Redeeming points for OBC with HAL Barclay card

[cruisemom42]

Because I ended up using gift certificates to pay off my upcoming HAL cruise, I have some HAL credit card points left over and can't use them to pay down the cruise price now. (It was worth it to save 10% of the cruise fare!)

 

When I look at the other redemption options for HAL cruises, they are for very specific (and kind of random) options, such as a robe (no thanks), a bottle of cabernet (really?) and for more points, a couples pass to the spa and retreat (and I am a solo).

 

I seem to recall in the distant past when I last redeemed that you could just picked one of these options and what you'd actually end up getting was the amount of OBC that the item was valued at for onboard purchases. However, you could then take that OBC and use it for basically anything.

 

Does anyone have any recent experience with this?  Is my assumption correct?  I'd hate to waste my points on a couples pass to the spa!

 

Added:  I did contact Barclay (the card issuer) and they said the redemption was item specific; however, I'm not sure I believe them any more than I believe HAL's agents when answering shipboard questions....

 

 

[Cruising-along]

I have no recent experience because after years of using Barclay and happily redeeming points (bringing our final payment down considerably), we stopped using the card.  They changed the redeeming rules so much, and we didn't feel that we were getting as much as we were in the past.

 

But as for your question, I agree -- I doubt that the person at Barclay really knows.  I think that HAL, on your cruise, will make it a general OBC credit as they always have.  Maybe there's something you can find that's the least undesirable?  I really do think it will go in as OBC though.  

[Dobby36]

I was recently looking into doing the same thing - found two work-arounds:

1- go to e-gift cards and buy however many gift cards you can spend your points with and bring them to guest services-should be able to turn into OBC

2- under "onboard gifts" use the $50 casino chips option to have those waiting for you on board. play them as cash, or redeem at cage for cash to then use as you wish

[DCThunder]

You can also use the Barclay's points to purchase "beverage cards" which can be used at the bars in the event you don't have a HIA package.