Discounted gift cards?

[bjkTX]

17 minutes ago, MacMadame said:

Yikes. People on CC told me that it wouldn't work that way. I think I'll buy $100 cards instead of $500 for the last bit so I haven't got hundreds on a card. Even though I *will* spend it. LOL

 

That sounds like a personal problem to me. 🤷‍♀️

But as I understand it you can take whatever is left on the gift card and go to the front desk and have them apply it to your account - like OBC.  I have some I will need to do like that on the next cruise - and will withdraw it through the casino or let them mail me a check if we don't spend it.

[MacMadame]

9 minutes ago, bjkTX said:

But as I understand it you can take whatever is left on the gift card and go to the front desk and have them apply it to your account - like OBC.  I have some I will need to do like that on the next cruise - and will withdraw it through the casino or let them mail me a check if we don't spend it.

I know but that's an extra step when I want to be enjoying my vacation! 😄 

[sfaaa]

The beauty of discounted gift card is that it has no expiry date and is transferrable.

[Daniel A]

I've used AARP gift cards with my TA on several cruises.  Back when it was a 10% discount, I paid off a $19K cruise using all AARP Gift Cards.  That dropped the price of the cruise to $17K - big savings!  I put all of the card and pin numbers into the same email and send it to my TA at final payment time.  It has never been a problem.  Often the AARP member card has the best hotel discount rate, but it isn't always the case.

 

@lennythenose - I respect that you have your reasons for not wanting to join AARP, but would that prevent you from having a friend or family member who is a member buying them for you?  When you buy the cards on the web site, since they are "gift" cards, they would only need to put your email address in as the gift recipient, and you get the cards in your email.  Just a thought. 🤷‍♂️ 

[Daniel A]

10 hours ago, bjkTX said:

But as I understand it you can take whatever is left on the gift card and go to the front desk and have them apply it to your account - like OBC.  I have some I will need to do like that on the next cruise - and will withdraw it through the casino or let them mail me a check if we don't spend it.

You could also use the card to buy drinks for your friends!! 🤑 

[lennythenose]

4 hours ago, Daniel A said:

@lennythenose - I respect that you have your reasons for not wanting to join AARP, but would that prevent you from having a friend or family member who is a member buying them for you?  When you buy the cards on the web site, since they are "gift" cards, they would only need to put your email address in as the gift recipient, and you get the cards in your email.  Just a thought. 🤷‍♂️ 

Thank you for your suggestion. I actually did check with family and friends I would be comfortable in asking this and none of them are members or plan to join. 

[missnd]

I just called to have the remainder of a gift card applied to my booking as onboard credit.  I thought I'd share my experience in case others might benefit or learn something from it.

 

I first tried to see if I could purchase the OBC through chat, but since they can't take payment over chat, I had to call the 800 number.  The phone line said about a 15 minute wait, so I chose the option to have them call me back - which they did in almost exactly 15 minutes.

 

As I've experienced in the past, the person I spoke with had to put me on hold 3 times, which was annoying, but within 15 minutes total, I had the OBC added to my account.  She initially told me that I wouldn't be able to use it until I was on the ship, but as we confirmed in my personalizer, it did show I could use it to pre-book excursions, etc.

 

The other catch I found was that I had a gift card with $211 remaining on it after making my final payment because the system would not allow me to pay anything over the amount due.  My options for purchasing OBC was $25, $50, or $100, so I opted to just purchase 2X$100 and I will save the $11 to apply as payment for a future booking.

 

I believe I could also just call in to directly purchase my excursions, etc. with the gift cards, but I wanted to see how it would work with purchasing OBC first.

[anngi]

Any tips on how to get my order of gift cards on AARP to go through? I keep getting an error message to call customer service. I called said charge should go thru but they have to elevate it to support and I should be contacted in 3-5 business days. Very frustrating.

Edited Tuesday at 07:25 AM by anngi

[anngi]

22 minutes ago, anngi said:

Any tips on how to get my order of gift cards on AARP to go through? I keep getting an error message to call customer service. I called said charge should go thru but they have to elevate it to support and I should be contacted in 3-5 business days. Very frustrating.

