AARP "Gift card" - Know What you are buying

EDIT: I have been corrected. The Carnival cards REALLY are gift cards. The RCI card/certificate's are certificates, unfortunately for me.

So, this is my story that I am sharing so people do not make the same mistake I did. Read and know what you are purchasing. Do not assume, as I did that you know what you are getting.

When I saw on this board that you could get 10% off on gift cards at the AARP website, I jumped on board. They did not have any Carnival one's being offered at the time but did have RCI "cards". I am taking my kids and their families on a RCI cruise and with final payment around the corner, I jumped on 19 of the $100 "gift cards". I kept watching because I wanted to get 13 more. Lucky for me, there were no more offered, however I was able to snag 15 Carnival ones(which I have not received yet).

I DID NOT READ anything other than gift cards. My mistake, I admit it. These are not gift cards. They are GIFT CERTIFICATES. There is a difference. I hate to assume again since I have not received the Carnival cards/certificates, but I will assume that they are also not really gift cards.

My RCI cruise is booked through a TA, so before I ordered I called to see if he would accept gift cards. Well he does.

The gift certificates I received can not be applied to any cruise that is booked under a TA and can not be used for on board credit either.

This was going to be our last RCI cruise because my DH just is not happy with the food. Now I am stuck with all these gift certificates and will need to decide what to do with them.

I am not looking for sympathy, just wanted to warn you if you didn't know.

Sorry so long.

You are incorrect when you state that the Carnival Gift Cards are not Gift cards because they are. I have purchased $600 worth through AARP.

The RCCL are not gift cards...they are gift certificates and it states this in the description.

You really should have read the description before ordering.

So, this is my story that I am sharing so people do not make the same mistake I did. Read and know what you are purchasing. Do not assume, as I did that you know what you are getting.

 

When I saw on this board that you could get 10% off on gift cards at the AARP website, I jumped on board. They did not have any Carnival one's being offered at the time but did have RCI "cards". I am taking my kids and their families on a RCI cruise and with final payment around the corner, I jumped on 19 of the $100 "gift cards". I kept watching because I wanted to get 13 more. Lucky for me, there were no more offered, however I was able to snag 15 Carnival ones(which I have not received yet).

 

I DID NOT READ anything other than gift cards. My mistake, I admit it. These are not gift cards. They are GIFT CERTIFICATES. There is a difference. I hate to assume again since I have not received the Carnival cards/certificates, but I will assume that they are also not really gift cards.

 

My RCI cruise is booked through a TA, so before I ordered I called to see if he would accept gift cards. Well he does.

 

The gift certificates I received can not be applied to any cruise that is booked under a TA and can not be used for on board credit either.

 

This was going to be our last RCI cruise because my DH just is not happy with the food. Now I am stuck with all these gift certificates and will need to decide what to do with them.

 

I am not looking for sympathy, just wanted to warn you if you didn't know.

 

Sorry so long.

No need to worry about the Carnival gift cards...they are gift cards.

You are incorrect when you state that the Carnival Gift Cards are not Gift cards because they are. I have purchased $600 worth through AARP.

 

The RCCL are not gift cards...they are gift certificates and it states this in the description.

 

You really should have read the description before ordering.

I admitted to not reading it...twice...lesson learned. Thank you.

Thanks for letting me know the carnival ones are really gift cards. I haven't rcvd mine yet.

Thanks for the heads-up. So basically, if you're not going thru a travel agent and you just wany to use them to pay off your fare, you are good to go?

Thanks for the heads-up. So basically, if you're not going thru a travel agent and you just wany to use them to pay off your fare, you are good to go?

I have been corrected about the Carnival cards. They really are gift cards according to ready2cruiseagain.

On the RCI certificates, yes you can use them if you go directly through RCI.

Every once in a while, they also offer Carnival gift certificates in addition to the gift cards. If you're in a hurry and get excited to see the Carnival logo, you may inadvertently buy a certificate when what you actually wanted was a gift card.

