Adding AARP

[Niagarawine]

I am trying to get this added to my 12 day cruise. When I first booked the cruise consultant told me to do it online. I tried and got a broken link..so I called them requesting that someone there add a it and again was told to do this online.tried again but no luck. I would not bother after this but the cruise is a longer one And I would appreciate the extra credit. Any suggestions?

[Ready2go11]

Did you already validate your AARP number and receive confirmation from Sheer ID?  If not you can do via this online form. That is the first step you have to do online yourself. 
 

https://offers.sheerid.com/holland-america/member/

[Ready2go11]

If you already received an email confirming validation then you would have your PCC do it or call HAL if you booked direct. 
 

Since it has now been a year since the offer was launched, a few days ago before I booked a new cruise I used the form to “re-up” since they said you had to do that each year to recertify eligibility and then I received a new email from SheetID. 
 

When I booked the new cruise, they still had to add it manually as it did not automatically come up

[mwj]

Once you have the email confirmation from SheerID, forward that email to reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com along with your HAL cruise booking numbers.

 

We did this earlier this year and the AARP OBC was added to the bookings within a couple of days.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

And don't forget to renew it every year.

[Windsailer]

I recently booked three new cruises. As usual the AARP credit did not show up manually. Each time I emailed HAL reservations and they added it. Mine never is attached automatically even though HAL says it should. 

[Niagarawine]

1 hour ago, Windsailer said:

I recently booked three new cruises. As usual the AARP credit did not show up manually. Each time I emailed HAL reservations and they added it. Mine never is attached automatically even though HAL says it should. 

Well the cruise consultant sent me a link and I got verified 

[Fouremco]

In late June, I joined AARP and went through the SheerID verification process before submitting the results to Holland America, requesting OBC for an upcoming cruise booked a year earlier. Given the varied experiences posted here in the HAL forum, I didn't know whether I'd get the full amount, nothing at all, or a token $25 that some have received when submitting after their booking was already made.

 

Today I decided to see what was happening, and called my big box TA, asking for an updated booking confirmation showing the current OBC. While the TA could see our HIA and CCL stock OBC on HAL's system, there was no sign of anything for my AARP membership. Consequently, she phoned HAL and had it added. The HAL agent indicated that those wishing to add the AARP OBC after a booking has already been made have to telephone to have it added, which is why mine hadn't been added previously.  Once again, this contradicts the experience of many others, and it appears that HAL's staff still have no consistency in their approach to AARP. However, if you are successful, $200 is a pretty good return on the $17 membership fee.

Edited August 7 by Fouremco

[Ellencruise]

Can AARP OBC be added to an existing booking? 

[SUESEABE]

@Ellencruise Terms & Conditions on HAL website indicate AARP OBC Offer is for new bookings only. 

[Fouremco]

39 minutes ago, Ellencruise said:

Can AARP OBC be added to an existing booking? 

As this and other threads clearly show, there is no consistency in the way in which HAL treats requests for AARP OBC for existing bookings. Read post #8 for my experience and success in getting $200 OBC for a cruise booked a year earlier.

 

35 minutes ago, SUESEABE said:

@Ellencruise Terms & Conditions on HAL website indicate AARP OBC Offer is for new bookings only. 

These terms and conditions are not being applied with any consistency. I would highly recommend that anyone with an existing booking go ahead and apply for the OBC.  I wasn't an AARP member, but after reading all of the posts by passengers who were successful in getting OBC for existing bookings, I decided to join and apply for it. As you can see, I made the right choice, spending $17 to get $200.

[Dancing Shoes]

1 hour ago, SUESEABE said:

@Ellencruise Terms & Conditions on HAL website indicate AARP OBC Offer is for new bookings only. 

Yes and no.  When HAL first introduced this last year around July there was a fire storm here on CC about people wanting to "add it" to their booking that was made previously.  Some people got it and some didn't.  I actually did and was surprised.  So technically all cruises that you book from July 2023 are new, and you just need to get verified and then call to make sure it is added. Just make sure your AARP is still valid and you can apply it to multiple cruises.  

