounding up going on. Same thing for an Oct/Nov TA on the Westerdam. 25 cruise day credits, and 25 onboard spending credits. 25 X $300 = $7500. Again, no way we spent $7500.
Guess you got lucky through somebody's errors!
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When HAL means "on board spending" -- this also includes all purchases you buy online before your cruise -- like shore excursions, specialty restaurants, etc.

 

I just called HAL and they said that excursions booked in advance do not qualify as on board spending and are not factored in for cruise day credits and Mariner points. What do you think??

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I just called HAL and they said that excursions booked in advance do not qualify as on board spending and are not factored in for cruise day credits and Mariner points. What do you think??

 

Totally wrong. They do count towards Mariner points. Call HAL's reps and you will get 3 different answers. Best bet is the Mariner's society, but, if my word is good enough - all my dinners, etc. Are booked on line and I have always gotten credit for them.

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I agree with Kazu; almost anything purchased online, in advance of the cruise, counts towards your cruise day credits. I say almost because I don't believe that OBC purchased in advance of the cruise counts.

 

There is no way we would be 4 star mariners if pre-cruise purchases didn't count.

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I just called HAL and they said that excursions booked in advance do not qualify as on board spending and are not factored in for cruise day credits and Mariner points. What do you think??
Definitely wrong.

 

almost anything purchased online, in advance of the cruise, counts towards your cruise day credits. I say almost because I don't believe that OBC purchased in advance of the cruise counts.
Because they are not yet "spending". They are just a cash deposit. When you use them on board, that's spending. What you don't use, but just get back, aren't spent. If it was otherwise, you could rack up huge credits by buying much more than you need and getting the money back but still get the credit for them.
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Totally wrong. They do count towards Mariner points. Call HAL's reps and you will get 3 different answers. Best bet is the Mariner's society, but, if my word is good enough - all my dinners, etc. Are booked on line and I have always gotten credit for them.

 

I thought that was the case. I appreciate all the great info I have received on CruiseCritic. Thanks.

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We have always gotten credit for all the excursions and specialty restaurants that we have pre-booked.

But we have never experienced the credit being rounded up -- i.e. -- one time we had around $225 towards the next point and it was not credited. I keep track of those of things. But I don't worry about it as the points as meaningless to us.

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I just called HAL and they said that excursions booked in advance do not qualify as on board spending and are not factored in for cruise day credits and Mariner points. What do you think??

 

I agree with other posters. This is wrong. The Mariner GAQ on the website (both versions) say that excursions and gifts bought online or through ship services count toward the bonus.

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I agree with other posters. This is wrong. The Mariner GAQ on the website (both versions) say that excursions and gifts bought online or through ship services count toward the bonus.

 

 

Thanks. I found the info you mentioned at the FAQ:

 

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits.

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