Cruise credit days

Hi all. I’m having a discussion on another board about how HAL credits folks for cruise days. We spent about 600.00 before boarding and received 2 days for it, as well as all the on board spending we did. Folks are saying that HAL only gives credit days for what you spend onboard. Has something changed? I know it says “onboard” on the website but when I called, I was told all spending counts and I did get the credit without having to request it.

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Hi all. I’m having a discussion on another board about how HAL credits folks for cruise days. We spent about 600.00 before boarding and received 2 days for it, as well as all the on board spending we did. Folks are saying that HAL only gives credit days for what you spend onboard. Has something changed? I know it says “onboard” on the website but when I called, I was told all spending counts and I did get the credit without having to request it.

 

 

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the folks you are talking to are in error.

You get credit for what you prepurchase on line or by phone as well as what you spend on board.

Exceptions are on board credit (you get the credit when you spend the on board credit) and the casino technically.

Other than that, what you buy ahead of time and what you purchase on board count. Just off a cruise and have my Mariner status and I was fully credited + ;)

I agree with Jacqui; all of our pre-boarding spending counted. The one thing I was surprised about is that we seemed to have gotten credit for the extra tips we gave to our dining and cabin stewards. But hey, that's onboard spending too so.... Wondering if that might account for the "extra" that people including myself have noted before ("HAL rounds up generously").

If you find you haven't been credited the appropriate amount, just call the Mariners office and let them know. They're really good about making the adjustments once they take a look at your account.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

I think the confusion is about spending what is identified upfront as OBC - on board credit, whichyou might get awarded ahead of time - CCL stock ownership, special sign-up offers, discounts offered later, travel agent perks etc - if this gets called -onboard credit - it means you can only spend it while onboard - and it will not be used pay for pre-booked expenses - shore excursions etc. However, both sources are included in your Mariner status. Whatever adds up to spending $300 a day gives you one cruise credit day.

Though others have offered work-arounds to convert this in to cash via the casino, I will let them explain this to you. We just spend it on board and juggle our shore excursion reservations accordingly to get full use.

There is something a little weird now at the Medallion Receptions. After they give out the actual cruise day medallions, they also honor those with high cruise credit numbers -- even if we have not actually cruised that number of days. For the past three time they make sound like we actually sailed that number of days, not just rang up travel bank account -- mainly for us on HAL shore excursions and "suites". .

We have never had any problems getting "day" credits for anything we have pre purchased.

HAL's use of the term "on board spending" is unfortunate, and is what leads to this constant confusion as to whether or not pre-cruise spending counts toward Mariner Days.

If HAL were to say that all expenses (other than the exempt ones like Casino) attributed to your account are counted toward your Mariner Days, it would be so much clearer.

If it's a purchase made for that booking, even if a gift from your TA of best friend, it counts. Made on board, or made in advance, it counts.

The one thing I was surprised about is that we seemed to have gotten credit for the extra tips we gave to our dining and cabin stewards.

 

There is something a little weird now at the Medallion Receptions. After they give out the actual cruise day medallions, they also honor those with high cruise credit numbers -- even if we have not actually cruised that number of days. For the past three time they make sound like we actually sailed that number of days, not just rang up travel bank account -- mainly for us on HAL shore excursions and "suites". .

In our experience they often honour Star status by having, for example, all 5 stars stand up (or have photos). On some cruises the go through the whole range, from 1 starts to 5 stars.

This is in addition to handing out the Medallions (pure days) and recognizing all Medallion holders as well.

In our experience they often honour Star status by having, for example, all 5 stars stand up (or have photos). On some cruises the go through the whole range, from 1 starts to 5 stars.

 

This is in addition to handing out the Medallions (pure days) and recognizing all Medallion holders as well.

In this case, we get personally named along with the number of our "days" (in fact our cruise credit points) and have a photo with the captain, just like those who actually earned their at-sea day medallions. I have pointed out this error to several prior cruise directors - that these are not actual at-sea days as they present but in fact are cruise credit points. But since nothing has changed so we now just smile and go along with the misplaced but nice recognition.

However, this dubious honor causes some "gasps" from the crowd, because our cruise credit points rank right up there with the enviable level for President Club members who in fact are the real honorees with well over 1000 truly at-sea days. We are a long way from ever being invited to join that illustrious group. We are just now only reaching 500 actual at-sea days so our next award in fact will be the earned Gold Medallion - that should confuse them.

Sometimes I get spending credit for things booked & paid for prior to boarding, other times I do not. I could not find a pattern or explanation of why sometimes it was credited and others it was not. I never count on the pre-cruise purchases as part of the on-baord spending credit towards bonus days. I took the "on-board spending credit" to mean based on spending on-board, not prior to boarding; but that cut just be me and my understanding of the words.

HAL's use of the term "on board spending" is unfortunate, and is what leads to this constant confusion as to whether or not pre-cruise spending counts toward Mariner Days.

If HAL were to say that all expenses (other than the exempt ones like Casino) attributed to your account are counted toward your Mariner Days, it would be so much clearer.

 

If it's a purchase made for that booking, even if a gift from your TA of best friend, it counts. Made on board, or made in advance, it counts.

I didn't know that about the gifts being factored in. That accounts for some mystery points that I couldn't figure out. Thanks for that tidbit, RuthC.

I think people just get confused. People hear that onboard credit can only be spent onboard and it might be easy to confuse that to think that only spending onboard earns cruise credit days.