Edited August 8 by Dancing Shoes

[SUESEABE]

@Fouremco Kudos...you're one of the lucky ones.

[Haljo1935]

Always worth asking, worst that can happen is to be told no. Call again and you may get a different result. If you do get it added to an existing booking - win! If not, then  nothing's lost since the T&Cs specify new bookings.

[ScottishMaid]

Thanks to this thread I forwarded the email that confirmed I was an AARP member to the address in post #4. Did this late yesterday evening and an email came back by 9:15 am today to say OBC added to two existing cruises 20 August and 31 August. 

I booked these cruises last May and, after a previous Cruise Critic thread and calling two not very helpful HAL reps., I figured out I had applied July 2023 and the cruises were more than a year from AARP approval. So reapplied for AARP membership in July 2024 and received email that it was confirmed. Submitted it to the email address in #4 with cruise booking numbers and my name. Worked! Thanks!  My TA says there is lack of clarity for AARP OBC. So I guess one has to note date of application and remember to apply 

[Stpatsirish]

Yes, thanks for this. I sent my confirmation email with the 3 booking numbers I have for next month, next year and 2026. I sent it at 9:10 this evening and they replied by 9:25 with the OBC added to each of them.

[gizmodog]

Tried 3 times and answer is no. I am registered and used it in June, they keep telling me TA ITS BECAuse I got a casino rate, even with the rate I’m spending 7000. I  just don’t understand their rules.

[Haljo1935]

18 hours ago, gizmodog said:

Tried 3 times and answer is no. I am registered and used it in June, they keep telling me TA ITS BECAuse I got a casino rate, even with the rate I’m spending 7000. I  just don’t understand their rules.

I have that issue for any type of OBC and for adding HIA to casino rates - no matter who I call, the answer is no.

[gizmodog]

It is so frustrating since some people get it, others it’s no. Wonder if it has to do with mariner status? I’m only 3 star. I don’t know but ugh!

[ricka47]

I just joined AARP, and we'll see if we get anything. Theoretically, it's supposed to be automatic after submitting the form?

Edited August 9 by ricka47

[WatchHill]

1 minute ago, gizmodog said:

It is so frustrating since some people get it, others it’s no. Wonder if it has to do with mariner status? I’m only 3 star. I don’t know but ugh!

Based on what I have read here over the past few months, discussion with our TA and my multiple phone calls to HAL, it's a case of HAL not establishing clear information, shore side people not knowing the product and lack of consistency.  Not being able to view specific sources of OBC's and perks on our individual booking doesn't help.  When I book a Princess Cruise, I go online and see the stock holders OBC and DH's military, plus any OBC's from PCC and our TA. HAL's IT program is long overdue for a serious upgrade.

When I did the assorted verifications for the educators, AARP, military and stockholder, the acceptance/confirmation came back within a few minutes BUT nothing on app or booking. My TA checked and said he could see a "total" that also included some "anniversary" credit and state perk. A few weeks later, the cruise priced dropped some $400, so my TA adjusted my invoice and all those verified OBC's disappeared. So, back on the phone with some HAL person who knew nothing about the offerings, so tried another phone call. Finally got the OBC's reinstated. Then I wanted that HAL person to book Pinnacle Grille and Canaletto for us and my sister who has a different cabin/booking number [we are cross referenced].   

At least I managed to use the precruise shorex monies without issue. A few days later I noticed on the app and online manage my booking that HAL says we each  have one more dinner to book! Duh, My app shows the two confirmed dinners. Can't figure out where this came from but won't  touch it until on the ship in December. 

I feel badly that not everyone is getting the OBC's properly credited to their booking. Casino rates are another story and fall into a different category. Planning a cruise should be fun, not stressful. So I booked Celebrity Iceland to Boston. 

 

Darcy

[gizmodog]

Good info, thank you. You are so right, this should be easy but it’s always frustration.

i have always booked celebrity for years, never a problem with OBC. But I have recently switched to HOLLAND, not sure I will be staying after 4 cruises and three more booked, it is just too difficult getting what is coming to you.

like I said…..frustration!