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RyanH8927
Contributor ⭐
November 7, 2025

DO NOT BUY ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIFT CARDS UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT TO PAY FOR THE CRUISE FARE ONLY

  • November 7, 2025
  • 9 replies
  • 4348 views

They call them gift cards, but they aren't really.  Even though RC has a section on their website to pay with a gift card, this is not really a gift card that AARP sells.  It's  some other nonsense that is actually far more restrictive than they even disclose when you buy it.  So much for AARP looking out for the good of its members. 

      9 replies

      SereneSeagull
      SereneSeagull
      Community Champion ⭐
      November 7, 2025

      Could you expand on that and why it’s not what it seems.  Thanks!

      RyanH8927Author
      Contributor ⭐
      November 8, 2025

      RC has a payment option on their website to pay with a gift card for drink packages, excursions, etc but AARP sells gift CERTIFICATES even though they advertise it as a gift card. Gift certificates are not eligible to be used for anything except base cruise fare that is remaining after you pay your deposit. You must use it all in one transaction. Again, gift cards just deduct the amount and leave you the remaining balance, but again, this is a gift certificate even though they advertise it as a virtual gift card. Truly no one cares about telling the truth anymore, they just want your $ 

        SereneSeagull
        SereneSeagull
        Community Champion ⭐
        November 8, 2025

        Oh, ok.  Thank you for clarifying that.  Yeah, that’s not good.  That info should be explained on the listing for sure.

        jdhellen
        Contributor ⭐
        November 8, 2025

        I ran into something similar with FTD "Gift Cards". Turns out they were just discount codes for like $5 off. And you had to put in the code to use one. Dumb thing is that AARP gets 30% off any time at FTD but it uses a code and you are only allowed to enter a single code, not multiple. So why would anyone ever try to use a $5 code over a 30% off code? I may be missing something, but that is what I saw.

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