Gift card question

[ober134]

I have a handful of gift cards left from Allstate rewards. My TA is saying Carnival only allows use max of $300 per booking. Is this true? 

[odis]

I have used Carnival gift cards from Kroger to pay for entire cruises.  Assuming these are normal gift cards, then that cannot be right.

[Drazil65]

Many, many people here (including myself occasionally) use much more than $300 in GCs at any given time.  Never heard that information in all the years of cruising.  Pretty sure that is not correct.   

[haehaehaley]

Just paid for our cruise with gift cards and it was much more than $300. 

[hard_eight]

Just used 2 $500s to pay for cheers and such.

[sparks1093]

46 minutes ago, ober134 said:

I have a handful of gift cards left from Allstate rewards. My TA is saying Carnival only allows use max of $300 per booking. Is this true? 

This may be a restriction imposed by your TA.

[ober134]

Thank you all. That's what I thought, and pretty sure I've used more than 300 in past. My aggravation is I've gone thru 2 PVP'S that provided inaccurate info.... So decided to go the TA route this time. Ugh

 

[Rod in Az]

It must be your TA that imposes this restriction. I've paid for all of our cruises (including Fun Shop purchases) since the return from the pandemic with Gift Cards.

[bptex]

Their website does not care. However if/when something you purchased with one gets canceled it's a little nerve racking wondering how/when you'll get the money back. Policy says it's in gift cards, ideally you get an egift card e-mailed but I'm still waiting on one from 3 weeks ago and now my entire cruise is cancelled which most of which was paid for with cards. 

[Rod in Az]

This is our second time having a cruise paid for with gift cards cancelled, so I know how it happens, but I agree that waiting to get your gift cards refunded is nerve racking.

[teknoge3k]

You may consider getting another TA that either knows what they're doing, or doesn't have restrictions, if you need a TA for some reason.  

[ngrund]

5 hours ago, ober134 said:

I have a handful of gift cards left from Allstate rewards. My TA is saying Carnival only allows use max of $300 per booking. Is this true? 

If your TA won't apply the gift cards to pay for the cruise, you can always pay your onboard bill with them

 

[halterk]

Can you not apply them yourself online at carnival.com ?  Or is this for the deposit?

[mz-s]

37 minutes ago, halterk said:

Can you not apply them yourself online at carnival.com ?  Or is this for the deposit?

Carnival won’t take payment directly from the guest when using a travel agent. 

[cmukid87]

To confirm with the rest.  For years now I have used gift cards to pay for entire cruises, drink packages, onboard spending, casino play, etc.

[ninjacat123]

Isn't there a limit to the number of gift cards you can use at one time, like 5 gift cards for paying off a cruise and say they're in $100 increments?  I usually get $500 gift cards so I haven't run into this.  TIA!

[ngrund]

39 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Isn't there a limit to the number of gift cards you can use at one time, like 5 gift cards for paying off a cruise and say they're in $100 increments?  I usually get $500 gift cards so I haven't run into this.  TIA!

Yes, on the website there is a card limit per transaction. You just need to as many transactions as needed.

[ober134]

Update…. I told TA she was incorrect unless Carnivals rules have recently changed. Apparently “the system was glitchy” and all my gift cards got applied after calling Carnival CS.

[Haljo1935]

6 minutes ago, ober134 said:

Update…. I told TA she was incorrect unless Carnivals rules have recently changed. Apparently “the system was glitchy” and all my gift cards got applied after calling Carnival CS.

Imagine and congrats!

Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

[mz-s]

I have heard from my TA that Carnival's payment system for TAs can be glitchy as well. Often they have to call Carnival's TA support line to get the payment applied manually apparently.

 

I'm not sure what benefit the TA would get from not accepting the gift cards - the money paid for the cruise goes directly to Carnival anyway, they don't skim off the top - Carnival will pay them their commission.

Edited November 14, 2023 by mz-s

[Petersonfcu]

22 hours ago, ngrund said:

If your TA won't apply the gift cards to pay for the cruise, you can always pay your onboard bill with them

 

Quiz:

If your TA won't apply the gift cards to pay for the cruise, you can always:

 

A. Pay your onboard bill with them, or 

B. Get another TA/Book directly on Carnival's website.

 

I know what my answer is.  Whaddayathink?

Edited November 14, 2023 by Petersonfcu

[mz-s]

10 minutes ago, Petersonfcu said:

Quiz:

If your TA won't apply the gift cards to pay for the cruise, you can always:

 

A. Pay your onboard bill with them, or 

B. Get another TA/Book directly on Carnival's website.

 

I know what my answer is.  Whaddayathink?

 

Option B does nothing for the present situation, can only help for the future.

[ober134]

5 hours ago, Petersonfcu said:

Quiz:

If your TA won't apply the gift cards to pay for the cruise, you can always:

 

A. Pay your onboard bill with them, or 

B. Get another TA/Book directly on Carnival's website.

 

I know what my answer is.  Whaddayathink?

From my original post you can surmise I’ve used 2 PVP’s with varying degrees of success. So after many cruises, and seeing ppl here on CC seemingly pleased with service and perks using a TA. Thought we would try that. So far maybe a C+. Maybe my expectations are too high.