Carnival Gift Card payment through AARP Travel (Expedia)

[Bostwick girl]

10 minutes ago, n6uqqq said:

Was your payment on the Carnival website? If so did it mention a fee? Per their giftcard website there are no service or dormancy fees.

 

Yes, it was on the Carnival website.  I was just reading all the FAQ's and saw that same thing. I'm going to call them and see what's their reason. 

[n6uqqq]

Just now, Bostwick girl said:

 

Yes, it was on the Carnival website.  I was just reading all the FAQ's and saw that same thing. I'm going to call them and see what's their reason. 

Keep us posted, thanks! There is concern in the Allstate Carnival giftcard thread also.

[bury me at sea]

43 minutes ago, Bostwick girl said:

 

Yes, it was on the Carnival website.  I was just reading all the FAQ's and saw that same thing. I'm going to call them and see what's their reason. 

 

I have just read through the faqs on Carnival's gift card website and couldn't find any mention of fees.  The faqs also specify e-cards are accepted.

 

What does it say in the faqs you mentioned?

[Bostwick girl]

21 minutes ago, bury me at sea said:

 

I have just read through the faqs on Carnival's gift card website and couldn't find any mention of fees.  The faqs also specify e-cards are accepted.

 

What does it say in the faqs you mentioned?

 

Ok, this is resolved! Called Carnival. They said first time I called that they do not charge any fees, etc which I totally agreed with. They suggested calling AARP to make sure they didn't charge a fee. AARP researched and they said the card was redeemed for $98, and they don't charge any fees. So I called Carnival again, explained what happened, what I was told by them and AARP. the agent got a resolution specialist on the line, gave them the card number and PIN on the card, after a minute or so, they credited my balance with the $2. They had no idea why that happened, just a glitch in the system. They said they've received no calls about it other than mine. Just glad it's resolved, and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.

 

A good idea to always save your gift cards until after your cruise!

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by Bostwick girl
Added a word

[n6uqqq]

Just now, Bostwick girl said:

 

Ok, this is resolved! Called Carnival. They said first time I called that they do not charge any fees, etc which I totally agreed with. They suggested calling AARP to make sure they didn't charge a fee. AARP researched and they said the card was redeemed for $98, and they don't charge any fees. So I called Carnival again, explained what happened, what I was told by them and AARP. the agent got a resolution specialist on the line, gave them the card number and PIN on the card, after a minute or so, they credited my balance with the $2. They had no idea why that happened, just a glitch in the system. They said they've received no calls about it other than mine. Just glad it's resolved, and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.

 

A good idea to always save your gift cards until after your cruise!

 

Thanks for the update!

[bury me at sea]

6 minutes ago, Bostwick girl said:

 

Ok, this is resolved! Called Carnival. They said first time I called that they do not charge any fees, etc which I totally agreed with. They suggested calling AARP to make sure they didn't charge a fee. AARP researched and they said the card was redeemed for $98, and they don't charge any fees. So I called Carnival again, explained what happened, what I was told by them and AARP. the agent got a resolution specialist on the line, gave them the card number and PIN on the card, after a minute or so, they credited my balance with the $2. They had no idea why that happened, just a glitch in the system. They said they've received no calls about it other than mine. Just glad it's resolved, and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.

 

A good idea to always save your gift cards until after your cruise!

 

 

Fantastic!  Thank you for tracking down the problem and the solution.  Your efforts have spared me and probably lots of others from some anxiety.

[Joe817]

I'm glad it worked out for you. That's bizarre. 

[ngrund]

the fee had to be glitch- fyi no need to wait to the next day unless you want to-

 

I just bought my 3rd gift card from AARP, about 20 minutes ago, as soon as I got the link, applied to the balance on carnival website

[Organized Chaos]

2 hours ago, Bostwick girl said:

 

Ok, this is resolved! Called Carnival. They said first time I called that they do not charge any fees, etc which I totally agreed with. They suggested calling AARP to make sure they didn't charge a fee. AARP researched and they said the card was redeemed for $98, and they don't charge any fees. So I called Carnival again, explained what happened, what I was told by them and AARP. the agent got a resolution specialist on the line, gave them the card number and PIN on the card, after a minute or so, they credited my balance with the $2. They had no idea why that happened, just a glitch in the system. They said they've received no calls about it other than mine. Just glad it's resolved, and hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.

 

A good idea to always save your gift cards until after your cruise!

 

 

So they put the $2 back on that gift card? The only reason I ask is because not too long ago, a couple people said that Carnival's system wouldn't allow them to make a balance payment using a gift card that had less than $10 on it, even when they tried to use a second card along with it that had a bigger balance. For whatever reason, it seems Carnival won't accept gift cards under $10 to pay on the cruise balance. If that happens to you, you'll have to use that $2 card for other purchases (excursions, online Fun Shops, etc.) or take it with you and deposit it into your S&S account. Good to hear you got it resolved, though.

