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

[RyanH8927]

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. 

[jdhellen]

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.

[SereneSeagull]

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

[RyanH8927]

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 $ 

[AARPConsumerCare]

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

[RichardB815971]

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

[SereneSeagull]

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

[MeredithM690946]

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.

[RichardB815971]

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.

[NicoleD583652]

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.