Got AARP gift cards - now what?

[sprite]

Waiting for the $500 gift card to arrive, but I'm looking and looking - is there really a way to have this loaded onto our account as an onboard credit before sailing or do we just apply once on-board? If we have to wait until we're onboard, can I apply it during the check in process to avoid standing in line at the guest relations desk?

 

I've looked at our booking and see where I've already added our regular credit card to cover on board expenses and see no option to add a Carnival gift card.

 

Would love to hear from someone with recent experience.

 

Thanks!

[Saint Greg]

Waiting for the $500 gift card to arrive, but I'm looking and looking - is there really a way to have this loaded onto our account as an onboard credit before sailing or do we just apply once on-board? If we have to wait until we're onboard, can I apply it during the check in process to avoid standing in line at the guest relations desk?

 

I've looked at our booking and see where I've already added our regular credit card to cover on board expenses and see no option to add a Carnival gift card.

 

Would love to hear from someone with recent experience.

 

Thanks!

 

 

If you have something like Cheers to buy, you can use it for that now. As for putting it on your onboard account...wait until you're onboard and you can do it from a kiosk or guest services can do it. They'll use the gift card up before charging your credit card.

[bobbismith]

Waiting for the $500 gift card to arrive, but I'm looking and looking - is there really a way to have this loaded onto our account as an onboard credit before sailing or do we just apply once on-board? If we have to wait until we're onboard, can I apply it during the check in process to avoid standing in line at the guest relations desk?

 

I've looked at our booking and see where I've already added our regular credit card to cover on board expenses and see no option to add a Carnival gift card.

 

Would love to hear from someone with recent experience.

 

Thanks!

From the fun shop you buy cruise cash. If it is q physical card, waiting is fine but with emailed gift cards I buy cruise cash.

 

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[nychad10]

Just a reminder about the cruise cash... You can only buy $500 worth per cabin and it's non refundable so if you don't go on the cruise or don't use it all you don't get it back after the cruise (use the casino trick).

[Brad1972]

Some terminals during check in, like Miami, you just hand them your gift cards and they will apply whats on the gift cards onto your S&S card. They did with our last April no problem. If you wait till you board the ship and go to guest services you'll be standing in line for he rest of the day. Embarkation day the guest services count is swamped.

[lennythenose]

I always have a credit card attached to my account and then when there is no line later on day 1 or day 2 I go to guest services and apply the gift cards. Since they don't charge the cc until the end of the trip it doesn't have to be done right away.

[fkfad]

One word of caution, get a receipt when you add the gift cards to your account. We had two $100 gift cards..I went to the front desk to have them added to our account... They added them, I signed, and they handed me two receipts (one for each card). I didn't read what I was signing, thinking that she was doing everything right. Well, come to find out (when I only saw one of the $100 gift cards added to our account), she transposed the numbers for our cabin number and gave $100 to another cabin! I had to find the receipts and go back to the front desk with my receipts to show them the error. It took them two days to fix this! Ugh!!! I was so mad at myself for not paying closer attention! I'm thinking the cabin that accidentally received the $100 was probably pretty happy for a couple of days (until it was taken away)! lol

[Saint Greg]

One word of caution, get a receipt when you add the gift cards to your account. We had two $100 gift cards..I went to the front desk to have them added to our account... They added them, I signed, and they handed me two receipts (one for each card). I didn't read what I was signing, thinking that she was doing everything right. Well, come to find out (when I only saw one of the $100 gift cards added to our account), she transposed the numbers for our cabin number and gave $100 to another cabin! I had to find the receipts and go back to the front desk with my receipts to show them the error. It took them two days to fix this! Ugh!!! I was so mad at myself for not paying closer attention! I'm thinking the cabin that accidentally received the $100 was probably pretty happy for a couple of days (until it was taken away)! lol

 

I think when I did it I immediately checked my balance at the kiosk by guest services. I don't trust anyone.

[jackparts]

I thought that when your charges reached $500, they charged your credit card, not at the end of cruise? Has this changed?

[Saint Greg]

Some terminals during check in, like Miami, you just hand them your gift cards and they will apply whats on the gift cards onto your S&S card. They did with our last April no problem. If you wait till you board the ship and go to guest services you'll be standing in line for he rest of the day. Embarkation day the guest services count is swamped.

