Gift Cards told cannot use a travel agent with them!

[LizC]

I am really lucky at work we have weekly promotion were I can earn points , with these points i can convert to a RCCl Gift cards I have a great deal of money in gift cards right now about $1850. Being told I can not use my travel agent with the cards.

 

My company paid for the cards this, makes no sense to me. The cards say RCCL Gift card and are part of a promotion called "Tango Go Cards" Anyone familiar as to why ?

 

I also have a future cruise booking that I will have to transfer to use.

My travel agent is offering PP Gratuities, spa, dinner for 2 and $100 spending.

 

Seems to me like this would upset the travel agents and I am very surprised at this policy.

Please note we are looking at a suite hence this $1850 is not even 1/2 of the cost of the trip after all Diamond discouts applied.

[BND]

More than likely these cards have no value outside of RCI and they sell them as promotional items to be used only through a direct purchase from them. RCI can put any limit on their gift cards they want, but I have never even heard of these. A lot of us wish we could "earn" points towards a cruise and would consider that a perk that is better than $100 obc.

 

Also, I'm not sure why you think that RCI would be that concerned with upsetting TA's with something that is not that commonly used. TA's are fortunate that cruiselines still pay commissions which allows them to give obc, etc. Sounds like RCI just has restrictions on their gift cards like most gift cards have.

Edited May 25, 2014 by BND

[LizC]

Travel agents have a choice of cruise lines. RCCL like any cruise like is an option they sell. I would think any business would want to make a group of referral partners happy.

 

I am an avid cruiser and this promotion at work is new I have a choice of many gift items I just choose to use it to cruise.

 

Not just an OBC of $100 I am losing, also a massage ( at least $100) plus it is 9 day hence $217 in PP tips, plus Dinner for 2 ($60) hence $477.00 in total benefit.

Just seems I should be able to use as i desire and that the cruise line would respect the travel agents business. I have to remove my future CC from my travel agent hence hurting her business.

[uksimonusa]

If you won these at work, it is unlikely they are Royal Caribbean gift cards, I imagine they are gift cards sold to your company by a travel agent at a discount, as a promotional aid to get the winners of the gift card to use their agency. The same as when some credit cards offer discounts of cruises for their customers, you have to book through the travel arm of the credit card.

[LizC]

No the are actually RCCL cards I called RCCL to verify. I work for a very large national bank and the prize catalog is huge and includes gift cards from a huge amount of stores and cruise lines, airlines, hotel chains etc..

[Ourusualbeach]

Since you do not have to pay for the cruise in full could you not pay part of it using the gift cards booking direct through RCI and then transfer the cruise to a TA within the 60 days. The TA would adjust the perks based on the fact that they would not receive as much commission but you would still get something. Not sure if the restrictions are on this as well but it is worth a try.

[LizC]

I like the way you think Ken. I can ask.

[Iamcruzin]

Can you use the gift cards to pay for on board spending such as excursions, photos, casino, gift shops and beverages?

 

 

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[setsail]

Did you read the terms and conditions of the cards?

[xxoocruiser]

RCCL offers several corporate programs such as Royal Rewards Incentives and Royal Cruise Dollars Certificates. These programs are marketed to Businesses at a reduced cost based on volume purchased. Since the corporate gift cards are already sold at a reduced rate to the business RCCL is not going to take another revenue hit by having to pay out commissions to a TA. Thus the reason for the cards cannot be used through a TA. OP should consider herself lucky that her company participates in such a program.

 

As for the suggestion from another poster to purchase the cruise through RCCL using the Gifts Cards and than transfer to a TA with in 60 day, given that these cards are mostly likely part of the RCCL Corporate Program transferring may also be prohibited .

Edited May 25, 2014 by xxoocruiser

[Guest maddycat]

Travel agents have a choice of cruise lines. RCCL like any cruise like is an option they sell. I would think any business would want to make a group of referral partners happy.

 

I am an avid cruiser and this promotion at work is new I have a choice of many gift items I just choose to use it to cruise.

 

Not just an OBC of $100 I am losing, also a massage ( at least $100) plus it is 9 day hence $217 in PP tips, plus Dinner for 2 ($60) hence $477.00 in total benefit.

Just seems I should be able to use as i desire and that the cruise line would respect the travel agents business. I have to remove my future CC from my travel agent hence hurting her business.

 

Since you are an avid cruiser, just book another cruise though RCI using your RCI gift cards. I personally think that you're being greedy in wanting to use the RCI gift cards and get TA perks.

[kingsgirl]

Can you not book the cruise yourself and use your gift cards, then transfer the booking to an agent, if you feel you need the agent?

[LizC]

Can you use the gift cards to pay for on board spending such as excursions, photos, casino, gift shops and beverages?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No only for booking. I was hoping to do that but it clearly states I can not.

[LizC]

RCCL offers several corporate programs such as Royal Rewards Incentives and Royal Cruise Dollars Certificates. These programs are marketed to Businesses at a reduced cost based on volume purchased. Since the corporate gift cards are already sold at a reduced rate to the business RCCL is not going to take another revenue hit by having to pay out commissions to a TA. Thus the reason for the cards cannot be used through a TA. OP should consider herself lucky that her company participates in such a program.

 

As for the suggestion from another poster to purchase the cruise through RCCL using the Gifts Cards and than transfer to a TA with in 60 day, given that these cards are mostly likely part of the RCCL Corporate Program transferring may also be prohibited .

 

I do feel lucky, I said that in the original post. I also work 60 plus hours a week and i am commission sales. This is just a short time promotion from my company to increase volume in a particular product. Thank you or the reply .