New Gift Card Policy

[garyl62]

Can the AARP cards be used for final payment if you go through a TA?  The charge on my CC always shows as "Celebrity Cruises" and not the TA so wondering if that's possible.

 

[Ellaleah]

I was booked on a Celebrity cruise.  I purchased 2 $500. Cards for 2 people and was going to purchase more.  Then my cruise was canceled.  I was stuck with them, but luckily I knew someone who was going on a Celebrity and they bought them from me.  They used them with their TA for final payment.

[Cruzinram]

Currently on Beyond and attempted to use 500,00 gift card for onboard purchases. As I expected we had an issue, Guest services said they needed an expiration date, None of these cards I have used have an expiration, They never expire. The are just like cash. GS working on the problem. Will let you know outcome.

[TMLAalum]

I plan on calling the big box TA to see if they accept AARP cards toward final payment. If so, I will be buying a bunch before final payment is due for the Eclipse next month.

@Cruzinram AARP or Celebrity gift cards?

[StellaTN]

I received a $50 celebrity e gift card through my workplace wellness program. Has anyone had success using one like this to pay on their already booked cruise (through a travel agent) prior to final payment (not as deposit on a new cruise)?
 

I had hoped to use it to pay part of our reservation ahead of time for Le Voyage, but I take it that is not possible? No way I can find to use it on the website for restaurants. This is so much more complicated than how NCL does it! 

[Cruzinram]

Latest news from GS onboard regarding gift card use for onboard purchase. Inspite of what I was told by the gift card support dept on shore, They now are saying you have to call them before sailing to load the gift card to your account. I just knew they would not handle this correctly. Now told it will be next week when the office is open. I think I am getting the run around.

[Cruzinram]

For the time being DO NOT purchase any gift cards for Celebrity until they can get their act together. Do not trust the policy statement. No where does it say third part gift cards cannot be used for onboard purchases. That seems to be the issue. I was told that yes for fare purchase they will be accepted but at this point I have reason not to trust them. We have been customers of Celebrity for 30 years. We are working on a solution, but I am not comfortable with their resolution. I told Guest Service that unless the policy statement is corrected they will continue to have this problem. Also do not trust the terms and conditions the gift card provider has. They are not correct either. A complete fiasco. Just about ruined our Cruise. I confirmed the acceptance  of these cards before sailing just be sure and it still is a mess.

[Softball20]

I just used several AARP gift card to pay the balance on my upcoming cruise. Easy. I don't think that these can be used for on board purchases, nor do I need them to be - so I haven't looked into that.  However, to save 10% off my cruise fare on our upcoming Med cruise it was a no brainer.  I've referred others to this as well, and they've had no problem using them to pay their cruise balances.  

[TeeRick]

AARP Gift cards with 10% discounts.  That is something new I learned today.  Thanks!

[Jeremiah1212]

12 hours ago, Cruzinram said:

For the time being DO NOT purchase any gift cards for Celebrity until they can get their act together. Do not trust the policy statement. No where does it say third part gift cards cannot be used for onboard purchases. That seems to be the issue. I was told that yes for fare purchase they will be accepted but at this point I have reason not to trust them. We have been customers of Celebrity for 30 years. We are working on a solution, but I am not comfortable with their resolution. I told Guest Service that unless the policy statement is corrected they will continue to have this problem. Also do not trust the terms and conditions the gift card provider has. They are not correct either. A complete fiasco. Just about ruined our Cruise. I confirmed the acceptance  of these cards before sailing just be sure and it still is a mess.

Unfortunately saw that one coming. The “policy statement” you keep referring to is not for AARP gift cards. What you’ve experienced is exactly what was to be expected. Your AARP gift cards have their own separate terms and conditions. 

[DGP1111]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:58 PM, Cruzinram said:

I have never had a problem using any gift card for celebrity purchased from any source. The policy says nothing about where the card is purchased . . .

 

On 4/12/2024 at 9:51 AM, Cruzinram said:

Celebrity Terms and Condition apply regardless of the source. Ignore the TC on AARP, They are not updated and are outdated. Refer only to Celebrity for redemption policy. . . 

 

On 4/13/2024 at 7:40 AM, Cruzinram said:

Currently on Beyond and attempted to use 500.00 gift card for onboard purchases. As I expected we had an issue . . .

 

21 hours ago, Cruzinram said:

Latest news from GS onboard regarding gift card use for onboard purchase. Inspite of what I was told by the gift card support dept on shore, They now are saying you have to call them before sailing to load the gift card to your account. I just knew they would not handle this correctly. . .

 

16 hours ago, Cruzinram said:

For the time being DO NOT purchase any gift cards for Celebrity until they can get their act together. Do not trust the policy statement. No where does it say third part gift cards cannot be used for onboard purchases. That seems to be the issue. . . 

 

That seemingly took a swerve.  😶

 

.

 

[Cruzinram]

On 4/14/2024 at 1:28 PM, DGP1111 said:

 

 

On 4/14/2024 at 1:28 PM, DGP1111 said:

 

 

 

That seemingly took a swerve.  😶

 

.

