Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Flexible Redemptions
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Limited Rewards
- Minimal Cardholder Perks
Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- Flexible Redemptions
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
CONS
- Limited Rewards
- Minimal Cardholder Perks
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Balance Transfer Fee
$5 or 5%, whichever is greater
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
Although the ongoing rewards and welcome bonus are not particularly generous, if you’re brand loyal to Holland America, this card could be a good option for you. There is no annual fee to worry about and your accumulated points won’t expire providing you keep your account open and in good standing.
However, if you don’t tend to take Holland America cruises regularly, you are likely to find that there are other cards on the market that offer more generous rewards and perks. These cards often have an issuer travel portal or center, where you can then use your rewards to book cruises including with Holland America.
So, unless there is something very specific about this card that appeals to you, it is likely that you’ll find other cards on the market that also have no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which represent a better deal in the long term.
- Flexible Redemptions
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Access to Concierge Services
- 0% Intro APR
- $0 Fraud Liability Protection
- Limited Rewards
- Minimal Cardholder Perks
- No Point Transfers
Can I get pre-approved?
Barclays, which issued the Holland America Line Rewards Visa, does not offer a pre-approval option on its official website. However, Barclays occasionally send out mailers or other promotional materials offering pre-approval to select customers.
How do I redeem rewards?
The most common way to redeem rewards with this card is when you book a Holland America cruise or pay for onboard purchases. This is also the easiest way to redeem your points. You simply need to make the purchase on your card as usual and then log into your account to apply a statement credit to the charges. You will have the option to use your points against specific charges.
What are card income requirements?
There are no official income requirements published for this card, but you will need good to excellent credit to qualify. This means that while your income will be a factor that is considered when you apply, it is not the only thing Barclays will look at when making an approval decision.
In this Review
Simulation: How Much Rewards You Can Earn?
Take a look at the table below to see how many points you can get by using the Holland America Line Rewards card. The table shows an estimate of the points you could earn based on your usual spending in different categories.
Remember that this table is just an approximation, and the points you actually earn may be different due to your spending habits and other factors. However, it gives you a good idea of the potential advantages of this card.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card
|
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 points |
$3,000 – Restaurants
| 3,000 points |
$5,000 – Holland America | 10,000 points |
$4,000 – Hotels | 4,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 points |
Estimated Annual Points | 31,000 Points |
Pros and Cons
Just like any other credit card, the Holland America credit card has some advantages and disadvantages:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Flexible Redemptions | Limited Rewards |
No Foreign Transaction Fees | Minimal Cardholder Perks |
Access to Concierge Services | No Point Transfers |
$0 Fraud Liability Protection | |
0% Intro APR |
- Flexible Redemptions
While many co-branded cards tend to only offer redemptions within that brand, the Holland America Line Rewards Visa is a little more flexible.
You can redeem your points for discounts when you book Holland America cruises, but you can also use them for onboard amenities, merchandise and gift cards.
Unlike many other travel rewards cards, this card offers 0% intro for 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
This is a great benefit that can be relevant also for those who are looking to transfer their balance in addition to using a cruise travel card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
You can use the card abroad without worrying about foreign transaction fees.
- Access to Concierge Services
As a cardholder, you can access concierge services for personal attention via the phone helpline. This can include recommendations and help making reservations for dining, booking travel plans, tickets to events and hotels along with entertainment assistance.
- $0 Fraud Liability Protection
This is a fairly standard credit card benefit, but it is still reassuring to know that you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized or fraudulent charges on your account.
- Limited Rewards
The maximum number of points you can earn with this card is two per dollar and this is reserved for Holland America purchases. This makes this card meager for rewards on everyday purchases.
Also, the rewards rate is basic – cardholders earn 1x – 2x, while other travel cards may offer 5x and even more on qualified purchases.
- Minimal Cardholder Perks
While the most generous benefits packages are typically reserved for premium travel cards, there are numerous no annual fee cards that offer far more perks compared to this one.
Even other Visa Signature cards offer car rental insurance, travel coverage and other perks that are not offered with the Holland America Line Rewards Visa.
- No Point Transfers
Although this card does have some redemption flexibility, there is no option to transfer the points you earn to another loyalty program.
This means that you cannot use your points to boost your miles balance or other reward program balance if you’re not planning on vacationing with Holland America.
Who May Consider The Holland America Card?
Since this is a co-branded card, it is obviously best suited to those who are brand loyal to Holland America. It is best for those who tend to cruise with this line at least two or three times a year, since the highest reward tier is reserved for Holland America purchases.
The card could also be a good option for modest spenders who aspire to take a Holland America cruise. While it does offer a basic rewards rate for purchases outside the Holland America brand, you can accumulate points towards a cruise or onboard purchases. Since the points do not expire, providing your account remains open and in good standing, you can work towards your dream cruise vacation.
Here are some alternatives if you are looking for cruise or general travel card:
Card | Rewards | Annual Fee |
| 2X – 5X
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases and 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
| $95
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x – 2x
2x on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises and 1x on all other purchases
| $0 | |
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
| $395 | |
| 1X – 3X
3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Also, earn 1X points on other purchases
| $0 | |
| 1x – 2x
2x FunPoints for every dollar spent with Carnival Cruises and World Leading Cruise Lines brands and 1x FunPoints on all other purchases
| $0 | |
| 1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
| $550 | |
| 1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
| $695 (Rates & Fees) |
Tips for Using the Holland America Line Rewards Card
This card is quite straightforward, but there are a couple of tips that can help you to maximize its value.
-
Carry Your Card When You Travel
You can earn the top tier rewards for both booking cruises and your on board purchases. You can also redeem your points for onboard purchases, making it a good idea to carry your card when you travel.
Additionally, since there are no foreign transaction fees, you can use your card on excursions when you’re in port without incurring unexpected expenses.
-
Explore the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
Although this is primarily a Holland America co-branded card, if you are planning a stay on land, be sure to explore the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection before you book your accommodation.
This collection offers some nice properties and you may also access some good perks such as late check out and free breakfast, depending on the specific property.
FAQs
How hard is it to get a Holland America Line Rewards Visa card?
While you do need to have good to excellent credit to qualify for the Holland America Line Rewards Visa, there are no other terms that you need to meet. This means that if you have decent credit, you shouldn’t have any particular difficulty getting this card.
When it may not be a good idea?
The Holland America Line Rewards Visa is not a good idea if you’re looking to earn rewards on your everyday purchases. There are more generous rewards cards that offer higher tier rewards on more than travel, making it easier to accumulate rewards, which you can then use to book a cruise or other travel.
For example, the Citi Double Cash offers 2% cash back on all spending without any spending categories or limits. Alternatively, there are multi tiered rewards cards that offer up to five points per dollar. So, unless you’re brand loyal to Holland America, shop around to see which card represents the best value for you.
Does the card provide travel insurance?
Although some Visa Signature cards do offer travel insurance, the Holland America Line Rewards Visa does not list any travel insurance coverage in its benefits package.
