AARP e-gift card

[darnoc23]

Hello,

I purchased the AARP e-gift card and received it in my email within 5 minutes.  I don't see a place to add the e-gift card on my existing booking through cruise personalizer or the medallion app.  Do I just add gift cards at the cruise?  Would love to do it before so everything is on my account.  TIA. 

[mjmalino]

Are you looking to add it as a payment towards an outstanding balance, or to be used as onboard credit?

[Jadn13]

19 minutes ago, darnoc23 said:

Hello,

I purchased the AARP e-gift card and received it in my email within 5 minutes.  I don't see a place to add the e-gift card on my existing booking through cruise personalizer or the medallion app.  Do I just add gift cards at the cruise?  Would love to do it before so everything is on my account.  TIA. 

For OBC you can call and they will add to your account

[sirclean]

I had a gift card and used it at the Spa, where they were able to add it to my account.

[chubbypiggy]

1 hour ago, darnoc23 said:

Hello,

I purchased the AARP e-gift card and received it in my email within 5 minutes.  I don't see a place to add the e-gift card on my existing booking through cruise personalizer or the medallion app.  Do I just add gift cards at the cruise?  Would love to do it before so everything is on my account.  TIA. 

Do you have to be a AARP member to buy the e-gift card?  According to some previous posts on CC, you do not need to be a member.  I am not a member. Last week I went to the AARP site trying to buy the gift cards, and needed to register (no charge) with an e-mail address.  After registered, I was still not able to buy the gift cards, but started to get few emails from AARP every day.

[loanshark]

40 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

Do you have to be a AARP member to buy the e-gift card?  According to some previous posts on CC, you do not need to be a member.  I am not a member. Last week I went to the AARP site trying to buy the gift cards, and needed to register (no charge) with an e-mail address.  After registered, I was still not able to buy the gift cards, but started to get few emails from AARP every day.

Yes... you have to be a paid member to access the discounted cruise gift cards.

[Steelers36]

3 minutes ago, loanshark said:

Yes... you have to be a paid member to access the discounted cruise gift cards.

Is this a new change, because you did not need to be a paid member of AARP in order to purchase cards.  You just had to be registered with AARP Rewards.  I did so and went through umpteen hoops trying to order (needed to get around being in Canada and was trying to use our Florida address).  Even a VPN did not seem to help.  I might try it again when we are down in FL this Winter (but I will stop short as I don't want any GC's at all right now - no idea when might cruise PCL again).

 

[iamaqt2]

2 hours ago, Jadn13 said:

For OBC you can call and they will add to your account

Nope.. Just went through the wringer trying to add the 3 cards I have to my account.  I originally called the casino dept whom I'm booked through.  They couldn't help me so transferred me to Princess customer service.  Princess customer service told me they couldn't do it and it would have to be done through their Onboard Services department, so they transferred me.  The Onboard Services department told me this can't be done pre-cruise and must be done once onboard at Guest Services.  
At this point my frustration was off the charts, so I reached out through the chat function, and they gave me a number to call who handles the gift cards.  Turns out this was a 3rd party who only manages the gift cards for Princess, and has zero affiliation with Princess other than that. 
In fact the lady from the gift card department was adamant that Princess says you can purchase OBC through your personalizer on the website with these gift cards.  I told her that was not a payment option on their website.  She insisted Princess says it is.
So I dig some further digging.  Turns out Princess will not let you add gift cards as OBC precruise.  Per their website: "The Princess Cruises Gift Card may also be applied toward the guest's onboard folio account once the cardholder embarks a Princess Cruise line ship for their cruise vacation experience.  To apply a Princess Cruises Gift Card to your folio, you must present your Gift Card to the Passenger Services Desk onboard your cruise."
So while you can use it to purchase a cruise, if you want to use it for OBC you're going to have to go stand in line at Guest Services and hope you get an agent who knows how to redeem these.

