Warning Gift Cards

Still waiting , no reply yet from my second email to them

I wonder if I should do a second request?

Still waiting , no reply yet from my second email to them

It says "we are happy to process your information and get back to you within 7 days". Has been 7 days for any of you?

Yeah I'd send it again. I had a response within an hour. Maybe they are working on being able to use the gift cards so they are avoiding answering right now.

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Thanks to kcruiser heard back today all set to purchase with gift card on Saturday !!! Took over 24 hours but worked out great, thanks again kcruiser your letter made all the difference !!!!

Thanks to kcruiser heard back today all set to purchase with gift card on Saturday !!! Took over 24 hours but worked out great, thanks again kcruiser your letter made all the difference !!!!

Niceeee! So I guess, you'd need just to show this email once onboard as was already mentioned. I'm waiting for my email as well, but my cruise isn't until later next year.

Niceeee! So I guess, you'd need just to show this email once onboard as was already mentioned. I'm waiting for my email as well, but my cruise isn't until later next year.

Why would you need to show the email? They are saying speak to the GSM. I would think that since this is happening it has been disseminated to the ships. I'm still debating on whether the $70 savings is worth standing in the GS line.

Why would you need to show the email? They are saying speak to the GSM. I would think that since this is happening it has been disseminated to the ships. I'm still debating on whether the $70 savings is worth standing in the GS line.

Well, since the policy states otherwise, I wouldn't be so sure that the GSM is just going to take a person's word for it, that they were told that this was ok.

You are actually saving 11.50 per day by getting the pre purchase price once you include gratuity, buying gift card you get 10% discount when purchased (100.00 card costs 90.00) so 115.00 per day roughly for two people is another 11.50 so 23.00 times length of cruise minus one day is your actual savings over just buying on ship with credit card first day, and I suppose if you waited till second day to buy with gift card ( when lines are shorter) you would be charged one day less for the cheers package as well.

Meant sail and sign card not credit lol

I just got my email response, that offers even more clarity:

Hello XXXXX,

Thank you so much for reaching out to us.

In regards to your inquiry, you just need to apply your gift cards to the Sign & Sail accounts onboard either via the kiosks or Guest Service desk and then take that receipt to either the Atrium or Casino Bar to purchase the Cheers package. The ships have all been advised to honor the pre-cruise rate for those wishing to purchase the Cheers program with gift cards, until further notice.

Sincerely,

XXXX XXXXX

Online Community Specialist

Carnival Cruise Line

I just got my email response, that offers even more clarity:

 

Hello XXXXX,

 

Thank you so much for reaching out to us.

 

In regards to your inquiry, you just need to apply your gift cards to the Sign & Sail accounts onboard either via the kiosks or Guest Service desk and then take that receipt to either the Atrium or Casino Bar to purchase the Cheers package. The ships have all been advised to honor the pre-cruise rate for those wishing to purchase the Cheers program with gift cards, until further notice.

 

Sincerely,

 

XXXX XXXXX

Online Community Specialist

Carnival Cruise Line

I'm assuming "until further notice" means until they can figure out the fairly easy task of adding gift card payments to the fun shops

Received another email from carnival, just need to show receipt from depositing gift card , no need to wait in line at GS. Can add at self serve kiosks

Says everyone knows, will try to purchase on board by just showing receipt from kiosk on Saturday and post the results prior to sail away on here ( will have copy of letter in pocket just in case)

Great! Let us know how smooth the process is! Sounds like another good reason to have fttf! No obnoxious guest services line!

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I'm assuming "until further notice" means until they can figure out the fairly easy task of adding gift card payments to the fun shops

That's what I'm thinking.

Thanks for all the info! I'll be trying this on the 24th and will report back also

Sent from my SM-G900V using Forums mobile app

Carnival Logo

Good Morning Athena,

Thank you for getting back to us.

