New Gift Card Structure/Rules

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

Looks like Celebrity revamped their gift card offering.  My assumption is existing gift cards still carry the previous rules & restrictions.  Here are my takeaways.

 

- Gift cards can be used either for cruise purchase OR onboard expenses

What's not clear is whether gift cards can be used for cruise reservations booked through travel agents.

- Gift cards are redeemable with either Celebrity OR Royal Caribbean

- The only limitation on usage is $10,000 per calendar day (previously $500/person or $1000 per stateroom), which seems irrelevant because the max value you can purchase is $2000

- You can't use the funds at the casino

- Only available within the United States

- You can get a return credit for refunded merchandise or refundable payments.  See below from the Terms

"If your cruise or other type booking originally purchased with an eGift Card is cancelled, or you return merchandise originally purchased with an eGift Card, any refund will be issued in the form of a replacement eGift Card, an account credit with an Affiliate, or a future cruise credit, in AEN's reasonable discretion."

 

FAQ

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/2_29_24_FLY_Celebrity_Gift Cards_Program.pdf

 

T's & C's

https://celebritycruises.cashstar.com/self_service/v2/about/terms_and_conditions

[Itchy&Scratchy]

is there a way to add an e-gift card to my onboard account before the cruise on the website?

I don't want to call.

Or do I need to wait till we board?

Thanks.

 

P.S. To clarify - this is not a gift card purchased on X website. This is something I'd buy a the store or credit card reward points.

Edited March 8 by Itchy&Scratchy

[paulh84]

44 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

- The only limitation on usage is $10,000 per calendar day (previously $500/person or $1000 per stateroom), which seems irrelevant because the max value you can purchase is $2000

 

 

That's due to the gift card being considered a cash equivalent. Aggregate transactions over $10,000 in a single day have to be reported with a CTR filing. You could buy 5x $2,000 gift cards but they are trying to avoid reporting it.

[Jeremiah1212]

55 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

What's not clear is whether gift cards can be used for cruise reservations booked through travel agents.

 

 

There may be some exceptions but you can. Under Where to Redeem > Espresso which is the tool agents use for reservations. Using them on your own Cruise Planner purchases is not available yet. 

[minniemouse427]

I can redeem award points for Celebrity gift cards at work, but it says we can only redeem them for online bookings. Not sure if the wording is just outdated w/ the older policy and we would be able to use them for on board purchases on our upcoming cruise. 

May not be worth the risk of trying and losing the funds if it isn't valid.

Edited March 8 by minniemouse427

[Mr. Click]

One word of warning about gift cards in general.  I used some Bank of America Celebrity gift cards to pay the deposit on a cruise we had to cancel last minute.  When I filed my insurance claim they would not cover the gif cards.  "only cash, check or credit card payments are covered so check your policy carefully.  

[Rick&Jeannie]

3 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

is there a way to add an e-gift card to my onboard account before the cruise on the website?

[Rick&Jeannie]

Does this new policy cover the cards that are sold via AARP?  I have always been under the impression that those cards are "the real thing" just as if you had purchased directly from the cruise line website.  (That is the case for the Princess GCs, anyway...)

[Arizona Wildcat]

23 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Does this new policy cover the cards that are sold via AARP?  I have always been under the impression that those cards are "the real thing" just as if you had purchased directly from the cruise line website.  (That is the case for the Princess GCs, anyway...)

Yes, but the warning given is correct.  I have 10K in trip cancelation insurance on travel purchased with my credit card.  But if I purchase a cruise line gift card and apply that to a cruise/travel; no coverage!

[Itchy&Scratchy]

7 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Yes, but the warning given is correct.  I have 10K in trip cancelation insurance on travel purchased with my credit card.  But if I purchase a cruise line gift card and apply that to a cruise/travel; no coverage!

that's why I only use the gift cards for onboard spending. I use Chase to pay for the cruise...

[Itchy&Scratchy]

51 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

thanks, but that looks like paying for the cruise fare, and I was asking about adding gift cards as OBC before the cruise (online). I just looked and couldn't find it online.

[ngrund]

1 hour ago, Mr. Click said:

One word of warning about gift cards in general.  I used some Bank of America Celebrity gift cards to pay the deposit on a cruise we had to cancel last minute.  When I filed my insurance claim they would not cover the gif cards.  "only cash, check or credit card payments are covered so check your policy carefully.  

How would the insurance company know?

 

The one time I had to cancel a few years ago I do not recall being asked how I paid, just had to show the final cost after what I was refunded by the cruise line and proof of the reason (medical condition of a close relative) I was cancelling.

[Swagner36]

On the AARP site they says the cards can't be used to settle onboard account

[Mr. Click]

56 minutes ago, ngrund said:

How would the insurance company know?

 

The one time I had to cancel a few years ago I do not recall being asked how I paid, just had to show the final cost after what I was refunded by the cruise line and proof of the reason (medical condition of a close relative) I was cancelling.

Every policy is different. I had to submit documentation for EVERY THING.  I got the gift cards for credit card points and the carrier would not cover that.  

[Arizona Wildcat]

59 minutes ago, ngrund said:

How would the insurance company know?

 

The one time I had to cancel a few years ago I do not recall being asked how I paid, just had to show the final cost after what I was refunded by the cruise line and proof of the reason (medical condition of a close relative) I was cancelling.

In this case the OP is claiming reimbursement for travel paid for on her credit card.  This is a benefit of the credit card and not real insurance 

1- Because the cruise line receipt shows how they were paid.

2 - You credit card would not show all the travel costs.  Only some paid to the cruiseline and lots to the gift card vendor (AARP or whomever).

Insurance like Allianz is completely different. 

[ngrund]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Click said:

Every policy is different. I had to submit documentation for EVERY THING.  I got the gift cards for credit card points and the carrier would not cover that.  

ok, good to know.

 

It hurts to not save the 10% through AARP, but I will no longer take the chance of my entire trip cost not being covered by insurance, if I have to cancel after final paymant.

[Mr. Click]

18 minutes ago, ngrund said:

ok, good to know.

 

It hurts to not save the 10% through AARP, but I will no longer take the chance of my entire trip cost not being covered by insurance, if I have to cancel after final paymant.

Just read your policy before hand   Some do cover them some don’t

[Itchy&Scratchy]

On 3/8/2024 at 3:49 PM, minniemouse427 said:

I can redeem award points for Celebrity gift cards at work, but it says we can only redeem them for online bookings.

so glad y'all mentioned this.... I was about to get redeem my award points at work for a Celebrity gift card, but I read the T&Cs, and yeap - just like yours, it's a certificate, not a gift card, and as such it can only be applied towards the cruise balance payment. Cannot be applied to OBC or a cruise deposit. 😞

[Swagner36]

On 3/8/2024 at 6:48 PM, Mr. Click said:

Every policy is different. I had to submit documentation for EVERY THING.  I got the gift cards for credit card points and the carrier would not cover that.  

Ok this is how Celebrity did my gift cards, I purchased $500 gift cards and when I saw my reciept they had lowered the price of cruise by $100 and then credited the account by $400. So if you cancel there is no proof that the gift card was $500. It also showed I paid $100 less for cruise.