Another major cruise line now gives you money for referring a friend

Holland America fans, take note: The line will now give you money for referring a friend to the line.

The Seattle-based cruise operator late Monday announced it was launching a referral program that will get you a $50 credit with the brand every time you refer a friend who ends up making a booking. Your friend will get $50, too.

It's called the Refer a Friend program. Under the terms, the referred guest will receive a $50 onboard credit that can be used for all sorts of onboard spending when they cruise. This includes paying for drinks, spa services and shore excursions.

The person making the referral will get a $50 future cruise credit, which can be applied to the cost of an upcoming sailing.

"The best brand ambassadors are our [loyal fans] who know our brand and know who would love to take a Holland America Line cruise for the first time," Holland America senior vice president and chief commercial officer Beth Bodensteiner said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

Two main caveats to the program:

• The referred customer must be new to Holland America.
• The referring customer must be a member of Holland America's Mariner Society loyalty program.

Guests can use the $50 future cruise credit toward the fare for any Holland America sailing worldwide. It's also valid for Holland America's "cruisetours" to Alaska that combine a cruise with a land-based tour.

With the new program, Holland America joins several other major cruise lines, including Seabourn, Princess Cruises and Viking, that are offering credits to customers who refer friends. Payouts from these other lines range from $25 to $250.

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Seabourn is at the high end of the range for the amount it pays customers who refer friends to the line, offering a $250 credit for both the referrer and the referee. Princess Cruises offers just $25 to both parties.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Holland America ship

Viking's referral program offers both the referrer and the referee a $100 travel credit. However, the company offers an additional perk for fans who refer a large number of friends within a single year.

If you manage to refer 13 people to Viking who take a first Viking cruise within one calendar year (an almost impossible task in our view, but more power to you if you can pull it off), you will get a much more lucrative perk: An entirely free cruise (valued up to $3,300).

The Viking policy is a part of the company's Viking Explorer Society loyalty program.

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