topic Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY in Redemption

DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

RyanH8927 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:02:03 GMT

They call them gift cards, but they aren't really. Even though RC has a section on their website to pay with a gift card, this is not really a gift card that AARP sells. It's some other nonsense that is actually far more restrictive than they even disclose when you buy it. So much for AARP looking out for the good of its members.

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

SereneSeagull — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:20:17 GMT

Could you expand on that and why it’s not what it seems. Thanks!

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

RyanH8927 — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:07:03 GMT

RC has a payment option on their website to pay with a gift card for drink packages, excursions, etc but AARP sells gift CERTIFICATES even though they advertise it as a gift card. Gift certificates are not eligible to be used for anything except base cruise fare that is remaining after you pay your deposit. You must use it all in one transaction. Again, gift cards just deduct the amount and leave you the remaining balance, but again, this is a gift certificate even though they advertise it as a virtual gift card. Truly no one cares about telling the truth anymore, they just want your $

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

SereneSeagull — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:24:16 GMT

Oh, ok. Thank you for clarifying that. Yeah, that’s not good. That info should be explained on the listing for sure.

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

jdhellen — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 03:26:10 GMT

I ran into something similar with FTD "Gift Cards". Turns out they were just discount codes for like $5 off. And you had to put in the code to use one. Dumb thing is that AARP gets 30% off any time at FTD but it uses a code and you are only allowed to enter a single code, not multiple. So why would anyone ever try to use a $5 code over a 30% off code? I may be missing something, but that is what I saw.

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

AARPConsumerCare — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 20:26:36 GMT

Hi RyanH8927,

We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations. Before completing a purchase of this item, users must certify that they acknowledge that Royal Caribbean gift cards have specific conditions that may differ from typical gift card transactions and that they have reviewed and agree to all the terms and conditions outlined in the Offer Terms provided by Royal Caribbean.

The Offer Terms provided to AARP Rewards include the following key points:

The certificate can only be used as payment toward a new reservation made directly with Royal Caribbean International.
It may only be applied to the cruise fare for sailings quoted in USD and cannot be used for the initial deposit.
The certificate may not be split between multiple reservations.
Certificate may not be partially redeemed.

If you have any further questions regarding the use of your gift card, please contact Royal Caribbean directly at 866-504-3941.

For details about the purchase experience for cruise gift cards from AARP Rewards, please refer to this Help Article.
https://help.aarp.org/s/article/rewards-cruise-gift-cards

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

MeredithM690946 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:58:20 GMT

It blatantly is in the terms and conditions when you agree to the terms and conditions, that you obviously have not read. It states that gc's may not be redeemed online and that you must email a specified account address to have them applied to your RCL cruise. You LITERALLY have to agree to those terms and conditions on the AARP website before purchase. I don't understand how anyone could think it's a scam when it's very plainly spelled out. Is it easy, no. Is it worth it to save a couple hundred bucks, definitely.

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

RichardB815971 — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:21:28 GMT

Does this mean you cannot use a travel agent but must book directly with RCCL?

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

RichardB815971 — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:23:15 GMT

Don't you have to buy multiple gift cards to save "a couple of hundred bucks?"

Were you able to use a travel agent or just by calling RCCL?

Way too much $$$ for me to gamble on redemption.

Re: DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

NicoleD583652 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:40:18 GMT

You have to book through Royal Caribbean first, then you can transfer the booking to a travel agent, which is ridiculous. That means you cannot get booked into a group for cheaper pricing, cannot get onboard credit that travel agents offer, nor “specials” like a free spa treatment or one night of free specialty dining. Wayyy too restrictive. The Carnival ones were not like that and now they are gone, too.