Live, issue with Gift cards on Zuiderdam, need help

[shiner6]

I am currently onboard and placed 2 gift cards on my account as soon as I boarded. When I deposited the AARP cards for $1000, I asked the woman at guest services if it can be used in Casino. She assured me that I could. Now, 3 days later I find that they are no longer allowing gift card use in Casino. I have been betting every night and charging it to my on board account, believing that I had deposited sufficient funds. Well, nope, now, they say that I owe them $781.00 and My $1,000 gift cards are nonrefundable. What a distasteful addition to a much yearned for vacation. I asked the woman to escalate the issue to finance (which she did), however, this has really put a damper on my relaxation. Please do not let this happen to you. I am trying to remain positive, but I feel like I have been dupped !

Edited August 26 by shiner6

[richwmn]

One quick observation, although the Gift Cards are non refundable, Holland can move money back to the gift cards, or issue new Gift Cards in the amount of any money left on your on board account. So technically it is not refundable, but can still be used with Holland America for another cruise.

That being said, what does your on board account show on your TV or Navigator Account? That will tell you if the Casino money is being removed from your Refundable OBC. Casino charges can not be made against Non Refundable (Stock, Military, First Responder) OBC but can be charged against refundable OBC.

Whoever gave you the information may be confusing the types of OBC you have, as Gift Card OBC falls under the refundable column.

 

[shiner6]

That is exactly what I thought, however, when I went to guest services today, they told me the policy had changed with this cruise. No notification given. I will let you know what the higher ups decide, in the meantime it has definitely put a downer on my experience. I wish I felt better about it, but I don’t.

[BermudaBound2014]

56 minutes ago, shiner6 said:

That is exactly what I thought, however, when I went to guest services today, they told me the policy had changed with this cruise. No notification given. I will let you know what the higher ups decide, in the meantime it has definitely put a downer on my experience. I wish I felt better about it, but I don’t.

 

Please follow up with what happens (sorry you are the Guinee pig on a new policy).

 

When you look at the navigator app, is the gift card being shown as refundable or nonrefundable?

 

Would a workaround be purchasing $1000 OBC with the gift cards and then cashing out?

 

 

 

 

[ChinaShrek]

1 hour ago, shiner6 said:

That is exactly what I thought, however, when I went to guest services today, they told me the policy had changed with this cruise. No notification given. I will let you know what the higher ups decide, in the meantime it has definitely put a downer on my experience. I wish I felt better about it, but I don’t.

I did this last month on the Nieuw Statendam without any problems. I charged $300 to my room on the slots and paid this balance at the end of the cruise (last night) using gift cards. Perhaps the order of transactions makes a difference? Charge to the your account first and then pay using gift cards. What is the recent change in policy? That gift cards are non-refundable once applied to an account or that gift cards can't be used to pay casino charges? HAL is probably fed up with people charging casino bets on their account and then using gift cards to save 10% off the balance due. Another loophole closed!

[NCTribeFan]

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Please follow up with what happens (sorry you are the Guinee pig on a new policy).

 

When you look at the navigator app, is the gift card being shown as refundable or nonrefundable?

 

Would a workaround be purchasing $1000 OBC with the gift cards and then cashing out?

 

How do you purchase OBC with a GC while on a ship (whether or not said GC has already been applied to your onboard account)?

[BermudaBound2014]

15 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

How do you purchase OBC with a GC while on a ship (whether or not said GC has already been applied to your onboard account)?

Not sure it’s possible, hence the question mark. 
 

 

[shiner6]

! I have great news! I just went to guest services and the problem has been resolved!  It was a miscommunication from Corporate ( not surprised, that is what I suspected). My account is corrected and YES, gift cards can be used for the casino! Wish I had this resolved yesterday as I allowed it to ruin my experience, however, today is a new and gorgeous day here in Sydney, Nova Scotia! 

[shadow 123]

20 hours ago, shiner6 said:

I am currently onboard and placed 2 gift cards on my account as soon as I boarded. When I deposited the AARP cards for $1000, I asked the woman at guest services if it can be used in Casino. She assured me that I could. Now, 3 days later I find that they are no longer allowing gift card use in Casino. I have been betting every night and charging it to my on board account, believing that I had deposited sufficient funds. Well, nope, now, they say that I owe them $781.00 and My $1,000 gift cards are nonrefundable. What a distasteful addition to a much yearned for vacation. I asked the woman to escalate the issue to finance (which she did), however, this has really put a damper on my relaxation. Please do not let this happen to you. I am trying to remain positive, but I feel like I have been dupped !

If you were given incorrect information you were duped!

[shadow 123]

17 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Please follow up with what happens (sorry you are the Guinee pig on a new policy).

 

When you look at the navigator app, is the gift card being shown as refundable or nonrefundable?

 

Would a workaround be purchasing $1000 OBC with the gift cards and then cashing out?

