Any tricks to earn Cruise Credits?

[CruiseWhere]

I'm pretty sure a cash advance is not considered "spending". Tips on your account are.

 

On our last cruise DH went to the Front Desk Reception and made several cash advances....and we were credited with Cruise Credits for those:D

[tamsocal]

On our last cruise DH went to the Front Desk Reception and made several cash advances....and we were credited with Cruise Credits for those:D

 

Haven't ever done cash advance , what are the fees associated?

 

We still have been bringing travelers checks when I have to pay cash for shore excursions

[Randyk47]

On our last cruise DH went to the Front Desk Reception and made several cash advances....and we were credited with Cruise Credits for those:D

 

Well, there you go....shows what I know. ;):)

[CruiseWhere]

Haven't ever done cash advance , what are the fees associated?

 

We still have been bringing travelers checks when I have to pay cash for shore excursions

 

$300 for $315. I think it's quite fair JMO

[tamsocal]

$300 for $315. I think it's quite fair JMO

 

Yes does seem reasonable.

So Hal charges $15 does it come on your credit card statement as a cash advance as well or does it just hit the cabin statement and at the end is a part if the total cabin invoice?

Ie is it subject to Hal cash advance fee and credit cars cash advance fee too?

 

:)

[Typhoon1]

Spend money. Money spent onboard translates into bonus days.

[CruiseWhere]

Yes does seem reasonable.

So Hal charges $15 does it come on your credit card statement as a cash advance as well or does it just hit the cabin statement and at the end is a part if the total cabin invoice?

Ie is it subject to Hal cash advance fee and credit cars cash advance fee too?

 

:)

 

Just on our HAL statement, like making a purchase!:)

[Linda&Vern]

On our last cruise DH went to the Front Desk Reception and made several cash advances....and we were credited with Cruise Credits for those:D

from HAL's website (under Mariner Society Q&A) . . .

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

"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."

[CaveDiving]

When we were informed that as 5 star Mariners that we would be getting free Pinnacle dinners, we cancelled the ones that we had pre-booked.

Those cancelled bookings did NOT count our total spending for our cruise.

When we get home -- I always check and add up all our spending on the ship and pre-booking expenses.

 

I was just wondering, after you achieved 5 star status, why do you care what credits you may get for additional spending?

 

Scott & Karen

[sail7seas]

I was just wondering, after you achieved 5 star status, why do you care what credits you may get for additional spending?

 

Scott & Karen

 

 

I agree. Once at the highest level, more days don't mean anything but I was happy when they increased the maximum from 200 to 500 days. :)

I also am happy with the additional benefits. We like and will use some of them.

 

[CruiseWhere]

from HAL's website (under Mariner Society Q&A) . . .

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

"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."

 

Guess they missed us, because we were credited and it was charged to our room!:p

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

just a question. I will be traveling with a friend. If we each book a tour say for $300.00 each. Will we get two credits or one each. are the credits per cabin or passengers.

 

 

thanks

Mary

[cruiserzoid]

The spending credits are combined for all the individuals in a stateroom (or staterooms maybe) IF they are under the same booking number.

[whogo]

Any tricks to earn Cruise Credits?

Take Holland America cruises frequently.

 

Book cheap cabins and cruise credits cost less than $100 each. You could become a five star mariner for $50,000.

[Typhoon1]

I agree. Once at the highest level, more days don't mean anything but I was happy when they increased the maximum from 200 to 500 days. :)

I also am happy with the additional benefits. We like and will use some of them.

 

Sail, what additional perks does a Five Star receive that a four star doesn't?

[Randyk47]

Hmmm...$50,000 for 5-star benefits that are worth??? Reminds of my neighbor in Tacoma who bought a new boat, motor, trailer, fishing gear, etc., so he could go salmon fishing in Puget Sound. At the end of the season I asked him how he'd done. He said he had fun but figured, based on the number and weight of the salmon he caught, it had cost him about $700 a pound. :eek::D Kind of going broke saving money.

