wantocruisemore Posted October 16, 2015 #1 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I know you can have them applied when you check in for cruise and at Kiosk or guest services. But can you also use them to pay for excursions or your cruise ahead of time? I have $400 now and plan to get more if they can be used for more than just my shipboard bill account. Sounds like a good way to get your cruise paid for with a 10% discount, if I can do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13cheermom Posted October 16, 2015 #2 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I know you can have them applied when you check in for cruise and at Kiosk or guest services. But can you also use them to pay for excursions or your cruise ahead of time? I have $400 now and plan to get more if they can be used for more than just my shipboard bill account. Sounds like a good way to get your cruise paid for with a 10% discount, if I can do that. Sure we always purchase enough to pay off our final payment amount for every cruise. Just takes some planning in trying to obtain enough since they set a $500 limit per purchase. But it can be done, we started last June when Carnival had their father's day promotion. Wish they would offer that one again. But it is an easy way to get an extra 10% off your entire cruise. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nurse 3D Posted October 16, 2015 #3 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantocruisemore Posted October 16, 2015 Author #4 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Thanks, I did not know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gtownmom Posted October 16, 2015 #5 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just takes some planning in trying to obtain enough since they set a $500 limit per purchase. It's actually a 5 card limit per day. If you buy the cards valued at $100, then $500 is the limit. BUT, if you buy the $500 cards, you can get $2500 in one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drafterdw Posted October 16, 2015 #6 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I know you can have them applied when you check in for cruise and at Kiosk or guest services. But can you also use them to pay for excursions or your cruise ahead of time? I have $400 now and plan to get more if they can be used for more than just my shipboard bill account. Sounds like a good way to get your cruise paid for with a 10% discount, if I can do that. where do you buy the gift cards? To late for this cruise but we sail carnival a lot so would like to know for future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camper49 Posted October 16, 2015 #7 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Why would cruise insurance matter how you paid?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantocruisemore Posted October 16, 2015 Author #8 Share Posted October 16, 2015 where do you buy the gift cards? To late for this cruise but we sail carnival a lot so would like to know for future I got mine through Verizon. I redeemed 1000 points and got 10% off. AARP also has them. If you look through the threads about them, lots of info. I found out about them on this site.😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zevo Posted October 16, 2015 #9 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I got mine through Verizon. I redeemed 1000 points and got 10% off. AARP also has them. If you look through the threads about them, lots of info. I found out about them on this site. I have been trying for weeks with Verizon. They are always sold out. How di you get them through AARP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantocruisemore Posted October 16, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I have been trying for weeks with Verizon. They are always sold out. How di you get them through AARP? I'm not sure about AARP because not a member. But with Verizon I would check every morning and finally got lucky last week. Got 3, then immediately logged back on for 1 more. I think daily and early persistence is the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bahamaman Posted October 16, 2015 #11 Share Posted October 16, 2015 They sell out pretty quick on the AARP website as well. You have to register on their website and earn points to use towards their reward program. 10% off on $100 & $500 gift cards. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbum53 Posted October 16, 2015 #12 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Who told you that? Why would it matter to a traveler's insurance company how you paid for a cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbum53 Posted October 16, 2015 #13 Share Posted October 16, 2015 where do you buy the gift cards? To late for this cruise but we sail carnival a lot so would like to know for future Many grocery stores sell them. Here in Ohio, they're sold at Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Meijer. I've also read that some Lowes sell them. I believe they're also sold at Publix grocery stores. Check the gift card display at the grocery store where you shop. They're usually close to the Southwest Airlines gift cards on the display. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecoveryDude Posted October 18, 2015 #14 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Many grocery stores sell them. Here in Ohio, they're sold at Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Meijer. I've also read that some Lowes sell them. I believe they're also sold at Publix grocery stores. Check the gift card display at the grocery store where you shop. They're usually close to the Southwest Airlines gift cards on the display. ;) Right, you can "buy" them at those places, but no reason to, as you pay FULL price - the whole point of buying the gift cards is to get the 10% discount - which adds up! The only place to get the 10% off is Verizon, AARP and CitiEasyDeals. - And yes they are often sold out, but they bounce in and out of stock quite frequently, about every 15 days - so yes, check often, even multiple times per day. When you see em in stock, JUMP on them IMMEDIATELY or you will miss out. I order a couple each time I notice they are available. I have the Carnival Mastercard too - so I actually "pay" for my S&S account balance (with all my excursions) using that to get double points ... and then "cash out" however many gift cards I need to cover that bill in the casino the last night of the cruise and then use that cash to pay the bill when it comes. I use my carnival mastercard instead of my debit card for everything I