 

 

 

 

Good idea

[shadow 123]

18 minutes ago, shiner6 said:

! I have great news! I just went to guest services and the problem has been resolved!  It was a miscommunication from Corporate ( not surprised, that is what I suspected). My account is corrected and YES, gift cards can be used for the casino! Wish I had this resolved yesterday as I allowed it to ruin my experience, however, today is a new and gorgeous day here in Sydney, Nova Scotia! 

Great. Glad you had a great outcome.

[POA1]

Thanks for the update!

[Mary229]

Interesting.  I was able to pay my onboard account outstanding total with gift cards last week and all of the charges were casino charges.  I only applied from the gift card what was outstanding 

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks for the update.  I always take GCs and apply to my account. It helps offset my gambling (but doesn't cover it totally; I always owe when I disembark 😄 ).

 

I have several and if what you originally experienced was going to be policy going forward, I would just apply those to the balance on one of my three other upcoming HAL cruises.

 

 

[Mary229]

2 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

Thanks for the update.  I always take GCs and apply to my account. It helps offset my gambling (but doesn't cover it totally; I always owe when I disembark 😄 ).

 

I have several and if what you originally experienced was going to be policy going forward, I would just apply those to the balance on one of my three other upcoming HAL cruises.

 

 

The rules for gifts cards seem to be very inconsistent.  It has been different for each ship I have sailed this year.  I will bring mine for the next cruise and report back. 

[zelker]

Can we apply AARP gift cards to our onboard account, then withdraw cash against them throughout the cruise as needed to cover things like gratuities for tour guides, add'l tips to crew, etc. ... and if so, is there a limit on how much you can withdraw (e.g., could we deposit $1,500 in gift cards and then withdraw whatever amount we want, up to the full amount we deposited, throughout the cruise by going to Guest Services and asking for cash as needed)?  My thinking if that if this is allowed, we can carry way less cash while traveling to the ship.

[mwj]

On 8/28/2024 at 3:23 PM, zelker said:

Can we apply AARP gift cards to our onboard account, then withdraw cash against them throughout the cruise as needed to cover things like gratuities for tour guides, add'l tips to crew, etc. ... and if so, is there a limit on how much you can withdraw (e.g., could we deposit $1,500 in gift cards and then withdraw whatever amount we want, up to the full amount we deposited, throughout the cruise by going to Guest Services and asking for cash as needed)?  My thinking if that if this is allowed, we can carry way less cash while traveling to the ship.

Yes, we have done this recently (this year).

[NCTribeFan]

It has never occurred to me to deposit a GC and then request cash.  So, HAL becomes a no-fee ATM?  That sounds too good to be true. 😄

 

I bring GCs because I don't like to carry a wad of cash when I travel.

 

But mostly, I back my account with a credit card that gives me 3x points for travel.  Then I redeem points for gift cards and also use that credit card to purchase discounted CGs from AARP.  

[Mary229]

5 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

It has never occurred to me to deposit a GC and then request cash.  So, HAL becomes a no-fee ATM?  That sounds too good to be true. 😄

 

I bring GCs because I don't like to carry a wad of cash when I travel.

 

But mostly, I back my account with a credit card that gives me 3x points for travel.  Then I redeem points for gift cards and also use that credit card to purchase discounted CGs from AARP.  

I don’t think that is possible.  Twice I have been told that once you put a gift card on an account it is nonrefundable.  

[zelker]

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I don’t think that is possible.  Twice I have been told that once you put a gift card on an account it is nonrefundable.  

It might not be refundable but it certainly is returnable to the gift card.  As far as getting cash, I asked HAL about it today and was told it's allowed, and another option is to buy OBC online and then can withdraw cash against it as well.  Either way, it's refundable OBC and one should be able to get money against it at any time while onboard.

[Mary229]

11 minutes ago, zelker said:

It might not be refundable but it certainly is returnable to the gift card.  As far as getting cash, I asked HAL about it today and was told it's allowed, and another option is to buy OBC online and then can withdraw cash against it as well.  Either way, it's refundable OBC and one should be able to get money against it at any time while onboard.

Different ships, different answers.  

[CNSJ]

On 8/29/2024 at 4:58 PM, mwj said:

My thinking if that if this is allowed, we can carry way less cash while traveling to the ship.

This is a great way to be able to get cash in USD during the voyage, and I too prefer traveling with less cash.  Cruise Critic never ceases to provide excellent info to us Cruise Enthusiasts!

[BermudaBound2014]

Terms and conditions of the gift card clearly state they are NOT reloadable. 
 

I believe that language can be interpreted a few different ways, but personally I would never claim that money “certainly is returnable to the gift card” considering the language in the T&C state otherwise.
 

We know HAL has returned money to gift cards, which means they CAN, but will they? According to the terms and conditions this is not guaranteed depending on interpretation.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/legal-privacy/gift-card-terms-and-conditions

 

16 hours ago, zelker said:

It might not be refundable but it certainly is returnable to the gift card.  

 

Edited August 31 by BermudaBound2014

[farjar]

If I have a Holland gift card can I apply it to my account prior to sailing?  Can I do it online through the Holland website?  If I have a TA do I contact them instead and have it added? Is it best to go to guest services and have it added once I'm aboard?   Thanks.