Three Exciting New AARP Rewards Cruise Line Gift Cards!

[AARPTeri]

Week of 3/28/22, we’ve added the following three gift cards to the Rewards catalog:

• Royal Caribbean Digital Gift Card (Members Only)
• $450 ($500 Value 10% off)
• $90 ($100 Value 10% off)

• Holland America Line Digital Gift Card (Available to all)
• $450 ($500 Value 10% off)
• $90 ($100 Value 10% off)

• Princess- Digital Gift Card (Available to all)
• $450 ($500 Value 10% off)
• $90 ($100 Value 10% off)

Redeem yours today! https://www.aarp.org/rewards/redeem/ 

[JenniferT915923]

The headache and hassle it takes to apply the Royal Caribbean Gift card is not worth the savings. AARP should be ashamed to even offer it. They should also refer to it as a Gift CERTIFICATE and not a card because that misleads people into thinking that it can be used the same as other gift cards.

It is also disingenuous to imply it is the same as any other Royal Caribbean gift card because you have to not only EMAIL the voucher but wait TEN BUSINESS DAYS for it to be credited. This means people may miss their final payment deadlines if they needed to wait to purchase them until closer to that date.

BUYER BEWARE!

[LCWATER]

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way 2 years ago.  Never had a problem using/applying Carnival gift cards purchased from AARP. Still stuck with a $500 Royal Caribbean gift card because all of the fine print didn't show up on my order until after I had placed it in the cart and purchased it.  I read everything before selecting it and no where did I see it could only be used on a new booking made around the same time of the gift certificate purchase. I had recently booked and paid the deposit of a new booking when I purchased the gift card but still had a balance on that cruise.  Went to try to apply the gift card and apparently, I was a month too late meaning I couldn't use because I should have submitted the gift card as soon as I had booked the cruise. My issue now is the rules changed since I purchased it; one of which is you cannot used it combined with any casino offers. So, when I've tried to apply it even recently, the same day I booked a new cruise, gift card was denied because I had booked my cruise under a casino offer.  It didn't matter to Royal Caribbean that I was able to provide them with the rules at the time I purchased.  They didn't care; they said I had to go by the current terms and conditions which now excludes combining with casino offers. Put it this way, after doing the math from the Royal Caribbean cruises I have gone on within the past 2 years, I've actually saved more than the $500 gift card I'm stuck with.  With that said, it's not technically AARP's fault; however, I do wish they would put an alert at the top when purchasing Royal Caribbean gift cards.

[Doodad101700]

SCAM!!! Celebrity Cruises Gift Card are a SCAM! Non Refundable and you have to book through Celebrity.  I have a Trusted Travel agent who can not book my cruise! I just canceled my AARP Membership!  I will not renew! Read the FINE PRINT especially (1) and Non Refundable to boot!   I'm out $450!

[Doodad101700]

1. Certificate may be used only as a form of payment toward a new reservation made directly with Celebrity Cruises.

[Doodad101700]

7. Certificate may not be used to obtain onboard credit or to settle any shipboard charges.

[BellaD105782]

Per the celebrity cite, your TA can use them for the booking.  

"Celebrity Cruises Gift Card

Celebrity Cruises

 www celebrity cruises. com › gift-cards

Use them online at Celebritycruises.com, by calling us a 888-751-7804, or through your Travel Advisor. They can also be used onboard to pay for expenses."

[Doodad101700]

No mention of a TA.  My TA can't use the one I have... Read the fine print 

1. Certificate may be used only as a form of payment toward a new reservation made directly with Celebrity Cruises.

[Doodad101700]

Wrong... read the fine print!  7. Certificate may not be used to obtain onboard credit or to settle any shipboard charges.

[JeffB262193]

Holland America Gift cards are stated to have a 10% discount, but when purchased, was only 8% (cost was $460 for a $500 gift card

[lp7415]

How long does it take the gift cards to make it to my Inbox?

I have purchased 2 and I'm surprised I haven't received verification. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hello, thanks for reaching out. Digital Rewards will be delivered to the Participant's email address associated with their http://AARP.org?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=13076690814 Online Account within 24 hours for orders submitted during normal business hours (8 am - 5 pm EST, Monday – Friday). 

If it's not in your Spam or Junk folder, and it's been 24 hours since you purchased or redeemed the item, please contact us, and we can check the status. You can:

• Chat with us online using the CHAT icon on the right. 
• Call a dedicated Rewards Specialist at 866-451-6305. We are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET. - Daniela R. 

