Cruise deal alert: This short-term gift card promotion can get you big discounts
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.
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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.
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.
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- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.60,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees