Holland America Line Launches Onboard Credit Offer for AARP Members

[BaltimoreCruise]

 

Dobby36

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[alwaysfrantic]

So much hit or miss.  No luck with TA.  No luck with the email address. 

[PigsCanFly]

We just got notified from our PCC that our AARP OBC has been applied to to each of our upcoming Zuiderdam cruises.  That was also followed up by emails with the new booking confirmations showing the OBC for each leg.

[oh2crz]

I hope Holland America extends this credit to AMAC members, which is an alternative to AARP with comparable benefits. (Association of Mature American Citizens) 

[bellaship]

Sharing my experience and thanks to many who posted on this topic.

I'm in Canada so no gift cards or other AARP rewards for me but for only $17USD, I can't complain.

 

October 1 Booked 14 day cruise through TA. (paid in full)

Oct 13 I purchased AARP membership and got me and hubby verified by HAL through SheerID.

 I'm putting in 2 links but only the second one worked for me. 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers/aarp-member-benefit-offer

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

Oct 13 sent reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com a copy of my SheerID verification.

 

Oct 14 got reply from reservations_submit saying wait a few days and have TA call to add AARP credit.

Oct 16 TA called as directed but was denied.

Oct 17 I called HAL directly and despite being on hold while they consulted with Resolutions, I was again denied.

I then thought well no harm no foul and replied to the reservations_submit with my verification.   They replied the same day and confirmed $200 was applied.

 

I see the $50 future credit under both my husband and my accounts still.

We're both ONE star mariners if that matters.

 

I was polite each time but wouldn't be surprised if I was awarded MAP (Most annoying Person) lol.

 

Good luck and I hope you're able to get the credit also... mostly so you can buy me a drink hahaha

 

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by bellaship

[J&Dhighdesert]

After two hours I finally got my AARP and educator credit.  One fifteen day trip didn’t qualify because of special promotion.  The three that I had just booked all qualified.  It seems that length, days, and room category depended on credit received from AARP.  I asked about past bookings, which I have three, would qualify.  He checked and the same applied.  What took so long was that he had to go to upper management with my AARP membership number and put it in manually.  Each booking had to be entered separately.  I felt lucky to have received the service I did.  Although, this was my second go around with them. Persistence pays off.

[shrimpsiumai]

Read through 16 pages but still confused.

 

Can I book HAL itinerary through a TA and receive AARP OBC? Or, do I have book the cruise through Holland America's website to receive the credit? 

 

Are there instructions how to get this OBC somewhere? 

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, shrimpsiumai said:

Are there instructions how to get this OBC somewhere? 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers/aarp-member-benefit-offer

 

You need to do the confirmation a few days before booking. I do not use a TA, but we have had no trouble getting it through our PCC.

 

ETA: I do not even remember if the PCC had to be involved, it may be automatic IF your cruise is within a year...

Edited January 9 by crystalspin

[Haljo1935]

I have had no issues getting the OBC added to bookings that have a TA or PCC - I submit the request myself w/no involvement from TA or PCC. The only OBC I have needed to involve my TA is the military OBC.

[gigianne]

I tried several times to enter the address (from post above) without success. Why does HAL make it so hard?  Can anyone help me?  Canadian, does this make a difference?

 

[crystalspin]

2 hours ago, gigianne said:

I tried several times to enter the address (from post above) without success. Why does HAL make it so hard?  Can anyone help me?  Canadian, does this make a difference?

Scroll up and read post #380, from a fellow Canadian!

[gigianne]

Crystalspin - thanks, I went and took a second look at the post and realized there were 2 links.  I used the second one and got instant success, so thanks to a fellow Canadian.  
 

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

 

HAL sure does not make navigating their site easy!

[kluv2cruz]

Where do you go to see the OBC showing up? I have multiple bookings and got confirmation that it has been applied but what I assume is the AARP confirmation said “teacher appreciation benefits offer $100” (which I also applied for - received 2 emails confirming the same wording but 2 different reference #’s.) 

 

How many days from receiving an email confirming it’s been awarded until you can use the OBC for say an excursion? (This is what I tried to do to confirm the AARP & teacher OBC but it didn’t show up.)

