Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted December 1, 2022 #1 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Starting December 2, Holland America is offering a 10% bonus on gift cards. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted December 1, 2022 #2 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Thanks 🙂. Wish the exchange rate was better 😔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
five. Posted December 1, 2022 #3 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Well I had a thread the other day asking about discounted specialty dining. This might be an alternative. Thanks for the heads up. I assume this is just via HAL website and similar to this old thread from October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SUESEABE Posted December 1, 2022 #4 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Always 10% off AARP discount, not required to be a member. https://www.aarp.org/rewards/redeem/#all_rewards=undefined&sort-by=default&type=filter_travel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richwmn Posted December 1, 2022 #5 Share Posted December 1, 2022 the AARP offer is a bit better since it is a 10% discount (pay $450 for $500) rather than a bonus pay (pay $500 for $550) and the bonus expires after a year. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted December 1, 2022 #6 Share Posted December 1, 2022 If you are counting on travel insurance or protection from your credit card -- the amount paid via AARP cards will NOT be covered! This from my Chase banker in re to the Sapphire credit card. Not sure about the HAL gift cards. The AARP cards come through as something like "Charity", not travel... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted December 1, 2022 Author #7 Share Posted December 1, 2022 2 minutes ago, crystalspin said: If you are counting on travel insurance or protection from your credit card -- the amount paid via AARP cards will NOT be covered! This from my Chase banker in re to the Sapphire credit card. Not sure about the HAL gift cards. The AARP cards come through as something like "Charity", not travel... You are correct. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea42 Posted December 1, 2022 #8 Share Posted December 1, 2022 3 minutes ago, crystalspin said: If you are counting on travel insurance or protection from your credit card -- the amount paid via AARP cards will NOT be covered! This from my Chase banker in re to the Sapphire credit card. Not sure about the HAL gift cards. The AARP cards come through as something like "Charity", not travel... That's really good to know! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted December 1, 2022 #9 Share Posted December 1, 2022 23 minutes ago, crystalspin said: If you are counting on travel insurance or protection from your credit card -- the amount paid via AARP cards will NOT be covered! This from my Chase banker in re to the Sapphire credit card. Not sure about the HAL gift cards. The AARP cards come through as something like "Charity", not travel... I never risk it, I use cards to pay for excursions and shipboard accounts. Others have said it would be covered but I always considered that advice suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted December 1, 2022 #10 Share Posted December 1, 2022 3 minutes ago, Mary229 said: I never risk it, I use cards to pay for excursions and shipboard accounts. Others have said it would be covered but I always considered that advice suspect. Oh, now you have hit on a good plan! I will keep that in mind for the longer (expensive) cruise coming up in 2024. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted December 1, 2022 #11 Share Posted December 1, 2022 2 minutes ago, crystalspin said: Oh, now you have hit on a good plan! I will keep that in mind for the longer (expensive) cruise coming up in 2024. HAL will refund all expenses such as meals, excursions, packages if you don’t cruise. There are a few overland trips and special excursions that are excepted and those should be purchased with credit card. Of course 10% discount on the cruise fare could make buying third party insurance worth a look 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
five. Posted December 1, 2022 #12 Share Posted December 1, 2022 3 hours ago, richwmn said: the AARP offer is a bit better since it is a 10% discount (pay $450 for $500) rather than a bonus pay (pay $500 for $550) and the bonus expires after a year. Thank you for that clarification! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WriterOnDeck Posted December 1, 2022 #13 Share Posted December 1, 2022 If I buy the AARP cards, can I turn them in at Guest Services on the ship to pay for my shipboard account, such as crew appreciation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lido deck main Posted December 1, 2022 #14 Share Posted December 1, 2022 23 minutes ago, WriterOnDeck said: If I buy the AARP cards, can I turn them in at Guest Services on the ship to pay for my shipboard account, such as crew appreciation? I used my gift cards to pre purchased OBC prior to travel for that purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted December 1, 2022 #15 Share Posted December 1, 2022 1 hour ago, WriterOnDeck said: If I buy the AARP cards, can I turn them in at Guest Services on the ship to pay for my shipboard account, such as crew appreciation? Yes, you can also use them ahead of time for packages, excursions or dining. They cannot be used for crew gratuities online but can be in person Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Haired Lady Posted December 2, 2022 #16 Share Posted December 2, 2022 8 hours ago, crystalspin said: If you are counting on travel insurance or protection from your credit card -- the amount paid via AARP cards will NOT be covered! This from my Chase banker in re to the Sapphire credit card. Not sure about the HAL gift cards. The AARP cards come through as something like "Charity", not travel... Not sure which Chase card you have. My Chase Sapphire Preferred Guide to Benefits says a portion of the trip must be charged to the account. I have paid about 60 percent on the card and 40 percent using gift cards. YMMV. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