 

[Torfamm]

2 hours ago, iamaqt2 said:

Nope.. Just went through the wringer trying to add the 3 cards I have to my account.  I originally called the casino dept whom I'm booked through.  They couldn't help me so transferred me to Princess customer service.  Princess customer service told me they couldn't do it and it would have to be done through their Onboard Services department, so they transferred me.  The Onboard Services department told me this can't be done pre-cruise and must be done once onboard at Guest Services.  
At this point my frustration was off the charts, so I reached out through the chat function, and they gave me a number to call who handles the gift cards.  Turns out this was a 3rd party who only manages the gift cards for Princess, and has zero affiliation with Princess other than that. 
In fact the lady from the gift card department was adamant that Princess says you can purchase OBC through your personalizer on the website with these gift cards.  I told her that was not a payment option on their website.  She insisted Princess says it is.
So I dig some further digging.  Turns out Princess will not let you add gift cards as OBC precruise.  Per their website: "The Princess Cruises Gift Card may also be applied toward the guest's onboard folio account once the cardholder embarks a Princess Cruise line ship for their cruise vacation experience.  To apply a Princess Cruises Gift Card to your folio, you must present your Gift Card to the Passenger Services Desk onboard your cruise."
So while you can use it to purchase a cruise, if you want to use it for OBC you're going to have to go stand in line at Guest Services and hope you get an agent who knows how to redeem these.

 

I purchased OBC by phone pre-cruise in November and had no problem paying with gift cards.
 

I’ve also never had any difficulty paying my account with them at guest services either. My only suggestion would be to avoid doing it on the first or  last day of a cruise since it can be busy.

[Jadn13]

7 hours ago, iamaqt2 said:

Nope.. Just went through the wringer trying to add the 3 cards I have to my account.  I originally called the casino dept whom I'm booked through.  They couldn't help me so transferred me to Princess customer service.  Princess customer service told me they couldn't do it and it would have to be done through their Onboard Services department, so they transferred me.  The Onboard Services department told me this can't be done pre-cruise and must be done once onboard at Guest Services.  
At this point my frustration was off the charts, so I reached out through the chat function, and they gave me a number to call who handles the gift cards.  Turns out this was a 3rd party who only manages the gift cards for Princess, and has zero affiliation with Princess other than that. 
In fact the lady from the gift card department was adamant that Princess says you can purchase OBC through your personalizer on the website with these gift cards.  I told her that was not a payment option on their website.  She insisted Princess says it is.
So I dig some further digging.  Turns out Princess will not let you add gift cards as OBC precruise.  Per their website: "The Princess Cruises Gift Card may also be applied toward the guest's onboard folio account once the cardholder embarks a Princess Cruise line ship for their cruise vacation experience.  To apply a Princess Cruises Gift Card to your folio, you must present your Gift Card to the Passenger Services Desk onboard your cruise."
So while you can use it to purchase a cruise, if you want to use it for OBC you're going to have to go stand in line at Guest Services and hope you get an agent who knows how to redeem these.

 

 

4 hours ago, Torfamm said:

I purchased OBC by phone pre-cruise in November and had no problem paying with gift cards.
 

I’ve also never had any difficulty paying my account with them at guest services either. My only suggestion would be to avoid doing it on the first or  last day of a cruise since it can be busy.

Never had an issue before and have applied GC for excursions and OBC in the past. This may be a new policy.

 

[mfanderso]

I just tried to purchase OBC for my upcoming cruise using gift cards as payment method and that option wasn't available for me.  I thought I had seen it earlier.  I know when I was on board in October, I had no problem giving the gift cards to Guest Services and have them apply them.  I guess that is what I will do again.

[JerrySueW]

12 hours ago, loanshark said:

Yes... you have to be a paid member to access the discounted cruise gift cards.

Actually, you only have to register for the rewards program. Once you log in, click on "Discover," then "All Rewards" and scroll down until you find the Princess cards. You can purchase up to 5 per month. 