 

 

[Cruzinram]

Guest Services issued us a 300.00 FCC for Corporates mistake of telling us we could us these for onboard purchases. For fare purchase but not deposits. I also would not use them for taxes and fees. Taxes and fees are credited back to your credit card. They admitted it was their mistake and good for Celebrity. I will just use the card for a future voyage. Policy statement on these cards that are provided by AARP and not current and should be confirmed with Celebrity before purchase. Those outdated polices where past Celebrity policies and have not been updated.

[EvaEarth]

Hubby and I just received a generous gift card for our upcoming cruise. Upon calling Celebrity, they just told me that it can only be used for purchase of a future cruise. 
Feel so bad for the generous gift that now will go to waste as I feel celebrity is giving us a bad experience even before the cruise starts.

[PTC DAWG]

On 4/13/2024 at 7:40 AM, Cruzinram said:

Currently on Beyond and attempted to use 500,00 gift card for onboard purchases. As I expected we had an issue, Guest services said they needed an expiration date, None of these cards I have used have an expiration, They never expire. The are just like cash. GS working on the problem. Will let you know outcome.

They are far from just like cash..cash works everywhere. 

[Softball20]

2 hours ago, EvaEarth said:

Hubby and I just received a generous gift card for our upcoming cruise. Upon calling Celebrity, they just told me that it can only be used for purchase of a future cruise. 
Feel so bad for the generous gift that now will go to waste as I feel celebrity is giving us a bad experience even before the cruise starts.

Did you call the actual gift card department or the main number?  If you haven't made final payment yet, you should be able to use it towards that.  Or, depending upon the type of card, you should be able to use it towards on board purchases.

[awhcruiser]

 

[kasowell2]

On 4/13/2024 at 9:21 PM, Softball20 said:

I just used several AARP gift card to pay the balance on my upcoming cruise. Easy. I don't think that these can be used for on board purchases, nor do I need them to be - so I haven't looked into that.  However, to save 10% off my cruise fare on our upcoming Med cruise it was a no brainer.  I've referred others to this as well, and they've had no problem using them to pay their cruise balances.  

Was this a booking you made prior to purchasing the AARP gift card. AARP's website says good for a new reservation so I was wondering if it was an existing reservation and you used it to pay off the balance

[MississippiMom]

On 4/10/2024 at 12:39 PM, PTC DAWG said:

Unless you get some type of added value, why buy any type of gift card?  

I cashed in a bunch of credit card reward points, when they had lots of travel related gift cards on sale, and that covered the cost of drink packages for my three young adult daughters that traveled with us last summer.

[MNSails]

5 hours ago, kasowell2 said:

I was wondering if it was an existing reservation and you used it to pay off the balance

 

 

Yes, you can.  That said, you need to submit them ahead of the final payment deadline as they take a few days to process.  I submit 2 weeks ahead just to be safe. 

[kasowell2]

1 hour ago, MNSails said:

 

 

Yes, you can.  That said, you need to submit them ahead of the final payment deadline as they take a few days to process.  I submit 2 weeks ahead just to be safe. 

I called with the number on the certificate and they emailed me saying that number didn’t come up and requested a pdf of it. I resubmitted that and then they replied it may take 72 hours

[NCTribeFan]

Already went through this a while back and reported it here.

 

I have often purchased HAL and Carnival GCs through AARP or got them by redeeming my credit card points.

 

So, after booking a couple of X sailings, I bought just $100 GC through AARP.  My booking was a casino booking and was paid-in-full when I booked.  I had planned on just going to GS to apply my card once I was on the ship.

 

Then I read a thread here that you cannot do that.  I contacted X and it was confirmed that those are actually considered Gift Certificates and can only be applied to payment of the cruise fare.  The person I talked to tried to get my pre-paid grats refunded and then apply the CG to that, but couldn't.  In the end, she gave me $200 OBC for the confusion and her inability to resolve the issue any other way.

 

I have no plans to purchase X CGs in the future unless I book a "regular" fare (can't use them to even pay the fare for a casino booking).

[ColoradoCruiser88]

Can you use the AARP gift certificates to make payments (not the deposit)  on a cruise booked through a travel agency?

[celebrity cruiser]

Eva

You should be able to use your gift card for paying off your upcoming cruise either with your TA if you used one or Celebrity.

 

Please note if the card is for $500 and your balance is $410 it is my understanding you would loose the $90.

 

Good luck

[CruiseLifeIsTheBest]

2 hours ago, ColoradoCruiser88 said:

Can you use the AARP gift certificates to make payments (not the deposit)  on a cruise booked through a travel agency?

I booked through Celebrity and then transferred to my TA. The terms and conditions for an AARP Celebrity GC were not very clear regarding a TA booking so I sent an email. Pointed out that I had booked than transferred. They replied back asking for the booking # and this is the response I received. 

 

Fingers crossed when I get close to final payment. TA also advised it takes some time so pay 10-14 days prior to final pay date.