AARP Carnival Gift Cards-

Thinking about getting a card for our upcoming cruise. Just want it put on our S&S account for any on board expenses since everything else is already paid in full. Is it a hassle to add once on board, or should I use it in advance and buy cruise cash? Is an e-card just as good/easy to use, or should I get a regular card? How long does it take to receive in the mail? We sail in just over 2 weeks. Thanks!

Is it a hassle to add once on board, or should I use it in advance and buy cruise cash? Is an e-card just as good/easy to use, or should I get a regular card?

 

It depends on how the stars are aligned at the time . . . :cool:

 

I've had all scenarios. Physical card that I could easily add at a kiosk, other physical card that was easily added at GS and a physical card that took some overriding at GS. Same with e-cards.

 

So, should be easy to use on board. Even if not "easy," it won't exactly be hard regardless, maybe just not as convenient as it should be. ;p

I've used the gift cards to pay S&S while on the ship. The only problem is the line at the purser's desk. Easy. relax and enjoy your cruise, get to the purser when you can.

Thank you. I just picked up 5. Thought they would be e cards, but I guess they will be mailed

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Forums mobile app

 

Are you an AARP member? I have been doing the quizzes for both my mother and me. When I am logged in as my mother (who IS an AARP member), the ecard option is available. When I am logged in as me, the cards are mailed.

 

BUT I have been doing this all of 6 days so I am definitely not an expert!

I've used the gift cards to pay S&S while on the ship. The only problem is the line at the purser's desk. Easy. relax and enjoy your cruise, get to the purser when you can.

 

We've been lucky enough in the past to board early enough to avoid any lines at GS to add our GC's to our S&S account, however on our last few cruises we've added the GC's at GS while checking in. Yes, it has delayed our checkin/boarding process....3 weeks ago we boarded the Sunshine. I timed it, adding the GC's at GS during checkin delayed our checking process by 5 minutes, 12 seconds...but we endured and boarded the ship right after.

I am not a AARP member an I see egift cards are available and have purchased in the past.

I am not a AARP member an I see egift cards are available and have purchased in the past.

 

Me, too. So it may simply be that they have a limit per day?

 

Another question for the experts, since this part is all new to me. :) If You add the full value of the GC to your S&S account, and don't spend it all - is the difference returned at the end of the cruise as cash, or only on another GC?

Me, too. So it may simply be that they have a limit per day?

 

Another question for the experts, since this part is all new to me. :) If You add the full value of the GC to your S&S account, and don't spend it all - is the difference returned at the end of the cruise as cash, or only on another GC?

Depends. I have had it done both ways.

We get them through AARP because they are 10% off, so $100 gift card for $90 or $500 card for $450.

Yes you can pay as you go, little bit at a time as long as it is paid in full by final payment date.

Big Box store is a travel seller some people use, which we are not allowed to promote on Cruise Critic.

 

 

So it's okay to promote AARP all over here but not Costco??;) You can definitely use more than 5 gift cards. You just can do 5 in a single session. Then simply do it again.

If I have money left over on my S&S account can it be applied to the balance on another cruise?

Help!,, I have in my cart $500 and (2)$100 GC

ITS ONLY DISPLAYING MAIL

MY CRUISE IS IN 3 weeks

Will I receive them in time

Help!,, I have in my cart $500 and (2)$100 GC

ITS ONLY DISPLAYING MAIL

MY CRUISE IS IN 3 weeks

Will I receive them in time

 

My $100. AARP gift cards have arrived between 7 and 10-11 days from ordering. The $500. cards are shipped quicker and a signature is required at delivery.

 

Don't know how they will ship your combined order.

I love to shave a few points off my cruise tab, and the 15% off $300 on ebay went well for me. I received the Ecards within a few minutes, and an unnamed travel agent (who sends me Costco cash cards) applied them to an upcoming cruise over the phone in a few minutes.

