Credit for Onboard Spending

[jlnprt]

I know that onboard spending gives you 'credit' for additional days as you move along in your mariner status. ($300 = 1 additional day, I think.) We are inching closer to our 4th star. If I book a cruise that does not include the "Have It All" package, but the HIA is available for an additional fee, does that fee count toward the points needed for our next star. I don't think I've worded my question well, so I hope it makes sense. 

[Tradestock]

I think a HIA package purchased after booking does count towards the $300 on board spending. In the past, a HIA purchase would max the $300 per day spending, no questions asked.  From this board, it seems there is some diversion from this policy.  I have not encountered the diversion and continue to receive the full credit ($300/day) for the purchase.

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, jlnprt said:

If I book a cruise that does not include the "Have It All" package, but the HIA is available for an additional fee, does that fee count toward the points needed for our next star.

My experience is that the HIA (and before that, the SBP by itself) -- whether part of the fare or bought independently -- counts toward Mariner points. And not as the $55pppd that it costs, but as if you had spend the $11x15 drinks per 2 people in a cabin, or $330 applied to both people's Mariner account! (A solo or a third person with HIA would get $165 plus face value of the dinner(s) and shore excursion allotment, by my figuring.)

 

This has been true since we had Signature Beverage Plan as part of a promotional in 2016.  In January 2023, we came up one day short of double points, but I never took it up with Mariner Society, because we did achieve four stars without it! 

 

Do remember that if you book even a Vista Suite (at published rate, not an upsell) you also get one extra point per day each for first two pax in cabin.

[NCTribeFan]

As a solo,  I've tried to figure my Mariner points post-cruise and can never figure out why I've earned what I've earned.  Even when I don't have HIA.  I believe I used crystalspin's method trying to calculate what I've earned.  I think part of the issue is when I've booked B2B, some of the charges appear to go on the one of the weeks other than when the actual spending took place, because one seems high and the next seems low.  It's not very intuitive and, hey, I'm a CPA.  I should be able to figure this out! 😄

 

Everyone always says casino spending doesn't count, but it seems to me that when I put funds in a slot machine that goes to my onboard account that it does count.  That's why I only use cash at the tables, not in the slots.  I'll give it another "test" in November.  

 

I don't expect to make 4* until my January K'dam sailing (24 nights w/HIA).

[Mandalay1903]

3 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

As a solo,  I've tried to figure my Mariner points post-cruise and can never figure out why I've earned what I've earned.  Even when I don't have HIA.  I believe I used crystalspin's method trying to calculate what I've earned.  I think part of the issue is when I've booked B2B, some of the charges appear to go on the one of the weeks other than when the actual spending took place, because one seems high and the next seems low.  It's not very intuitive and, hey, I'm a CPA.  I should be able to figure this out! 😄

 

Everyone always says casino spending doesn't count, but it seems to me that when I put funds in a slot machine that goes to my onboard account that it does count.  That's why I only use cash at the tables, not in the slots.  I'll give it another "test" in November.  

 

I don't expect to make 4* until my January K'dam sailing (24 nights w/HIA).

We purchase our cruises including HIA and pre-book our ShoreEx. In the past, we've received full Mariner Days credit for the HIA package--doing the math each time, our ShoreEx, gratuities & onboard spending wouldn't have been enough. We recently sailed a six-week B2B in a suite booked with HIA (28 days plus 14 days). Onboard, HAL connected our shipboard accounts for the two bookings, and the account didn't need to be settled until the end of the entire voyage. A credit in our favor.

 

After returning home, we were credited our full Mariner Days (suite plus spending) for the first booking, but were severely shorted on the second booking. Only 3 spending Days were credited for a 14-day HIA sailing. Even the cost of pre-booked HAL ShoreEx were excluded. I called the Mariner Society, and the rep recalculated. She manually added Days to our Mariner accounts for the value of our ShoreEx in the second booking, but she insisted that the value of HIA was to be EXCLUDED from the calculation because it was purchased as part of our original booking. (We're also CPAs... 😉  )

 

Makes me feel like they may have a different policy for B2Bs...any ideas? Should I call back and try another rep?

 

Also, we earned 5-Star Mariner status on our previous cruise last winter so I'm not sure whether any of this matters to us anymore. Or does it? Is there future value for 5-Star Mariners to continue to accrue Mariner Days? (I'm not referring to days sailed--Silver Medal, etc.)

 

Thanks.

