Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
PROGRAMME PROFILE
Holland America Mariner Society
Holland America Line's Mariner Society is the cruise line's loyalty programme, which enrols past guests automatically and awards Cruise Day credits for nights sailed, published-fare suite bookings and onboard spending across five Star levels, from One-Star after one completed cruise to Five-Star at 500 Cruise Day credits. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- There is nothing to sign up for: Holland America Line enrols past guests automatically after their first completed cruise, and benefits begin with their second cruise. [1]
- Progress is measured in Cruise Day credits, not in cruises taken or money spent alone: Two-Star at 30 credits, Three-Star at 75, Four-Star at 200 and Five-Star at 500. [1]
- Days cannot be bought: Holland America Line answers "No" to whether a member can purchase additional days to reach a higher tier. [1]
- Most onboard discounts in the programme are applied automatically to the onboard account rather than requested at the till. [1]
Who joins the Mariner Society, and how do you enrol?
Membership is automatic. Holland America Line says no registration is required: all Mariners, meaning past guests of the line, are enrolled automatically and receive benefits starting with their second cruise. [1] To qualify as a member, a guest must have taken at least one qualifying Holland America Line cruise, or have sailed with one of the World's Leading Cruise Lines. [1]
Guests who have sailed on a World's Leading Cruise Lines ship — Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn or Costa Cruises — are also enrolled as a One-Star Mariner once they make a first booking with Holland America Line. [1] If a guest already held a rewards level under the former programme, which was also based on the number of days cruised, that level is recognised within the current programme. [1]
How are Cruise Day credits earned?
Three things generate Cruise Day credits: days actually sailed, a suite or penthouse purchased at a published fare, and eligible onboard spending. [1]
| Route | Credit | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Days sailed | One Cruise Day credit per actual day sailed | Each overnight aboard a Holland America Line vessel counts as an actual day sailed, so a 7-day cruise yields 7 credits [1] |
| Suite bonus | Double Cruise Day credits | Only where a published fare is paid for a spacious suite or penthouse; special paid or complimentary upgrades do not qualify [1] |
| Onboard spending bonus | One bonus credit per US$300 of eligible purchases | Applies to cruises on or after 18 September 2009, is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, and is earned only by the first two guests on the booking [1] |
Bonus credits are capped at the length of the cruise, so a guest who pays a published fare for suite accommodation on a 10-day cruise earns 20 Cruise Day credits. [1] On Alaska Cruisetours a Cruise Day credit is granted for total tour days, including days touring on land; pre- and post-cruise packages are excluded, and land days on pre- or post-cruise tours and hotel packages in other destinations do not count. [1]
Credits are non-transferable, and guests receive credit for all previous Holland America Line cruises and Cruisetours, although the suite and onboard spending bonuses apply only to sailings departing on or after 18 September 2009. [1]
What are the Mariner Society Star levels and benefits?
Holland America Line publishes five Star levels. The first is reached after a single completed cruise; the other four are set by accumulated Cruise Day credits. [1]
| Star level | Requirement |
|---|---|
| One-Star Mariner | One cruise completed [1] |
| Two-Star Mariner | 30 Cruise Day credits [1] |
| Three-Star Mariner | 75 Cruise Day credits [1] |
| Four-Star Mariner | 200 Cruise Day credits [1] |
| Five-Star Mariner | 500 Cruise Day credits [1] |
Every Star level carries a collectible gift, a "Mariner Cocktail" voucher usable at any time during the cruise, and onboard spending money of up to $400 per stateroom for cruises booked within 90 days of a new season launch. [1]
Higher levels add further items to the grid: a complimentary photo of the ship, a discount on select spa treatments (port day spa specials qualify for an additional 10% off for qualifying Mariners), an invitation to the Mariner Society Welcome Onboard Reception, a complimentary regional wine tasting, complimentary laundry and pressing, priority check-in, tendering and disembarkation, and discounts on Sommelier Suite packages, mini-bar purchases and specialty restaurant surcharges. [1]
Five-Star Mariners additionally receive two complimentary dinners at Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind or Canaletto, a complimentary day pass to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon Thermal Suite once per cruise, and up to US$30 credit toward an internet package. [1]
Separately from Star levels, Holland America Line awards medallions for cumulative days: Bronze at 100 days, Silver at 300, Gold at 500 and Platinum at 700 or more days, calculated on Cruise Days only. [1] Two-, Three-, Four- and Five-Star Mariners receive lapel pins, and every member's key card shows their Star level. [1]
When do new benefits start, and who can use them?
