Beware of RCCL Gift Certificates (issued by third party, Verizon, AARP, etc.)

I apologize for the length of this article but this is a complicated subject. We lost $1000 in on board credit and I want to help you avoid this problem.

We are almost Diamond with RCCL but have been cruising Carnival out of Galveston for the past couple of years. Then we sailed RCCL last fall and determined that we liked Carnival better. Carnival has come way up and RCCL has gone down in our experience. This is a case in point.

I’m comparing RCCL's gift certificate process with Carnival’s gift card process, all from third party vendors such as Verizon or AARP. If you buy gift cards or gift certificates, you can save 10% on the purchase and lower your cruise costs. Our conclusion after doing this on both cruise lines is, “beware of RCCL’s gift certificates”. Know what you’re in for before you buy. Here’s the comparison.

The RCCL gift certificate and the Carnival gift card are both sold on-line at Verizon Smart Rewards or AARP.org and maybe other places.They are found under the same heading on the on-line menu of Gift Cards, Travel.But if you’re used to using Carnival gift cards, you’re in for a rude awaking if you switch to RCCL gift certificates. Here’s why.

The Carnival gift card can be applied to a Carnival cruise reserved through a travel agent or through a Carnival agent. But an RCCL gift certificate can ONLY be used with a reservation made through RCCL. We didn’t know that until AFTER we bought the RCCL gift certificates. So we had to switch our reservation from our travel agent to RCCL and LOSE $1000 in on-board credits (we were booking 3 back to back to back cruises.)

The Carnival gift card can be applied to your reservation instantly by your travel agent or you can apply it on-line to your Carnival reservation (or with an agent). But, the RCCL gift certificate has to be scanned and emailed or snail mailed to a back-room operation in Miami that takes 2 to 3 weeks to process.

The RCCL agent promised us 7 to 10 days but when that didn’t happen we called in to complain. The solution offered was, “Wait longer. It now takes 2-3 weeks. We’re so sorry.” I agree.

You can use your Carnival gift card as down payment for your cruise. Not so with RCCL. Because of the lengthy delay in processing gift certificates, you have to make a charge to your credit card for a down payment on your cruise. Down payment is due at the time of booking. With Carnival, you can instantly apply your gift card as a down payment.

So if you want to use RCCL gift certificates for a down payment, you can end up making a short term double payment on your credit card. One payment is when you buy the gift certificates, which won’t be applied for 2-3 weeks. The duplicate payment is your actual required down payment with your credit card. That becomes just an extra cash payment to RCCL unless you specifically request a credit card refund when your gift certificates are finally processed. For us the double payment was $900 times two. That can cost you some expensive credit card interest if you don’t have enough cash when the bill comes due.

When your Carnival gift card is applied to your reservation you can see it on your invoice almost instantly on-line. You can’t see your RCCL invoice on line. You have to call RCCL, wait on hold for a long time and then ask them to email it to you. That’s a pain.

If there is a price drop on a Carnival cruise for which you have paid with gift cards, you still get the price drop up to two days before sailing (applies to Early Saver cruise rate). If you have overpaid, you get a refund or at minimum an on-board credit if you overpaid with gift cards. With RCCL, if you paid with gift certificates and the price drops, you get nothing.Your over payment with any gift certificates is not refunded in any way nor do you get an on-board credit. The RCCL rep just says, “That’s our policy. Gift certificates have no “cash value”. We’re so sorry.” I concur. (We did take our complaint to the corporate office and they were very helpful in getting our certificates processed. Thank you.)

I’m really disappointed that RCCL has fallen so far behind the technology and customer service curve. RCCL used to be our cruise line of choice out of Galveston. But now Carnival is. So if you cruise RCCL and want to save 10%, use gift certificates. But beware of the pitfalls.

Thanks for the info but sorry I don't base my decision on which is the best cruise line by comparing how you get a 10% discount on a gift card versus a gift certificate.

We received an NCL gift card as a Christmas present and used it to book a cruise to Cuba. We could apply the gift card immediately online similar to Carnival. RCCL seems to be Way behind the curve.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Could you not have only cancelled one of the cruises and switch it alone to RCCL? Leaving 2 with the TA?

