HAL gift cards

[Sea42]

32 minutes ago, fox02554 said:

not complaining about gift cards BUT if your cruise is canceled and you opt for a refund , $$ goes back on the gift cards ( SO SAVE YOU CARDS OR E_MAIL ) no cash return . that being said ❤️ mine , paid off cruise with them scored an extra $1,000 in bonus $$ , they have no expiration date , maybe we'll have Cuba by 2023

According to the T&C, the promotional gift cards have an expiration date of December 31, 2022. That is different from the normal gift cards.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/legal-privacy/gift-card-terms-and-conditions.html

Edited February 2, 2021 by Sea42

[Lido - Lanai]

31 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

According to the T&C, the promotional gift cards have an expiration date of December 31, 2022. That is different from the normal gift cards

I was also told by the HAL Gift Card dept. that all "re-issued" promo/bonus cards will not be subject to an expiration date.

[Sea42]

3 minutes ago, Lido - Lanai said:

I was also told by the HAL Gift Card dept. that all "re-issued" promo/bonus cards will not be subject to an expiration date.

So if the cruise you booked is canceled, the gift cards that you used to pay for that cruise would be reissued and those cards would not expire? Did they say if there is an option for a refund instead?

Edited February 2, 2021 by Sea42

[Lido - Lanai]

6 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

So if the cruise you booked is canceled, the gift cards that you used to pay for that cruise would be reissued and those cards would not expire? Did they say if there is an option for a refund instead?

That's what I was told.... didn't ask about a refund but I suspect the answer would be no, a new gift card only.

[Sea42]

Just now, Lido - Lanai said:

That's what I was told.... didn't ask about a refund but I suspect the answer would be no, a new gift card only.

Thanks for the information!

[fox02554]

1 hour ago, Lido - Lanai said:

 

I had partially used a gift card for purchase of shore excursions and prepaid internet on a cruise which was recently canceled and was told by the HAL Gift Card department they will be issuing a totally new card and would include/add the unspent portion of the old card when the new one gets issued. The only caution they gave me was that it will take 30 to 60 days to receive the new gift card number and pin.

I received a new one for my excursion , the rest of the $$ used from cards was replaced on existing cards ( which I had and told HAL I had ) all bonus ( free promo from buying cards ) went on new cards

[fox02554]

24 minutes ago, Lido - Lanai said:

I was also told by the HAL Gift Card dept. that all "re-issued" promo/bonus cards will not be subject to an expiration date.

thats what I was told also , no expiration date , also NO option for cash refund , so my next cruise is paid for when we get around to booking it

[AFNavigator]

On 1/30/2021 at 7:26 AM, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

You could do both...

I did both.  I bought a $500 gift card and received the bonus $50 card. I called and applied the $500 GC as an installment payment and received $125 Onboard Credit.  Combined 35% bonus on $500...not bad.  The catch is the GCs are non-refundable and obligate more of your money.

 

Watch the cutoff dates...the GC deal ends Feb 14th and the Pay Early promotion ends Feb 28th.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

8 hours ago, AFNavigator said:

I did both.  I bought a $500 gift card and received the bonus $50 card. I called and applied the $500 GC as an installment payment and received $125 Onboard Credit.  Combined 35% bonus on $500...not bad.  The catch is the GCs are non-refundable and obligate more of your money.

 

Watch the cutoff dates...the GC deal ends Feb 14th and the Pay Early promotion ends Feb 28th.

$500 GC as an installment payment and received $125 Onboard Credit. and when do you have to pay the balance??

[AFNavigator]

1 hour ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

$500 GC as an installment payment and received $125 Onboard Credit. and when do you have to pay the balance??

My remaining balance isn't due until mid September.  I just took advantage of this now because both offers expire soon.  This doesn't commit you to a set installment payment schedule.

[richwmn]

I got an email from Kroger a few minutes ago that they are giving 4x fuel points with gift card purchases. Purchase with a credit card that also gives a bonus (eg SkyMiles) and double up!

 

[Woofbite]

Is there any corporate responsibility for a company to actually provide some logical service for the buyer of GC's to use them?  I've got $4,000 in HAL credit bought last year but they keep cancelling places to use them.  Not really excited about a cruise out of Singapore but if that is the only thing sailing do I have to take it? 

