Pre-cruise "Gift" of funding onboard account, HAL's stance

[JazzCruiseDiva]

Hello Fellow Cruisers,

Prior to the holidays I communicated back and forth with HAL's Customer Service Department via email, wanting to know how my friends and family could purchase an online "Gift Card" or "Gift Certificate" to be applied toward my upcoming cruise on the Z.

They have no program other than purchasing "packages" for special occasions (i.e., fruit basket, flowers, wine basket, etc.) And, while I pointed out that this was a great idea for them to pursue -- Gift Cards are so huge in retail -- I received the online equivalent of a blank stare!

Sites such as Amazon make it so easy for people to purchase online and send a notice to the recipient. In the case of a cruise, a receipt could be printed with a UPC code or confirmation code to be presented upon registration and embarkation. If I can do this for an airline ticket, why aren't the cruise lines all over this?

I know my family would have loved to have done it, and my cruise group members were eager for this as well. Sorry to report that HAL was of no help in this matter and I'll do it the old fashioned way: with checks deposited in my debit card account prior to cruising.

Has anybody had a positive experience in this regard?

Am I deluded to think that this is a no-brainer / cash cow opportunity for the cruise lines?

Thoughts?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Kim - www.JazzDiva.com

[I Luv Crusin]

I thought through Gift Services that you could prepay shipboard credit. Isn't that the same thing? I was hoping to do that for our cruise in April. We will be on a tight budget and want to prepay instead of using a credit card.

[RevNeal]

The problem was your terminology. It is possible to buy more than just packages. You can buy lots of INDIVIDUAL items (bottles of wine, flowers, shirts, casino chips, etc etc etc) as well as make cash deposits to people's (or your own) onboard accounts.

 

If you go to HAL's website and go to the Gifts and Special Occasions page you find many many options for purchase.

 

Additionally, on the above page, you'll find a link to download this pdf: Gift Order Form . On this order form there is a blank for ordering a deposit to someone's onboard account. It looks like this

 

 

Do you see where it say's "Shipboard Credit Amount"? Try using THAT terminology when talking with Ships Services. They don't have "gift cards" or other such, but they DO have the ability to make deposits to people's onboard accounts. Those who receive the deposits will have, in their cabin upon arrival, a "Gift Notice" card letting them know how much money has been deposited to their account and by whom (if you wish that to be known).

 

So ... I think your problem was terminology.

[LolaWiz]

i agree it is annoying that people cannot give "gifts" of shipboard credit to someone.

My BIL wanted to put credits on our account and was told he had to contact customer service(weather that is ship services or not, i do not know)

 

But it would be great for people to give credits or giftcards.

 

There has to be a reason why this is not done or is not common.

[RevNeal]

i agree it is annoying that people cannot give "gifts" of shipboard credit to someone.

My BIL wanted to put credits on our account and was told he had to contact customer service(weather that is ship services or not, i do not know)

 

But it would be great for people to give credits or giftcards.

 

There has to be a reason why this is not done or is not common.

 

See my prior post. One CAN give "gifts" of shipboard credit to someone.

[LolaWiz]

See my prior post. One CAN give "gifts" of shipboard credit to someone.

sheesh.. i am having a blonde day :eek::p

thanks! i have looked over that order form and never realized it was there.

 

thanks!

[dot73]

I'm surprised that the HAL rep didn't suggest a shipboard credit right away since you didn't want to purchase a specific gift.

A few years ago, my brother and I purchased a shipboard credit for my parents' 45th anniversary cruise. I called HAL directly and it was put on my credit card. We then created a little gift certificate on the computer advising our parents of the gift and not allowing them to open the envelope until they were on the plane. When I gave the envelope to my mother at the airport she sternly said "that better not be cash" and with a straight face I said, of course not. When they reached their cabin, there was also a note from HAL advising them of the shipboard credit. My parents loved it. Since they live on a pension and the cruise was a real splurge for them, the gift allowed them to go on some excursions they never would have otherwise taken. As my mother later said, the memories of the places they saw were much better than some present that would collect dust on a shelf. I'm planning a once-in-a-lifetime 30-day cruise in January 2007. When my parents and brother ask what I would like for Christmas in 2006, my answer will be "a HAL shipboard credit would be nice". I can't think of a better gift.

[SharonN]

I had no problem when I called HAL early last week to buy a credit for my parent's account (they are currently on the Rotterdam). They asked what message I wanted on the gift card and I received an email confirmation on the purchase. I'm sure it could have been done by faxing in the gift form but since it was only a few days from their sailing I thought it best to call. However, I was not able to purchase a Spa package for my sister in law for our cruise next May (DH wanted to give it to her for Christmas). They indicated because of the new computer system (boy I'm getting tired of that excuse!) they can't accept purchases for any cruises after the 1st of April.

[JazzCruiseDiva]

Thank you all for your input. I agree, it was most likely my terminology that stumped them. But would you not agree that the system (form, etc) is cumbersome in its current state? I did not want a specific package or dollar amount, just the chance for people to have the ease of online deposits to an account. Why not make it easier? Wouldn't your family need to know your cabin number? I wonder if the fact that I'm on a full charter would have been a deterrent to the current system employed by HAL? Oh well, it's too late now. I'll know for next year. (But honestly, the system used by sites like Amazon for gift cards would probably make it easier for friends and family to give the gift of "shipboard credit!")

 

Rev Neal, as usual your input is informed and interesting. Thanks so much!

[RevNeal]

But would you not agree that the system (form, etc) is cumbersome in its current state? I did not want a specific package or dollar amount, just the chance for people to have the ease of online deposits to an account. Why not make it easier? Wouldn't your family need to know your cabin number? I wonder if the fact that I'm on a full charter would have been a deterrent to the current system employed by HAL? Oh well, it's too late now. I'll know for next year. (But honestly, the system used by sites like Amazon for gift cards would probably make it easier for friends and family to give the gift of "shipboard credit!")

 

Rev Neal, as usual your input is informed and interesting. Thanks so much!

 

Thank YOU. And, I agree ... HAL needs to move into the 21st Century on this subject ... as on several more. They've always had a great website; they really should have a better, easier method for making such deposits. Indeed, if they could have an on-line store -- like the shore excursions section -- which would enable one to place such orders and make such deposits online.

 

One's orders and deposits are linked to one's booking number, which one should have even if they don't have a cabin number yet.

[kryos]

But it would be great for people to give credits or giftcards.

 

There has to be a reason why this is not done or is not common.

I can't understand why someone can't just buy a HAL gift card in any amount. They would make great gifts for cruising friends, and I don't know about others ... but I personally prefer to have something I can stuff into their Christmas or Birthday card ... rather than just calling HAL and placing a shipboard credit on their account.

 

The gift card would be better too in the respect that if your good friend doesn't currently have a HAL cruise booked, but you know they sail HAL with regularity, you can always give them the card to hold until their next cruise. They then simply go to the purser's desk to redeem it into onboard credit.

 

Betcha HAL is missing out on a great additional revenue stream by not offering these. They could even get creative with the promotional strategy and perhaps offer special deals if you buy them onboard for a future cruise. Maybe for $50, you get a $75 gift card (non-refundable). People could buy them at the same time they visit the onboard cruise consultant to book their next cruise, or even just buy them for an eventual future cruise.

 

Sounds like a great deal to me.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kakalina]

My father was able to purchase a Christmas gift for me at HAL's customer service number. He gave me the wonderful gift of a massage for our South Pacific cruise in 9 days. He didn't appear to have any trouble, I just gave him the name of the ship the sailing date and our cabin number. I think it was a great gift and appreciate it more than I can say. Thanks Pop:D