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Caution When Applying Verizon/AARP Gift Cards to Your Onboard Account

N7786W Flyer

By N7786W Flyer,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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N7786W Flyer

N7786W Flyer

Posted
Posted

I am currently on the Valor...

 

At the beginning of the cruise, I applied five $100 Carnival Gift Cards to my account thinking that should pay for the lion's share of our onboard expenses....that was my first mistake.

 

As the week has progressed, it has become clear that we will not be spending the full $500 and will have a negative balance (around -$175) at the end of the cruise. Stated another way, we only spent $325 of the $500 and have a $175 balance that should be credited back to us.

 

Today is our last full day on board and I just went by Guest Services to ascertain the disposition of our $175 credit. The Guest Services manager indicated that the balances would be put back on the gift cards that I had previously used. When I informed him that I no longer had the original cards, he shrugged his shoulders and stated that I just needed to spend the money onboard as I had no other way to get my money back.

 

I indicated to him that on our previous cruise (Carnival Miracle) Guest Services had given me an option of either cashing out the account (which I did) or having a NEW gift card or check mailed to me.

 

After a lot of back and forth, the manager called Carnival Corporate and said they indicated that I would have to call them when I return home to hash all of this out.

 

Long story short, a couple of things are evident...at least to me:

 

  • Carnival is completely inconsistent on the subject of how to handle the gift cards if a refund is warranted....and in some cases is not afraid to put the burden of retrieving the credit on the customer.
  • Apply only the minimal amount of gift cards needed to cover your onboard expenses...and don't apply any of them in ANTICIPATION of spending since a refund is not necessarily forthcoming.

Garnett

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mickide

mickide

Posted
Posted

I've had gift card balance refunded in the form of a NEW gift card sent to my home via FedEx. I didn't ask for it to be done this way, that is just how they do it. They normally do not credit the original gift card. GS may be misinformed.

 

However, I agree with the previous poster, you could do the casino thing and get it that way.

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winddawn

winddawn

Posted
Posted

Go to the casino and at a slot machine charge your room for the amount of your credit. Play a couple pulls and then download the rest to your Sail and Sign card. You can then take your Sail and Sign card to the casino cashier to cash it out.

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js

js

Posted
Posted

I applied about 10 AARP gift cards on my Breeze cruise last month.

I didn't even get back the cards, Guest Services just kept them.

I never had extra on my account but if I did, I would do as the others say and go to the casino. It's very easy.

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2Shoes2Go

2Shoes2Go

Posted
Posted

Last cruise, on Miracle, we had about the same amount $150, remaining of our OBC. We stopped by Cherry on Top and purchased a gift card using our Sign and Sail card. We will hold the gift card for our next cruise. No service charge or problem. Did this the last night. :)

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kbh2

kbh2

Posted
Posted
I am currently on the Valor...

 

At the beginning of the cruise, I applied five $100 Carnival Gift Cards to my account thinking that should pay for the lion's share of our onboard expenses....that was my first mistake.

 

As the week has progressed, it has become clear that we will not be spending the full $500 and will have a negative balance (around -$175) at the end of the cruise. Stated another way, we only spent $325 of the $500 and have a $175 balance that should be credited back to us.

 

Today is our last full day on board and I just went by Guest Services to ascertain the disposition of our $175 credit. The Guest Services manager indicated that the balances would be put back on the gift cards that I had previously used. When I informed him that I no longer had the original cards, he shrugged his shoulders and stated that I just needed to spend the money onboard as I had no other way to get my money back.

 

I indicated to him that on our previous cruise (Carnival Miracle) Guest Services had given me an option of either cashing out the account (which I did) or having a NEW gift card or check mailed to me.

 

After a lot of back and forth, the manager called Carnival Corporate and said they indicated that I would have to call them when I return home to hash all of this out.

 

Long story short, a couple of things are evident...at least to me:

 

  • Carnival is completely inconsistent on the subject of how to handle the gift cards if a refund is warranted....and in some cases is not afraid to put the burden of retrieving the credit on the customer.
  • Apply only the minimal amount of gift cards needed to cover your onboard expenses...and don't apply any of them in ANTICIPATION of spending since a refund is not necessarily forthcoming.

