HAL/Barclay credit card points redemption for 2015

[hugger]

Had my DH get the HAL credit card so that we could get some extra OBC. Now that I am reading some of the past threads on this there seems to have been a great many changes in the rewards program and HOW they show up on your account.

 

Wanted to put a question out there to Ccer's who have redeemed rewards point's in 2015.

 

What is the most advantageous way to redeem point's?

 

We don't have enough to go for the cruise discount. So I am thinking that for us maybe the best thing to do is buy the Casino credit and then cash them in - that way we can still use our HAL credit card for the double points. As well as get the extra credit towards our onboard spending applied as addtional cruise days towards our day's sailed added to our tier level. Getting very close to our 4 star level.

 

Any hints or suggestions would be appreciated - I thought I had it figured out then I noticed many posts saying that there have been changes made to the program since last year.

 

THANKS

[Skipper's Mom]

The last time we did this in Fall 2014, I just redeemed the points for onboard credit. Upon boarding, there were gift cards in the stateroom for the amount of our credits. Before leaving home, I made copies of the acknowledgments for the credits. No problem. Don't know if there has been a change since last November.;) The credits showed up on our ship account which I checked about Day 2.:)

[RuthC]

I use mine toward my final payment. I charge my final payment to the HAL credit card. When the bill comes in, I use the points toward that bill.

I just did that earlier this week, as a matter of fact.

 

Now, if you can wait until your points build up to a higher amount you can get more "bang for your buck". Generally, every dollar you spend on HAL gets you 2 points. Each 10,000 points ($5000 of HAL spending) gets you $100 credit (2% return on spending).

But if you build up 40,000 points ($20,000 of HAL spending) you can get $500 toward a final payment. (2.5% return on each dollar). You can build up to higher returns, too.

[GRACECRUISE]

If I take a longer cruise and want to get $500 in shipboard credit I take the 40,000 points and have them apply $500.00 toward the credit card payment and then buy $500.00 worth of OBC from Holland. I figure that gets me a better deal than converting the 10,000 point increments.

[CaveDiving]

Had my DH get the HAL credit card so that we could get some extra OBC...

 

I don’t understand the fascination with the HAL credit card rewards program.

 

Chase bank has a Visa card in conjunction with AARP that rebates back 3% for all “travel” expenses with no limit and no yearly fee. And anything spent with HAL for cruising (as well as any airline travel,) is considered a “travel” expense.

 

This seems like a better deal, in all respects, than the HAL card. Am I missing something here?

 

Scott & Karen

[elusive_23]

In 2013 I redeemed my points for a couple of $50 beverage cards. They were in our stateroom at arrival. The beverage package had just rolled out and unfortunately we got screwed by leaving our beverage cards on our lanyard with our ship card. Half of the drinks were charged to the beverage program and half to our beverage card (essentially making the beverage program useless). It was partly our fault for leaving the cards on there in the first place. Anyways... lesson learned.

 

This year I redeemed 40,000 points for $500 off our cruise. There was a bit of confusion as I thought it would be taken off what we owed HAL and would show on their site but instead was issued as a $500 credit to my credit card off of my balance.

 

It seems the best bang for your buck is redeeming points for $$ off your cruise (cruise discount). Especially when you have a higher amount of points to return. (40,000pts and up)

For example:

10,000 pts for $100 credit is $100 per point

20,000 pts for $200 credit is $100 per point

40,000 pts for $500 credit is $80 per point

60,000 pts for $750 credit is $80 per point

80,000 pts for $1,000 credit is $80 per point

110,000 pts for $1,500 credit is $73.34 per point

135,000 pts for $2,000 credit is $67.50 per point

(Depressing to figure that out ^)

 

For your casino credit or my beverage card it is 5,000 points for $50 which is $100 per point.

 

As others have mentioned there are other CCs that have better reward programs for travel. But the service I have received from Barclay (HAL) has been great.

[Crazy For Cats]

In 2013 I redeemed my points for a couple of $50 beverage cards. They were in our stateroom at arrival. The beverage package had just rolled out and unfortunately we got screwed by leaving our beverage cards on our lanyard with our ship card. Half of the drinks were charged to the beverage program and half to our beverage card (essentially making the beverage program useless). It was partly our fault for leaving the cards on there in the first place. Anyways... lesson learned.