My pre-cruise purchases, plus the onboard spending last month, was enough added to the actual cruise days on the Eurodam to bump me up a star. I didn't have enough actual sailed days. When I looked at HAL's website two weeks after I got home they had already added the star.

If those were cash tips they did not count. If you mean you increased your HSC they did count. They do round up very generously. We've gotten the extra day when we were as little as $20 over a $300 multiple. (e.g., $620 giving 3 credits) It doesn't cost the line anything to do that and it makes people happy!

Nope. We tipped in cash, and there is NO WAY (even with generous rounding) we would've gotten as many spending credits as we did without the inclusion of those extra gratuities.

Can someone please advise. How much in $$$ would you have to pre-purchase for 5 days credit? Will that apply to entire cabin? (Both DH & DW?) First I heard of this. Note~ We are both 5 days from 4 Star...next cruise is September Alaska would love to walk on as 4 Star! Thanks in advance all! :)

Can someone please advise. How much in $$$ would you have to pre-purchase for 5 days credit? Will that apply to entire cabin? (Both DH & DW?) First I heard of this. Note~ We are both 5 days from 4 Star...next cruise is September Alaska would love to walk on as 4 Star! Thanks in advance all! :)

It doesn't work that way; you can go ahead and pre-purchase $1500 in OBC ($300 x 5 days), but you don't get the spending credit until and unless you actually spend the money. You won't get that next star until the completion of your next cruise, sorry.

Can someone please advise. How much in $$$ would you have to pre-purchase for 5 days credit? Will that apply to entire cabin? (Both DH & DW?) First I heard of this. Note~ We are both 5 days from 4 Star...next cruise is September Alaska would love to walk on as 4 Star! Thanks in advance all! :)

$1500 dollars need to be purchased - for 5 cruise credit days at $300 per credit day - applies to both H&W in the same cabin. However, not sure you get the 4-star status before the cruise starts using $1500 of pre-purchases - they are usually awarded only after the completion of a voyage. Medallions are awarded differently -they apply as soon as the at-sea day number is reached. Best to check this out directly with HAL Guest Relations, the Mariner Society guru.

$1500 dollars need to be purchased - for 5 cruise credit days at $300 per credit day - applies to both H&W in the same cabin. However, not sure you get the 4-star status before the cruise starts using $1500 of pre-purchases - they are usually awarded only after the completion of a voyage. Medallions are awarded differently -they apply as soon as the at-sea day number is reached. Best to check this out directly with HAL Guest Relations, the Mariner Society guru.

Thank you OlsSalt...appreciate your time.

Nope. We tipped in cash, and there is NO WAY (even with generous rounding) we would've gotten as many spending credits as we did without the inclusion of those extra gratuities.

In this case, we get personally named along with the number of our "days" (in fact our cruise credit points) and have a photo with the captain, just like those who actually earned their at-sea day medallions. I have pointed out this error to several prior cruise directors - that these are not actual at-sea days as they present but in fact are cruise credit points. But since nothing has changed so we now just smile and go along with the misplaced but nice recognition.

 

However, this dubious honor causes some "gasps" from the crowd, because our cruise credit points rank right up there with the enviable level for President Club members who in fact are the real honorees with well over 1000 truly at-sea days. We are a long way from ever being invited to join that illustrious group. We are just now only reaching 500 actual at-sea days so our next award in fact will be the earned Gold Medallion - that should confuse them.

Yes, that should confuse them. I hope you report on your Gold Medallion: I'd love to know how they handle that and the Star status!

From what I've seen the gasps are partly because of how many "days" and partly because you don't look old enough! This happened to us with our Gold and then our Platinum Medallions.

If you've never had a pax or three question you about your level, you're lucky.

It doesn't work that way; you can go ahead and pre-purchase $1500 in OBC ($300 x 5 days), but you don't get the spending credit until and unless you actually spend the money. You won't get that next star until the completion of your next cruise, sorry.

Hi Stephanie - I think folks are referring to actual purchases such as wine and spa packages - not OBC....appears (from reading) some folks are getting credit based on purchases made prior to embarkation...I alawys thought that had to be made on board...

...appears (from reading) some folks are getting credit based on purchases made prior to embarkation...I alawys thought that had to be made on board...

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

All pre-purchases are considered "gifts" to yourself.

From FAQ's:

 

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

All pre-purchases are considered "gifts" to yourself.

Might be the "faqs" but I have no idea where I got the credits I did unless they counted my casino charges.

I will do the math but I know what I spent and pre-ordered. It makes no sense at all unless my casino counted.

Can someone please advise. How much in $$$ would you have to pre-purchase for 5 days credit? Will that apply to entire cabin? (Both DH & DW?) First I heard of this. Note~ We are both 5 days from 4 Star...next cruise is September Alaska would love to walk on as 4 Star! Thanks in advance all! :)

You don't get any cruise day credits until after the cruise. Only exception seems to be on a Grand Voyage, if a segment puts you over and you're staying for the next segment, they do give you the next star instead of waiting.

Getting credit for pre-buying OBC would be a double dip. Both passengers in a cabin get cruise credit day credit for the combined total of all charges to the cabin (including gratuities) plus all pre-bought things, and it makes no difference where the funds come from to settle the bill.

Sorry for the confusion earlier. My pre-cruise spending was for things. Specialty dinners for both cruises, the laundry package for both cruises, and the Quench Package for just the first four days since we had the SBP for the last seven.

Might be the "faqs" but I have no idea where I got the credits I did unless they counted my casino charges.

 

I will do the math but I know what I spent and pre-ordered. It makes no sense at all unless my casino counted.