At the rate they're going HAL will either be out of business or I'll be dead before getting to use them.

[rodndonna]

39 minutes ago, Woofbite said:

Is there any corporate responsibility for a company to actually provide some logical service for the buyer of GC's to use them?  I've got $4,000 in HAL credit bought last year but they keep cancelling places to use them.  Not really excited about a cruise out of Singapore but if that is the only thing sailing do I have to take it? 

At the rate they're going HAL will either be out of business or I'll be dead before getting to use them.

 

Is the issue that the credit you bought had an expiration date that now leaves you with little/no options to use them?

 

Could you contact HAL to ask about having the expiration extended since the window of opportunity to use them has shrunk considerably over the last year. If not (I would be surprised though) you could go through the hassle of booking something that is refundable and then cancelling to get the credits back with a new/later expiration. We did this with flight/land holiday credits that we with the same issue.

[Woofbite]

These are the cards offered last September with a 10% bonus.  Terms say they are nonrefundable and expire the end of 2021.    Does that mean the bonus part or does HAL just confiscate the whole $4,000 if they aren't used?  Given their continual cancellations the likelihood of ever using the credit appears remote.  I know, I should be talking to HAL.  I just thought maybe somebody had already been through the routine and had some suggestions for getting a refund or something useful out of them.

[Lido - Lanai]

13 minutes ago, Woofbite said:

These are the cards offered last September with a 10% bonus.  Terms say they are nonrefundable and expire the end of 2021.    Does that mean the bonus part or does HAL just confiscate the whole $4,000 if they aren't used?  Given their continual cancellations the likelihood of ever using the credit appears remote.  I know, I should be talking to HAL.  I just thought maybe somebody had already been through the routine and had some suggestions for getting a refund or something useful out of them.

I suggest you phone the HAL Gift Card Dept. 855-501-4161

The regular gift cards (plastic & digital) have no expiration dates. I was told the bonus/promo cards were being changed and now don't expire. I believe the regular gift cards are non-refundable. Call to verify.

Edited February 6, 2021 by Lido - Lanai

[rodndonna]

10 minutes ago, Woofbite said:

These are the cards offered last September with a 10% bonus.  Terms say they are nonrefundable and expire the end of 2021.    Does that mean the bonus part or does HAL just confiscate the whole $4,000 if they aren't used?  Given their continual cancellations the likelihood of ever using the credit appears remote.  I know, I should be talking to HAL.  I just thought maybe somebody had already been through the routine and had some suggestions for getting a refund or something useful out of them.

 

FWIW  - for the current gift card promotion, at least it appears the expiry date is only against the 'bonus' card.

 

 https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/legal-privacy/gift-card-terms-and-conditions.html

[semibeater]

I used both regular GC and bonus GC to make a partial payment on a now cancelled cruise. Yesterday I received double of those $'s as FCC in my account. I asked for FCC not refund. They put half on my mariner # and half on DW #. Must sail by 12/31/22 as of today's T&C. Still waiting on the FCC from another cancelled cruise where it was paid in full using both GC and previously awarded FCC. You need to be an accountant to follow your $'s!!!! I was also told by PCC that most of my OBC from various awards should be returned. Stay tuned.

[rodndonna]

11 minutes ago, semibeater said:

I used both regular GC and bonus GC to make a partial payment on a now cancelled cruise. Yesterday I received double of those $'s as FCC in my account. I asked for FCC not refund. They put half on my mariner # and half on DW #. Must sail by 12/31/22 as of today's T&C. Still waiting on the FCC from another cancelled cruise where it was paid in full using both GC and previously awarded FCC. You need to be an accountant to follow your $'s!!!! I was also told by PCC that most of my OBC from various awards should be returned. Stay tuned.

 

Well that's nice to hear. We are GC 'virgins' and went all-in to purchase our upcoming (Dec 2021) cruise in full (wanted both GC bonus and prepay bonuses). Confidence on it sailing is not great - so good to hear the refund to FCC process is painless if that is where we end up.

[VermeulT]

Thank you all for this thread.

Since Alaska has now been cancelled 3 times for me between last year and this year - I decided to book another New Year's trip and will consider a land trip in Alaska for this summer.

