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Cruise deal alert: This short-term gift card promotion can get you big discounts

Dec. 02, 2022
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4 min read
Holland America Line Koningsdam_Bow Picture Windows open
Cruise deal alert: This short-term gift card promotion can get you big discounts
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Here at The Points Guy, we love free money, and we're guessing you do, too, which is why we're bringing you the news of a new gift card promotion from Holland America that can get you oodles of free money to spend on your next cruise.

The Seattle-based line today is launching a 10% bonus offer on holiday gift cards that can be used for spending on cruises — one that essentially has no limits.

For every Holland America gift card you buy during the promotion, which will continue through Dec. 13, you will get a second gift card in the amount of 10% of the original purchase amount (that's the free money we're talking about). Specifically:

  • Buy a $250 gift card and get a $25 bonus gift card for free.
  • Buy a $500 gift card and get a $50 bonus gift card for free.
  • Buy a $1,000 gift card and get a $100 bonus gift card for free.

Both the original gift card and the bonus gift card can be used to pay for any cruise currently open for booking in 2022, 2023 or 2024, as well as a long list of onboard extras such as spa treatments, specialty restaurant dinners and drinks packages — as long as the extras are bought in advance of sailing.

You can also use the gift cards to pay for shore excursions purchased in advance of a cruise.

The only major limits to the promotion are that the 10% bonus cards only are available to U.S. residents, and they only are available when buying a holiday gift card worth at least $250.

Notably, there is no limit to how many gift cards you can buy during the promotion, and you can use them for yourself or give them as gifts. So, if you're planning to take your extended family on one or more cruises over the next few years, you could buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of the gift cards that would produce thousands of dollars in bonus money.

If you're the type of person who cruises five or six times a year, you could buy up enough gift cards to pay for them all.

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HOLLAND AMERICA

Just be warned that if you really go to town buying up the cards, you might hit a roadblock.

Specifically, Holland America has this wording in the fine print for the promotion: "There is no limit on the number of gift cards a guest can purchase, [but] some purchase limits may be imposed for fraud prevention reasons."

In addition, you want to be sure you don't purchase more gift cards than you can use in the next few years, as the bonus gift cards, at least, do come with an expiration date.

Related: The 4 types of Holland America ships, explained

While you can apply the bonus gift cards to any cruise that is open for booking in 2022, 2023 and 2024, you must apply them to a booking by Dec. 31, 2023. Only the bonus cards come with an expiration date, a Holland America spokesperson told TPG. The gift cards you get from the initial amount you put into them (before the bonus) will not come with an expiration date.

Purchase the cards online at Holland America's website. You can request a digital card to be emailed for instant or scheduled delivery. Holiday gift givers, take note: They come in a variety of holiday designs.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

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.