 

This year I redeemed 40,000 points for $500 off our cruise. There was a bit of confusion as I thought it would be taken off what we owed HAL and would show on their site but instead was issued as a $500 credit to my credit card off of my balance.

 

It seems the best bang for your buck is redeeming points for $$ off your cruise (cruise discount). Especially when you have a higher amount of points to return. (40,000pts and up)

For example:

10,000 pts for $100 credit is $100 per point

20,000 pts for $200 credit is $100 per point

40,000 pts for $500 credit is $80 per point

60,000 pts for $750 credit is $80 per point

80,000 pts for $1,000 credit is $80 per point

110,000 pts for $1,500 credit is $73.34 per point

135,000 pts for $2,000 credit is $67.50 per point

(Depressing to figure that out ^)

 

For your casino credit or my beverage card it is 5,000 points for $50 which is $100 per point.

 

As others have mentioned there are other CCs that have better reward programs for travel. But the service I have received from Barclay (HAL) has been great.

 

 

I too got beverage cards and ran them pretty close to zero. The few remaining cents showed up on my final bill as a credit. I thought that very nice.

[hugger]

from everyone here as ALWAYS - THANK YOU

 

Have any of you done the 100.00 casino credit? Wondered how that work's - we are getting very close to being 4 star Mariner's - will be shy just a few days after our upcoming Eurodam cruise.

 

I am thinking that being casino play doesn't count towards money spent onboard toward's Mariner point's that it might be a good idea to use it in the casino - hopefully winning something to cash in

 

I see where you certainly get more bang for your buck when saving up your points. Yet I have now had to of my point program's one being Princess cruises a few year's back - currently Hilton's program change their requirement for points/cruises just as I was nearing or attaining enough points to make them COUNT.

 

I think I may use them as I go so I don't keep having to chase my rewards :-)

 

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences - what an awesome mode of cruise/travel help we have here.

[RBB]

In 2013 I redeemed my points for a couple of $50 beverage cards. They were in our stateroom at arrival. The beverage package had just rolled out and unfortunately we got screwed by leaving our beverage cards on our lanyard with our ship card. Half of the drinks were charged to the beverage program and half to our beverage card (essentially making the beverage program useless). It was partly our fault for leaving the cards on there in the first place. Anyways... lesson learned.

 

This year I redeemed 40,000 points for $500 off our cruise. There was a bit of confusion as I thought it would be taken off what we owed HAL and would show on their site but instead was issued as a $500 credit to my credit card off of my balance.

 

It seems the best bang for your buck is redeeming points for $$ off your cruise (cruise discount). Especially when you have a higher amount of points to return. (40,000pts and up)

For example:

10,000 pts for $100 credit is $100 per point

20,000 pts for $200 credit is $100 per point

40,000 pts for $500 credit is $80 per point

60,000 pts for $750 credit is $80 per point

80,000 pts for $1,000 credit is $80 per point

110,000 pts for $1,500 credit is $73.34 per point

135,000 pts for $2,000 credit is $67.50 per point

(Depressing to figure that out ^)

 

For your casino credit or my beverage card it is 5,000 points for $50 which is $100 per point.

 

As others have mentioned there are other CCs that have better reward programs for travel. But the service I have received from Barclay (HAL) has been great.

 

That's interesting. Does this increasing scale of benefits work in buying shipboard credit as well? For example, will 110,000 points buy you $1,500 in shipboard credits, if you use it for that instead of a cruise discount?

[antique sailor]

I use mine toward my final payment. I charge my final payment to the HAL credit card. When the bill comes in, I use the points toward that bill.

I just did that earlier this week, as a matter of fact.

 

Now, if you can wait until your points build up to a higher amount you can get more "bang for your buck". Generally, every dollar you spend on HAL gets you 2 points. Each 10,000 points ($5000 of HAL spending) gets you $100 credit (2% return on spending).

But if you build up 40,000 points ($20,000 of HAL spending) you can get $500 toward a final payment. (2.5% return on each dollar). You can build up to higher returns, too.

 

AHOY SHIPMATES, RUTH HAS IT FIGURED OUT.

 

We cruise a few times a year and also use our card for all household spending so we found that the best ratio is at 135,000 points. We get a $2000 credit to our current bill which we pay in full each month.