[sail7seas]

Hmmm...$50,000 for 5-star benefits that are worth??? Reminds of my neighbor in Tacoma who bought a new boat, motor, trailer, fishing gear, etc., so he could go salmon fishing in Puget Sound. At the end of the season I asked him how he'd done. He said he had fun but figured, based on the number and weight of the salmon he caught, it had cost him about $700 a pound. :eek::D Kind of going broke saving money.

 

 

But look at all the fun that money that money bought.... :)

Both on the salmon fishing boat and on all our cruises earning those 5 Stars. :)

 

Priceless........ :cool:

We got so much from our cruises I can't begin to describe here the 'value for our dollar'.

 

 

 

 

[Randyk47]

But look at all the fun that money that money bought.... :)

Both on the salmon fishing boat and on all our cruises earning those 5 Stars. :)

 

Priceless........ :cool:

We got so much from our cruises I can't begin to describe here the 'value for our dollar'.

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely. You really can't put a value, at least in terms of dollars, on the wonderful voyages we've taken. From the places we've been to the people we've met to the time together. :) Any benefits we get in terms of loyalty programs are secondary.

[jtl513]

$300 for $315. I think it's quite fair JMO

I've never paid more than 3%, but it's been a couple of years since I took one. Are you sure you paid 5%?

[tamsocal]

But look at all the fun that money that money bought.... :)

Both on the salmon fishing boat and on all our cruises earning those 5 Stars. :)

 

Priceless........ :cool:

We got so much from our cruises I can't begin to describe here the 'value for our dollar'.

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely. You really can't put a value, at least in terms of dollars, on the wonderful voyages we've taken. From the places we've been to the people we've met to the time together. :) Any benefits we get in terms of loyalty programs are secondary.

 

I will save these posts for DH when I return next month .

It's not about the $$ we spent dear , it's the priceless memories that we had.

 

I agree though, will never forget the amazing adventure my oldest son and I went on to South America and Antarctica . Or family transatlantic cruise etc, these are all another reason I started journal writing while on vacation. We love reading back over all the intricate details that can sometimes be forgotten and the journal with pictures brings the adventure back to life.

[3littlepigs]

Anyone know if the verandah cabins on the R Class ships, specifically Volendam are counted as suites? They are sold as Vista Suites here but I didnt know if they attracted double points or whether it was only the suites that had access to the Neptun Club that were officially suites.

[sail7seas]

Anyone know if the verandah cabins on the R Class ships, specifically Volendam are counted as suites? They are sold as Vista Suites here but I didnt know if they attracted double points or whether it was only the suites that had access to the Neptun Club that were officially suites.

 

 

All verandah cabins on Volendam earn double days as 'suites'. :)

The Vista cabin does not have Neptune access.

 

[3littlepigs]

Thanks Sail7Seas! I wasn't sure if they were classified as suites as they didnt have Neptune access...the extra points are a nice bonus!

[dawei]

I don't mean to sound like the Grouch, but as a longtime gone and now returning HAL mariner, I recall when cruise credits toward Mariner levels were represented by cruise days ONLY. Additional credits were not offered for the type of stateroom booked or for purchases of anything onboard nor for tips paid.

Just recently, a fellow board member described the Mariner program as nothing more than a marketing program, and in its present form, that description certainly fits.

In its current form, how does one know how many of a Mariner's collected stars represent cruise days at sea and how many represent types of staterooms and/or purchases onboard..

Since I am new to the board, my guess is that I must not be the only one who has mentioned this; probably not the first by far.

[cruz chic]

I don't mean to sound like the Grouch, but as a longtime gone and now returning HAL mariner, I recall when cruise credits toward Mariner levels were represented by cruise days ONLY. Additional credits were not offered for the type of stateroom booked or for purchases of anything onboard nor for tips paid.

Just recently, a fellow board member described the Mariner program as nothing more than a marketing program, and in its present form, that description certainly fits.

In its current form, how does one know how many of a Mariner's collected stars represent cruise days at sea and how many represent types of staterooms and/or purchases onboard..

Since I am new to the board, my guess is that I must not be the only one who has mentioned this; probably not the first by far.

It is spelled out under your mariner status on the HAL website. You can see exactly how many days you have and how many points you got for spending.