five. Posted December 2, 2022 #17 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Can confirm that it's live on HAL's website. No mention of it, but if you add a $250 card or more to your cart, it adds the bonus card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermeulT Posted December 2, 2022 #18 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) 19 hours ago, crystalspin said: If you are counting on travel insurance or protection from your credit card -- the amount paid via AARP cards will NOT be covered! This from my Chase banker in re to the Sapphire credit card. Not sure about the HAL gift cards. The AARP cards come through as something like "Charity", not travel... on the HAL site.. * By clicking above, you will be re-directed to our third-party vendor site Edited December 2, 2022 by VermeulT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Djb4CC Posted December 2, 2022 #19 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) Just purchased for my Jan cruise… anyone know how long the promo is on for? Wouldn’t mind pushing the purchase to the next credit card cycle for more purchases for April’s cruise. Plus, it seems they have gotten better with the bonus card… bought $500 and got a single $50 bonus card as opposed to two $25 ones which happened last time. Edited December 2, 2022 by Djb4CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAL4NOW Posted December 2, 2022 #20 Share Posted December 2, 2022 22 minutes ago, Djb4CC said: Just purchased for my Jan cruise… anyone know how long the promo is on for? Wouldn’t mind pushing the purchase to the next credit card cycle for more purchases for April’s cruise. Plus, it seems they have gotten better with the bonus card… bought $500 and got a single $50 bonus card as opposed to two $25 ones which happened last time. Website says until December 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olya1972 Posted December 3, 2022 #21 Share Posted December 3, 2022 How does one use the gift card for onboard expenses? We are sailing next week and I would like to purchase a digital version to use on that sailing, but I am not clear on how would I use it onboard( and I read their terms and conditions section). For example, I am buying a drink at the bar and I would like to charge it agains that ( digital) gift card and not on my onboard account. How do I do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HALcruiser2001 Posted December 3, 2022 #22 Share Posted December 3, 2022 On 12/1/2022 at 10:43 AM, SUESEABE said: Always 10% off AARP discount, not required to be a member. https://www.aarp.org/rewards/redeem/#all_rewards=undefined&sort-by=default&type=filter_travel That link doesn't take me to anything related to Holland america Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Djb4CC Posted December 3, 2022 #23 Share Posted December 3, 2022 20 minutes ago, olya1972 said: How does one use the gift card for onboard expenses? We are sailing next week and I would like to purchase a digital version to use on that sailing, but I am not clear on how would I use it onboard( and I read their terms and conditions section). For example, I am buying a drink at the bar and I would like to charge it agains that ( digital) gift card and not on my onboard account. How do I do that? I don’t think you can use it for individual purchases, it gets applied to your ship board account at the guest services counter. You can either apply it at the start and therefore have a credit you draw down on your account, or applied later to pay off your account before final billing day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted December 3, 2022 #24 Share Posted December 3, 2022 48 minutes ago, olya1972 said: How does one use the gift card for onboard expenses? We are sailing next week and I would like to purchase a digital version to use on that sailing, but I am not clear on how would I use it onboard( and I read their terms and conditions section). For example, I am buying a drink at the bar and I would like to charge it agains that ( digital) gift card and not on my onboard account. How do I do that? Nothing on a cruise ship is bought with cash or cash-like methods. The best you can do is go to the desk and have them apply your gift card balance to your account. Once used up it will switch to your credit card. Some people who don’t want to use a credit card hand them cash for a shipboard balance. Still if used up it will go to your credit card. You can watch your daily balance on the app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olya1972 Posted December 3, 2022 #25 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Thank you both for the explanation. I understand it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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