 

We also have the Carnival card (Master Charge) which we use on all our short Carnival cruises and do the same with that but not as often

[elusive_23]

RBB- since they credit your credit card the $1500 instead of applying it to your cruise balance you could turn around and buy $1500 of shipboard credit. Basically I think cruise discount is misleading as all it is is cash back applied to your credit card balance. I assume the free cruise reward works that way as well. The free cruise benefit is even more bang for your buck than a cruise discount but you need at least 150,000 points.

150,000 points for $3,000 which equates to $50 a point.

200,000 points for $4,000 which equates to $50 a point.

300,000 points for $7,500 which equates to $40 per point.

 

I guess cruise discount and free cruise probably sound better from a marketing stand point than cash back rebate.

Edited September 4, 2015 by elusive_23

[frankc98376]

Planned on using points for OBC on our Sept 12 cruise and waited too long. Haven't redeemed before and didn't realize had to redeem more that 15 days prior to departure. Oh, well next time...

[hugger]

Planned on using points for OBC on our Sept 12 cruise and waited too long. Haven't redeemed before and didn't realize had to redeem more that 15 days prior to departure. Oh, well next time...

 

I normally do with CCer's advise ;)

 

We have a small group of us going on Regal Princess B2B next year - guess we should also get the Princess card to pay for that cruise. We'll now have the CCL stockholder benefit as well - nice 250.00 OBC. Sure hope they keep doing that as of right now they are only showing it until February 2016.

 

keep those tips and experiences coming please

[hugger]

Ok, we are traveling next month. I called Barclay and they could only offer me the 50.00 beverage card that is supposed to include alcoholic drinks. And, 100.00 shore excursion credit.

 

They had no OBC credit available she said - I asked IF we didn't use the 100.00 shore excursion credit would it be treated as OBC credit she said NO YOU WILL LOOSE it IF you DON'T use it for shore excursion's.

 

Will be interesting to see how that show's up once we are onboard.

 

I decided not to use all of our points this cruise. But, to test the water's and see HOW it works. Save the rest of the points for our next cruise.

 

Has anyone else used the shore excursion credit?

 

Also, wondering IF there is a way to differentiate the Beverage cards as we had also ordered one of the Value Beverage cards through HAL indulgences - the 25.00 that is worth 50.00 for soda's.

 

Hope there is a distinction between the two cards. Wouldn't want to waste the one we can use for alcoholic drinks on soda's :eek:

[catl331]

Has anyone else used the shore excursion credit?

Yes. It was posted as a general OBC. We didn't book any excursions on board and we didn't lose it. That was last Dec on the N.A., but who knows now? ;)

[hugger]

That is what I thought it was to be - I appreciate your confirming it for me.

 

have a nice afternoon

[Cruising-along]

We use Barclay points every cruise (last time was 6 months ago) and it was just as has been reported here, we didn't book any shore excursions onboard and it was posted as general OBC. I don't think Barclay knows what really happens onboard. ;)

[qsuzi]

I don’t understand the fascination with the HAL credit card rewards program.

 

Chase bank has a Visa card in conjunction with AARP that rebates back 3% for all “travel” expenses with no limit and no yearly fee. And anything spent with HAL for cruising (as well as any airline travel,) is considered a “travel” expense.

 

This seems like a better deal, in all respects, than the HAL card. Am I missing something here?

 

Scott & Karen

I'm also interesting in the answer to this question.

 

If you sail more than one cruise line the AARP Visa card seems like the best way to go.

Edited October 24, 2015 by qsuzi

[hugger]

However, when purchasing the HAL cruises we use the Barclay card we do get double points for anything that is HAL billed.

 

With our Chase card we use it every month and redeem on Amazon or directly as a credit to the bill.

 

I actually signed up to take an online course via Udemy on how to get the most travel advantages out of credit cards. Haven't had a chance to take it yet though.

[Tom O.]

I don’t understand the fascination with the HAL credit card rewards program.

 

Chase bank has a Visa card in conjunction with AARP that rebates back 3% for all “travel” expenses with no limit and no yearly fee. And anything spent with HAL for cruising (as well as any airline travel,) is considered a “travel” expense.

 

This seems like a better deal, in all respects, than the HAL card. Am I missing something here?