 

I always wondered about the AARP deal, but could never find it on their website with a casual glance. Thanks to this thread with a linky that worked I was able to buy 5 $100 cards. There are some hoops to jump through. While one does not need to belong to AARP you must provide your email and full details to register. I am sure my mailbox will fill with mail about how my life would be a dream with insurance from AARP. I then find rewards for good requires points. At least I am not licking Blue Chip Stamps for my reward. I got 1500 points for signing up, took two 350 point quizzes, two 50 point quizzes, and asked a question about Social Security for 20 points. I looked at the header bar and it said I had 5350 points! Wuhoo, must be government math of some kind. I went to rewards to find out what my 20 minute investment would buy. Turns out 1000 points can be redeemed to get a $100 card for $90. So I climbed on for five $100. cards. The only option was by mail, so I clicked yes, and they added $2.95 for the service. My 10% savings has now been whittled to 9.41 percent for those of you keeping score.

 

The only question I have now is will Citibank give me the 3% cash back for travel, or 1% for most everything else. If it is 3%, I can use the $13.59 for have a steakhouse selection in the MDR, or for 1% the $4.53 will treat me to a strawberry shake at the coffee shop.

 

I feel Ecards are easier to use if you are simply paying for your cruise. Physical cards are handy to buy anything on the ship, or can be given to a friend to indulge in a nice bottle from the gift shop, or a spa treatment they would never enjoy if they had to pay for it.

Me, too. So it may simply be that they have a limit per day?

 

Another question for the experts, since this part is all new to me. :) If You add the full value of the GC to your S&S account, and don't spend it all - is the difference returned at the end of the cruise as cash, or only on another GC?

Carnival's official policy is that any funds remaining on your S&S account at the end of the cruise are refunded in the same way they were added to the account. So if you used gift cards, they'll more than likely be refunded as a gift card. Anything left on the account under $10 is automatically donated to St. Jude's.

 

One way around this is by cashing out in the casino. You insert your S&S card into a slot machine, add the funds to your player's bank, take a couple spins (to make it look legit, because they're aware of this trick), then cash out at the casino cashier. This is also a way to get any leftover Cruise Cash back (since it's non-refundable).

 

If I have money left over on my S&S account can it be applied to the balance on another cruise?

Not automatically, no. You'll have to cash out and use the money on the other cruise. Remaining funds that were placed on your S&S account using cash are refunded as cash. If you used gift cards, then it's refunded as a gift card. If need be, cash out in the casino like I explained above. :)

I love to shave a few points off my cruise tab, and the 15% off $300 on ebay went well for me. I received the Ecards within a few minutes, and an unnamed travel agent (who sends me Costco cash cards) applied them to an upcoming cruise over the phone in a few minutes.

 

I always wondered about the AARP deal, but could never find it on their website with a casual glance. Thanks to this thread with a linky that worked I was able to buy 5 $100 cards. There are some hoops to jump through. While one does not need to belong to AARP you must provide your email and full details to register. I am sure my mailbox will fill with mail about how my life would be a dream with insurance from AARP. I then find rewards for good requires points. At least I am not licking Blue Chip Stamps for my reward. I got 1500 points for signing up, took two 350 point quizzes, two 50 point quizzes, and asked a question about Social Security for 20 points. I looked at the header bar and it said I had 5350 points! Wuhoo, must be government math of some kind. I went to rewards to find out what my 20 minute investment would buy. Turns out 1000 points can be redeemed to get a $100 card for $90. So I climbed on for five $100. cards. The only option was by mail, so I clicked yes, and they added $2.95 for the service. My 10% savings has now been whittled to 9.41 percent for those of you keeping score.

 

The only question I have now is will Citibank give me the 3% cash back for travel, or 1% for most everything else. If it is 3%, I can use the $13.59 for have a steakhouse selection in the MDR, or for 1% the $4.53 will treat me to a strawberry shake at the coffee shop.

 

I feel Ecards are easier to use if you are simply paying for your cruise. Physical cards are handy to buy anything on the ship, or can be given to a friend to indulge in a nice bottle from the gift shop, or a spa treatment they would never enjoy if they had to pay for it.

 

You will get the 1 percent for everything else. Will show as deluxe rewards. I bought these with my Costco visa and got 1 percent back.

Paid off my cruise (2 staterooms) this week using AARP Gift Cards. Heads up. Found out you can only use 5 per booking. Not too much of an issue- I bought 11- $500 cards but could only use 10 (5 per stateroom). No problem. I now have $500 to use onboard- Saved 10%, so a total of $550. Not too shabby!!

That's not true. I've paid off a $3,000pp booking with GC.