[PacnGoNow]

12 hours ago, iamaqt2 said:

Nope.. Just went through the wringer trying to add the 3 cards I have to my account.  I originally called the casino dept whom I'm booked through.  They couldn't help me so transferred me to Princess customer service.  Princess customer service told me they couldn't do it and it would have to be done through their Onboard Services department, so they transferred me.  The Onboard Services department told me this can't be done pre-cruise and must be done once onboard at Guest Services.  
At this point my frustration was off the charts, so I reached out through the chat function, and they gave me a number to call who handles the gift cards.  Turns out this was a 3rd party who only manages the gift cards for Princess, and has zero affiliation with Princess other than that. 
In fact the lady from the gift card department was adamant that Princess says you can purchase OBC through your personalizer on the website with these gift cards.  I told her that was not a payment option on their website.  She insisted Princess says it is.
So I dig some further digging.  Turns out Princess will not let you add gift cards as OBC precruise.  Per their website: "The Princess Cruises Gift Card may also be applied toward the guest's onboard folio account once the cardholder embarks a Princess Cruise line ship for their cruise vacation experience.  To apply a Princess Cruises Gift Card to your folio, you must present your Gift Card to the Passenger Services Desk onboard your cruise."
So while you can use it to purchase a cruise, if you want to use it for OBC you're going to have to go stand in line at Guest Services and hope you get an agent who knows how to redeem these.

 

You should be able to use AARP egift cards to pay for your cruise with PCL/TA/CVP. over the phone.  

However, when you use them precruise, to put OBC onto your account, it is more difficult.  I called 3 times and tried to add them for OBC to my cruise, so I could book excursions.  It is a difficult transaction for the agents, as 3 different agents had a hard time adding them.  They said it was added, didn’t show up, called back and agent tried again, the 3rd time, agent double added it. The last time I got a customer solutions agent and she reinstated it on the account, as it had totally been removed.  Make sure you see the gift card added to your account, IF you do it ahead of the cruise.

 

Then, I decided I would only use ahead of time towards payment and if I had any left, I would ONLY take them to the Elite/Suites GS line to be added once OB.  
They usually have more experience with the cards. I will then purchase my excursion once OB.

 

 

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, hattielucille11 said:

I just went into my Princess account and added them in. I did $500 worth and still have another $500. If I need them will go to customer service and add them on my account.

Did you add AARP PCL egift cards or regular PCL gift cards?

If you added AARP egift cards, how did you do it?

TIA

 

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

We used a few of these cards to make payment on our cruise.  We didn't have any problem doing that at all.    I don't think there is really a difference between these and regular Princess.  

 

But, I would warn everyone not to do this before final payment, because when you use these cards to make payment, Princess has your money, and they can hold it hostage, so you might not be able to make any changes or rebook or cancel without it causing problems..   They want to refund the money back to that card.  And, they can take forever to do that.   This really screwed us over.  We don't want to be holding on to these cards until maybe, one day,  we decide to sail with Princess again.  My husband didn't realize, and went ahead and payed early,  and we were unable to do anything when better rates and perks came along.   The AWOL Princess Planner made it all worse.  Don't make that same, mistake. 

Edited December 6, 2022 by PRINCESS Sweet Pea

[Samkitty1]

I have a couple of cruises booked in 2023 and thought I might purchase a gift card for on board expenses and/or tips. If the card has an unused balance at the end of the cruise, is the balance returned to use on a future cruise or booking? I read the fine print on the AARP offer, and could not see this addressed. Also, does it matter if you have a physical card or ecard? 

 

 

[Jadn13]

12 minutes ago, Samkitty1 said:

I have a couple of cruises booked in 2023 and thought I might purchase a gift card for on board expenses and/or tips. If the card has an unused balance at the end of the cruise, is the balance returned to use on a future cruise or booking? I read the fine print on the AARP offer, and could not see this addressed. Also, does it matter if you have a physical card or ecard? 

 

 

Just take the balance out in the casino and an ecard (email) works the same as a card 

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

Did you add AARP PCL egift cards or regular PCL gift cards?

