From a Mariner credit standpoint does it matter when I buy the beverage package?

[ExpatBride]

I was just about to book the Signature Beverage Package for next week's sailing and it occurred to me that if I wait to buy it onboard, then it will show up on my onboard account and I'll get the one day credit per $300 spend.

 

Does anyone know if I'll still get the credits if I order ahead of time? I read the Mariner FAQ and they don't seem to cover it there.

[Alberta Quilter]

No, it won't matter. Any purchases ordered online count towards your cruise day credits. I wouldn't have as many as I do if they didn't as I do many of my purchases in advance of the cruise.

 

Of course, you won't see those credits until you actually complete the cruise.

 

Enjoy your cruise (and the package!)!

Edited August 2, 2016 by Alberta Quilter

[ExpatBride]

No, it won't matter. Any purchases ordered online count towards your cruise day credits. I wouldn't have as many as I do if they didn't as I do many of my purchases in advance of the cruise.

 

Of course, you won't see those credits until you actually complete the cruise.

 

Enjoy your cruise (and the package!)!

 

Perfect... thanks so much :)

[RMLincoln]

Same goes for purchasing shore excursions in advance. They'll show up in your credits. m--

[Krazy Kruizers]

And if you pre-purchase the specialty restaurants, you also get that credit.

[kazu]

Or literally anything on line except on board credit (you get the credit when you spend it) and casino chips I believe.

[ExpatBride]

I think SBP will be our only spend, but it's great to now that all charges (except OBC and casino) are included!

 

This is our first HAL cruise (we're fleeing NCL) and we hope it won't be our last, so we don't want to miss out on any credit earning opportunities :D

[TAD2005]

When you first board, HAL puts a hold on your credit card for $60 per day per person. My upcoming cruise will put a hold of $1260 per person. If I purchase the SBP onboard at a cost of $1085.49 per person, plus the $262.50 hotel service charge, I will already exceed the $1260 that they have put on hold. Does HAL at that point just run the tab, and hit my card for the excess at disembarkation day, or do they bump up the hold amount to a higher level ? I guess I could purchase the SBP ahead of time, online and eliminate the problem.

[Alberta Quilter]

When you first board, HAL puts a hold on your credit card for $60 per day per person. My upcoming cruise will put a hold of $1260 per person. If I purchase the SBP onboard at a cost of $1085.49 per person, plus the $262.50 hotel service charge, I will already exceed the $1260 that they have put on hold. Does HAL at that point just run the tab, and hit my card for the excess at disembarkation day, or do they bump up the hold amount to a higher level ? I guess I could purchase the SBP ahead of time, online and eliminate the problem.

 

I'm fairly sure that they will just bump up the hold amount. I have never heard of them charging the credit card prior to the completion of the cruise. For all they know, that could be the only thing you'll spend money on. Well, that and the HSC.

[serendipity1499]

When you first board, HAL puts a hold on your credit card for $60 per day per person. My upcoming cruise will put a hold of $1260 per person. If I purchase the SBP onboard at a cost of $1085.49 per person, plus the $262.50 hotel service charge, I will already exceed the $1260 that they have put on hold. Does HAL at that point just run the tab, and hit my card for the excess at disembarkation day, or do they bump up the hold amount to a higher level ? I guess I could purchase the SBP ahead of time, online and eliminate the problem.

 

I've never heard of them bumping up the hold, but we don't spend that much & our final bill is never more than the hold.. I would guess that they might call you down to the front desk if you exceed your hold by too much.. Know they don't normally run the final tab until the last morning of departure..

 

We plan to purchase several Beverage Cards, not the SBC, before departure, so that our names are printed on those cards.. I was reminded last week that the cards have no name of them if purchased on board.. As another poster mentioned, at least you will know that you are getting back the right card.. Also waiting to see if our Friends want to make Pinnacle Reservations in advance.. Assuming Pre-purchased Pinnacle Res will go toward all our Mariner No's.

[CanuckCruizer]

I want to see if I am understanding this correctly - from what a few people have said - if I decide to pre-purchase some onboard credit to add to my account onboard prior to going on the cruise, that the amount of onboard credit I purchase ahead of time, will NOT be counted for cruise days? With being Canadian, sometimes I like to put money on our account prior to the cruise so then I don't have to worry about the foreign exchange fees on the credit card etc. (or being charged in the "correct" currency as some cruiselines have a problem with that...) and then don't have to bring US dollars on our Med cruise to pay the bill in cash (except for extra tips of course:)). If anyone can enlighten me on this, I would appreciate it. Don't want to lose out on getting credit for the extra cruise days!

 

Canuck

[Alberta Quilter]

I want to see if I am understanding this correctly - from what a few people have said - if I decide to pre-purchase some onboard credit to add to my account onboard prior to going on the cruise, that the amount of onboard credit I purchase ahead of time, will NOT be counted for cruise days? With being Canadian, sometimes I like to put money on our account prior to the cruise so then I don't have to worry about the foreign exchange fees on the credit card etc. (or being charged in the "correct" currency as some cruiselines have a problem with that...) and then don't have to bring US dollars on our Med cruise to pay the bill in cash (except for extra tips of course:)). If anyone can enlighten me on this, I would appreciate it. Don't want to lose out on getting credit for the extra cruise days!