[cavecreekguy]

I'm not sure how the credits are calculated, but for my May NS cruise I received 13 credits for the 13 days, and 13 "onboard spending" credits, for a total of 26 credits. I added HIA after I made final payment.

 

I had read on here that having HIA counts for one credit per day. I hope this is the case because, if so, after my next cruise I'll finally be 4-star.

[alwaysfrantic]

You will be capped at the number of days you cruise.   On an 11 night cruise I got 33 nights.  11 regular nights/11 suite bonus/11 onboard spending.  

[NCTribeFan]

I need to update my spreadsheet.  I'll see if it makes sense after my November cruise.

 

Again, as a solo, since I don't reach the $300/day that doubles get based solely on the drink package value of HIA, if I booked the HIA early bonus that includes gratuities, I should add that to my calculation since, obviously, that won't be a separate charge on my account once on board.

 

So, $165/day value for drink package, value of specialty dining, value of excursions, value of grats included (if any). 

 

NOT in the calculation is Club Orange since that's considered part of the cabin fare, not an add-on.

[ChinaShrek]

3 hours ago, cavecreekguy said:

 

 

I had read on here that having HIA counts for one credit per day. I hope this is the case because, if so, after my next cruise I'll finally be 4-star.

This doesn't seem to apply to solos, however. I have purchased HIA as a solo on two cruises and only get 4-5 credits for a 7 day cruise.

[cavecreekguy]

7 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

This doesn't seem to apply to solos, however. I have purchased HIA as a solo on two cruises and only get 4-5 credits for a 7 day cruise.

My cruise was as a solo.

[crystalspin]

14 hours ago, cavecreekguy said:

I had read on here that having HIA counts for one credit per day.

HIA -- actually just the Beverage Package -- will count for a credit per day for two people in a cabin. If you as a solo had the HIA/Early Booking Bonus, then the Elite BP would give you 15x15 or $225 per day. The specialty dinners and shore excursions would be added in, along with any additional ones of both that you bought. I am not sure if crew appreciation is included in the calculation, but a solo with EBB (or Elite Beverage Package bought separately) can relatively easily reach one spending day per sailing day.

 

With standard HIA -- Signature Beverage Package -- it is harder for a solo to get one $-day per sailing day as the beverages just total to $165 and the other perks don't total $135 per day unless you are a BIG spender. So then @ChinaShrek's maths are correct.

[ChinaShrek]

8 hours ago, crystalspin said:

 

With standard HIA -- Signature Beverage Package -- it is harder for a solo to get one $-day per sailing day as the beverages just total to $165 and the other perks don't total $135 per day unless you are a BIG spender. So then @ChinaShrek's maths are correct.

That makes sense now. I had the standard HIA. Thanks!

[cavecreekguy]

10 hours ago, crystalspin said:

HIA -- actually just the Beverage Package -- will count for a credit per day for two people in a cabin. If you as a solo had the HIA/Early Booking Bonus, then the Elite BP would give you 15x15 or $225 per day. The specialty dinners and shore excursions would be added in, along with any additional ones of both that you bought. I am not sure if crew appreciation is included in the calculation, but a solo with EBB (or Elite Beverage Package bought separately) can relatively easily reach one spending day per sailing day.

 

With standard HIA -- Signature Beverage Package -- it is harder for a solo to get one $-day per sailing day as the beverages just total to $165 and the other perks don't total $135 per day unless you are a BIG spender. So then @ChinaShrek's maths are correct.

You got me curious, so I went and did some math. I guess I am a BIG spender!

 

When I take into account the max value of the signature beverage package, along with the Internet, the two specialty restaurants, the shore excursion credit, my additional shore excursions and other onboard expenses, I come up just over $300/day average (I also included the crew appreciation). So I guess that explains it for my situation.

[Mandalay1903]

11 hours ago, crystalspin said:

HIA -- actually just the Beverage Package -- will count for a credit per day for two people in a cabin.

See Post #5 above. After our recent cruise, the Mariner Society rep insisted that the HIA value is to be excluded from the formula. My actual previous experience has been quite different and I had always been credited with Days for the HIA value. YMMV, I guess.

[ChinaShrek]

1 hour ago, Mandalay1903 said:

See Post #5 above. After our recent cruise, the Mariner Society rep insisted that the HIA value is to be excluded from the formula. My actual previous experience has been quite different and I had always been credited with Days for the HIA value. YMMV, I guess.

I will find out in a few days when my Nieuw Statendam cruise posts. I had the Signature Beverage Package not the EBB.

