Holland America Barclays Credit Card Rewards

[bluesplayer]

Not many options to choose from these days.  Many of the spa choices are for couples.   My husband is not a spa person.  There used to be many more choices to redeem your points.  What is everyone using the points for?   

[PACD_JG]

I hope somebody answers your question, but I suspect nobody has this credit card since it's...awful.  I mean, at least provide free cancellation protection on HAL cruises!

[jphks]

If you have points and redeemed them for something on board, how does the Ship know? How do I verify the Ship has been informed? 

[1ANGELCAT]

16 minutes ago, jphks said:

If you have points and redeemed them for something on board, how does the Ship know? How do I verify the Ship has been informed? 

I always take a copy of the confirmation with me. You should receive a card in your mailbox with information on whatever you redeemed for. 

[1ANGELCAT]

32 minutes ago, PACD_JG said:

I hope somebody answers your question, but I suspect nobody has this credit card since it's...awful.  I mean, at least provide free cancellation protection on HAL cruises!

I have had the card since it was first issued. I’ve used many times for onboard redemption,PG and Shorex and Casino credit.

[semibeater]

I always redeem for CC credit. You get 2.5% of the points in cash back if used on HAL for over $4K. Also all HAL charges pay double points. Not much use if you don't use HAL to cruise a lot!

[NanaJPB]

We redeem DHs solely for cruising.  Cuts the cost when you redeem and builds quicker when used to pay for cruising.

joanna

[jphks]

47 minutes ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

I always take a copy of the confirmation with me. You should receive a card in your mailbox with information on whatever you redeemed for. 

Inbox?

On Holland app or email?

[cruisemom42]

14 hours ago, bluesplayer said:

Not many options to choose from these days.  Many of the spa choices are for couples.   My husband is not a spa person.  There used to be many more choices to redeem your points.  What is everyone using the points for?   

 

In my (previous) experience, if you redeem the points for something onboard, what you actually get is a statement credit in the amount of whatever the item costs. But you don't actually have to use it for that item. I've used it as a way to get extra shipboard credit, which can be applied to just about anything onboard.

 

I haven't used the card to redeem anything in at least 3-4 years, so things may have changed....

[Susanmaz]

We use our points for air fare. Haven’t flown in 3 years, so the points are building up to first class our next flight!

[1ANGELCAT]

2 hours ago, jphks said:

Inbox?

On Holland app or email?

Prior to Covid, I always received a paper copy onboard, delivered to the cabin. I take with me a copy of the email confirmation received from Barclays. 

[bluesplayer]

6 hours ago, semibeater said:

I always redeem for CC credit. You get 2.5% of the points in cash back if used on HAL for over $4K. Also all HAL charges pay double points. Not much use if you don't use HAL to cruise a lot!

I did see the information below.  So, is the $4,000.00 the amount of points you have?  or the cost of the cruise?  Is it possible to use these points to pay for a cruise?  Still confused.  Thank you

What's the best redemption value among eligible transactions?

Holland America Line cruise transactions with a value of $4,001 or more offer the best redemption value. For example, 200,000 points may be redeemed for a $5,000 statement credit toward an eligible Holland America Line purchase.  Holland America Line purchase amount ($50 or greater) within last 180 days = Redemption points value
 $50 to $499.99 = 1%
 $500-$1,499.99 = 1.25%
 $1,500-$2,000.99 = 1.50%
 $2,001-$4,000.99 = 2%
 $4,001+ = 2.50%

 

[JessWright]

I've had the HAL Barclay credit card for over 9 years and found it very helpful.  I have been able to apply $500 towards 2 different 7-day cruises, and once to pay the total cost of a 7-day cruise.  I charge all of my cruises with my Barclay card and expect to have enough points to pay off another 7- or 11-day cruise soon.  I don't bother to use points to use for on-board activities.  I highly recommend the card.

[JesseLivermore]

hmm Barclays is the only bank that won't approve me. I guess they don't like near perfect credit, but lots of cards like BOA, Chase etc.

[Iwant2BatC]

21 hours ago, bluesplayer said:

Not many options to choose from these days.  Many of the spa choices are for couples.   My husband is not a spa person.  There used to be many more choices to redeem your points.  What is everyone using the points for?   

The web site says your best option is to use your points for credit on your credit card. It seems pretty generous. 

[Sharon in AZ]

 I used to use points for alcohol beverage cards but haven’t since Covid and  now use our Have it All. I’m not sure if beverage cards are available anymore. The past year I’ve used points for statement credit. It can be really confusing, they don’t make it easy to understand, but it’s best to apply it to a larger HAL purchase like a cruise payment and use the maximum amount of points you can. 

[CaliforniaAC]

So... From what I'm reading, it's sounds like someone there just wants to to give me grief. and get nasty. 

 

He said I could only redeem the points I used for the cruise as a credit to my account.. I told him I have redeemed all my points for a statement credit in my credit card.only. with no problem. 

 

 

Has anyone else had that problem? I have over 100k that I'd like to use.

[FlaMariner]

I've got the card but stopped using it several years ago....The highest redemption rate to use on a HAL cruise is less than what I can get in cash back from buying a HAL cruise w/our other credit card.....So not worth it.

 

I wish HAL would come up with a more generous redemption % for HAL cruises and then I'd be using the card EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME!

 

 

[Cruising-along]

We had the Barclays card for years and were happy with it. We used it for everything, and got generous credit off our statements for years.  Then they changed the redemption rules, and it became confusing and less generous. We put up with it for awhile,  but about 6 months ago we decided it just wasn't worth it anymore.  Now we're keeping it as an emergency backup card.  We now use our NFCU credit card for everything and the perks are better than what Barclays offers now.