AARP Credit on 2025 Cruise (be sure to verify credit received)

[Hogladyrider]

@glorialagos....sorry for your "issues" with HAL.  No "resolutions" situation here but it did take me TWO phone calls and getting a supervisor involved to receive my AARP credits on my booked cruises.

 

It seems like this "OBC gift" is a pain in the neck for HAL so I am guessing it won't last long unless they somehow get things smoothed out.

 

HAL is using a 3rd party to verify membership and how it works after that I do not know.  I kept the email that my membership had been verified and I had to give the HAL rep the date of the email when speaking with the supervisor who the rep contacted to get the credit.

 

Sounds like your HAL rep needed to contact a supervior and/or maybe the supervisors are exhausted from dealing with this issue?

[Haljo1935]

4 hours ago, glorialagos said:

So many different answers on this (from HAL) ...

Has anyone else been told they must email "resolutions"?

I have not ever been told to email "Resolutions" although I've had issues that required escalation. I've asked if there's anyone I can email, so I've given them opportunity to say Resolutions.

Recently due to a FE fiasco, I was told to email Guest Relations, which I did. Maybe that's the same - what email address did you use?

[WannaSea]

Try emailing reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com. I gave my booking number, a copy of the AARP qualification, requested the OBC with an updated confirmation and got my successful response within 24hrs.

[ChinaShrek]

On 8/27/2023 at 6:21 PM, Hogladyrider said:

All I can say is I have 3 cruises booked for April & May 2025 and all 3 have AARP credited applied and I have receipt showing OBC

Sure, but that OBC can easily disappear from their computer system during any update. 2025 is too far away to guarantee anything.

[Hogladyrider]

30 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

Sure, but that OBC can easily disappear from their computer system during any update. 2025 is too far away to guarantee anything.

I have my print out that I will bring to verify it was applied!  But yes 2025 is a long way off, God willing I live to get there!

[glorialagos]

18 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

I have not ever been told to email "Resolutions" although I've had issues that required escalation. I've asked if there's anyone I can email, so I've given them opportunity to say Resolutions.

Recently due to a FE fiasco, I was told to email Guest Relations, which I did. Maybe that's the same - what email address did you use?

 

17 hours ago, WannaSea said:

Try emailing reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com. I gave my booking number, a copy of the AARP qualification, requested the OBC with an updated confirmation and got my successful response within 24hrs.

 

Hmmm. . .  I was just informed that my email was undeliverable due to the address not existing.  Perhaps I misunderstood and the HAL person actually said "reservations" and not "resolutions".  That is my next step - resubmitting using the "reservations" email.  I will follow up with a phone call if I don't hear anything.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I'll keep you posted!

 

[glorialagos]

Forgot to hit send on that last post!

 

Here is my response (very quick response) from RESERVATIONS (NOT resolutions).

 

"Regarding added your Teacher appreciation on board credit unfortunately we are currently experiencing an issue which is being worked on. Please check back in another week.

 

Thank you for contacting Holland America Line. Please feel free to contact us if we may be of additional assistance or visit us online.

Holland America Line is delighted to welcome you as one of our valued guests on board!

 

Kind Regards,

 

Russ

Resolution Specialist

Holland America Line"

 

So, I am told to wait yet another week (it has already been two) and the email does not address AARP, only the Teacher Appreciation.  I have already received the Teacher Appreciation on the last two cruises so I really don't understand.  It showed up automatically on my profile when logging in but is now not applied.

 

Anyway, plenty of time but I'm sure they could streamline this process somehow??????

 

 

 

 

[mawvkysc]

Hmm. I verified AARP days ago but never got an email.  I booked a cruise yesterday online. (May 2024)  At first it said I qualified for OBC from AARP. The website was wonky and I had to start over. Now I’m not showing AARP OBC. The chat said to wait 48-72 hours.  I don’t want to reverify  my AARP online because it may show a new verification date. I’m hoping to transfer to a TA. Hopefully they can help if needed. 

Edited September 5, 2023 by mawvkysc

[DaveOKC]

I just booked a cruise and when I asked about AARP OBC was told in writing:

 

"It does not combine with the casino rates. "

[Hogladyrider]

@DaveOKC...that is correct,the AARP OBC is only for "certain" cruises.