[Bostwick girl]

1 hour ago, ngrund said:

the fee had to be glitch- fyi no need to wait to the next day unless you want to-

 

I just bought my 3rd gift card from AARP, about 20 minutes ago, as soon as I got the link, applied to the balance on carnival website

 

Lol, yes I know you can apply it immediately, I just wasn't in a place or have the time to do it until the next day or so.

 

 

[Bostwick girl]

1 hour ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

So they put the $2 back on that gift card? The only reason I ask is because not too long ago, a couple people said that Carnival's system wouldn't allow them to make a balance payment using a gift card that had less than $10 on it, even when they tried to use a second card along with it that had a bigger balance. For whatever reason, it seems Carnival won't accept gift cards under $10 to pay on the cruise balance. If that happens to you, you'll have to use that $2 card for other purchases (excursions, online Fun Shops, etc.) or take it with you and deposit it into your S&S account. Good to hear you got it resolved, though.

 

No, the $2 went on my cruise balance.  I read that same one you're talking about though, so no worries on that part, it's all spent and properly applied now. I'm glad I started reading this thread though, otherwise I may have just let it go.

 

Thanks to all for their help, and Happy Cruising!

 

[ngrund]

2 hours ago, Bostwick girl said:

 

Lol, yes I know you can apply it immediately, I just wasn't in a place or have the time to do it until the next day or so.

 

 

ok, that's what I thought happened,  with most gift cards purchased in stores (eg supermarkets, drug stores), they are not good for a few hours after activation, just wanted to let you know that's not the case with these

[movtarget]

I think I have found a partial answer to my original question in the Gift Card FAQs:

 

Can a travel agent use gift cards on GoCCL.com?
Yes, there is an option to select Gift Card as payment type on GoCCL.com.

 

I just did not know that GoCCL.com was the TA portal w/ Carnival. It seems it would be unusual for any mainstream TA (big box/OTA or traditional) NOT to access your booking and process your payments through there. If a TA doesn’t, you might be able to prompt them to this FAQ answer. I would guess that non-standard TAs for “special cruises” that are either “consolidators” or “promoters” may not be able to.

 

Movtarget in NC

[ngrund]

FYI, AARP is (for now with COVID 19) no longer selling the carnival gift cards

[bury me at sea]

16 minutes ago, ngrund said:

FYI, AARP is (for now with COVID 19) no longer selling the carnival gift cards

 

Interesting indeed.  Are they stating on the website that the suspension is because of COVID 19?

[ngrund]

they actually don't say anything on the website, and the banner to buy it is still there, but the card is not among the cards to purchase.

 

I opened a chat window on the travel section and the agent told me it is because of COVID 19, which is what I presumed.

 

I hope they sell them again soon as I still have a large balance to go for my trip next April

 

 

[bury me at sea]

1 minute ago, ngrund said:

they actually don't say anything on the website, and the banner to buy it is still there, but the card is not among the cards to purchase.

 

I opened a chat window on the travel section and the agent told me it is because of COVID 19, which is what I presumed.

 

I hope they sell them again soon as I still have a large balance to go for my trip next April

 

 

 

Thank you for the response.  I wonder if Allstate will pull them.

 

In any event, happy sailing to you.

[Organized Chaos]

3 hours ago, bury me at sea said:

Interesting indeed.  Are they stating on the website that the suspension is because of COVID 19?

 

That's very strange. What does coronavirus have to do with selling e-gift cards? And if it's because cruises have been suspended, what do they have against buying the gift cards during that time? Their reason smells fishy to me.

[cmukid87]

10 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

That's very strange. What does coronavirus have to do with selling e-gift cards? And if it's because cruises have been suspended, what do they have against buying the gift cards during that time? Their reason smells fishy to me.

I would imagine it might be to save face in case bankruptcy happens.  People bought thousands of $ in gift cards to a bankrupt company.  AARP being the supplier of those would face backlash.

[Joe817]

Or it could have nothing to do with AARP at all. It COULD be that the e-card provider is in a precarious position and possibly facing bankruptcy. If that's the case(and I don't know that it is), then it was a wise decision on AARP's end. 

 

Note: This is speculation only. Have nothing to justify my position.

[bury me at sea]

AARP's lack of cards could be due to many different reasons.

 

They could be out of them temporarily.

 

They could have found with the restrictions placed on them they aren't selling.

 

They could have recognized the new rewards program is a failure that has antognized members.

 

I could go on with listing possible reasons but unless they make an announcement we will never know.

[Organized Chaos]

According to their representatives in their community message boards, they've removed the Carnival cards, and a few others, as a direct result of the coronavirus outbreak and, for some reason, cite CDC guidelines. Does the CDC not recommend the sale of travel gift cards even though people buying them won't use them until things are back to (somewhat) normal?