Start here: Holland America Mariner Society — enrollment, Cruise Day credits, bonuses and Star levels

Step 1: What the Mariner Society is and who it suits

You will learn: what the Mariner Society rewards and which parts of the program Holland America Line controls.

The Mariner Society Rewards Program is operated by Holland America Line and provides benefits based on cruise days, onboard purchases and “double days” for guests who purchase a suite; the combined days from those three criteria are called “Cruise Day credits” [1]. There are five levels — Star Mariner, Two-Star Mariner, Three-Star Mariner, Four-Star Mariner and Five-Star Mariner — each with a unique set of benefits [1].

Holland America Line reserves the right to modify or terminate the program, or to change its terms and benefits, “in whole or in part, at any time with or without notice” [1]. Membership may be terminated at Holland America Line's sole discretion for anyone appearing to be using the program in a manner inconsistent with its terms, conditions or intent [1]. Holland America Line resolves eligibility and benefit disputes at its sole discretion and “will not be liable for refunds or for damages resulting from failure to deliver any of the Program benefits” [1]. The program is aimed at guests who sail with Holland America Line, because rewards depend on cruise days and onboard purchases; past guests of Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn or Costa Cruises can also enter as Star Mariners after a first Holland America Line booking [1].

Go deeper: Holland America Mariner Society program hub; cruise loyalty tier thresholds compared; cruise past guest.

Step 2: How you join and get your Mariner Number

You will learn: how enrollment happens, when benefits start and how to keep your Mariner record connected to future bookings.

“No registration is required” [1]. All Mariners, described as past guests of Holland America Line, “are enrolled automatically and will receive benefits starting with their second cruise” [1]. Guests who have sailed aboard a “World's Leading Cruise Lines” ship — Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn or Costa Cruises — “are also automatically enrolled in the program as a Star Mariner after they make their first booking with Holland America Line” [1]. The Terms and Conditions add that a member must have taken at least one qualifying Holland America Line cruise or have sailed with one of those lines [1].

Cruise history, Star-Level and bonus Cruise Day credits appear in the “My Account” section at hollandamerica.com, and first-time users should check the box indicating they are a prior guest with Holland America Line [1]. For updates or corrections, contact the Mariner Society at 1-800-547-9139 or [email protected] [1]. “Don't forget to reference your Mariner Number whenever you reserve future cruises in order to receive special Mariner fares and advantages” [1]. Each member is responsible for advising the Mariner Society of contact information changes, and Holland America Line has no liability for misdirected mail or its consequences [1].

Go deeper: cruise loyalty first cruise checklist; cruise past guest; Holland America Mariner Society program hub.

Step 3: Earning Cruise Day credits

You will learn: how days sailed become Cruise Day credits and which booking types do or do not earn them.

One Cruise Day credit is given for each actual day sailed, and each overnight aboard a Holland America Line vessel counts as an actual day; a 7-day cruise therefore results in 7 credits [1]. “The maximum bonus days is equal to the length of your cruise” [1]. For Alaska Cruisetours, credit is granted for total tour days, including days touring on land, but pre- and post-cruise packages are excluded, and credit is not given for pre- and post-cruise tours and hotel packages in other destinations [1]. Cruise Day credits are non-transferable [1]. Guests receive credits for all previous Holland America Line cruises and Cruisetours; suite and onboard spending bonuses apply to sailings departing on or after September 18, 2009 [1].

Guests booked under published promotional fares receive cruise day credit, suite bonus days and onboard spending bonus [1]. Ineligible bookings include certain reduced fare rates such as vendor or working personnel, and other bookings designated by Holland America Line at its sole discretion [1]. Prizes, charity, familiarization sailings and working personnel earn no cruise days, onboard spending bonus or suite bonus days [1]. Charter bookings receive all three for purchasing a qualified suite, while employee space available bookings earn cruise days and onboard spending but not suite bonus days [1].

Note on the page's wording. The Terms and Conditions say qualifying cruises exclude certain reduced cruise fares “(i.e., Employee, vendor rates, etc.)” and other cruises as designated by Holland America Line at its sole discretion [1]. The FAQ says “Employee space available bookings will earn cruise days and onboard spending bonus” [1]. The page states both; this course does not resolve the difference.

For third and fourth guests, one FAQ says: “These credits apply to all guests, including 3rd and 4th guests in a stateroom for suite bonus only” [1]. A later FAQ says third and fourth guests in a stateroom receive Cruise Day credits for days sailed and for Alaska Cruisetours days as well as the suite bonus, while only the first two guests in each stateroom receive Cruise Day credits for onboard spending [1]. The page states both; this course does not resolve the difference.

