HA credit card points. How to use?

[dadecitycruiser]

By the end of the year or sometime early next year we will be approaching a large balance in credits. For those of you who have used them or thoses who are planning to use them what is your approach?

 

Multiple cruises using the least cost cabins?

 

Use the whole credit for whatever it will buy with nothing added by you?

 

Spend what you would normally spend and use the money for upgrades, such as suites or a longer or more exotic cruise?

 

I am leaning towards the last but I would hate to see the money stranded should some bean counter tell them to cancel the program. Looking for what others who do this think.

 

DCC

[catl331]

We never build up a "large balance", so we just use them for "shore excursions" which are posted as general OBCs, which reduce our final bill. If we have more than 5,000 but less than 10,000 left after "excursions" we'll buy a beverage card. For more than 2,500>3,000 but less than 5,000 we'll buy a PG dinner for one (and pay for the other person). Or maybe a cooking class for me! :)

[PathfinderEss]

I have a large balance and I'm looking at using it for a free cruise.:D

[kakalina]

I just traded ours in for $1650 cash in the casino. What we don't use we get to keep. :D It's a 30 day cruise so there probably won't be any leftover:o.

[RuthC]

I book the same cruises, in the same cabins, with the same shore excursions etc that I would if I didn't have the points. Then, I usually use the points for on-board credit to reduce my bill.

One time I did accrue sufficient points to put toward a final payment. There is a higher bonus for that, so it was nice. I want to try to get the point balance up enough to do that again.

[HamburgAvonLady]

How far ahead do you request your OBC's --- we sail in October.

[kakalina]

Sherrie: I did ours last week I think they need a 30 day lead in.

 

Ruth: I tried to just get credit against my bill and was told they didn't do it that way. I "had" to take it as restaurant, spa or casino credit. I didn't really want to do it that way but was told the options were limited. I don't understand that because I had over 160,000 points.

[RuthC]

Ruth: I tried to just get credit against my bill and was told they didn't do it that way. I "had" to take it as restaurant, spa or casino credit. I didn't really want to do it that way but was told the options were limited. I don't understand that because I had over 160,000 points.

I may not have been clear. Sorry. :o I didn't mean my on-board bill; I meant my final payment toward a cruise bill. The credit card bill.

I made final payment, charged against my HAL/Barclay card at the same time I put in for the credit. The charge and the credit both appeared on my next statement. I got $500 for 40,000 points, instead of $400 in on-board credits for the same points.

[PathfinderEss]

Here are the numbers I have for points and their value. This will gives you an idea of what you need in points and how much you can get off on a cruise.

Cruise Discounts

10,000 $100 off any cruise with Holland America Line

20,000 $200 off any cruise with Holland America Line

40,000 $500 off any cruise with Holland America Line

60,000 $750 off any cruise with Holland America Line

80,000 $1,000 off any cruise with Holland America Line

110,000 $1,500 off any cruise with Holland America Line

135,000 $2,000 off any cruise with Holland America Line

150,000 Free Cruise up to $3,000

200,000 Free Cruise up to $4,000

300,000 Free Cruise up to $7,500

[StrongsvilleCruisers]

how do you redeem your Holland points???

[RuthC]

how do you redeem your Holland points???

I wish I could give you a really thorough answer, but the fact is I have trouble doing it every time. Guess it's because it's a long time between redemptions.

 

I do know that you have to go to the Barclaycardus.com website, and start there. It always takes me a while to find the link to start the redemption off, but there is one. Eventually, you get some choices on what you want to do.

In addition to those choices Melody posted above, you can also redeem points for on-board selections. Those will show up as a credit on your cruise, so you don't have to actually purchase the requested selection. You can also redeem points toward payment of the cruise itself. You do need your booking number in either case, iirc.

Once you figure out the navigation, it really is easy. Hopefully, someone else will come along with more precise instructions.

[jtl513]

I wish I could give you a really thorough answer, but the fact is I have trouble doing it every time. Guess it's because it's a long time between redemptions.

 

I do know that you have to go to the Barclaycardus.com website, and start there.

They've recently revised their site, and it's really obvious and easy now. Click on the gift-box icon, then next Total Points Available click on "Redeem your rewards"! :)

[Cruising-along]

We will have enough points soon to deduct several thousand $$ off the cost of a cruise. We use our Barclay card for all major purchases and it adds up fast! Paying for a new roof recently helped too. :eek:

[Skipper's Mom]

Just cashed in 30K points for $300 in beverage cards. The credit does not appear on your HAL web site reservation, but my PCC got a copy of it and emailed it to me. I figure it will offset my hotel charges or whatever. I did it after final payment. They say it takes 7-10 days to post.

[PathfinderEss]

Here are the other things you can buy with your polnts:

 

 

Special Occasions

5,000 Ruffino Pinot Grigio

5,500 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay

8,500 Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon

12.500 Let's Celebrate Package

15,000 Renewal of Vows Package

18,000 Cuvee Dom Perignon, Brut

28,000 Just for Us Package

 

Onboard Credits

5,000 $50 Beverage Card

5,000 $50 Casino Chips

5,000 $50 Spa Credit

10,000 $100 Shore Excursion Credit

 

Holland America Line Exclusives

2,500 Pinnacle Grill Dinning Experience (per person)

3,000 Cooking Class (per person)

5,000 Premium Wine Tasting & Mixology Class (per person)

5,500 Waffle Terry Robe

18,000 Thermal Suite & Hydropool access S/R Class (couple) 7 days

25,000 Thermal Suite & Hydropool access S/R Class (couple) 10 days

25,000 Thermal Suite & Hydropool access Vista & Signature Class (couple) 7 days

35,000 Thermal Suite & Hydropool access S?RClass (couple) 15 days

35,000 Thermal Suite & Hydropool access Vista & Signature Class (couple) 10 days

45,000 Thermal Suite & Hydropool access Vista & Signature Class (couple) 15 days

S/R class ships include: Amsterdam, Maasdam, Rotterdam,

Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam & Zaandam

Vista class ships include: Noordam, Oosterdam Westerdam & Zuiderdam

Signature class ships include: Eurodam & Nieuw Amsterdam

 

Airfare Discounts

25,000 $250 statement credit against airfare

40,000 $400 statement credit against airfare

50,000 $500 statement credit against airfare

75,000 $750 statement credit against airfare

[VermeulT]

I made final payment, charged against my HAL/Barclay card at the same time I put in for the credit. The charge and the credit both appeared on my next statement. I got $500 for 40,000 points, instead of $400 in on-board credits for the same points.

 

Ruth's choice is, IMO, the best value. If you can earn up to 40K, it's the best bang for your buck.

how do you redeem your Holland points???

 

You can redeem on the website or call customer service. I've done both and had no issues.

[luvs2travl]

We just redeemed 80,000 points for $1000.00 off our Maasdam cruise in October. We charged the balance to our Barclay Card and the statement showed the total for the cruise pay-off less the $1000.00.

 

We charge almost exclusively on our HAL Barclay Card (as well as everything HAL-related, obviously ), and just have the accrued points deducted from the balance on the credit card as we need them for a cruise.

 

I just call the 1-800 number @ Barclays and speak to the rep & tell him/her what I've charged (drink packages, spa treatments, etc) and they apply the credits. Have not had any bumps in the road so far.....

 

Smooth Sailing!!:D:D