AARP Carnival Gift Cards

[n6uqqq]

I applied several a couple days ago. Like 19cruiser said above it is a two step process that is a bit different than before the website change. I entered the gift cards above. Then I had to go down a bit and choose one of the options to finish applying them. I chose "other amount" put in the amount I wanted applied, and then clicked "select" and was able to finish transaction from there. 

[n6uqqq]

I messed up. the number 1 should be next to the gift card area slightly above.

[Kingsmom]

I really appreciate all the information on this topic.  It was very helpful.  I recently joined AARP for the benefit of getting the discounted cards.  Just a few minutes ago, I was able to purchase enough (5) to cover the Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles packages for my upcoming cruise.  They arrived to my email within 15 minutes.  It was easy to upload them to the site.  I think they may have fixed the recent quirk as there was no extra step as mentioned above.  I simply added the 5 card numbers with pin and then paid the balance on my credit card.  Saved $90!!  Hooray!

[ninjacat123]

23 minutes ago, Kingsmom said:

I really appreciate all the information on this topic.  It was very helpful.  I recently joined AARP for the benefit of getting the discounted cards.  Just a few minutes ago, I was able to purchase enough (5) to cover the Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles packages for my upcoming cruise.  They arrived to my email within 15 minutes.  It was easy to upload them to the site.  I think they may have fixed the recent quirk as there was no extra step as mentioned above.  I simply added the 5 card numbers with pin and then paid the balance on my credit card.  Saved $90!!  Hooray!

I just bought water for a cruise and didn't need to do extra steps.  Glad it's back to normal!😄

[Haljo1935]

On 12/30/2023 at 11:10 AM, Eli_6 said:

My husband's biggest issue with ALL of this is the long flight. I have been dreaming for years about circumnavigating the globe.  Obviously can't do this with someone who is a testy flyer.  (I like flying and sleep better on an airplane than on land.)  So, my solution is we have one really bad flight to start the trip (get it over with) from Houston to Sydney.  Then we cruise from Sydney to Rome.  Then we fly back from Rome.  Boom--gone around the globe and been able to hit Australia, Asia, and Middle East.   

Thete is a Rome->FLL to get you back to states so no international flight on the back end; you just have to get him from FLL to Houston 

[Jim and Monika]

When I got these years ago, you had to use points.

Is that still the case?

[ab19902]

6 minutes ago, Jim and Monika said:

When I got these years ago, you had to use points.

Is that still the case?

Nope. You just have to be a member of AARP. These are member only cards. Membership is open to anyone (I'm 34), and is $12 for the first year. It's easy to get your money back with this. Most other cards they offer can just be done with points and no membership.

[Bollycats]

I've seen threads about the gift cards but didn't realize you get them for a cheaper price. My cruise companion is a member so we'll be getting one. Are they electronic or physical? I want to wait until closer to the cruise just in case we don't go for some reason. I'm assuming you get them instantly. How far in advance should we buy to make sure we have them in time for the cruise?

[ninjacat123]

10 minutes ago, Bollycats said:

I've seen threads about the gift cards but didn't realize you get them for a cheaper price. My cruise companion is a member so we'll be getting one. Are they electronic or physical? I want to wait until closer to the cruise just in case we don't go for some reason. I'm assuming you get them instantly. How far in advance should we buy to make sure we have them in time for the cruise?

Every time I've ordered Carnival gift cards from AARP they were delivered to my email in minutes.  Then I transferred them to my Apple Wallet so they are all in one place.

[MeganGC1983]

Nevermind. Just kidding. 

Edited January 10 by MeganGC1983

[MagnoliaBlossom]

Can the credits from the card be applied to daily service charge/gratuities?

[Petersonfcu]

On 1/11/2024 at 6:44 PM, MagnoliaBlossom said:

Can the credits from the card be applied to daily service charge/gratuities?

Carnival gift cards can be loaded to  your onboard account and used to pay for any charge to that account, including gratuities. 

[tw67]

I took an NCL cruise last weekend, and I missed gift cards! I missed knowing that I had gift cards already on my account! I also spent less money on board than I do on a Carnival ship. 

 

I don't have another cruise planned until Labor Day weekend, but I will be stocking up on my cards to pay down my three booked cruises!  

[new_cruiser_75]

I entered gift card info the other day. Received some kind of "success" message but can't figure out where those funds went to, they were definitely not applied to our balance 😕 Any ideas?

[ski_mom]

53 minutes ago, new_cruiser_75 said:

I entered gift card info the other day. Received some kind of "success" message but can't figure out where those funds went to, they were definitely not applied to our balance 😕 Any ideas?

Have you checked if they might still be on your gift card?  If not, I don't know if there's a number to call and see if they can track when that funds on that card were used?

 

 

 

[ULCajunCruiser]

4 hours ago, new_cruiser_75 said:

I entered gift card info the other day. Received some kind of "success" message but can't figure out where those funds went to, they were definitely not applied to our balance 😕 Any ideas?

As ski_mom said, first check the balance and see if the card was used as you believe:  Carnival - Check Your Balance (ourgiftcards.com)

 

If the funds are not there, then I'd call the Fun Shops at 1-800-522-7648 and see if they can trace it??