Go deeper: cruise loyalty qualifying cruise; cruise loyalty earning metrics compared; cruise loyalty missing credit claim guide.

Step 4: The suite bonus and the onboard spending bonus

You will learn: the two bonus routes, their limits and the charges that count or do not count.

Paying a published fare for a spacious suite or penthouse earns double Cruise Day credits; a guest who pays published fare for suite accommodations on a 10-day cruise earns 20 credits, and “Special paid or complimentary upgrades do not qualify” [1]. The maximum bonus days is equal to the length of the cruise [1].

For cruises on or after September 18, 2009, one bonus Cruise Day credit is granted for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases, calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill [1]. “Only the first two guests on the booking receive the limit of one bonus day for each day sailed”; third and fourth guests do not earn the onboard spending bonus [1]. All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits and associated fees are excluded, while Crew Incentive Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, shore excursions and gift items bought online or through Ship Services count toward bonus Cruise Day credits [1].

Go deeper: cruise loyalty earning metrics compared; cruise loyalty missing credit claim guide.

Step 5: Star levels, Medallions and fixing your record

You will learn: the threshold for each Star level, how Medallions differ, and how to correct a missing or inaccurate credit.

The thresholds are one cruise completed for One-Star, 30 Cruise Day credits for Two-Star, 75 for Three-Star, 200 for Four-Star and 500 for Five-Star [1]. The thresholds list says “One-Star Mariner status”, while the FAQ and Terms call the first level “Star Mariner” [1]. The page uses both names; this course does not resolve the difference. Subsequent Star levels are calculated on qualifying days and onboard spending on Holland America Line ships only [1]. Additional days cannot be bought: the FAQ answer to whether a guest can “buy” additional days is “No” [1].

“For all cruises except Grand Voyages, your elevated benefits will take effect on your next Holland America Line cruise” [1]. If a guest crosses a Star level threshold on board a Grand Voyage, based on days sailed, that guest is upgraded to the new Star level for the remainder of that voyage [1]. All guests sharing a stateroom on the same booking receive the benefits of the guest at the highest Star level, while guests sharing a stateroom under different booking numbers receive individual Star level benefits, including third and fourth guests sharing the same stateroom [1]. Benefits are for the personal use of the applicable guest and those sharing a stateroom on the same booking number, and they are “Not applicable to groups”; Holland America Line may limit benefits if necessary [1].

Medallions are separate from Star levels: Bronze at 100 days, Silver at 300 days, Gold at 500 days and Platinum at 700 or more days [1]. “Medallion status is calculated using Cruise Days only; Suite Bonus and Onboard Spending Bonus do not apply toward Medallion status” [1]. Existing lapel pins are replaced with new pins for 2-Star, 3-Star, 4-Star and 5-Star Mariners [1].

To check a record, view cruise history, Star-Level and bonus Cruise Day credits in My Account and check the prior-guest box [1]. For a correction, send the boarding pass page of Express Docs, the Onboard Spending Folio or the Room Key showing name, ship and departure date, plus full legal name and Mariner number; for an onboard spending error, send the final Onboard Spending Folio [1]. Allow seven to ten days after the cruise or Cruisetour ends before requesting credits, and expect the Cruise Day status to update in the same window; credits cannot be adjusted without documentation [1]. Members must report contact information changes [1].

Go deeper: cruise loyalty tier thresholds compared; Princess Captains Circle; Cunard World Club; cruise loyalty missing credit claim guide.

Step 6: Your first concrete action

You will learn: five actions that put the rules above into practice on your next booking.

• Quote your Mariner Number when you reserve a future cruise so that you can receive special Mariner fares and advantages [1].
• If you have sailed with Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn or Costa Cruises, make your first Holland America Line booking to be enrolled as a Star Mariner [1].
• Sign in to My Account to view cruise history, Star-Level and bonus Cruise Day credits, and check the box that identifies you as a prior guest [1].
• Keep the boarding pass page of your Express Docs, your Onboard Spending Folio or your Room Key, because those documents are required for a correction [1].
• Wait seven to ten days after your cruise or Cruisetour ends before requesting missing Cruise Day credits, and report any change of contact details to the Mariner Society [1].

Next: open the official Mariner Society page, then use the Holland America Mariner Society program hub and the cruise loyalty first cruise checklist.