[Archipelago]

Do you get spending credit that counts for days sailed when you book lets say a Laundry package online before the voyage ? Or must you book it when you board ? Thanks for your patience !

[CruiserBruce]

You can book it, shore excursions, lots of things, in advance and get spending credit towards Mariner status.

[Will_Dieterich]

Another single and on my last 16 days I got 10 extra points, and this was with HIA; cruise before that 14 days and 10 extra points.  Going by my own recordings using the cost of HIA, cost of dining, cost of excursions, I would have had 4 days where I did spend more than $300.  The money mainly spent on excursions and I did laundry on two of the days, and some casino.  HIA was purchased before the trip.

 

Going with the calculations above even with the $165 a day of drinks, throwing in excursions, daily tipping fee, and specialty dining I would not have had 10 days worth of extra points.

 

I think they have to do a total of the amount spent (maybe with a cap for each day so you going to purchase some art does not max you out for the whole trip) and then divide by 300 for the number; instead of the days you actually spent $300.

Edited July 25 by Will_Dieterich

[richwmn]

1 hour ago, Will_Dieterich said:

I think they have to do a total of the amount spent (maybe with a cap for each day so you going to purchase some art does not max you out for the whole trip) and then divide by 300 for the number; instead of the days you actually spent $300.

I don't think there is a cap per day. The total you spend over the cruise divided by 300 gives you the number of bonus days, with a limit of the number of days in the cruise.

[CruiserBruce]

The max spend credit per day is $300, for one credit. If you spend $600, you don't get two credits.

 

That being said, historically, they have been VERY generous about rounding up to get you the maximum number of spending credit days. Any amount spent up to $300 usually gets you the credit. For things like HIA, the amount typically gets spread over all days in the cruise...helping you get a spending credit virtually every day

[VMax1700]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

The max spend credit per day is $300, for one credit. If you spend $600, you don't get two credits.

I don't think that is quite correct.  There is no daily spend limit but there is a cap on the total number of credits based on the length of the cruise.

eg - 

  $600 spend over a 7 day cruise = 2 spend credits

 $1200 spend over a 7 day cruise = 4 spend credits.

 $3000 spend over a 7 day cruise = 7 spend credits (maximum allowable).

[richwmn]

One other thing to add, the total spending for all occupants of the cabin is what counts toward the bonus 'days' for the first two occupants of the cabin. Occupants 3 & 4 do not receive bonus 'days'.

[Ileneilene123]

I just sent a note to the Mariner Society asking them to recalculate the credits awarded for our recent 7-day Alaska Cruise. My husband and I were each awarded 16 credits in total:
Cruise and Tour Days: 7 (correct)
Suite Bonus: 7 (correct)
Onboard Spending: 2 (this is too low by my calculations)

With a total onboard spend of $2327.25 and one day awarded for every $300 spent on board, I asked why we were awarded only 2 days for onboard spending? I’ll see how they reply. 
 

My own on calculations for on board spending included not only the small itemized charges shown in our final on board invoice, but also our larger pre-paid items: all of our excursions, a premium 4-device wifi package and Club Orange — none of which were shown on the onboard invoice.
 

I’ve seen conflicting info on whether Club Orange is included or not — I will see what they say about that. I am not sure why the other items were excluded? 
 

I’ll post here once I hear back. 

Edited August 26 by Ileneilene123

[Shmoo here]

On 7/25/2024 at 8:19 AM, VMax1700 said:

I don't think that is quite correct.  There is no daily spend limit but there is a cap on the total number of credits based on the length of the cruise.

eg - 

  $600 spend over a 7 day cruise = 2 spend credits

 $1200 spend over a 7 day cruise = 4 spend credits.

 $3000 spend over a 7 day cruise = 7 spend credits (maximum allowable).

We just had our account updated following our recent cruise.  The spending credits are equal to the number of days of the cruise.  We didn't spend that much onboard, on excursions, or any other onboard purchases that would give us that many credits.

 

I don't really want to question it, however, as it gets us closer to our 4 star level.

[VMax1700]

21 minutes ago, Shmoo here said:

We just had our account updated following our recent cruise.  The spending credits are equal to the number of days of the cruise.  We didn't spend that much onboard, on excursions, or any other onboard purchases that would give us that many credits.

 

I don't really want to question it, however, as it gets us closer to our 4 star level.

Did you have 'Have it All' or in a suite?

As you say, no questions!!😉