 

Good luck and let us know

[new_cruiser_75]

On 1/20/2024 at 2:12 PM, ski_mom said:

Have you checked if they might still be on your gift card?  If not, I don't know if there's a number to call and see if they can track when that funds on that card were used?

 

 

 

 

21 hours ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

As ski_mom said, first check the balance and see if the card was used as you believe:  Carnival - Check Your Balance (ourgiftcards.com)

 

If the funds are not there, then I'd call the Fun Shops at 1-800-522-7648 and see if they can trace it??

 

Good luck and let us know

Thank you both for your suggestions/help. Turns out I missed the step of after entering the card info, scrolling down and entering the card amount in the "other amount" section 🤪 (as was suggested earlier in this thread). Luckily the funds were all still there on the card and now credited to our balance (I rechecked). Now to get an AARP membership and purchase more/discounted cards 😃

[new_cruiser_75]

1st, I apologize - I'm sure that this has probably already been asked here but I couldn't quite figure out the best search terms and there are already 250 pages in this thread...

I joined AARP and purchased more than enough in gift cards to cover our cruise. Thank you all for this suggestion! Question: can I only use part of one of these e-cards (saving the rest for later) or can I use it all now leaving me with a positive balance?

[ULCajunCruiser]

20 minutes ago, new_cruiser_75 said:

1st, I apologize - I'm sure that this has probably already been asked here but I couldn't quite figure out the best search terms and there are already 250 pages in this thread...

I joined AARP and purchased more than enough in gift cards to cover our cruise. Thank you all for this suggestion! Question: can I only use part of one of these e-cards (saving the rest for later) or can I use it all now leaving me with a positive balance?

OK, if I understand you correctly.   Yes, you can use part of a card and save the rest for later.  This can be done multiple times.  ($500 - $230 = $270, $270 - $75 = $195, $195 - $94.60 = $100.40, etc)  I do not think you can (at least I don't know how) have a $500 gift card use $200 and apply the other $300 to your account.

[ngrund]

50 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

OK, if I understand you correctly.   Yes, you can use part of a card and save the rest for later.  This can be done multiple times.  ($500 - $230 = $270, $270 - $75 = $195, $195 - $94.60 = $100.40, etc)  I do not think you can (at least I don't know how) have a $500 gift card use $200 and apply the other $300 to your account.

If you have funds left on a card after paying off the cruise, you would take the card info with you on the cruise and would apply the remaining balance to your on board account either at guest services or using a kiosk.

[ski_mom]

I see AARP sells Princess cards as well (they just have an 8% discount though) - can they be used basically like the Carnival - to pay on your booking, while on board, etc?

 

 

[Kingsmom]

Just now, ski_mom said:

I see AARP sells Princess cards as well (they just have an 8% discount though) - can they be used basically like the Carnival - to pay on your booking, while on board, etc?

 

 

I think (hope) so.  I just put a deposit down for a July trip on the Grand Princess to Alaska.  I plan to use the AARP GC's to pay for the balance.  When we cruised Carnival, I brought several on board and was able to use them to pay down my on board credit.  I will do the same on the Princess cruise.  I tried, unsuccessfully, on the Carnival cruise to add GC funds to my casino account and then cash it out. So whatever you don't use, you lose unless you have them put it back on the gift card for a future use.  It's a delicate dance.  I just ended up gambling away the extra (it was not a lot). 

[ULCajunCruiser]

I'm venting more than asking a question.   But I am trying to buy some Carnival Gift Cards from AARP.  I've done this many times before, but for some reason it's not allowing the transaction to go through. Called them up and they say try this and try that, which I understand is procedure, but every time I try and it bombs, it's adding $1800 to my pending credit card bill!!   Tried 8 ties and boom that's nearly $15,000 in pending charges.  They can't remove them and my credit card company says they can't remove them.  I only hope that there's no emergency in the next 30 days cause my credit card is now all but useless!!!   More frustrated than anything, thanks for listening!!

[tw67]

12 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

I'm venting more than asking a question.   But I am trying to buy some Carnival Gift Cards from AARP.  I've done this many times before, but for some reason it's not allowing the transaction to go through. Called them up and they say try this and try that, which I understand is procedure, but every time I try and it bombs, it's adding $1800 to my pending credit card bill!!   Tried 8 ties and boom that's nearly $15,000 in pending charges.  They can't remove them and my credit card company says they can't remove them.  I only hope that there's no emergency in the next 30 days cause my credit card is now all but useless!!!   More frustrated than anything, thanks for listening!!

Oh no!  Let us know what happens and if you know what caused it.

[n6uqqq]

32 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

I'm venting more than asking a question.   But I am trying to buy some Carnival Gift Cards from AARP.  I've done this many times before, but for some reason it's not allowing the transaction to go through. Called them up and they say try this and try that, which I understand is procedure, but every time I try and it bombs, it's adding $1800 to my pending credit card bill!!   Tried 8 ties and boom that's nearly $15,000 in pending charges.  They can't remove them and my credit card company says they can't remove them.  I only hope that there's no emergency in the next 30 days cause my credit card is now all but useless!!!   More frustrated than anything, thanks for listening!!

Those pending charges will fall off but it can take 10 days. AARP can be quirky occasionally. If you use something like Google auto fill look very carefully to make sure every detail is correct.