Gift cards can not be used to purchase??

[BermudaBound2014]

I just noticed this disclaimer when I put HIA in my shopping cart. Apparently gift cards can not be applied toward the purchase of HIA. Has this limitation always been there? Are there any other limitations for using gift cards that I'm unaware of? I thought that gift cards could be used to purchase anything from HAL. 

 

 

 

[cruisemom42]

That's curious. 

 

I've never actually "purchased" HIA before. The two times I've had it, the package was either included as a benefit during a promotion or extended to me in lieu of refaring me after a price drop.

 

[Roz]

I wasn't able to use gift cards to purchase transfers or prepay crew gratuities. 

[VMax1700]

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Roz said:

I wasn't able to use gift cards to purchase transfers or prepay crew gratuities. 

 

I believe that these two posts give the answer to the question.  HIA is an addition to the original booking and transfers and Prepay grats are all classed as "Travel Planning" which are only available in the currency of original booking.  It would be awkward crediting USD gift cards to CAD or Euro bookings, so HAL takes the easy way out.

 

 

Travel Planning

Travel Planning items are purchased in the currency of your original booking. Gift cards cannot be applied towards Travel Planning items.

[cruisemom42]

Well then, that renders Gift Cards relatively useless if one doesn't want to use toward cruise purchase price (at the risk of not being covered by insurance) and one can't use them for things like HIA or Gratuities...

 

[VMax1700]

1 minute ago, cruisemom42 said:

Well then, that renders Gift Cards relatively useless if one doesn't want to use toward cruise purchase price (at the risk of not being covered by insurance) and one can't use them for things like HIA or Gratuities...

 

I think they can be used for the original booking or towards final payment.  There are no HAL gift cards available in Europe. So really not sure how they work. I was just looking at the 'original currency' statements on the website.  Are they available in CAD? 

[seaoma]

3 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Well then, that renders Gift Cards relatively useless if one doesn't want to use toward cruise purchase price (at the risk of not being covered by insurance) and one can't use them for things like HIA or Gratuities...

 

 

I was successful on my last cruise in March using gift cards to buy OBC, which we purchased in the amount to cover our Gratuities. 

[Ellesor826]

2 minutes ago, seaoma said:

using gift cards

Hmmmm
Can the gift cards be used toward the purchase of shore excursions or special dining?
We were thinking of buying one and using it with our shore excursions credits.

 

[kazu]

2 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

I think they can be used for the original booking or towards final payment.  There are no HAL gift cards available in Europe. So really not sure how they work. I was just looking at the 'original currency' statements on the website.  Are they available in CAD? 

 

Yes, gift cards can be used towards payment of the booking itself.  

 

They are only available in U.S. $, sadly - not Canadian.  

 

I’ve used them in the past but towards pre-purchasing items like OBC, specialty dining, etc since they are in U.S.

 

right now, by my math, it works out best for a Canadian to book in CAD dollars versus US (unless you have a crystal ball on exchange rates).

[kazu]

Just now, Ellesor826 said:

Hmmmm
Can the gift cards be used toward the purchase of shore excursions or special dining?
We were thinking of buying one and using it with our shore excursions credits.

 

 

Yes they can.

[Ellesor826]

1 minute ago, kazu said:

 

Yes they can.

You are so very helpful @kazu
I always enjoy reading your information.
Thank you
R

 

[Lizard13]

Can gift cards loaded while on the ship for OBC be used in the casino?

[cruisemom42]

27 minutes ago, kazu said:

Yes, gift cards can be used towards payment of the booking itself.  

 

But as has been discussed on this board recently, should you have to cancel a cruise, insurance will not refund any amount paid via gift cards, so I would not use them for payment of the booking -- unless perhaps I was booking a very last minute cruise. 

[kazu]

3 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

But as has been discussed on this board recently, should you have to cancel a cruise, insurance will not refund any amount paid via gift cards, so I would not use them for payment of the booking -- unless perhaps I was booking a very last minute cruise. 

