Don't buy a gift certificate from Royal Caribbean

[TIMNANNA]

A warning - Don't buy or gift a gift certificate for Royal Caribbean because once they are redeemed, you can not transfer that credit from one cruise to another, even if you have to cancel the reservation.

 

I just lost the value that I applied to one of my cruises that I had to cancel due to a death in the family and they would not transfer that to my other existing reservation. It does not list this in the terms of the gift certificate. The supervisor said it says it when it is redeemed, but could not show me anything where it says that.

[reallyitsmema]

A warning - Don't buy or gift a gift certificate for Royal Caribbean because once they are redeemed, you can not transfer that credit from one cruise to another, even if you have to cancel the reservation.

 

I just lost the value that I applied to one of my cruises that I had to cancel due to a death in the family and they would not transfer that to my other existing reservation. It does not list this in the terms of the gift certificate. The supervisor said it says it when it is redeemed, but could not show me anything where it says that.

 

I am sorry for your loss. Did you have travel insurance? Death of an immediate family member is covered by any policy I have purchased in the past.

[RCLcruiser2012]

That really does stink. You had a death in the family and couldn't go on the cruise. You would think you could easily transfer the gift certificate to another cruise.

[reallyitsmema]

Hopefully, the OP comes back and explains things because from other posts, it looks like they are still going on their August cruise but are cancelling a January cruise. A January cruise would be before final payment. Maybe it isn't a US or Canada booking???

[fishywood]

I am sorry for your loss and your need to cancel your cruise. But it is unfair to single out Royal Caribbean for attack as all cruise lines have the same policy. A future cruise certificate is only for the person named on it and is not transferable. If you cancel your booking on the cruise it is used for, you lose the benefit but not the cost. It is a risk we all take when buying the certificates. Rather than be angry at RC under these circumstances I would be even more motivated to buy another certificate next time I am onboard to get the benefit again on a future booking.

[reallyitsmema]

I am sorry for your loss and your need to cancel your cruise. But it is unfair to single out Royal Caribbean for attack as all cruise lines have the same policy. A future cruise certificate is only for the person named on it and is not transferable. If you cancel your booking on the cruise it is used for, you lose the benefit but not the cost. It is a risk we all take when buying the certificates. Rather than be angry at RC under these circumstances I would be even more motivated to buy another certificate next time I am onboard to get the benefit again on a future booking.

 

The OP is talking about a gift certificate, not a future cruise certificate, unless I missed something.

[tserface]

Isn't using a gift certificate just like using money with the same refund capabilities based on time to the cruise?

 

Tom

[nelblu]

Isn't using a gift certificate just like using money with the same refund capabilities based on time to the cruise?

 

Tom

 

That's my understanding, unless it's a certificate purchased at a discount .

[sr4mjc]

Hopefully, the OP comes back and explains things because from other posts, it looks like they are still going on their August cruise but are cancelling a January cruise. A January cruise would be before final payment. Maybe it isn't a US or Canada booking???

 

Doesn't make sense to cancel a cruise 5 months from now due to a death in the family..

[fishywood]

The OP is talking about a gift certificate, not a future cruise certificate, unless I missed something.

 

Perhaps I did misread..but that would make it more simple:

 

Isn't using a gift certificate just like using money with the same refund capabilities based on time to the cruise?

 

Absolutely. If cancelling before final payment, or through insurance for a covered reason, the refund would be given in the form payment was made: the OP should receive a new gift certificate for the same amount. Asking for the value of the certificate to be moved directly to another booking is a move with too much potential for error--and if full payment was made, asking for the gift certificate to be applied and a subsequent refund issued is really not reasonable.

 

(And pardon my lack of knowledge--but what advantage is there to buying a gift certificate to be used as payment of the cruise fare [as opposed to buying OBC which would be completely refundable if cancelled] unless there is a discount on the purchase [such as a big box store selling two $50 gift cards to a local restaurant for $79, for example])???

[jmf123]

A warning - Don't buy or gift a gift certificate for Royal Caribbean because once they are redeemed, you can not transfer that credit from one cruise to another, even if you have to cancel the reservation.

 

I just lost the value that I applied to one of my cruises that I had to cancel due to a death in the family and they would not transfer that to my other existing reservation. It does not list this in the terms of the gift certificate. The supervisor said it says it when it is redeemed, but could not show me anything where it says that.

 

Without knowing the sail date you are referring to- if your reservation is paid in full, a RCI gift certificate can't be used as payment toward a cruise. However, if final payment has been made, the g.c. can be applied as OBC- as long as it is applied at least 10 business days prior to sail date.

 

Here is some fine print regarding RCI Gift Certificates (from the cruiseline's website):

5. Changes to the reservation may be permitted, subject to availability and any other restrictions and any applicable cancellation charges.

 

6. This certificate is nonrefundable, is not replaceable and has no cash value if lost, stolen, altered, photocopied or reproduced in any way.

 

I hope this helps with understanding your circumstances. It sounds like your g.c. funds should transfer, time permitting. If not, it appears that issuing OBC should be possible- although if it's regarding your 8/24 sailing, that is less than 10 business days from today. Good luck! :)

[TIMNANNA]

Doesn't make sense to cancel a cruise 5 months from now due to a death in the family..