buy every month, and then pay the bill in full with my debit card every month, racking up points pretty quick that way ... and I'm not stopping till I have enough points to get a FREE CRUISE. Should get a 7 day by spring 2017. Not bad for just using that card instead of my debit card :) Jeff aka Recovery Dude :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaiderFaninNM Posted October 18, 2015 #15 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Who told you that? Why would it matter to a traveler's insurance company how you paid for a cruise? True as I was contemplating some insurance on our upcoming trip and specifically asked about "paying" for my cruise with gift cards and was told, ok...it is covered, it was with a well documented insurance co, so that is not correct for the company I used.......;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firemanbobswife Posted October 18, 2015 #16 Share Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) Never had an insurance company ask how I paid for a cruise, either. The only way it should affect whether or not insurance would deny a claim would be is if you were using the travel insurance that is attached to your credit card because you aren't charging the entire trip on it. Example: You use $500 in GC for deposit and charge the rest on your CC that offers Trip Interruption/Travel Delay Insurance. It would not be covered because you must charge the entire amount including deposit on that card. For third party insurance, payment form should be irrelevant. Edited October 18, 2015 by firemanbobswife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vwrestler171 Posted October 18, 2015 #17 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Last year on Black Friday Carnival had a gift card sail too. $500 gift card got you an additional $50 gift card, unless you used the Carnival Mastercard, then it became a $100 bonus gift card. Hoping they do it again this year, because I need to buy $2000 in gift cards to get $2500 back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelbows Posted October 18, 2015 #18 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Maybe the poster means that you cannot buy cruise insurance with gift cards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denrusk Posted October 19, 2015 #19 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Just remember that cruise insurance will not cover payments with Gift cards. We will use them for excursions and onboard payments. Not only is this false, Carnival will sell you travel insurance and you can pay for it with gift cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kona_wahine Posted October 19, 2015 #20 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Last year on Black Friday Carnival had a gift card sail too. $500 gift card got you an additional $50 gift card, unless you used the Carnival Mastercard, then it became a $100 bonus gift card. Hoping they do it again this year, because I need to buy $2000 in gift cards to get $2500 back. Oh, I wonder if they will do it again. :p I have a MasterCard now and would totally go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecoveryDude Posted October 19, 2015 #21 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Last year on Black Friday Carnival had a gift card sail too. $500 gift card got you an additional $50 gift card, unless you used the Carnival Mastercard, then it became a $100 bonus gift card. Hoping they do it again this year, because I need to buy $2000 in gift cards to get $2500 back. Where did you buy them from when you say "Carnival" had a black friday sale? ....you mean on Carnival.com or what??? Thanks!!!! Jeff aka RecoveryDude :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angiegal Posted October 19, 2015 #22 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Right, you can "buy" them at those places, but no reason to, as you pay FULL price - the whole point of buying the gift cards is to get the 10% discount - which adds up! The only place to get the 10% off is Verizon, AARP and CitiEasyDeals. - And yes they are often sold out, but they bounce in and out of stock quite frequently, about every 15 days - so yes, check often, even multiple times per day. When you see em in stock, JUMP on them IMMEDIATELY or you will miss out. I order a couple each time I notice they are available. I have the Carnival Mastercard too - so I actually "pay" for my S&S account balance (with all my excursions) using that to get double points ... and then "cash out" however many gift cards I need to cover that bill in the casino the last night of the cruise and then use that cash to pay the bill when it comes. I use my carnival mastercard instead of my debit card for everything I buy every month, and then pay the bill in full with my debit card every month, racking up points pretty quick that way ... and I'm not stopping till I have enough points to get a FREE CRUISE. Should get a 7 day by spring 2017. Not bad for just using that card instead of my debit card :) Jeff aka Recovery Dude :) Actually, if you buy them at grocery stores that offer various points you can earn a lot of free gas, turkeys, etc. depending on the promotions they are offering. We don't use Verizon and aren't AARP members but we definitely get perks from using the gift cards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaiderFaninNM Posted October 19, 2015 #23 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Actually, if you buy them at grocery stores that offer various points you can earn a lot of free gas, turkeys, etc. depending on the promotions they are offering. We don't use Verizon and aren't AARP members but we definitely get perks from using the gift cards True BUT one does NOT have to be AARP members to partake of the Rewards for Good program....;) But if one is they get double the points...........:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNtravelers Posted October 20, 2015 #24 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Actually, if you buy them at grocery stores that offer various points you can earn a lot of free gas, turkeys, etc. depending on the promotions they are offering. We don't use Verizon and aren't AARP members but we definitely get perks from using the gift cards Agreed! I buy a bunch when Krogers has 4x gas points. I have 3000 gas points right now and the whole family uses the points. I paid 97 cents a gallon for our last 35 gallon fill up - What a deal. I can use the savings to buy more Carnival cards!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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