Got an AARP card? You now can get a lucrative perk when booking a Holland America cruise
Memo to cruise fans: It may finally be time to get an AARP membership — if you don't have one already.
Holland America on Monday announced a major new partnership with AARP that will result in members of the association getting up to $200 in onboard credit when they book a cruise.
Given that a membership in AARP costs just $16 per year ($12 for the first year if you sign up for automatic renewal), this is quite the deal.
By our math, you can make up to 16 times your money this year by investing $12 in such an initial AARP membership if you're planning to book a Holland America cruise that gets the full $200 credit.
The onboard credit, it should be noted, will range from $50 to $200 per cabin, depending on the type of cabin you book and the length of the voyage (more details below). Even if you just get a $50 credit on a sailing using the card, it's still a return of four times your initial card cost.
Here's the kicker: The onboard credit is "combinable," to use the cruise world lingo, with other special offers and fares. That means you can still get the credit even if you're already getting an onboard credit through another booking promotion. That isn't always the case.
"What makes it unique is that it's combinable with everything else that we have," Kacy Cole, Holland America's chief marketing officer, told TPG before the announcement. "Whatever is our current best published rate or offer, even our Have It All package, you can combine the two so that you get ... the extra benefit of being an AARP member."
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Holland America cruise
Holland America's Have It All package is a premium package that includes several items that normally come with an extra charge, such as specialty dining and a beverage package, at a discounted rate.
In talking over the new AARP partnership with TPG, Cole noted that Holland America has been doing a lot of research to better understand its current customers and possible future customers. As part of that effort, it has found that it is "over-indexed for AARP." In other words, AARP members are a sweet spot when it comes to the sort of people who already are and might soon be booking a Holland America cruise.
"We want to meet our guests where they are," she said of the impetus to partner with AARP.
Cole said the data shows that around 7 million of AARP's 38 million members are planning to take a cruise in the next year — an enormous number. She added that 1 in 3 adults over 50 who plan to visit Alaska in the coming year are AARP members.
Holland America has one of the biggest cruise operations in Alaska, and it's a big part of Holland America's business.
A 'double dip' opportunity for savings
The new onboard credit offer presents an interesting opportunity for AARP members to "double dip" for savings when booking a Holland America cruise.
That's because AARP already offers its members the opportunity to buy gift cards for Holland America sailings at a discounted rate through its AARP Rewards program.
AARP members can currently buy $100 and $500 gift cards to pay for Holland America cruises for just $90 and $450, respectively — a 10% savings.
Related: The 4 types of Holland America ships, explained
We see no fine print in the offer that would forbid an AARP member from paying for a Holland America cruise with AARP gift cards — resulting in a 10% savings on the cruise — and also taking advantage of the onboard credit offer of up to $200.
Savvy cruisers know that AARP members can also receive up to $100 in onboard credit on select cruises when booking through the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia. Alas, this is one of the handful of promotions not combinable with the new onboard credit offer for AARP members who book a Holland America cruise.
So, you can't "triple dip" by taking advantage of the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia credit, too.
The AARP cruise credit fine print
As is generally the case with onboard credits, the new AARP credit for Holland America cruises can be used for a wide range of onboard spending, including shore excursions, spa services, beverages, specialty dining and gift shop purchases.
AARP members can get the onboard credit when booking a Holland America cruise no matter how they book the trip, including:
- Directly with Holland America
- Through a travel agent
The credit will be in the amount of:
- $50 per cabin when booking an inside or ocean-view cabin on a five- to nine-night sailing
- $100 per cabin when booking a balcony cabin or suite on a five- to nine-night sailing
- $100 per cabin when booking an inside or ocean-view cabin on a sailing of 10 nights or longer
- $200 per cabin when booking a balcony cabin or suite on a sailing of 10 nights or longer
The onboard credit offer is available for nearly all Holland America voyages. Exceptions are for the line's super-long Grand Voyages, segments of such Grand Voyages and voyages of fewer than five days. Holland America offers very few of the latter.
Related: Don't miss these Holland America loyalty perks
Additionally, as noted above, the offer is combinable with many other offers, including Holland America's Have It All premium packages.
Other fine print:
- A Holland America Mariner Society loyalty program number is required to make the booking.
- The onboard credit is available on more than one booking in a year.
How to become an AARP member
While AARP is an organization dedicated to people over the age of 50, there is no official minimum age to join. Anyone of any age can sign up for an AARP card to take advantage of the Holland America partnership and other travel offers.
When it comes to AARP benefits, the only ones not available for those under 50 are those related to products that are age-restricted by vendors, such as certain insurance products.
You can quickly and easily sign up for an AARP card by visiting this AARP membership page.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.