 

Do you know me? Do you have any clue as to why I might need to cancel my January cruise and not my August cruise? Not that I need to explain, but the person who died was my mother and she was going to be babysitting my kids for the January cruise. The kids are going on the August cruise with me.

 

In the future, don't jump to conclusions.

[TIMNANNA]

This was a gift certificate that I received as, go figure, a gift. I applied it to my January cruise as an on board credit.

 

I then had to cancel the cruise, for reasons I've explained.

 

They would neither refund the gift certificate, nor move the value to my August cruise.

[reallyitsmema]

This was a gift certificate that I received as, go figure, a gift. I applied it to my January cruise as an on board credit.

 

I then had to cancel the cruise, for reasons I've explained.

 

They would neither refund the gift certificate, nor move the value to my August cruise.

 

I would call and speak to the resolutions department. They usually can do more for you than other departments. If this was a gift certificate that was given to someone as an incentive, those seem to have more restrictions based on posts that have been in this forum.

 

Give resolutions a go if you haven't already. If you have already spoken to them, I would send an email to corporate explaining the circumstances and see if they will work with you.

[TIMNANNA]

I would call and speak to the resolutions department. They usually can do more for you than other departments. If this was a gift certificate that was given to someone as an incentive, those seem to have more restrictions based on posts that have been in this forum.

 

Give resolutions a go if you haven't already. If you have already spoken to them, I would send an email to corporate explaining the circumstances and see if they will work with you.

 

Already talked to Ed at Resolutions. He wouldn't give me his last name.

[reallyitsmema]

Already talked to Ed at Resolutions. He wouldn't give me his last name.

 

I didn't have much success with resolutions either when we had to cancel a few months ago. We ended up losing a next cruise and the OBC after being told we could move it to a future date.

 

I would email corporate. Can't hurt.

[Vitality08]

This was a gift certificate that I received as, go figure, a gift. I applied it to my January cruise as an on board credit.

 

I then had to cancel the cruise, for reasons I've explained.

 

They would neither refund the gift certificate, nor move the value to my August cruise.

 

Sorry for your loss.

 

Not to seem dense, but did they say if you'd be able to move the credit to a cruise further out but not the August cruise because it's so close? So basically, will they let you use the gift certificate on a cruise maybe next summer?

[ladylikes2cruise]

Do you know me? Do you have any clue as to why I might need to cancel my January cruise and not my August cruise? Not that I need to explain, but the person who died was my mother and she was going to be babysitting my kids for the January cruise. The kids are going on the August cruise with me.

 

In the future, don't jump to conclusions.

 

sorry for your loss

[TIMNANNA]

Sorry for your loss.

 

Not to seem dense, but did they say if you'd be able to move the credit to a cruise further out but not the August cruise because it's so close? So basically, will they let you use the gift certificate on a cruise maybe next summer?

 

No, they said it can't be transferred at all once it is redeemed. And thanks for you kind words.

[Cindy]

OP, if you haven't had any luck with resolutions, then I agree with others that your next step should be to try e-mailing corporate. It doesn't seem right that you can't transfer the funds -- a gift certificate should be the same as cash, and you're no where near any penalty period for January.

 

I'm really sorry you're having to deal with this on top of grieving the loss of your mother.:(

[TIMNANNA]

OP, if you haven't had any luck with resolutions, then I agree with others that your next step should be to try e-mailing corporate. It doesn't seem right that you can't transfer the funds -- a gift certificate should be the same as cash, and you're no where near any penalty period for January.

 

I'm really sorry you're having to deal with this on top of grieving the loss of your mother.:(

 

Thank you. Do you have an email address that I can send an email to?

[Clarea]

Thank you. Do you have an email address that I can send an email to?

Many have had good luck with agoldstein@rccl.com.

[cruisequeen4ever]

That's horrible!! Definitely keep pursuing a resolution! It was kind of you to earn us because I think a cruise gift certificate is an awesome gift, but maybe it's not wise after all.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Cindy]

Thank you. Do you have an email address that I can send an email to?

 

Many have had good luck with agoldstein@rccl.com.

 

TIMNANNA, the address posted above is the one I used in the past. I received a phone call within a couple days of sending the e-mail, and my concerns were addressed by a delightful executive guest relations specialist.

[reney313]

I, too am sorry for your loss. Please do keep us informed of the outcome with the corporate office. I received a generous gift of $500 in RCI Gift Cards from a small group of friends after my dad passed unexpectedly a few months ago.

 

I have a cruise booked next August 2015 on RCI and was thinking of applying them to that cruise (which I booked with a NCC and have not paid anything else except the original deposit). Maybe I will wait to redeem them as OBC shortly before we cruise in case something comes up that necessitates the need to cancel.

 

It would be very disappointing to not allow you to use those on another booked cruise and/or refund as a GC for a future cruise considering you are before final payment. I don't understand that logic and it "feels" like robbery since RCI has received the money and you aren't in penalty period.

Edited August 13, 2014 by reney313