How to use gift cards?

[Hllb]

I'm considering purchasing some gift cards to apply towards our final payment (to get the 10% discount from AARP). Is there anything I need to know about doing this? I have booked through a TA. Can I apply the gift cards on my online account, or do I have to go through the TA? If I pay down the balance due with gift cards on my account, will the TA then only charge the remaining balance at final payment (which is in a few days)? Is there a limit to the number I can use?

Edited March 22, 2023 by Hllb

[gregma60]

1 hour ago, Hllb said:

I'm considering purchasing some gift cards to apply towards our final payment (to get the 10% discount from AARP). Is there anything I need to know about doing this? I have booked through a TA. Can I apply the gift cards on my online account, or do I have to go through the TA? If I pay down the balance due with gift cards on my account, will the TA then only charge the remaining balance at final payment (which is in a few days)? Is there a limit to the number I can use?

The only thing I can answer as to your questions, is that yes, you have to go through your TA to make payments, Holland America will not take any payments from any guess who have gone through a TA.  The rest I can't answer although a great idea I should have thought of!

 

-gregma

[Hllb]

2 minutes ago, gregma60 said:

The only thing I can answer as to your questions, is that yes, you have to go through your TA to make payments, Holland America will not take any payments from any guess who have gone through a TA.  The rest I can't answer although a great idea I should have thought of!

 

-gregma

Thanks! I thought I would. It looks like you don't have to be an AARP member to purchase the discounted gift cards - just sign up for their rewards program.

[gregma60]

1 hour ago, Hllb said:

Thanks! I thought I would. It looks like you don't have to be an AARP member to purchase the discounted gift cards - just sign up for their rewards program.

Unfortunately, I'm fully paid, but will for sure consider this if we can afford another cruise!  It's what we did for our Walt Disney World trip.  Got disney gift cards from BJ's for a 10% discount and paid off the trip with those.  Saved us 10% on the entire deal!  Don't know why the heck I didn't consider looking for HA gift cards at a discount.  

 

-gregma

[YourWorldWithBill]

3 hours ago, Hllb said:

I'm considering purchasing some gift cards to apply towards our final payment (to get the 10% discount from AARP). Is there anything I need to know about doing this? I have booked through a TA. Can I apply the gift cards on my online account, or do I have to go through the TA? If I pay down the balance due with gift cards on my account, will the TA then only charge the remaining balance at final payment (which is in a few days)? Is there a limit to the number I can use?

I used a couple of gift cards to pay for excursions, and that can definitely be done through Holland America rather than your TA. It's a good way to save the 10%. You could probably pay for specialty restaurants, if you're interested in those.

[Native Floridian 26]

We did the AARP gift cards and yes, as others said, provide the info to your TA as the payment must go through them.  You can also apply them to your onboard account, which essentially gives you a 10% discount on everything you do onboard.

[highscar]

Any Canadians know if we can get gift cards?

[Hllb]

Not sure on that, but I think I saw another post where a Canadian bought them. They couldn't apply them to payment online, but had to call instead.

I purchased one as a test. You are only allowed 5 per month. It takes up to 24 hours to get the email though, so I'm still waiting for it to arrive.

[richwmn]

11 minutes ago, Hllb said:

Not sure on that, but I think I saw another post where a Canadian bought them. They couldn't apply them to payment online, but had to call instead.

I purchased one as a test. You are only allowed 5 per month. It takes up to 24 hours to get the email though, so I'm still waiting for it to arrive.

I have purchased a lot of gift cards from AARP. Generally the email comes within a few minutes. Check your spam folder.

[Hllb]

4 minutes ago, richwmn said:

I have purchased a lot of gift cards from AARP. Generally the email comes within a few minutes. Check your spam folder.

Nothing so far - it's been maybe an hour.

[cunnorl]

I purchase the gift cards from AARP every month.  They show up within minutes.  I would call them if you havent received them yet. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I agree, I have bought 10 of those $500 cards, 5 in February , then 5 this month. They come within minutes. Check your spam or junk email. You definitely should have them right away unless you have some sort of block on your emails. I had a friend purchase some last year and she too never got them. Went through numerous phone calls with AARP, they finally asked her if she had a different email address she could use, and they came through instantly. You could very well have a block and not realize it. She was using a gmail email account and that is what appeared to be the problem she ended up switching to a cox.net that her son had to get them.  

[YourWorldWithBill]

I don't suppose you can use the gift cards for credit in the casino? Anybody tried?