If you added AARP egift cards, how did you do it?

TIA

 

They are one and the same.  AARP Rewards is simply another source to purchase from.  The cards are PCL cards.

 

[chubbypiggy]

Last year, I bought several $500 Princess gift cards on Princess website during a promotion.  In January, I used them to pay for 2 cruises.  After paying for the 1st cruise, I still had one unused $500 card, and another $500 card with $200 unused balance.  So, I called to pay payment on my 2nd cruise, the balance was $950.  I planned to use the unused $500 card, used card with remaining balance of $200, and charge $250 with my credit card.  The Princess agent told me Princess system can only take one type of payment, either pay all with gift cards or all with credit card.  Since my remaining gift cards total only $700, which is not enough to pay my final payment balance of $950, then I will not be able to use my gift cards; I need to pay the entire $950 with my credit card.  So now I am stuck with the two gift cards that I can only use them if I happen to have purchase of $750 or less, 

[iamaqt2]

6 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

They are one and the same.  AARP Rewards is simply another source to purchase from.  The cards are PCL cards.

 

No matter where you purchase the cards they're all managed under a contract with Blackhawk Network.  Princess has zero control over their gift cards 

[Jadn13]

32 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

Last year, I bought several $500 Princess gift cards on Princess website during a promotion.  In January, I used them to pay for 2 cruises.  After paying for the 1st cruise, I still had one unused $500 card, and another $500 card with $200 unused balance.  So, I called to pay payment on my 2nd cruise, the balance was $950.  I planned to use the unused $500 card, used card with remaining balance of $200, and charge $250 with my credit card.  The Princess agent told me Princess system can only take one type of payment, either pay all with gift cards or all with credit card.  Since my remaining gift cards total only $700, which is not enough to pay my final payment balance of $950, then I will not be able to use my gift cards; I need to pay the entire $950 with my credit card.  So now I am stuck with the two gift cards that I can only use them if I happen to have purchase of $750 or less, 

That again wasn’t the case in the past. I definitely used both gift card and credit.

Geez!! Things are changing

[Torfamm]

8 hours ago, Jadn13 said:

 

Never had an issue before and have applied GC for excursions and OBC in the past. This may be a new policy.

 

I just did it last week but I suppose it’s possible. I have encountered agents who don’t know how to apply a gift card but not a policy prohibiting their use

[Torfamm]

4 hours ago, mfanderso said:

I just tried to purchase OBC for my upcoming cruise using gift cards as payment method and that option wasn't available for me.  I thought I had seen it earlier.  I know when I was on board in October, I had no problem giving the gift cards to Guest Services and have them apply them.  I guess that is what I will do again.

It can’t be done on the website but you can do it by phone if you want.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, chubbypiggy said:

Last year, I bought several $500 Princess gift cards on Princess website during a promotion.  In January, I used them to pay for 2 cruises.  After paying for the 1st cruise, I still had one unused $500 card, and another $500 card with $200 unused balance.  So, I called to pay payment on my 2nd cruise, the balance was $950.  I planned to use the unused $500 card, used card with remaining balance of $200, and charge $250 with my credit card.  The Princess agent told me Princess system can only take one type of payment, either pay all with gift cards or all with credit card.  Since my remaining gift cards total only $700, which is not enough to pay my final payment balance of $950, then I will not be able to use my gift cards; I need to pay the entire $950 with my credit card.  So now I am stuck with the two gift cards that I can only use them if I happen to have purchase of $750 or less, 

So wrong.  More fake news from a Princess employee.

 

[chubbypiggy]

Thank you all.  I must have gotten a Princess employee who didn't know how to redeem gift cards and charge card for the same booking.

 

Thanks for the information on this forum, we just registered and each bought 5 gift cards.  Will plan to buy more on January 1.  Need to make final payments on 2 cruises on Jan. 5.  At that time, I will try to see if I can use my previous purchased 2 cards (one partially used).

 

Thank you again!!  The AARP gift cards just saved us $1,000.