In regards to your inquiry, you just need to apply your gift cards to the Sign & Sail accounts onboard either via the kiosks or Guest Service desk and then take that receipt to either the Atrium or Casino Bar to purchase the Cheers package. The ships have all been advised to honor the pre-cruise rate for those wishing to purchase the Cheers program with gift cards, until further notice.

Sincerely,

Shane Ryan

Online Community Specialist

Carnival Cruise Line

I just got my email response, that offers even more clarity:

 

Hello XXXXX,

 

Thank you so much for reaching out to us.

 

In regards to your inquiry, you just need to apply your gift cards to the Sign & Sail accounts onboard either via the kiosks or Guest Service desk and then take that receipt to either the Atrium or Casino Bar to purchase the Cheers package. The ships have all been advised to honor the pre-cruise rate for those wishing to purchase the Cheers program with gift cards, until further notice.

 

Sincerely,

 

XXXX XXXXX

Online Community Specialist

Carnival Cruise Line

That's the one I got today too.

Just a follow up to my original post, I just received my replacement gifts cards in my emails today. Carnival refunded the entire amount of both gift cards. Thank you customer service for your help. I do believe that I have learned my lesson and will not try any Fun Ships links to use gift cards. I will just wait and use them on board. I am glad to see most everyone is getting an email explaining what to day. Hope it works for everyone.

Went to guest services put 900.00 in gift cards on account then went to atrium bar to get cheers, at first she wanted to charge full rate , explained about pre purchase price for gift cards. Once she called manager and she verified we applied enough cards for FULL cost of pre purchase price, we got our cheers for 804.20 which is the correct number for prepurchase. So was still some confusion but didn't have to show email, time to go up on deck and eat !!!!!

Great! Have a wonderful cruise! Thanks for following up!

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hi all, just wanted to put my two cents in.just got off the breeze out of galveston. i had my email from ccl and a screen shot of john healds OK for the prepurchase price in hand when i went to buy cheers on day 2 morning (texas law). i was asked to show my proof and was given some run around- back and forth from GS to atrium bar and back a few times. one guest services person even said, i don't know why you aren't being allow to purchase it, we know you are allowed to buy it with gift cards for the reduced price. it was all ironed out and was able to have my first cheers drink by 10:30. hope it works out for all wanting to do this. thanks for listening. :)

It says on the Carnival site that you can't use gift cards to buy cheers online... so there's no reason to be upset that a rep was "blunt" saying you can't do that.

Even if the site has that option doesn't mean it's fully functional. They haven't made any announcement that the option is available.

I highly doubt Carnival won't be able to reverse the charges from the gift cards. Just a situation that didn't have to occur.

I just went to the fun shops and entered the information to purchase Cheers and there was a block now to purchase with Carnival Gift Cards. I checked the block and it gave me the area to enter the gift card information and showed taking both gifts cards and a zero balance. It then had a button to complete purchase and it then said there was a problem with my card and did not complete the order. I called Carnival and the rep there was very blunt and said you could not use gift cards even after I told her that the web site now has a block to enter the information. I then checked my gift card balances and they now show a zero balance. Will have to fight Carnival tomorrow on that problem. Short thing is DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE YOUR GIFT CARDS YET.

It says on the Carnival site that you can't use gift cards to buy cheers online... so there's no reason to be upset that a rep was "blunt" saying you can't do that.

 

Even if the site has that option doesn't mean it's fully functional. They haven't made any announcement that the option is available.

 

I highly doubt Carnival won't be able to reverse the charges from the gift cards. Just a situation that didn't have to occur.

I don't think they were really complaining that the rep was "blunt", but I can understand the frustration when the reps oftentimes give you conflicting info especially when you know what you are talking about.

IMHO, unless something is fully functional, especially if it involves people's money, then it has no business being accessible on the website. They have been saying for quite awhile that this function was coming soon so there's no reason to doubt it once it did pop up. Let's face it, sometimes they are good about making announcements about new things, sometimes not.

It appears that OP has in fact had their GCs refunded, so all is well. I took this post as a helpful warning to others, nothing more.