[tw67]

I was just reading this thread and it is really helpful and timely.  The other day I had my TA put on hold my first HAL cruise.  Transatlantic in November of '25. I have a Mariner #, but my TA didn't use it for my hold. I had heard about the AARP credit, so I went to the AARP site to research it.  I followed the prompts, and was verified. My hold expires the 11th, but my verification says to wait 3 days for a new booking for it to qualify. I may have my TA do another booking in 3 days with my correct Mariner #.  This way the booking will count. If the price changes, then I will just use the original booking. If the credit isn't there when my correct Mariner # is put on, I will just call and ask them to apply it. I hope that will work.  

 

[The O Mariners]

I have a question about the AARP credit. Does the credit only apply to new bookings?  I have a transatlantic cruise scheduled on the Rotterdam next month. The credit doesn't apply to this cruise because it already purchased or does it? Thanks for your replies, Morgan

[lcand1923]

2 hours ago, The O Mariners said:

I have a question about the AARP credit. Does the credit only apply to new bookings?  I have a transatlantic cruise scheduled on the Rotterdam next month. The credit doesn't apply to this cruise because it already purchased or does it? Thanks for your replies, Morgan

 

I had read on another thread that some folks had been successful in getting the AARP credit added to existing bookings.  I sent emails to my TA and to HAL.  Each were quite specific that it applied to new booking only.  

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, The O Mariners said:

I have a question about the AARP credit. Does the credit only apply to new bookings?  I have a transatlantic cruise scheduled on the Rotterdam next month. The credit doesn't apply to this cruise because it already purchased or does it? Thanks for your replies, Morgan

Have you already submitted your membership info and received confirmation? If so, you should ask for it; worse case you're told no. If you haven't submitted yet, then no, you won't receive since your current booming was made before you submitted.

[tw67]

20 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Have you already submitted your membership info and received confirmation? If so, you should ask for it; worse case you're told no. If you haven't submitted yet, then no, you won't receive since your current booming was made before you submitted.

After your confirmation, try calling instead of emailing.  Sometimes talking to a live person and pleading your case will get you further than an email.  They might say, just this once.  Good luck and let us know how it goes.  

[ExArkie]

3 hours ago, The O Mariners said:

I have a question about the AARP credit. Does the credit only apply to new bookings?  I have a transatlantic cruise scheduled on the Rotterdam next month. The credit doesn't apply to this cruise because it already purchased or does it? Thanks for your replies, Morgan

There is another thread that discusses the credit, starting on the day it was announced. Several people report getting it applied to existing bookings, but not everyone (I love consistency).

 

I attempted to get it added to a 2025 transpacific booked well before the offer was announced. I called twice (don't get the answer you want, hang up and try again) and was told both times that our TA had to make the call to request it, even though others reported that not to be the case. She did and was told that HAL was applying the credit (1) to cruises booked within 30 days of the offer being announced and (2) to persons who linked their Mariner number and AARP number on the first day of the offer.

 

The time limit did not apply in my situation, but some people on the other thread reported having it applied to cruises booked well before the 30-day period. I tried an e-mail and got the reply that it was good only on new bookings.

 

At that point, I decided that since our sailing is still offered at the same price, still with the Early Booking Bonus HIA, and the cabin next door to the one we had chosen was available, it was easier to cancel the existing booking and rebook the same sailing if I wanted the AARP OBC.

 

Side note relevant to the original point of this thread: The AARP credit can definitely be applied to 2025 sailings. It was automatic.

 

It sounds to me like HAL was unprepared to answer the question about existing bookings during the first several days/week of the offer and allowed quite a bit of variation in how it was or was not applied. Seems to be more consistent now that it is for new bookings only.

 

However, the investment of a phone call might bring you luck. Go for it. Let us know if it works. (Just curious, I spent way more time on this than the OBC was worth.)

Edited September 7, 2023 by ExArkie

[Will_Dieterich]

Checked about mine and got the following reply...

 

Thank you for your recent correspondence with Holland America Line with regards to your AARP Reward program onboard credit for your upcomng <date and ship removed>. We are experiencing system issues with the AARP Reward program oboard credit attaching to guests Mariner numbers and we are hoping to get this fixed as soon as possible.

 

We appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this issue and we sincerely regret any frustration this situation caused. Once this is fixed we can apply the onboard credit to your booking.

