gift certificates for onboard activities?

[gomomgo]

I would like to get my mom a gift certificate which she can use onboard for a spa treatment or the casino or whatever. Has anyone ever done this?

[jjferr]

You can either go through your TA and have them take care of it. Or you can call RCCL and apply $$ to your Mom's onboard acct. You will have to let her know that you have done that and what it is for. I got a gift certificate for services on board once and the person made her own gift cert to give to me. It is a great gift. I am planning to do this for my Mom later this month when she goes to Alaska. I hope this helps.

 

Lisa

[AllieInMD]

If you buy her an actual RCCL gift certificate make sure you pay attention to the 10 days prior to sailing activation thing - if you just tuck in her suitcase to give her a surprise, she won't be able to use it.

 

 

I would like to get my mom a gift certificate which she can use onboard for a spa treatment or the casino or whatever. Has anyone ever done this?

[newbiecruiser09]

If you buy her an actual RCCL gift certificate make sure you pay attention to the 10 days prior to sailing activation thing - if you just tuck in her suitcase to give her a surprise, she won't be able to use it.

 

Can someone explain what to do/how to do it to get RCI gift certificates applied to OBC? We are planning an anniv cruise next April. Putting RCI gift certs on our Christmas and Bday wish lists for family. I also want to but some with my "cruise fund" money (so I don't spend it on something else in the mean time) and wanting to make sure I know what to do (and don't "miss the boat" on them)

TIA!!!

[AllieInMD]

You can redeem them online, and apply to either cruisefare or OBC

Your cruise vacation reservation(s) must be made at least fourteen (14) business days prior to the sail date and/or the gift certificate must be redeemed before the final payment date (at least ten (10) business days prior to the sail date).

 

https://www.royalcaribbeancertificates.com/

 

 

Can someone explain what to do/how to do it to get RCI gift certificates applied to OBC? We are planning an anniv cruise next April. Putting RCI gift certs on our Christmas and Bday wish lists for family. I also want to but some with my "cruise fund" money (so I don't spend it on something else in the mean time) and wanting to make sure I know what to do (and don't "miss the boat" on them)

TIA!!!

[burny]

https://www.royalcaribbeancertificates.com/

 

the link is correct but the gift certificates are only available for US residents. :mad:

 

burny

[newbiecruiser09]

Thanks for the link and the info. I feel better knowing what to do. (it's a control thing! :D )

[phoenix1181]

When the grandkids cruised in the spring, I called Gifts & Gear and did it all over the phone. The kids were thrilled and it was nice and easy for me!

[alphakitty]

I bought a gift card for my in-laws when they cruised to Hawaii for their 50th. I wanted them to enjoy a night in a specialty restaurant on us. I told her she needed to give it to her TA, but they forgot and couldn't use it on their cruise. :( They ended up giving it back to us to use.

 

I think it would be best to contact the TA and have them do it...next time, that's what I'll do.

[SMSAIL]

I would not recommend either the gift certificates or the on-board credits. 18 members of my family went on an RCI cruise in Alaska in July and I bought a gift certificate for one person and on-board credits for several others. The credits were completely messed up - given to the wrong person in the cabin or not at all. Each of the first 4 days of our 7 day cruise I had to spend some time at the customer service desk helping them straighten it out. RCI would not honor my sister's gift certificate because they said they had no record that she had redeemed it 10 days prior to the sailing, though she showed them the printout. The whole 10-day in advance redemption seems like an unreasonable hoop to make you jump through; I don't know of another company that requires something like this. Clearly, it could be quite lucrative for RCI to sell gift certificates and credits then make it very difficult for people to redeem them. The gift certificate/credit situation was a low point on what was otherwise a fantastic family cruise.

 

If I had it to do over, I would get my family members Visa gift cards, travellers checks or simply give them cash. Not as much fun, but less stressful and you'll be sure they'll actually get to spend it on the cruise.