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Onboard Spending Cruise Day Credits Counting Toward Mariner Status

stickey_mouse

By stickey_mouse,
in Holland America Line

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stickey_mouse

stickey_mouse

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I have a couple of questions regarding the onboard spending credit you get toward your mariner status. I know every $300 spent counts toward one day of credit, and that casino purchases do not count. What about pre-cruise purchases made online, such as specialty dining, beverage cards, etc., do they count?

 

Also, would a future cruise booking count toward this, if made onboard? Are you allowed to cheat a little and pay more than the deposit to help get an extra day or two credit on your mariner account? I will be just a day or two shy of reaching 2-star status after my cruise later this month and plan on booking a future sailing onboard anyway. I might as well pay more (of what I will eventually pay anyway) on the ship if it gets me into the next category, right?

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Dietemann

Dietemann

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I have a couple of questions regarding the onboard spending credit you get toward your mariner status. I know every $300 spent counts toward one day of credit, and that casino purchases do not count. What about pre-cruise purchases made online, such as specialty dining, beverage cards, etc., do they count?

 

Also, would a future cruise booking count toward this, if made onboard? Are you allowed to cheat a little and pay more than the deposit to help get an extra day or two credit on your mariner account? I will be just a day or two shy of reaching 2-star status after my cruise later this month and plan on booking a future sailing onboard anyway. I might as well pay more (of what I will eventually pay anyway) on the ship if it gets me into the next category, right?

Sorry, but future cruise deposits don't count toward on board spending, but pre-cruise purchases count.

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sail7seas

sail7seas

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Sorry, but future cruise deposits don't count toward on board spending, but pre-cruise purchases count.

 

 

Future cruise deposits are not charged to on board account but must be paid sepaately by credit card.

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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They normally charge your Future Cruise Deposit to the credit card you used to book your cruise.

 

And they will send it to your TA/PCC unless you specify to the contrary. There is a little box that you can use -just check it and then it goes into your Mariner account and you are free to use it with whomover or however you wish :)

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stickey_mouse

stickey_mouse

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A day or two short -- buy a wine package -- there are new ones being offered.

Book another shore excursion.

It is easy to ring up another $600 in spending.

I thought of that, but my goal isn't really to spend any extra money (I've already purchased specialty dining, a massage, and a soda card) that I wouldn't spend anyway. Which is what made think of the future cruise booking, something I know I will do and pay for either onboard or on land, either way.
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stickey_mouse

stickey_mouse

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They normally charge your Future Cruise Deposit to the credit card you used to book your cruise.

 

And they will send it to your TA/PCC unless you specify to the contrary. There is a little box that you can use -just check it and then it goes into your Mariner account and you are free to use it with whomover or however you wish :)

But you're in agreement that it still won't amount to additional days toward Mariner's status, correct? Also, I know the exact sailing I want and plan on making a deposit for a specific future cruise, if that makes any difference.
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sambamama Great Review Rare

sambamama

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Really, the only category worth spending to get up to, IMHO, is 4 Star. You get free laundry, 50% off speciality restaurants, priority boarding and priority tendering. There are more benefits, but those, especially the laundry, are the ones that matter to me. I will say, to HAL's credit, that they have always been generous in rounding up on the $300 for a day of sea credit.

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Boytjie

Boytjie

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A day or two short -- buy a wine package -- there are new ones being offered.

Book another shore excursion.

It is easy to ring up another $600 in spending.

 

No need to spend $600, they very generously round up! $310 may just get you two days. :)

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DaveOKC

DaveOKC

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I have yet to figure out how HAL calculates these Mariner days credits. Normally, but not always, we get a bit more than expected (very generous in rounding up I think). Sometimes it is not as generous though. If you charge your casino gambling to your cabin, you are not supposed to get credit, but I really wonder if you do not get it anyway.

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3rdGenCunarder "Live from...." Rare

3rdGenCunarder

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I have yet to figure out how HAL calculates these Mariner days credits. Normally, but not always, we get a bit more than expected (very generous in rounding up I think). Sometimes it is not as generous though. If you charge your casino gambling to your cabin, you are not supposed to get credit, but I really wonder if you do not get it anyway.

 

I'm often surprised at the rounding up. But part of my surprise is that I just look at the final onboard bill and forget about tours I booked in advance.

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Epicureangirl

Epicureangirl

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I too like the idea of getting to the next tier, but the numbers (me rushing to try and get to a level) don't make sense for the benefits I will get in return. I would be tempted to get those two points if I was going from 3* to 4* though. The two-star mariner benefits (which I am) is not really a benefit I use at all, but 3* will at least give me a 25% discount on the wine packages and dining -- we do eat at Pinnacle and Canaletto a fair amount so the price-break will be nice. I don't think the wine packages are much of a deal to begin with and would rather pay corkage and take my own wine choices aboard and buy by-the-bottle (which I wouldn't get a discount for anyhow!).

 

I would really LOVE the free-laundry and 50% discount at 4* status, but the $$$$ to get there is substantial for that perk. I don't want to pay $300 a night in onboard spending for one cruise day (for things I didn't need either), when ACTUAL cruise days earned by cruising can be had for as little as $130 a day per stateroom (such as for a repositioning or Caribbean last-minute booking).

 

The amount I spent on dining and laundry this past cruise was hundreds $$$, yet getting from 3* to 4* will be more than 100k. I will get there when I get there!

 

Have a fantastic cruise.

Edited by Epicureangirl
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Epicureangirl

Epicureangirl

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I have yet to figure out how HAL calculates these Mariner days credits. Normally, but not always, we get a bit more than expected (very generous in rounding up I think). Sometimes it is not as generous though. If you charge your casino gambling to your cabin, you are not supposed to get credit, but I really wonder if you do not get it anyway.

 

I was wondering this too. My points were just posted to my account, and they seemed high compared to what I thought I spent pre-cruise and during the cruise. Because the final bill doesn't show any of your pre-cruise purchases, it isn't clear to me what they're including. I also had some credits I wasn't expecting to see, which I thought would reduce my bonus cruise days. Now I am really curious -- I think I'm going to go do the math! Great way to spend my Saturday... :p

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Cruise4food

Cruise4food

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I have to say that the "benefits" of getting to 2* are practically nonexistent.

 

HAL seems to have them well planned out so you always have a not-too-distant goal. Just started cruises in 2015, and the two star was quick to arrive, but, yes, not any major benefits. Three star took only a bit more time and does get some price breaks for on-board items. Now the 4 star is a long ways out, but guess what? I can watch and count up to the 100 sail days and get a shiny medallion. After that one arrives, then the 4 star will be next. It is applied psychology to keep our attention on the prize. Seems to work quite well.

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