 

Imagine the delay if 3,000 people had gift cards they wanted put on their account during check in. I'll do it at guest services or the kiosk. I'm not going to make people wait to check in while they type all those gift card numbers in.

[vinsheer]

In Long Beach, if you ask they will load the cards on your account when you check in before you board. I agree with everyone else though, hang onto your cards until end of cruise and check your balance at the kiosk or guest services once the lines have gone down to get a printout of your account.

[Athankfulheart]

Adding gift cards was easy at the kiosk and no line. We saved ours til after our final charges were processed.

 

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[firemanbobswife]

I have had them add gift cards at check in at Miami. It didn't take them long at all. Now if you're going with a huge amount of cards, then maybe do a few then and more later. But a couple cards only takes about 2 min.

 

This last time with the new way of doing things on Vista (as in you skip the second line because your S&S cards are in your mailbox) I didn't want to have to deal with that so I bought $200 in cruise cash with my discounted gift cards. It was already on my account and I didn't have to mess with it. If you're on a ship that still has the traditional 2 lines, then it doesn't matter. They can do it there when they check you in. I have also went to GS, and used the kiosks. I always set up a cash account and never give them a credit card. I find this way works best for me.

[lbb2014]

Just want to clarify, with Carnival Gift cards I can use these right now to pre pay gratuities, book and pay for Spa and Bottomless bubbles but not Bon Voyage purchases.

Thank you for any information

[nychad10]

ibb2014

You can use the gift cards right now for everything you listed

[sprite]

FYI - they did not take the gift card at terminal check in. The line at guest services was always ridiculously long on embarkation day. Didn't try the kiosk. Ended up going to guest services early this morning and she added gift card. She said I wouldn't be able to use the kiosk.

 

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[Saint Greg]

FYI - they did not take the gift card at terminal check in. The line at guest services was always ridiculously long on embarkation day. Didn't try the kiosk. Ended up going to guest services early this morning and she added gift card. She said I wouldn't be able to use the kiosk.

 

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That's the way to do it. You don't have to wait in a long line. Just keep an eye on it when you walk by and go the first time you see a short/no line. Late night or early morning is the best.

 

 

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[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

FYI - they did not take the gift card at terminal check in. The line at guest services was always ridiculously long on embarkation day. Didn't try the kiosk. Ended up going to guest services early this morning and she added gift card. She said I wouldn't be able to use the kiosk.

 

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Off topic here, but what time did the Pride leave port yesterday?

[DebbieMo]

This last time with the new way of doing things on Vista (as in you skip the second line because your S&S cards are in your mailbox) I didn't want to have to deal with that so I bought $200 in cruise cash with my discounted gift cards. It was already on my account and I didn't have to mess with it.

 

 

We're at Port Everglades for our Splendor cruise in June. Not sure if they take the GCs at check in. If I bought cruise cash online does it go directly into the S&S acct? Thinking I could purchase a small amount and then add gift cards on board at some point.

 

 

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[firemanbobswife]

We're at Port Everglades for our Splendor cruise in June. Not sure if they take the GCs at check in. If I bought cruise cash online does it go directly into the S&S acct? Thinking I could purchase a small amount and then add gift cards on board at some point.

 

 

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Yes. Cruise Cash is automatically applied and will be available at embarkation. You can then add gift cards as needed.

[DebbieMo]

Yes. Cruise Cash is automatically applied and will be available at embarkation. You can then add gift cards as needed.

 

 

Sounds like a good plan. Thank you!

 

 

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[DebbieMo]

Yes. Cruise Cash is automatically applied and will be available at embarkation. You can then add gift cards as needed.

 

 

Another quick question..

 

Which gets used first at payment CC or GC balance? Just wondering because I know CC isn't refundable and I may be left with a balance at the end after adding gift cards and would want to cash it out at the casino.

 

 

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[firemanbobswife]

Another quick question..

 

Which gets used first at payment CC or GC balance? Just wondering because I know CC isn't refundable and I may be left with a balance at the end after adding gift cards and would want to cash it out at the casino.

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I would think Cruise Cash but I'm not sure. Maybe apply just a couple hundred CC to start. Then when that's almost gone add the gift cards.

[DebbieMo]

I would think Cruise Cash but I'm not sure. Maybe apply just a couple hundred CC to start. Then when that's almost gone add the gift cards.

 

 

Ok. Thanks again.

 

 

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[sprite]

Just after 5pm.

 

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