Explore 4 beverage card and mariner spending question

[cruz chic]

A post on another thread had me confused. A poster called Seattle and was told they would get mariner credit for the explore 4 beverage package. I'm quite sure this is incorrect. The poster felt because it's included in the price they will get credit because it's a prepaid expense. I can't imagine how you would because no charges are billed to you. I've never had the explore 4 so I can't speak from experience. Can anyone confirm? Thx.

[Alberta Quilter]

A post on another thread had me confused. A poster called Seattle and was told they would get mariner credit for the explore 4 beverage package. I'm quite sure this is incorrect. The poster felt because it's included in the price they will get credit because it's a prepaid expense. I can't imagine how you would because no charges are billed to you. I've never had the explore 4 so I can't speak from experience. Can anyone confirm? Thx.

 

I have never received cruise day credits for either of my two Explore4 perks. IMO, it's a "free" perk that comes with the fare booked.

 

Now, if I had purchased the SBP, then, yes, I would receive the cruise day credits. It would be the same as other onboard spending.

[Lizzie68]

That's news to me, and I have it on two future cruises. It would be nice but I don't think so.

[Globaliser]

A poster called Seattle and was told they would get mariner credit for the explore 4 beverage package. I'm quite sure this is incorrect. The poster felt because it's included in the price they will get credit because it's a prepaid expense. I can't imagine how you would because no charges are billed to you.

I too can't imagine how this would work.

 

You get Mariner credit based on the amount that you spend. But if you get the beverage package as part of Explore 4, there is no monetary value ascribed to the package. You can estimate it by comparing the price of the cruise with and without the package, if you can get quotes; but those prices and the differential can be variable and the package itself isn't bought by you for a specific price.

 

So what monetary value would HAL attribute to the beverage package for the purposes of working out how many days to award? That is so opaque that I would have thought it more likely that it would just be counted as part of the fare and therefore irrelevant for Mariner credit.

[DeeniEncinitas]

A post on another thread had me confused. A poster called Seattle and was told they would get mariner credit for the explore 4 beverage package. I'm quite sure this is incorrect. The poster felt because it's included in the price they will get credit because it's a prepaid expense. I can't imagine how you would because no charges are billed to you. I've never had the explore 4 so I can't speak from experience. Can anyone confirm? Thx.

 

Good morning Cruz Chic!

I just posted on the other thread, and your right!

They again are getting wrong info!

We have never received credit on explorer 4 when it is incorporated into price of cruise.

Now we have in past paid for individually beverage cards and yes it was given to us as cruise day credits!

Mariner Society said no to the promo given now!

Denise:)

[POA1]

You only get credit if you buy the Signature Beverage Package. If it's a promotion, there's no credit.

[cruz chic]

Thank you all for replying. I had the same questions/concerns as you are all mentioning. I guess the Seattle person was so certain of the poster getting credit it left no doubt for them. Its unfortunate that Seattle is giving this impression.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We had the Explore4 program on our cruises -- did not receive any extra points for them.

[rajkr74]

We had the Explore 4 package on our April Med. Adriatic cruise and we received no credits toward our Mariner status for that package. None of our drink "purchases" ever showed up on our bill. It did not effect our on-board spending totals and Mariner points. Looks like someone gave out the wrong information. :confused:

[Fouremco]

Showing once again why CC members put more faith in the collective answers here than in the information provided by Seattle.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cruz chic]

Showing once again why CC members put more faith in the collective answers here than in the information provided by Seattle.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Absolutely! It's interesting to see some posters to defend Seattle. I just want people to get correct answers and not be disappointed.

Edited September 1, 2015 by cruz chic

[RuthC]

Mariner "Bonus" days are figured by the amount of spending attached to your booking.

If you get Explore 4 as part of the booking, the price (if any) is part of the fare, and not an attachment. There is nothing on which to compute "Bonus" days.

 

If you purchase the Signature Beverage Package separately, then that cost is attached to your booking, and does count---however you do not get credit for the price of each individual drink.

I had the Explore 4 package on a cruise and got no credit for spending. Which is as it should be.

 

Once again, Seattle has given out incorrect information. No surprise there.

At least on CC, when incorrect info is given out, someone comes along quickly to correct it. No surprise there, either.

[SeaBands]

service charges, casino charges,wine bottles and bottled liquor purchased for the cabin,shop purchases and suite bonus but not for drinks under X4 or specialty dining incl. Other specialty dining is credited as well.

[DaveOKC]

service charges, casino charges,wine bottles and bottled liquor purchased for the cabin,shop purchases and suite bonus but not for drinks under X4 or specialty dining incl. Other specialty dining is credited as well.

 

Are you sure about casino charges? I did not think they qualified (I wish they did!).

 

From the HAL website:

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 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.

Edited September 1, 2015 by DaveOKC

[blizzardboy]

service charges, casino charges,wine bottles and bottled liquor purchased for the cabin,shop purchases and suite bonus but not for drinks under X4 or specialty dining incl. Other specialty dining is credited as well.

 

Alright guys and gals...I just called the Mariner Society again and posed the question regarding use of the Beverage package included in Explore 4 and getting Mariner credit for the value of drinks ordered. The gentleman (different guy from yesterday) went to his supervisor and I got the same answer as yesterday. When you order a drink using the Beverage card provided, the cost is added to your account, then they credit your account the cost of the beverage against the drink package. Therefore, the cost of the drinks do count as on board spending, per the Mariner Society supervisor. Asked and answered the same way twice. According to my wife, I'm not very smart, but I'm coachable. I've gone to the mountain for guidance and that's what I found.