 

Canuck

 

One earns the cruise day credits from spending only. If you purchase OBC for yourself, no, it won't count per se. But you will get the credits when you draw the OBC down. Basically, it's the debits that count towards your cruise day credits, not the credits that you, HAL or your TA give you. I hope that makes sense.

 

Go ahead and purchase your OBC, you'll still get the cruise day credits when/if you spend it.

Edited August 3, 2016 by Alberta Quilter

[CanuckCruizer]

One earns the cruise day credits from spending only. If you purchase OBC for yourself, no, it won't count per se. But you will get the credits when you draw the OBC down. Basically, it's the debits that count towards your cruise day credits, not the credits that you, HAL or your TA give you. I hope that makes sense.

 

Go ahead and purchase your OBC, you'll still get the cruise day credits when/if you spend it.

 

Alberta Quilter - well as long as I GET the cruise day credits - I don't care WHEN I get them - lol. I just thought that if I did it ahead of time, that maybe it wouldn't count the same as just racking up the bill on the ship.:D Thanks for your help.

 

Canuck

[Bostonjetset]

Alberta Quilter - well as long as I GET the cruise day credits - I don't care WHEN I get them - lol. I just thought that if I did it ahead of time, that maybe it wouldn't count the same as just racking up the bill on the ship.:D Thanks for your help.

 

 

 

Canuck

 

 

I was confused be this on my first HAL trip also as they are the only line (afaik) that gives the spending bonus. As Alberta Quilter said, buying the OBC will not affect your credits.

 

As an example, you buy $300 OBC pre-trip. Then onboard you spend a total of $600. Your final bill will only be $300 since half was already paid upfront. You would still get 2 bonus days for the $600 you spent on board.

 

However, you CAN'T double dip and get 3 days ($300 OBC + $600 spending) since your total spent amount was in fact only $600.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[CanuckCruizer]

I was confused be this on my first HAL trip also as they are the only line (afaik) that gives the spending bonus. As Alberta Quilter said, buying the OBC will not affect your credits.

 

As an example, you buy $300 OBC pre-trip. Then onboard you spend a total of $600. Your final bill will only be $300 since half was already paid upfront. You would still get 2 bonus days for the $600 you spent on board.

 

However, you CAN'T double dip and get 3 days ($300 OBC + $600 spending) since your total spent amount was in fact only $600.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Bostonjetset - thanks very much for your explanation.

I just got off the phone with HAL and three different agents told me that anything I bought online ahead of time does NOT count for a credit. I told each one that they were mistaken - lol. I actually was on with Ship Services and the agent told me that as well and then she checked with a Supervisor and came back and told me that she was WRONG - that Cruise Critic people were correct - that EVERYTHING you purchase online, ahead of time, DOES COUNT, including the onboard credit.:D She also said that the onboard credit counts when you buy it - and also used the term "double dip" as Bostonjetset did, as in it does NOT count again when you spend it - you can only count it ONCE. I happened to be on asking them about Turkey again and thought I would throw it out there and was shocked to hear the incorrect answer! So, thanks to all the CC members.

 

Canuck

[RuthC]

I happened to be on asking them about Turkey again and thought I would throw it out there and was shocked to hear the incorrect answer!

Shocked to get an incorrect answer from Seattle? :eek:

Now you know better. ;) At least when you get an incorrect answer on CC, someone comes along (fast) to say so.

[CanuckCruizer]

Ruth,

HAHAHA - I actually meant to put an :eek: or :rolleyes: sign after that statement! No, I could write a book about what I have been told by cruiseline agents over the years....it does still amaze me that they say it with such conviction though:D

 

Canuck

[Alberta Quilter]

Bostonjetset - thanks very much for your explanation.

I just got off the phone with HAL and three different agents told me that anything I bought online ahead of time does NOT count for a credit. I told each one that they were mistaken - lol. I actually was on with Ship Services and the agent told me that as well and then she checked with a Supervisor and came back and told me that she was WRONG - that Cruise Critic people were correct - that EVERYTHING you purchase online, ahead of time, DOES COUNT, including the onboard credit.:D She also said that the onboard credit counts when you buy it - and also used the term "double dip" as Bostonjetset did, as in it does NOT count again when you spend it - you can only count it ONCE. I happened to be on asking them about Turkey again and thought I would throw it out there and was shocked to hear the incorrect answer! So, thanks to all the CC members.

 

Canuck

 

Bolding mine. I'm really surprised by this and, frankly, doubt it, too. I can only imagine the accounting nightmare. However, it's their business, not mine. As you said earlier, it doesn't matter when one gets the credit as long as they do.

[CanuckCruizer]

Bolding mine. I'm really surprised by this and, frankly, doubt it, too. I can only imagine the accounting nightmare. However, it's their business, not mine. As you said earlier, it doesn't matter when one gets the credit as long as they do.

 

Alberta Quilter - yes, doesn't really make sense, as, if you buy it, get the credit like she said and then don't end up spending it all - that would be an accounting nightmare & an easy way to "buy" your way into the Mariner status. Goes to show the different things you get told when calling in.:) In any event, glad to know that you can still get credit for it if buying it ahead.

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

Canuck