Every once in a while, they also offer Carnival gift certificates in addition to the gift cards. If you're in a hurry and get excited to see the Carnival logo, you may inadvertently buy a certificate when what you actually wanted was a gift card.

Oh, that is good to know. I guess I will find out what I bought when I receive them next week.

Could you sell the RCI certificates to someone or do they have your name on them?

Could you sell the RCI certificates to someone or do they have your name on them?

Yes I can sell them. They do not have my name on them. I just put on my fb page to see if any of my friends want to buy them from me.

I will probably try to sell them. My DH was nice enough and understanding. He said if I can't get rid of them, he would do one more RCI cruise.

How does one obtain a gift card through AARP? Sorry for my ignorance regarding this, but I have seen a few threads on here talking about gift cards and I was wondering how I would go about purchasing one (or a few). Are they only available to citizens of the USA?

How does one obtain a gift card through AARP? Sorry for my ignorance regarding this, but I have seen a few threads on here talking about gift cards and I was wondering how I would go about purchasing one (or a few). Are they only available to citizens of the USA?

I don't know if they are just available to US citizens or everyone. I do know you don't need to be a member, although I am.

Go to their website and you take some quizzes to get points. You turn in your points, in this case I purchased $100 certificates for $90 + .59 shipping + 1,000 points.

Glad you corrected yourself.

Verizon usually has the gift cards, but one time just as I was about to buy I saw they said certificates and decided to read the fine print. Luckily I had not pushed the purchase button yet. Someone posted in a FB forum they were so happy to finally have them available, they did not take the time to read that they were the certificates. So I guess the moral is Buyer Beware and take the time to read even if it means you may lose the chance to buy. Usually the AARP and Verizon cards are available at the same time and sell out at about the same time. I have purchased cards from both and they come from the same distribution company.

How does one obtain a gift card through AARP? Sorry for my ignorance regarding this, but I have seen a few threads on here talking about gift cards and I was wondering how I would go about purchasing one (or a few). Are they only available to citizens of the USA?

Citizens of the USA. I tried online and then called to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong and was told I couldn't get them because I was in Canada eh?

Citizens of the USA. I tried online and then called to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong and was told I couldn't get them because I was in Canada eh?

You are correct. Not available in Canada or other countries.

I joined the AARP website and pulled down the travel tab and can't find the carnival gift cards anywhere. I even did a search. Am I missing something?

I joined the AARP website and pulled down the travel tab and can't find the carnival gift cards anywhere. I even did a search. Am I missing something?

Click on the Rewards for Good link first, then gift cards, then travel. If you are lucky or persistent, you might find them available. More often than not, they are sold out or unavailable. Good luck hunting!

Thank you, I finally found it, but unfortunately none available, I will check back frequently.

How do you use the Carnival gift cards from AARP? Can they be used towards your balance due???

Does anyone know how long these typically take to ship/are received by the purchaser?

The RCCL are not gift cards...they are gift certificates and it states this in the description.

 

You really should have read the description before ordering.

I almost made that mistake with RCCL eGift cards available through Swagbucks. Those are probably the same type of gift certificate you get through AARP. I only wanted OBC, my RCCL cruise is booked through a TA and fully paid for. Thankfully after reading the description I caught on that something wasn't right here :) "Gift Card cannot be used to settle any ship board charges, including but not limited to gift shop purchases, casino debts, shore excursions or gratuities, charters or customized group programs."

Thanks for the head's up! In my excitement to actually see them available I would never have guessed that they couldn't be used to pay for on board charges and would have just bought them not knowing their limitations.

Another reason why this board is so valuable! :)

Does anyone know how long these typically take to ship/are received by the purchaser?

I ordered mine on Tuesday the 23rd and UPS says they will be delivered tomorrow, the 29th. Signature required for mine but maybe because I bought $1600 worth.

I ordered mine on Tuesday the 23rd and UPS says they will be delivered tomorrow, the 29th. Signature required for mine but maybe because I bought $1600 worth.

Thank you for the response!