I just downloaded APP thinking that may help. I go to pay using Apple Pay says to click button below to confirm order but there is no button. Anyone have ideas or can help? Thank you

[Coral]

5 hours ago, anngi said:

I just downloaded APP thinking that may help. I go to pay using Apple Pay says to click button below to confirm order but there is no button. Anyone have ideas or can help? Thank you

It is your right iPhone button.

[anngi]

19 hours ago, Coral said:

It is your right iPhone button.

I tried that but will try again.  It’s confusing as app says click button below? Thank you

[Coral]

3 hours ago, anngi said:

I tried that but will try again.  It’s confusing as app says click button below? Thank you

Maybe it is a different button then.

[Charles4515]

3 hours ago, anngi said:

I tried that but will try again.  It’s confusing as app says click button below? Thank you

On some iPhones it would be the home button which is the button below. What model iPhone do you have? What version of iOS are you running?

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, Coral said:

Maybe it is a different button then.

If their phone has Face ID they would authenticate with the right button but if their phone has Touch ID they would touch the Home button to authenticate. 

[Coral]

19 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

If their phone has Face ID they would authenticate with the right button but if their phone has Touch ID they would touch the Home button to authenticate. 

That is what I assume. I buy things from my iPhone all the time but haven't bought Princess cards.

 

BTW - Some cases make it difficult to use the right button on the iPhone.

[Charles4515]

3 minutes ago, Coral said:

That is what I assume. I buy things from my iPhone all the time but haven't bought Princess cards.

 

BTW - Some cases make it difficult to use the right button on the iPhone.

I have not bought any either. 

 

With my iPhone 15 Pro with the Clear case on I would have to hold the phone with 2 hands and press hard.  The silicone cases I could do it with one hand. (I always buy 2 cases)  I got an iPhone 16 Pro Max a week ago and I can use the right button with one hand with the Clear case now. A lighter press. I don’t know if they changed the button on the phone to take less pressure or if the they changed the button on the case. 

[anngi]

2 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

I have not bought any either. 

 

With my iPhone 15 Pro with the Clear case on I would have to hold the phone with 2 hands and press hard.  The silicone cases I could do it with one hand. (I always buy 2 cases)  I got an iPhone 16 Pro Max a week ago and I can use the right button with one hand with the Clear case now. A lighter press. I don’t know if they changed the button on the phone to take less pressure or if the they changed the button on the case. 

Didn’t work. AARP says to go to a button for you to confirm which is there button but isn’t showing in site. 

[Retired-N-Happy]

7 hours ago, anngi said:

Didn’t work. AARP says to go to a button for you to confirm which is there button but isn’t showing in site. 

I have always done my AARP card purchases with zero problems on my PC.  

[Rick&Jeannie]

19 hours ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

I have always done my AARP card purchases with zero problems on my PC.  

Same here...over 20 purchased 

[paradiselivin1]

Took me a while the other day because they couldn't process my order at the time. I waited a few hours and was able to make the purchase. BTW, I just looked at your time of posting yesterday and know that AARP was doing maintenance yesterday morning..

[Daniel A]

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Same here...over 20 purchased 

Same here...24 purchased without a hiccup.  I have only bought them using my laptop computer.

[lennythenose]

Cards are available on Newegg again today (9/26/2024)

[anngi]

Tried on macbook and iphone. Got email from a Travis at AARP accelerating issue. Have tried dif times dif days no go. 

[cruzsnooze]

On 9/22/2024 at 7:16 PM, bjkTX said:

But as I understand it you can take whatever is left on the gift card and go to the front desk and have them apply it to your account - like OBC.  I have some I will need to do like that on the next cruise - and will withdraw it through the casino or let them mail me a check if we don't spend it.

They will NOT mail you a check for a gift card balance, they will reapply it to the original gift card so save that card.

[bjkTX]

20 minutes ago, cruzsnooze said:

They will NOT mail you a check for a gift card balance, they will reapply it to the original gift card so save that card.

Even if I have applied that balance to the account as OBC??