 

Thanks!

[richwmn]

49 minutes ago, kluv2cruz said:

Where do you go to see the OBC showing up? I have multiple bookings and got confirmation that it has been applied but what I assume is the AARP confirmation said “teacher appreciation benefits offer $100” (which I also applied for - received 2 emails confirming the same wording but 2 different reference #’s.) 

 

How many days from receiving an email confirming it’s been awarded until you can use the OBC for say an excursion? (This is what I tried to do to confirm the AARP & teacher OBC but it didn’t show up.)

 

Thanks!

HAL doesn't allow OBC to be used until you are aboard the ship. It's not available for booking excursions, etc, before the cruise.

 

[kluv2cruz]

1 hour ago, richwmn said:

HAL doesn't allow OBC to be used until you are aboard the ship. It's not available for booking excursions, etc, before the cruise.

 

Ah! That explains things. Do you know how I can see that I did actually receive OBC (hence the name “ON BOARD credit” hahaha)?

[richwmn]

21 minutes ago, kluv2cruz said:

Ah! That explains things. Do you know how I can see that I did actually receive OBC (hence the name “ON BOARD credit” hahaha)?

If you use a travel agent they will have to provide that information, and it will be the total - not broken down by type. If you booked directly with HAL or a PCC it will show on your payments page (to the best of my memory), also as a total.

 

[kluv2cruz]

29 minutes ago, richwmn said:

If you use a travel agent they will have to provide that information, and it will be the total - not broken down by type. If you booked directly with HAL or a PCC it will show on your payments page (to the best of my memory), also as a total.

 

That’s what I was remembering. Thanks very much.

[alyssamma]

Thanks to @LMaxwell who started this thread and all of the others who choked in with valuable info!

[alyssamma]

11 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Thanks to @LMaxwell who started this thread and all of the others who choked in with valuable info!

Too late to edit... obviously meant *chimed* in and not choked 😀 lol  no violence implied 😀

[Ellesor826]

Question:

Is the AARP OBC offer only applicable to 1 cruise per year?
 

I understand AARP it is not combinable with Educators/First Responders but it is combinable with shareholder’s OBC. 
 

Having difficulty triggering OBC for AARP/Educator/First Responder to a second booking in the same year. 
 

Thanx 

[crystalspin]

41 minutes ago, Ellesor826 said:

Is the AARP OBC offer only applicable to 1 cruise per year?
I understand AARP it is not combinable with Educators/First Responders but it is combinable with shareholder’s OBC. 
Having difficulty triggering OBC for AARP/Educator/First Responder to a second booking in the same year. 

Hi!

I don't know about Educators/First Responders, but it is stackable with SHOBC as you said.

 

You may have to call in and talk to a Pricing Specialist to get further AARP applied to additional cruises. One did it for me! If your cruise sails after July 31 2024, you will have to wait until after the CCL board meeting in April to get the Stockholders OBC applied.

[Ellesor826]

9 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

call in and talk to a Pricing Specialist to get further AARP applied to additional cruises. One did it for me!

Thank you -- I did call and the person was not helpful, but "notated" my account (le sigh).
I may call in a couple of days - sometimes it is a matter getting the right person.
I read and re-read HALs AARP OBC page, and I see nothing about it being applicable to only 1 cruise/calendar year.
I also reached out to our TA (on vacay this week) to reach out to her HAL contact.
I'd hate to lose $100 or $200 OBC bc of a page "glitch" - and HAL pages definitely glitch.

Oh!
And, CCL has an APP for applying for Shareholder OBC credit now.  ."Stock Perks".

Edited January 22 by Ellesor826

[Bocker3]

I have the AARP OBC on my cruise next month and on BOTH cruises I have booked in 2025, so it is not limited to once a year.

[Ellesor826]

3 minutes ago, Bocker3 said:

I have the AARP OBC on my cruise next month and on BOTH cruises I have booked in 2025, so it is not limited to once a year.

Thank you!
I will try another agent and see if I get another answer.

[kluv2cruz]

Is the AARP OBC always $200 or doesn’t it vary by length of cruise?