[Music123]

I recently ordered two cards, one of which came through immediately. I had to call about the other one - they told me it was “stuck in the send queue” and it took them a couple of days to rectify it. Thus best not to purchase too close to final payment date in case of a delay. 
 

Also, one thing to consider is that if you should cancel any of your bookings or purchases made with the gift card, the funds are returned to the gift card, not to your credit card. So you are essentially left with a “future cruise credit” rather than an actual refund. 

[Hllb]

They won't even talk to me until tomorrow - pretty rude about it too. If I can't get it tomorrow, I'm pretty much hosed on it as final payment is due 3/25. Glad I only bought one as a test. I could contest it with my credit card if they can't deliver in time.

[shack]

If all else fails send the GCs to me.  Won't even be used for alcohol -- I promise.

PM me for more cruising tips...

[richwmn]

11 hours ago, Hllb said:

They won't even talk to me until tomorrow - pretty rude about it too. If I can't get it tomorrow, I'm pretty much hosed on it as final payment is due 3/25. Glad I only bought one as a test. I could contest it with my credit card if they can't deliver in time.

Just an update -- I just purchased 5 gift cards. I initially received an error message saying it might take up to 24 hours but right after I closed that window I started receiving emails with the card details. This was done using the ship's internet.

 

[pmjnh]

15 hours ago, Hllb said:

Nothing so far - it's been maybe an hour.

We have purchased these several times and occasionally have to wait 24 hours. When that happened I called the customer service number and they tracked the order  down and no problem.

You can also purchased things pre-board with the cards as well. when you go to check out , it will ask you for the certificate number and the pin. Always save your certificates til after your cruise ends.

[kennystwin]

14 hours ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

I don't suppose you can use the gift cards for credit in the casino? Anybody tried?

You can't use them at the casino cage, but any charges to your onboard account (such as charges from a slot machine) can be settled with gift cards.

[Hllb]

Still nothing today so I’ll call reach out at 10am.

[Hllb]

Talked to AARP today and they are incredibly unhelpful. Their policies are basically 'we will do nothing until x hrs have passed', then once those passed 'we'll put in a request but will do nothing for up to 3 business days and NO you cannot talk to the group that is supposed to fix this'. So, they've escalated it, but I cannot talk to that group and have to wait days for them to contact me. So there's a waste of $450...this is unlikely to get resolved in time for my cruise payment and they will not refund it either (even right now, before the card was issued). So, I'll likely be trying to do a chargeback on my CC if they don't fix it today. Which is also unlikely to work.

 

Warning to others: DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE WEEKS BEFORE FINAL PAYMENT

[YourWorldWithBill]

2 hours ago, Hllb said:

Warning to others: DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE WEEKS BEFORE FINAL PAYMENT

Amazing that they are so unhelpful. But thanks for the info: I have time before using the cards on a cruise in May.

[Hllb]

2 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

Amazing that they are so unhelpful. But thanks for the info: I have time before using the cards on a cruise in May.

Honestly, it's ridiculous. Literally was told today "We've done our job. They'll contact you within 3 days". Their job is apparently passing the buck...

[YourWorldWithBill]

6 hours ago, kennystwin said:

You can't use them at the casino cage, but any charges to your onboard account (such as charges from a slot machine) can be settled with gift cards.

That makes it seem as if there should be a way around not using them at the cage (or the craps table); but I haven't found it. I guess if you end up in the hole, as that will go to your account you can pay it off with the gift card.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

3 hours ago, Hllb said:

Talked to AARP today and they are incredibly unhelpful. Their policies are basically 'we will do nothing until x hrs have passed', then once those passed 'we'll put in a request but will do nothing for up to 3 business days and NO you cannot talk to the group that is supposed to fix this'. So, they've escalated it, but I cannot talk to that group and have to wait days for them to contact me. So there's a waste of $450...this is unlikely to get resolved in time for my cruise payment and they will not refund it either (even right now, before the card was issued). So, I'll likely be trying to do a chargeback on my CC if they don't fix it today. Which is also unlikely to work.

 

Warning to others: DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE WEEKS BEFORE FINAL PAYMENT

I am sorry you had this problem, I would call your credit card company. Do you know if the charge went through your Credit Card company? When my friend had this issue last year they did assist her the same day but it was not resolved till the next day. There was 4 of us all getting the Gift card that day and only one had the issue. I do think it has to do withh certain email addresses not receiving the confirmations.