[POA1]

Alright guys and gals...I just called the Mariner Society again and posed the question regarding use of the Beverage package included in Explore 4 and getting Mariner credit for the value of drinks ordered. The gentleman (different guy from yesterday) went to his supervisor and I got the same answer as yesterday. When you order a drink using the Beverage card provided, the cost is added to your account, then they credit your account the cost of the beverage against the drink package. Therefore, the cost of the drinks do count as on board spending, per the Mariner Society supervisor. Asked and answered the same way twice. According to my wife, I'm not very smart, but I'm coachable. I've gone to the mountain for guidance and that's what I found.

Even if that's how it worked (and color me skeptical) the net effect on your account would be zero. The charges and credits would offset. So, at the end of the cruise, when they divide your net spend by $300, the drinks wouldn't be there because they didn't add to the spending total.

[Alberta Quilter]

Alright guys and gals...I just called the Mariner Society again and posed the question regarding use of the Beverage package included in Explore 4 and getting Mariner credit for the value of drinks ordered. The gentleman (different guy from yesterday) went to his supervisor and I got the same answer as yesterday. When you order a drink using the Beverage card provided, the cost is added to your account, then they credit your account the cost of the beverage against the drink package. Therefore, the cost of the drinks do count as on board spending, per the Mariner Society supervisor. Asked and answered the same way twice. According to my wife, I'm not very smart, but I'm coachable. I've gone to the mountain for guidance and that's what I found.

 

Well, let us know if you actually experience that while on your cruise. On my last cruise, where I had the E4 perks, there were no debits and credits for drinks on my statement. And that was since the change to using one's ship card (as opposed to a separate SBP card) for the drinks.

 

Hopefully, it will work out for you.

[blizzardboy]

Even if that's how it worked (and color me skeptical) the net effect on your account would be zero. The charges and credits would offset. So, at the end of the cruise, when they divide your net spend by $300, the drinks wouldn't be there because they didn't add to the spending total.

 

The side of the ledger that determines the cruise-day bonus is the spending side. How a purchase is paid for isn't the issue according to the Mariner Society supervisor. Net effect is zero after they pay a charge with my credit card too, but the purchase was still made.

[cruz chic]

I just called myself and they are clearly confused. I talked to Chris who talked to his supervisor named Theresa. They maintain that it is included in onboard spending. I asked how that could be so since costs are debited or credited and they say the credits are not considered, I asked why folks that have had the package before haven't rec'd credit in the past and they said those folks should call the Mariners society. I asked for confirmation in an email but they couldn't provide that. I encourage everyone to bombard them with requests for credits and I assume that misunderstanding will be cleared up pretty quick.

[SilvertoGold]

I just called myself and they are clearly confused. I talked to Chris who talked to his supervisor named Theresa. They maintain that it is included in onboard spending. I asked how that could be so since costs are debited or credited and they say the credits are not considered, I asked why folks that have had the package before haven't rec'd credit in the past and they said those folks should call the Mariners society. I asked for confirmation in an email but they couldn't provide that. I encourage everyone to bombard them with requests for credits and I assume that misunderstanding will be cleared up pretty quick.

 

Good work, CC!

I am not so sure about the CR side of the ledger: that is not what I have seen.

 

I do hope everyone with past Explore4 cruises will call and ask for the credit in spending.

 

If the Mariner Society's take on this is actually correct, there is a lot of credit due to a lot of Mariners.

It would show that the ships don't pay attention to how this program is supposed to be done. And that is really a bad show on HAL's part.

[Lizzie68]

Looks like the Mariner Society is going to be getting a lot of phone calls:eek:. This site is invaluable for the information shared.

[POA1]

What about the 3, 4, and 5 star credits wine packages and specialty dining? I know for a fact that the only amount you get credit for is the net cost after discounts, not the gross.

[cruz chic]

What about the 3, 4, and 5 star credits wine packages and specialty dining? I know for a fact that the only amount you get credit for is the net cost after discounts, not the gross.

 

I can verify for sure that you only get credited for the net amount. I should call them and ask for my gross credit. I'll be a ten star then :D.

[Alberta Quilter]

I just called myself and they are clearly confused. I talked to Chris who talked to his supervisor named Theresa. They maintain that it is included in onboard spending. I asked how that could be so since costs are debited or credited and they say the credits are not considered, I asked why folks that have had the package before haven't rec'd credit in the past and they said those folks should call the Mariners society. I asked for confirmation in an email but they couldn't provide that. I encourage everyone to bombard them with requests for credits and I assume that misunderstanding will be cleared up pretty quick.

 

I've called and confirmed that they believe the E4 drinks count towards the cruise day credits. I then asked for my two cruises, and DM's, to be reviewed because I didn't think that our drinks counted towards our credits. Because I called at the end of the day, they couldn't do it today but they should get back to me tomorrow. I did advise that we never saw any debits or credits on our account for our drinks but Greg assured me that it happens behind the scenes.

 

I'm quite interested because I'm only three days away from 4 star status. While I doubt we drank $900 between the two of us on our two E4 cruises, maybe we did!:eek:

 

I will keep you posted (on the potential credits, not on how much we drank!).

[sail7seas]

I'll look forward to reading if they give you credit for those beverages.

Will be very interesting to see what they say when they call you back.