 

I completely agree.

 

Using them for specialty dining, OBC shore excursions, etc would be my preference since those are refundable anyways if you cancel and the gift card is credited back.

[Ellesor826]

14 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I completely agree.

 

Using them for specialty dining, OBC shore excursions, etc would be my preference since those are refundable anyways if you cancel and the gift card is credited back.

Agree!
Insurance is incredibly important and not worth the 10% savings IMHO - my thoughts.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Yes, they can be used toward HIA when it is included with your cruise price, Yes they can be used toward Crew Appreciation and Yes they can be used for Shore Excursions.

I am witness to all of the above being done just this week. I myself pre paid my Crew Appreciation using HAL gift cards purchased through AARP, Now was it an easy task...No but you have to get to the correct department that has the ability for the little pull down box that allows payment by Gift Cards. U have of several people that recently aid off cruises that had the HIA with the cruise price and no porblem paying the cruise in full with HAL Gift cards, Unless something changed since yesterday afternoon there is definitely no roblem in using them.

[YourWorldWithBill]

Another example to support what @LAFFNVEGASsaid is buying casino chips online before a cruise using gift cards. You have to go through the step of going to the "little pull down box that allows payment by Gift Cards" and scroll down to chips. A few steps, similar to all other stuff. I learned that before my last cruise on one of the threads here.

[Mary229]

HIA, purchased separately,  , prepaid gratuities and hotels and pre and post cruise tours unless bundled on the invoice.  The complete invoice can be paid with gift cards just make sure you add HIA and pre and post cruise items at booking and they will be payable by gift card

 

gratuities once on your onboard account can be paid with gift cards.  Two methods uses the gift card to buy OBC prior to the cruise or take the card to the desk to pay your bill once on the cruise.   Everything, including casino, can be paid with gift card once on the cruise.  Bill it to your room then pay your account

Edited July 28, 2023 by Mary229

[BermudaBound2014]

I was also planning on using gift cards to prepay gratuity. I suppose I can just buy the gift card abs have them loaded to my account while  onboard. Or find the little drop down thingy. Ps- where the heck is this “little drop down thingy” located?

[Mary229]

2 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I was also planning on using gift cards to prepay gratuity. I suppose I can just buy the gift card abs have them loaded to my account while  onboard. Or find the little drop down thingy. Ps- where the heck is this “little drop down thingy” located?

I find the easiest thing is to buy OBC or install all gift card in my apple wallet and pay as I go.  Be careful to only pay what you actually have on the bill as the overpayment may not be refundable.  I have been told this by the ship desk but never had it properly explained as to why that is the case 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

2 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I was also planning on using gift cards to prepay gratuity. I suppose I can just buy the gift card abs have them loaded to my account while  onboard. Or find the little drop down thingy. Ps- where the heck is this “little drop down thingy” located?

You definitely cannot purchase yourself the Crew Incentive, it is not available to do that on their website with a gift card, to add it pre cruise you must call into Guest Services but the way they have Guest Services set up not everyone can access the box to process the Gift Cards. Some who work for guest servcies are at a call cent outside the US, they do not have access. You basically have to ask for the Gift Card department, the hold time is long but it definitely can be done.

[AllTheSun]

I was able to use gift cards to pay for HIA when I added it to a casino booking by calling in earlier this year. I had already paid for the cruise portion a couple weeks prior.

Edited July 28, 2023 by AllTheSun

[Roz]

To clarify,  I bought OBC with my gift cards to cover crew gratuities.  I wasn't able to prepay the gratuities directly using gift cards. 

[dobiemom]

Earlier this week I was able to prepay crew incentives (gratuities) with gift cards. But as @LAFFNVEGAS said I had to call, I could not pay online. 
 

I DID purchase OBC online with gift cards. 🙂 

[cwd79]

FYI - I wasn't aware but I wanted to buy OBC for our upcoming cruise using gift cards but HAL website wouldn't allow me to buy more than $1500 in OBC. Not sure if that's the norm or not?