June 2024 AARP Celebrity Cruise Gift Card Update

[marne-c]

18 minutes ago, MathLady112358 said:

I have now had experience in purchasing and redeeming the discounted AARP gift cards for both Celebrity and Princess. 

FWIW,  Princess's process for redeeming is FAR superior to Celebrity's. I am able to apply my own gift cards online and I immediately see the balance change.  (Snip)

 

Thank you for this, @MathLady112358!  Is your booking directly with Princess, or linked to a Travel Agent?  (I'm wondering if online redemption would would work if a TA owns your booking.)

 

--Marne

 

[MathLady112358]

4 minutes ago, marne-c said:

Thank you for this, @MathLady112358!  Is your booking directly with Princess, or linked to a Travel Agent?  (I'm wondering if online redemption would would work if a TA owns your booking.)

 

--Marne

 

My booking is directly with Princess. 

[marne-c]

1 minute ago, MathLady112358 said:

My booking is directly with Princess. 

Ah!  Thanks.

 

—Marne 

[wallyj]

5 hours ago, marne-c said:

Thank you for this, @MathLady112358!  Is your booking directly with Princess, or linked to a Travel Agent?  (I'm wondering if online redemption would would work if a TA owns your booking.)

 

--Marne

 

A TA is able to use the online payment portal available to them and input the cards without needing to contact Princess. Celebrity requires your TA to submit the card images and numbers directly to them to process and can take up to 10 business days to complete this process.

[marne-c]

1 hour ago, wallyj said:

A TA is able to use the online payment portal available to them and input the cards without needing to contact Princess. Celebrity requires your TA to submit the card images and numbers directly to them to process and can take up to 10 business days to complete this process.

 

@wallyj:  Many thanks for this great, useful information!!!  I have upcoming cruises with both Celebrity and Princess.

 

--Marne

[mac_tlc]

1 hour ago, wallyj said:

A TA is able to use the online payment portal available to them and input the cards without needing to contact Princess. Celebrity requires your TA to submit the card images and numbers directly to them to process and can take up to 10 business days to complete this process.

Since the online TA portal is the same for Princess and HAL, any HAL gift cards can also be immediately redeemed by a TA and the payment shows up instantly.  

 

Don't know why RCCL/X is so archaic. They built an entire automated process around redeeming FCC's and have one for other coupon redemptions, but the gift cards are very old school. 

Edited June 27 by mac_tlc

[JOVERNITE]

I really appreciate this thread. For years I've had AARP but I mistakenly thought the cruise gift cards were for a "new booking" meaning not booked yet. I didn't realize it could be applied to an existing reservation. Will save us $320.00 on our next cruise but I do have concerns that if, based on this thread, Celebrity cancels the cruise I don't get the gift cards value returned. I will give it more thought.

 

 

 

[Ellaleah]

1 hour ago, JOVERNITE said:

I really appreciate this thread. For years I've had AARP but I mistakenly thought the cruise gift cards were for a "new booking" meaning not booked yet. I didn't realize it could be applied to an existing reservation. Will save us $320.00 on our next cruise but I do have concerns that if, based on this thread, Celebrity cancels the cruise I don't get the gift cards value returned. I will give it more thought.

 

 

 

It’s true!  I was lucky enough to know someone who bought them from me when our cruise was canceled.  I tried to find ways to get rid of them online without any luck.  I have a Celebrity booked for 25, but I am afraid of them now.  If I decide to buy them it will be last minute.

[celebrity cruiser]

I did a lot of research on this because I thought it was a good thing and for some it may be. For me and because one of the regulations of the Aarp card is that you cannot be in a group booking, it will not work for me. Since my TA always puts me in a group and I get that group discount, I will be happy with that perk.

smooth sailing 

[Lastdance]

1 hour ago, celebrity cruiser said:

I did a lot of research on this because I thought it was a good thing and for some it may be. For me and because one of the regulations of the Aarp card is that you cannot be in a group booking, it will not work for me. Since my TA always puts me in a group and I get that group discount, I will be happy with that perk.

smooth sailing 

I agree; however, insurance can also be an issue, depending on type etc.  I booked with Celebrity onboard, but sent it to my TA.  She takes these certificates, but my cruises are expensive, along with my insurance.  Just too many grey areas, as I have checked on these before.  I agree that it could be good for some, but overseas...?  Caribbean and booking closer to departure date might work much better.

[cruise_lover_2309]

I just submitted the gift card from AARP and Celebrity came back and asked for a copy of the gift card.  AARP emailed me a code and no physical card.  Will this work?