 

Scott & Karen

 

I am not familiar with your Chase card, but the HAL card earns points for all purchases, not just travel expenses. It earns 2 points per dollar for HAL purchases (a 2% return) and 1 point per dollar for all other purchases (a 1% return).

We use our HAL card for everything, including gas, groceries, TV cable, etc. We earn an average of 3,000 points per month.

We always use the points for cruise discounts. We will getting a $1500 credit for our next cruise, which will almost pay for half the cost of the cruise.

One trick that no one mentioned here, is to not ask for the credit until after you return from your cruise. That way, you will have earned a lot more points for all your cruise expenses, and since they are with HAL you will earn the double rate. You can wait a good couple of months after your cruise to ask for the credit.

[hugger]

I am not familiar with your Chase card, but the HAL card earns points for all purchases, not just travel expenses. It earns 2 points per dollar for HAL purchases (a 2% return) and 1 point per dollar for all other purchases (a 1% return).

We use our HAL card for everything, including gas, groceries, TV cable, etc. We earn an average of 3,000 points per month.

We always use the points for cruise discounts. We will getting a $1500 credit for our next cruise, which will almost pay for half the cost of the cruise.

One trick that no one mentioned here, is to not ask for the credit until after you return from your cruise. That way, you will have earned a lot more points for all your cruise expenses, and since they are with HAL you will earn the double rate. You can wait a good couple of months after your cruise to ask for the credit.

 

Waiting until after we return from our cruise is a great idea - THANK YOU for sharing that tip.

[Tom O.]

I don’t understand the fascination with the HAL credit card rewards program.

 

Chase bank has a Visa card in conjunction with AARP that rebates back 3% for all “travel” expenses with no limit and no yearly fee. And anything spent with HAL for cruising (as well as any airline travel,) is considered a “travel” expense.

 

This seems like a better deal, in all respects, than the HAL card. Am I missing something here?

 

Scott & Karen

 

You had me intrigued, so I looked up the AARP Chase Card. What I found is that it has a cash back deal of 3% just for restaurants and gas stations, everywhere else is 1%. So if you drive a lot, and eat in restaurants often, you might come out ahead with it. But I don't do either very much, so I think I come out ahead with the HAL card, because of the 2% I earn on HAL purchases. Also, if you redeem HAL points in large quantities at a time, you will receive as much as 1.5 cents per point, instead of 1 cent per point you get back for the AARP card.

[SeaBands]

and get 35000 air miles that would pay for a trans continental flight. This next cruise will give me double miles due to a promotion.

[Cruising-along]

You had me intrigued, so I looked up the AARP Chase Card. What I found is that it has a cash back deal of 3% just for restaurants and gas stations, everywhere else is 1%. So if you drive a lot, and eat in restaurants often, you might come out ahead with it. But I don't do either very much, so I think I come out ahead with the HAL card, because of the 2% I earn on HAL purchases. Also, if you redeem HAL points in large quantities at a time, you will receive as much as 1.5 cents per point, instead of 1 cent per point you get back for the AARP card.

 

Thank you, good information! Like you, we use our HAL card for everything from groceries to a new roof.

 

I didn't know about being able to redeem points for cruise credit months after we return home. I remember only being told that we had to redeem our points no later than 15 (?) days before sailing date. Is this a recent change?

[Ricktan]

I am not familiar with your Chase card, but the HAL card earns points for all purchases, not just travel expenses. It earns 2 points per dollar for HAL purchases (a 2% return) and 1 point per dollar for all other purchases (a 1% return).

We use our HAL card for everything, including gas, groceries, TV cable, etc. We earn an average of 3,000 points per month.

We always use the points for cruise discounts. We will getting a $1500 credit for our next cruise, which will almost pay for half the cost of the cruise.

One trick that no one mentioned here, is to not ask for the credit until after you return from your cruise. That way, you will have earned a lot more points for all your cruise expenses, and since they are with HAL you will earn the double rate. You can wait a good couple of months after your cruise to ask for the credit.

 

We, too, use our Barclay for all purchases including business. We have had it for about 10 months and have over 140,000 points already. The amount spent on our Med cruise at double points made a big difference. By next Sept, our Alaska cruise, in a PS, no less, will just about be paid for with points....sounds good to me!:)