Hate to add, I believe the fine print on the certificates tell you all this. And seen it mentioned many times on here also. Sorry.

Thanks for the info but sorry I don't base my decision on which is the best cruise line by comparing how you get a 10% discount on a gift card versus a gift certificate.

The OP didn't base their decision on the discount either, and no one asked you to base your decision on the gift cards. :rolleyes:

Could you not have only cancelled one of the cruises and switch it alone to RCCL? Leaving 2 with the TA?

 

Hate to add, I believe the fine print on the certificates tell you all this. And seen it mentioned many times on here also. Sorry.

This with Royal is discussed on here often. But still good to know for new Royal cruisers

We are Emerald on RCCL and I want to thank the OP for the caution in buying those certificates. The gift card/certificates appear to be another one of RCCL's decisions that are making people choose other lines. Sure hope RCCL opens it's eyes and realizes these techniques of scr*wing their once loyal cruisers and makes major changes to keep them. We have also used the Carnival gift cards from Verizon. They are easy to use. Thanks to the OP we will never buy the RCCL giftcards or certificates after knowing the struggles with RCCL:mad:.

We are Emerald on RCCL and I want to thank the OP for the caution in buying those certificates. The gift card/certificates appear to be another one of RCCL's decisions that are making people choose other lines. Sure hope RCCL opens it's eyes and realizes these techniques of scr*wing their once loyal cruisers and makes major changes to keep them. We have also used the Carnival gift cards from Verizon. They are easy to use. Thanks to the OP we will never buy the RCCL giftcards or certificates after knowing the struggles with RCCL:mad:.

It's been abundantly clear for several years now that "loyal cruisers" are very low on the priority list for RC corporate management. Their sights are laser focused on first time cruisers, who for the most part are unaware of the deceptive marketing techniques that RC currently uses.

Bob, I couldn't agree more.

You didn't say where you purchased your Royal Caribbean "gift certificates"*. I would have to guess that it may not have been Verizon Wireless's "Smart Rewards" site because the caveats that you noted, although very valid and worth making sure that others are aware of, are spelled out in great detail right on the gift card order page.

Right after the first paragraph, it provides some basic caveats to give people a good idea of the restrictions:

• This certificate cannot be used on a previously booked cruise.
  
• This certificate cannot be used for an onboard credit, excursions, etc.
  
• This certificate will not be accepted if it's booked through a travel agent, agencies, or group bookings.
  

* As a note, these actually aren't real "gift certificates". These are basically highly restrictive coupons.

Royal Caribbean does actually sell gift certificates that are easier to use. They do still require that you send them in at least 2 weeks in advance, but you can use them for payments toward the cruise or toward the purchase of onboard credit. You can also use these with travel agents.

I believe if you read the OP's subject line you will get your answer:)!

It's been abundantly clear for several years now that "loyal cruisers" are very low on the priority list for RC corporate management. Their sights are laser focused on first time cruisers, who for the most part are unaware of the deceptive marketing techniques that RC currently uses.

Well said

I bought 2 of those $100 certificates thru Verizon sometime back in January because I thought it would be an easy way to get $200 OBC for $180. Thought it would be the same as the gift certificates that Royal offers but $20 cheaper. When I got them in the mail, rule number 4 states, "This certificate cannot be applied to ship-board credit". So, so much for that.

So now I'm trying to figure out what to do with these things. I ended up sending an email to sharedservicesgiftcertificateredemption@rccl.com on Feb 12 this year asking them if I could add the $200 to the balance due for a cruise we have coming up in November. I scanned the coupons and gave included our cruise information.

On Feb 28 (apparently not real high on Royal's priority list), I got an email back from Royal mentioning that the gift certificates had been applied to my balance for that cruise. So, I'm a happy camper right now.

Lesson learned. Stay away from those things. Saving $20 was way more trouble than it was worth.