Garnett

 

I cashed mine out in the casino last year... Guest services told me the same thing.

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Schoifmom

Schoifmom

Posted
Posted
Refunding to the original form of payment is very common.

 

True. However, the OP said that it would be refunded back to the original gift card, which is not normal practice nor a true statement. Carnival gift cards are not reloadable nor is it reasonable to expect a customer who may have used multiple gift cards to retain them all once the value has been used.

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ready2cruzagain

ready2cruzagain

Posted
Posted

The person at GS has no clue! First if you look at the Carnival GC website it states that the cards cannot be reloaded and to throw them away.

 

Q: What happens when the total card value is used? Should I throw the card away?

A: Once you run out of funds on the Carnival gift card, you may not add additional funds. The card may then be discarded.

 

Q: Can I add funds to my Carnival Gift Card online?

A: You may not add funds to your Gift Card online as the gift card is not reloadable.

 

Second, the remaining balance will be applied to another gift card

 

Q: Can I receive a refund on any unused portion of the Carnival Gift Card amount that was applied towards my Sail and Sign account while onboard?

A: Any unused portion or overage of the Gift Card that was applied toward your Sail and Sign account will be issued in the form of another Carnival Gift Card.

 

Here is a link for you:

 

http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com/FAQ.aspx

 

I agree, go to casino and get the money.

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elainmir

elainmir

Posted
Posted

Wow that dude at guest services is either clueless or lazy. You already know hitting the casino and cashing out is the best way. You can also cash out at GS..I did that my last cruise..had about 38 bucks left...I hate when people are either too lazy or just don't care and don't put forth effort to help someone!

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loganvillemommy

loganvillemommy

Posted
Posted

I have a different problem that, hopefully, someone will be able to solve. I had enough gift cards to pay the remaining balance on my upcoming cruise. My PVP previously told me that I could "back out" my deposit, which was on a credit card, and replace it with a gift card. I am not able to apply gift cards on Carnival's site at all. I called, and a very nice young lady applied gift cards to get my remaining balance down to$35, but the computer would not allow her to add any more. Has anyone ever done this? Any advice?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

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ferfoodle

ferfoodle

Posted
Posted
I have a different problem that, hopefully, someone will be able to solve. I had enough gift cards to pay the remaining balance on my upcoming cruise. My PVP previously told me that I could "back out" my deposit, which was on a credit card, and replace it with a gift card. I am not able to apply gift cards on Carnival's site at all. I called, and a very nice young lady applied gift cards to get my remaining balance down to$35, but the computer would not allow her to add any more. Has anyone ever done this? Any advice?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

There is a maximum # of cards that can be applied to a single transaction. Call back tomorrow or in a few days, and your PVP should be able to finish your payment off.

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plane2port

plane2port

Posted
Posted

The problem is that Carnival is not consistent in the information that they give people.

 

I had the same experience as the OP. On the Sensation last month, I was told that my balance would be refunded to the gift card that was used.

 

Upon my return, when I called Carnival, I was told that the refund would be sent as a check. I asked the rep why it said in the FAQ's that any refunds would be sent as a NEW gift card. She said that either scenario could occur (:confused:). In my case I did receive the balance I was owed on a new gift card.

 

So, basically I was told three different things: 1) the balance would go back on the original gift card; 2)the balance would be sent as a check; or 3) the balance will be applied to a new gift card.

 

I guess that we can all rest easy knowing that our balances will be refunded in some fashion or another, but we may not know how until it happens!

 

I agree with previous posters that the way to avoid the hassle is to cash out in the casino.

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N7786W Flyer

N7786W Flyer

Posted
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In fairness to Carnival, I should divulge that soon after my original post appeared on Cruise Critic (I have no idea if Carnival's response was in reaction to my post here or something else), Guest Services called my cabin and told my wife (I was not available) that I could get a gift card at the Cherry On Top store in the amount that showed as a credit on my Sign N Sail account.

 

So, in the end, Carnival did give me my funds back in the form of a gift card...which is fine since we have 3 additional cruises already booked in the coming months.

 

However, I do wish Carnival would firm up their policy for dealing with situations like this so everyone would know what to expect and when.

 

Garnett

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