 

 

[MomentsNotice]

18 hours ago, Will_Dieterich said:

Checked about mine and got the following reply...

 

Thank you for your recent correspondence with Holland America Line with regards to your AARP Reward program onboard credit for your upcomng <date and ship removed>. We are experiencing system issues with the AARP Reward program oboard credit attaching to guests Mariner numbers and we are hoping to get this fixed as soon as possible.

 

We appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this issue and we sincerely regret any frustration this situation caused. Once this is fixed we can apply the onboard credit to your booking.

 

 

 

I received same email on 9/1. Anyone else receive this email and have AARP OBC successfully applied yet? My cruise is in about a month. 

[tw67]

What would the amount of the AARP room credit be on a 14 day cruise?

[Ken the cruiser]

We just booked an April 2025 cruise last week, a few days after we completed the certification process for both the AARP membership and for the Military Appreciation. However, when our TA asked her Princess POC about them, she was told it should take 7-10 business days before the OBC will be added to our booking. 
 

Since it’s been over 4 years since we last cruised with HAL, is there anyway in my HAL account to see if either/both of these OBC perks have been posted yet to our new booking or will they only be visible on a HAL confirmation?

[Hogladyrider]

8 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We just booked an April 2025 cruise last week, a few days after we completed the certification process for both the AARP membership and for the Military Appreciation. However, when our TA asked her Princess POC about them, she was told it should take 7-10 business days before the OBC will be added to our booking. 
 

Since it’s been over 4 years since we last cruised with HAL, is there anyway in my HAL account to see if either/both of these OBC perks have been posted yet to our new booking or will they only be visible on a HAL confirmation?

We booked 3 cruises for 2025 and the AARP credit is noted on the confirmation.  Of course I had to call twice and have a supervisor intervene to get the credit applied.

IMO HAL is struggling with this credit and getting it applied, which should NOT be happening.

[Ken the cruiser]

15 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

We booked 3 cruises for 2025 and the AARP credit is noted on the confirmation.  Of course I had to call twice and have a supervisor intervene to get the credit applied.

IMO HAL is struggling with this credit and getting it applied, which should NOT be happening.

I'm guessing with HAL there is no way to automatically trigger an updated confirmation to be subsequently emailed to the primary person on a booking by calling their 1-800 number and selecting a particular option like you can with a Celebrity booking? But we're also guessing if we were to try to book an excursion for this cruise online, which there are currently none, the process might reveal how much OBC we currently have available. Would that be a fair guess?

 

Update: I just did a test by placing a beverage package in my cart, and when I went to view the cart, it showed we each had $300 OBC (i.e., from the excursion HIA Early Bonus perk). So if nothing else, I can periodically check to see if the OBC total changes by do that test.

Edited September 9, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[Hogladyrider]

2 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I'm guessing with HAL there is no way to automatically trigger an updated confirmation to be subsequently emailed to the primary person on a booking by calling their 1-800 number and selecting a particular option like you can with a Celebrity booking? But we're also guessing if we were to try to book an excursion for this cruise online, which there are currently none, the process might reveal how much OBC we currently have available. Would that be a fair guess?

I booked thru a TA so my TA emailed me the updated confirmation.  BUT I was the one who had to deal directly with HAL to obtain the AARP credit on each cruise not my TA.

[Ken the cruiser]

2 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

I booked thru a TA so my TA emailed me the updated confirmation.  BUT I was the one who had to deal directly with HAL to obtain the AARP credit on each cruise not my TA.

Thanks. We're going to give HAL a few weeks to get their process in sync before we do anything else.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Just so everyone knows this AARP credit is still a big mess, I was confirmed  with the Sure ID of our AARP on July 24th, we booked a cruise while on board the Westerdam on Saturday. I tried several phone calls on Sunday while waiting for our flight with no luck. Mostly being told we would need to reconfirmed our number through Sheer ID and wait for a week. I keep explaining no we have done that back in July.

I finally spoke with someone at HAL today that says that this AARP is basically a cluster of a mess and they are no longer seeing where they should that people have confirmed with Sheer ID but can do it but it takes a higher supervisor that the Call Center reps can even access. It is a mess and they have to add it manually. They do not know when and if this will be fixed. None of the agents that answer the phone at HAL even have a clue they so even after a run around they will tell you to email. I was finally able to get mine added today but only after getting someone on the phone that was not from the Call Center.