Tim

Verizon Experience

I wish I had read this before buying mine. They need to change the verbiage for sure on these certificates. I read it, ok I need to book through Royal, not an issue. BUT when I went to book the vacation planner was confused about the certificate I had but said he would get the reservation through some how. Bingo, worked and I could see my reservation online. BUT once the certificate was applied the reservation went to Travel Agency "Deluxe Reward Program" so no payments can be made online. When I call they say I booked with someone else to call them? Call who, I booked with Royal? All I wanted was a statement proving it had been applied and showing my balance. Crown & Anchor was able to send one. When I went to make a payment, again hum you booked with someone else? Next time I call I am just going to pay in full so I can just have this over with. Lesson learned for sure. :(

Carnival experience, I can use the cards online to pay off my balance on my upcoming cruise. :D Last cruise I went to a machine the first day and loaded them to my on board account with now issue.

BonVoyage

Dawna

Exactly or choose another cruise line that is easy to work with:)!

I believe if you read the OP's subject line you will get your answer:)!

If this was meant for me, then no, the title of this thread doesn't provide that answer. It says where one can find them (including a generic "third party"), but not where the OP bought them. Other sites may not include the terms and conditions as clearly as the Verizon Wireless's Smart Rewards site does, and that would be worth knowing.

Thanks to the OP and Marc (Daghis) for hashing out the details on these coupons/certificates. It's all good information. We do buy gift certificates directly from Royal and gift them to our kids but haven't come across this 3rd party stuff as of yet.

It appears that buying the 3rd party RCCL certificates/gift cards have so many restrictions that RCCL has put in place, that according to the OP they are useless and a waste of time and effort. Plus you lose out on being able to use a Travel agent who offers OBC unlike the other 3rd party giftcards/certificates for other cruise lines that allow all of those and are posted immediately. Wow...

One of my concerns with the true GCs that you buy directly from Royal is the statement that the GCs are "nonrefundable." I looked at the link Marc posted and went to the terms and conditions.

What happens if you cancel the cruise on which you used the GCs? I think I've seen reports that people were told the money was gone, nonrefundable and you didn't get a credit for it.

I'd want to call and make sure that if you purchased any GCs and gave them to someone as a gift, if they needed to cancel the cruise, the GCs were refunded back to them. Would hate for someone to spend hundreds on a GC for someone and find that the money was lost.

It will be lost most likely. RCCL has so many rules in place that if 1 person tells you something, the next person will tell you something else.They can't even keep up with all the rules RCCL imposes. As the OP said if the gift certificate/cards have cruises paid in full and there is a price drop b4 final payment you are out of luck. You get nothing, not even OBC.

I've used the "gift certs" from Verizon a few times. The biggest problem to me was, you can't access the booking on line. And when you call if you don't get a CVP with a lot of experience (very rare) . They tell you it was transferred to a travel agent.

On one cruise I sent them 22 $100 certificates. For final payment on the cruise. It took 2 weeks to show up as paid in full.

If you only use 1 or 2 certificates at a time it doesn't make much sense. Verizon charges about $10 for mailing.

The last few cruises I booked I went through the casino. So I don't think I could use the gift certificates.

I just ordered $2000 worth of these! You can only order 5 per day, so I had to place 4 orders over four days. They will arrive this week. My concern is the length of time people are saying it takes to apply! My final payment is due 5/22!!! What happens if I send them in but they don't apply them in time? Are they going to cancel my reservation?

When you get the certificates call RCCL and verify where they want you to email them. Don't snail mail them. That's too slow and expensive if you want it quick. they'll tell you where to email your scanned certificates. You should receive an auto email saying they received the certificates. ask about the estimated time to apply. if it's too long talk to a supervisor or the corporate office to try to get them expedited. It's really a terrible and antiquated process.

Have looked at buying cruise gift certificates using various credit cards with 1-2% rebates and if I could get these at King Soopers, which gives you 4x purchase points towards gas purchase ($100 is normally a 10 cent discount on gas). Determined last month that only Carnival cards are worth trying to do this. Disney might work as well. As you mentioned RCI has to be done through them and rules kill the deal.

Nice job of OP laying out the problem - took me quite a bit of research to see it wasn't worth it.

Never buy RCCL giftcards/gift certificates. It is a "ROYAL SCR*W you deal" if you use them. They have the most archaic system with so many caveats in their rules and procedures it is obscene! Stay far away from them. Soon to be Diamond and we got scr*wed!