AARP RCCL certificates

[sabhoy]

How exactly do you redeem these?  Do you have to have them purchased before booking, or can you buy them after booking and then apply them to the balance?  We booked directly online with RCCL, no travel agent.

We have purchased the Carnival gift cards in the past and had no problem applying them to our outstanding balance.

Just unsure of how the Royal Caribbean ones work.

[ULCajunCruiser]

I think you need to have a cruise already booked for these to be useful.   So they're not good for the deposit, but can be used to pay the balance as you go.

 

It's not as easy as the Carnival Gift Cards, but with enough time these work just as well.

 

Step 1:  Purchase the RCCL Certificates from AARP

Step 2:  Wait until they are delivered

Step 3:  Fill them out

Step 4:  Scan them

Step 5:  Email them to the address on the certificates

Step 6:  Wait about 10 business days for them to be applied

 

I've used them a couple of times, and they've worked well in paying off my balance

[OCVTSGIRL]

What is an AARP RCCL certificate?  I never heard of this so I'm curious.  Thanks!

[ULCajunCruiser]

Its basically a 10% off coupon.   You go to the AARP website, under "Rewards For Good".   You need to take little quizzes and earn points.   When you have enough points (5000 for a $500 certificate, or 1000 for a $100 one) you buy them at 10% off.   So you'd pay $90 for a $100 certificate and $450 for a $500 certificate.   Both RCCL and Carnival can be bought.

 

[sabhoy]

14 hours ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

I think you need to have a cruise already booked for these to be useful.   So they're not good for the deposit, but can be used to pay the balance as you go.

 

It's not as easy as the Carnival Gift Cards, but with enough time these work just as well.

 

Step 1:  Purchase the RCCL Certificates from AARP

Step 2:  Wait until they are delivered

Step 3:  Fill them out

Step 4:  Scan them

Step 5:  Email them to the address on the certificates

Step 6:  Wait about 10 business days for them to be applied

 

I've used them a couple of times, and they've worked well in paying off my balance

Thanks for the great info!  Will definitely get one and try it. 

[forgotmyCCname]

Can they be used for OBC ?

 

[belmontcrew]

They can’t be used for OBC. 

[birdylady]

Does anyone know if you can apply multiples AARP certificates? I ask as we make monthly payments to pay off our cruises we book farther out.

Also, can these also be applied to bookings that have casino deals and other discounts/perks?

Thanx

Erika

[sailor05]

RUN AWAY!! These things are a MAJOR pain in buttocks! You have to purchase BEFORE you book. They cannot be used as obc. They change your booking to a group booking named "Reward Redemption" which basically means no other discounts, obc offers, etc are not eligible. You can"t use a TA at first, but once you book and pay ANY it again changes it the "Reward Redemption" and drastically reduce your TA's commission so that makes you not eligible for their perks. Not worth 10% I wouldn't do it again under any circumstance. Carnival's are AWESOME.

[ULCajunCruiser]

3 hours ago, sailor05 said:

RUN AWAY!! These things are a MAJOR pain in buttocks! You have to purchase BEFORE you book. They cannot be used as obc. They change your booking to a group booking named "Reward Redemption" which basically means no other discounts, obc offers, etc are not eligible. You can"t use a TA at first, but once you book and pay ANY it again changes it the "Reward Redemption" and drastically reduce your TA's commission so that makes you not eligible for their perks. Not worth 10% I wouldn't do it again under any circumstance. Carnival's are AWESOME.

Oh my!!!   I had booked myself thru an RCCL Vacation Planner.  So my booking was not changed, and I didn't lose any perks. 

 

Erika, I did use several (5) of the $500 certificates to pay over time, for a total savings of $250!!  I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer to your other questions.

 

While I'll agree they are not as easy to use as the Carnival Gift Cards, with time they are just fine.    

Edited May 9, 2019 by ULCajunCruiser

[sabhoy]

So I’m already booked myself though RCCL.  I have no perks, etc as it is a straight booking.  So no problem to buy these and apply them as my payments?

also- do they send you an email to let you know they are applied?  

Thanks ULCajunCruiser!

[ULCajunCruiser]

4 minutes ago, sabhoy said:

So I’m already booked myself though RCCL.  I have no perks, etc as it is a straight booking.  So no problem to buy these and apply them as my payments?

also- do they send you an email to let you know they are applied?  

Thanks ULCajunCruiser!

You should be good to use them.

They say they do, but I've always just checked my balance in my cruise planner, that changed long before I got an email 

[sabhoy]

Just ordered a $100 one. Will be back to post my results!

[biomedbob]

Thanks!  I was going to bite, but just don't know.  There are so many restrictions on applied discounts (shareholder, early booking etc.etc.....)   Let us know.  Thanks!