[HiumancarmanC861311]

Hi, I am trying to go to the reward page. But it need to verify by phone before entering the page. I am a Canadian and dont have a US number. How do I verify? 

[AARPConsumerCare]

@HiumancarmanC861311, only users within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia can participate in the AARP Rewards program. Here you'll find the AARP Rewards Terms and Conditions: https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/rewards-terms-and-conditions - Diana G.

[af1681]

The system doesn’t recognize my US phone number. It’s VOIP. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @af1681, thank you for reaching out. Voice Over IP (VOIP) numbers are not supported for our verification process. If possible, enter a different phone number. - Diana G.

[SuzanneM438936]

What does it mean on Holland gift card site that says I couldn’t purchase cards because I hadn’t made 5 standard purchases??

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @SuzanneM438936, please call our AARP Rewards specialists at: 1-866-451-6305 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET. - Diana G.

[DebbieG227341]

I should of read the forum before purchase of RCCL gift cards. I did not read it because the process with Carnival was almost flawless. A small hiccup but it was resolved promptly.

It looks like I am not the only person with an issue on redemption with RCCL. AARP will lose clients if they keep this vendor. Yes there are instructions, yes there is fine print. However the verbiage is very conflicting. I hope to have resolution by 1/29/2024. If not, shame on me. I promise you that AARP nor RCCL will ever have me in this predicament again. They say NEVER say NEVER, but I mean NEVER! 

******DO NOT BUY RCCL gift card through AARP. ******

[jkpalmer]

Sorry you had a negative experience. I have used Royals and Carnivals gift card. They do have different guidelines for use. I used Royals most recently and could use them for payment up until final payment. I did not attempt to  book any excursions, buy drink of WiFi packages with them, so not the one for advice. But with anything now, always be sure before buying. As much as we kick ourselves, it is not the vendors problem if we are not the informed consumer. AARP and Royal are not at fault. The fine print is there to be read prior to purchase. Not trying to sound mean. Just giving a warning to others reading. Before I bought either card, I called the cruise line direct and asked how I could use them, what I could spend them on (on ship/off ship, before cruise/on ship, and in what time frame they needed to be used. I had all my questions answered before I redeemed/bought the cards. Used 3 $450 cards without an issue. Always nice to save some cash. 

[sc88276670]

 I was considering buying some. What was the issue?

[DebbieG227341]

If you are going to apply to booking it may work, I’m not sure. You cannot use for onboard credit excursions or anything of that sort. My cruise was paid in full when I purchased. I thought I could apply to excursions, onboard credit etc.. after sending an email and waiting 10 days .. I’m basically stuck with a gift card requiring me to book another cruise , unless you want to purchase it from me. 

[pw6874]

Are the Holland America gift cards no longer available?  Or will they be back at some point?  Thanks in advance!

[AARPJanelleM]

@pw6874  The gift cards are updated often based on availability, but there are currently Holland America Line gift cards available on our redeem page here: https://www.aarp.org/rewards/redeem/#sort-by=default I'm always here to help!

[CynthiaP864603]

I have been unsuccessful in getting to where I can purchase Holland America gift cards. The link above got me to a generic description of rewards program. I have  searched and clicked around website without success. Can you please assist?  Thank you 

[jhesselb]

Do the AARP Holland America gift cards have expiration dates?  Are they refundable if I cancel my cruise before payment?  I see that there is a limit to how many one person can buy in a month, but is there a limit to how many I can buy over several months?  Is there a limit to how many Holland America will accept?

[AARPJanelleM]

@jhesselb I'm sorry refunds cannot be provided for Reward items. I invite you to check out the Rewards program terms and conditions for limit info: https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/rewards-terms-and-conditions/  as well as the complete terms and conditions for Holland gift cards: hollandamerica.com/giftcardterms You can also contact Holland customer support for additional info: 877-932-4259

[ll105]

If you cancel, the money is put back onto the original gift card. If you put the value of the gift cards onto your ship on board account and you don’t spend it all, the unused balance is put back onto your original gift card.

[PeggyH861894]

Help! I called Princess Cruiseline and they will not take their own gift cards! I was told to call a travel agent and a travel agent could process my transaction using your AARP Princess Gift Card. My question is, can I get a refund if no one will take my Princess Cruise Gift Card?😳

[AARPJanelleM]

@PeggyH861894 I'm sorry, Peggy. We are unable to refund purchases made on the AARP Rewards site. I invite you to check the Rewards terms here: https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/rewards-terms-and-conditions/ I recommend contacting Princess again and requesting to speak with a supervisor for further assistance. Also, be sure to review the gift card terms and disclosures.