 

I have enough credits to cover half the New Year's cruise... with the beverage/wifi promotion.  Plus we have $600 OBC banked.  I'll add another $100 in OBC from stock.

 

My sister is going to get a gift card for $500.  With the 10% bonus and applied to pre-pay part of the remaining fare - she'll get another $125 OBC.  Guys... I don't think anyone has spelled this out... for $500 you end up with a $675 value.  Where else today will you get 30% return on your money?  Especially (if all goes well) in less than a year?

 

So we'll have $825 in OBC and the full drink package.  Hello spa!!!!

 

 

 

[MTAK]

Okay, so I finally called my PCC this morning and asked questions about the gift card promo.

 

1) The purchased gift cards do not have an expiration date, which is standard practice.  If the cruise is canceled, the balance goes back on the cards, unless of course you opt for FCC offered for a HAL cancellation.

 

2) The 'bonus' gift cards currently have an expiration date of 12/31/22.  This is in the terms and conditions and she is not aware of any waiver of that. Not to say it can't or won't happen depending on what develops in the future. Obviously if cruising continues to be curtailed, the expiration might be extended or waived. With that being said, I will provide an update with new information after purchasing and receiving the cards, in the event the PCC Department did not get the memo from the Gift Card Department about potential changing expiration dates...

 

3) Upon boarding the ship, guest services can apply the gift card(s) to your on board account. This amount can be used to make any purchases on the ship, including casino play.

 

4) The card(s) can be used for pre-purchase of excursions, dining, etc. and can also be applied toward Flight Ease.  Basically anything that shows up on your booking.

 

5) If you wish to pay off your cruise by February 28 to receive the 10% fare discount, be sure to contact HAL by phone so they apply the promo code for the Pay Early Bonus.

 

Some of this may be redundant with what others have posted previously, but I wanted to reply with everything I learned from my PCC in one spot.

[Mary229]

34 minutes ago, MTAK said:

) Upon boarding the ship, guest services can apply the gift card(s) to your on board account. This amount can be used to make any purchases on the ship, including casino play.

You can buy OBC on the website.  It is under Gifts and Indulgences

[MTAK]

55 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

You can buy OBC on the website.  It is under Gifts and Indulgences

 

Yes Mary, thanks for pointing that out.  Something I thought of after I got off the phone but assumed that is the case.  Probably easier than standing in line!

[rodndonna]

Just now, MTAK said:

 

Yes Mary, thanks for pointing that out.  Something I thought of after I got off the phone but assumed that is the case.  Probably easier than standing in line!

 

One thing I didn't clarify (although its seems obvious to me anyway) is this case  for us now -

We have purchased GC cards and payed our cruise in full for discounts and OBC. Now, we have yet to book our flights, but intend to use flightease. Our flights are likely about $750. If I buy another card of $1000 and apply it to the account to pay for the flights- I assume it will leave me with a $250 credit to be used for excursions or OBC.  Would you have talked about this scenario with your PCC. This is our first HAL and using of flightease so not really that sure how the account billing happens.

[MTAK]

16 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

One thing I didn't clarify (although its seems obvious to me anyway) is this case  for us now -

We have purchased GC cards and payed our cruise in full for discounts and OBC. Now, we have yet to book our flights, but intend to use flightease. Our flights are likely about $750. If I buy another card of $1000 and apply it to the account to pay for the flights- I assume it will leave me with a $250 credit to be used for excursions or OBC.  Would you have talked about this scenario with your PCC. This is our first HAL and using of flightease so not really that sure how the account billing happens.

I know that gift cards can be used for flights booked through Flight Ease, that much I verified.

 

But in your scenario, another $1,000 gift card purchase would get you a $200 bonus card. The $250 credit is for the Pay Early promotion, which it sounds like you've already done, so I don't believe you'd get another $250 OBC, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.  

[rodndonna]

50 minutes ago, MTAK said:

I know that gift cards can be used for flights booked through Flight Ease, that much I verified.

 

But in your scenario, another $1,000 gift card purchase would get you a $200 bonus card. The $250 credit is for the Pay Early promotion, which it sounds like you've already done, so I don't believe you'd get another $250 OBC, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.  

 

We would just keep the $200 bonus cards for later use.  It really comes down to can we 'overpay' and then have a credit on our account for on ship purchases. I'll email our PCC and check.