 

[sabhoy]

On 5/10/2019 at 5:27 PM, biomedbob said:

Thanks!  I was going to bite, but just don't know.  There are so many restrictions on applied discounts (shareholder, early booking etc.etc.....)   Let us know.  Thanks!

 

I don’t seem to have any of those restrictions. Just a straight booking from RCCL web site.  What’s not to love about a 10% discount?

[dex08]

I had no idea AARP had RCCL certificate offers! I’m glad you posted this! Thanks ULCajunCruiser for the detailed explanation of how to redeem!

[sabhoy]

Ok!  I received my first $100 certificate yesterday. 

So this morning , I filled it out. Took a picture and sent the email to the provided account. Fingers crossed as I would like to purchase more before my July 1 due date for complete payment!

[mugtech]

On 5/10/2019 at 1:11 PM, sabhoy said:

Just ordered a $100 one. Will be back to post my results!

So you are doing this to save $10?

[sabhoy]

Well mugtech have you ever used them?  What’s not to like about saving cold hard cash?

Still have to pay for the cruise, right?

I’m going to buy more after this trial run.

Have used the Carnival gift cards from AARP with no problem.

Thanks to ULCajunCruiser for the encouragement!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.😊

Edited May 18, 2019 by sabhoy

[biomedbob]

Just bought a $500 and a $100.  Hoping for the best!

 

[mugtech]

34 minutes ago, sabhoy said:

Well mugtech have you ever used them?  What’s not to like about saving cold hard cash?

Still have to pay for the cruise, right?

I’m going to buy more after this trial run.

Have used the Carnival gift cards from AARP with no problem.

Thanks to ULCajunCruiser for the encouragement!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.😊

Do you have to be a member of AARP to participate?

[cruisegus]

On 5/8/2019 at 5:13 PM, ULCajunCruiser said:

I think you need to have a cruise already booked for these to be useful.   So they're not good for the deposit, but can be used to pay the balance as you go.

 

It's not as easy as the Carnival Gift Cards, but with enough time these work just as well.

 

Step 1:  Purchase the RCCL Certificates from AARP

Step 2:  Wait until they are delivered

Step 3:  Fill them out

Step 4:  Scan them

Step 5:  Email them to the address on the certificates

Step 6:  Wait about 10 business days for them to be applied

 

I've used them a couple of times, and they've worked well in paying off my balance

 

they work just as described above,  I just applied them to a $4000 cruise and saved $400.  The only caveat is be aware that if you have to cancel a cruise once applied there are no refunds

 

On 5/9/2019 at 12:28 PM, sailor05 said:

RUN AWAY!! These things are a MAJOR pain in buttocks! You have to purchase BEFORE you book. They cannot be used as obc. They change your booking to a group booking named "Reward Redemption" which basically means no other discounts, obc offers, etc are not eligible. You can"t use a TA at first, but once you book and pay ANY it again changes it the "Reward Redemption" and drastically reduce your TA's commission so that makes you not eligible for their perks. Not worth 10% I wouldn't do it .again under any circumstance. Carnival's are AWESOME.

 

Not necessarily good advice.  Yes definitely not as easy or good as Carnival gift cards, still a way to save 10%.  Yes you will be moved to a group booking named "Reward Redemption" and cannot make any payments on line, you will have to call.  In fact I just had to call in a  $1.32 final payment, was it a hassle, yes worth $400 heck yes.  In reference to discounts and OBC those have already been applied at booking time so no effect there.  As far as transfer to an agent and additional perks, that as always is between you and the agent. ( i have never found an agent yet that was willing to give me perks worth 10% - but hey if you can direct me to one i'd be thankful, email a hot something works).  Each person is different but these worked graeat for me and you can send in multiple on separate occasions, i did a single $500 one as a first test then $1500, followed by the last $2000.  Good Luck and happy cruising

 

Edited May 18, 2019 by cruisegus

[sabhoy]

22 hours ago, mugtech said:

Do you have to be a member of AARP to participate?

Yes you do. Then you go on Rewards for Good and earn points for doing little test questions about lots of topics.  Once you rack up the points, you can spend them.  Not just for RCCL and Carnival certificates, but discounts on goods and services.  They also have sweepstakes.  I have won a gift card for the movie theater.

[Iamcruzin]

On 5/18/2019 at 10:18 AM, mugtech said:

So you are doing this to save $10?

Seems like a lot of work for $10 considering minimum wage here in $12 and hour.

[mugtech]

1 hour ago, sabhoy said:

Yes you do. Then you go on Rewards for Good and earn points for doing little test questions about lots of topics.  Once you rack up the points, you can spend them.  Not just for RCCL and Carnival certificates, but discounts on goods and services.  They also have sweepstakes.  I have won a gift card for the movie theater.

How much is a one year membership?