Star status updates seven to ten days after a cruise or Cruisetour ends, and members can view their cruise history, Star level and bonus credits in the My Account area of hollandamerica.com. [1] Where a credit looks wrong, Holland America Line asks for a copy of the boarding pass page of the Express Docs, the onboard spending folio or the room key showing name, ship and departure date, and states that it cannot adjust Cruise Day credits without documentation. [1]
Newly earned benefits normally take effect on the next Holland America Line cruise. The exception is a Grand Voyage: a member who crosses a Star level threshold on board, based on days sailed, is upgraded for the remainder of that voyage. [1]
Benefits follow the booking, not only the individual. All guests sharing a stateroom on the same booking receive the benefits of the guest at the highest Star level, while guests on different booking numbers — including third and fourth guests sharing the same stateroom — keep their own Star level benefits. [1] Benefits are for the personal use of the qualifying guest and those sharing the stateroom on the same booking number, do not apply to groups, and Holland America Line reserves the right to limit them. [1]
Qualifying discounts are applied automatically to the onboard account and appear on the receipt at the time of purchase; a discount on an item pre-purchased online is registered on board as a credit on the onboard folio. [1] Holland America Line also states that there are no differences in the programme or its benefits for members living outside the United States. [1]
Exceptions and limits
- What counts as onboard spending. Casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits and associated fees are excluded, while the Crew Incentive Charge, beverage service charge, taxes, shore excursions and gift items bought online or through Ship Services count toward the bonus. [1]
- Bookings that do not earn credits. Prizes, charity and familiarisation sailings and working personnel receive no cruise days, onboard spending bonus or suite bonus; certain reduced fares such as vendor or working personnel rates are ineligible. Charter bookings earn all three for a qualified suite purchase, while employee space-available bookings earn cruise days and the onboard spending bonus but not the suite bonus. [1]
- Medallions ignore bonuses. Medallion status is calculated using Cruise Days only; suite bonus and onboard spending bonus do not apply toward it. [1]
- Dining and drinks. The specialty restaurant discount does not apply to already discounted dining packages, special events, theme dinners or any Pop-Up restaurants, and Morimoto by Sea and restaurant packages are excluded; the two Five-Star dinners cover the standard menu and cover price only, not beverages or supplemental items. [1] On Sommelier Suite packages, packages 1, 2 and 3 qualify, while wine cards, Cellar Master packages, individual bottles, wine-by-the-glass and beverage cards do not, and the standard 20% beverage service charge is not discounted. [1]
- Coffee, laundry and internet. The Explorations Café discount covers non-alcoholic coffee and tea but not souvenirs, coffee cards, beverage gift cards or internet packages; dry cleaning and express laundry are charged at normal rates; the internet credit is not valid for pre-purchased internet, including the Have It All package. [1]
- Priority and spa access. Priority tendering runs from ship to shore only, with none from shoreside back to the ship, and the Thermal Suite day pass is available on select ships only. [1]
- Programme changes. Holland America Line reserves the right to modify or terminate the programme, or change its terms and benefits, at any time with or without notice, and may terminate membership at its sole discretion. [1]
Frequently asked questions
How do I join the Mariner Society?
You do not apply: Holland America Line enrols past guests automatically after a first completed cruise, and benefits start with the second cruise. Guests who have sailed with Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn or Costa Cruises are enrolled as One-Star Mariners after their first booking with Holland America Line. [1]
Do suite and onboard spending bonuses count toward medallions?
No. Medallion status is calculated using Cruise Days only, so suite bonus and onboard spending bonus credits do not count toward Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum medallions. [1]
Can I use a new Star level's benefits on the cruise where I earn it?
Usually not — elevated benefits take effect on your next Holland America Line cruise. On a Grand Voyage, however, crossing a Star level threshold while on board upgrades you to the new level for the rest of that voyage. [1]
Do other guests in my stateroom get my benefits?
Guests sharing a stateroom on the same booking number receive the benefits of the highest Star level on that booking, but guests booked under different numbers keep their own level, and benefits do not apply to groups. [1]
Are Mariner Society benefits different outside the United States?
No. Holland America Line states that there are no differences in the programme or its benefits for members who live outside the United States. [1]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Other cruise loyalty programmes, including Cunard World Club and Princess Captain's Circle, are not covered here; see the cruise loyalty programmes guide.
- Holland America Line Mariner Society benefits, FAQs and terms, checked 18 October 2026
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