If you’ve ever scoured the internet for ways to save on cruise vacations, you may have come across rewards programs that offer the opportunity to score discounted cruise line gift cards.
Some credit cards like a Citi credit card with ThankYou Rewards allow you to redeem rewards points for travel and cruise line gift cards, but they aren’t the only rewards programs out there that offer this perk. Certain loyalty programs offer their members the opportunity to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards, or even purchase gift cards at a discounted rate too.
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One popular program for purchasing cruise line gift cards recently made some changes that cruise deal seekers will want to know about before planning to pay for their next cruise with gift cards.
Carnival Cruise Line passengers used to be able to rack up significant savings with this program, but the discount amount has been steadily shrinking in recent months.
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Carnival does not sell discounted gift cards directly.
Image source: Carnival Corporation
AARP Rewards program offers discounted cruise line gift cards
AARP, the nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age, has a rewards program that offers benefits to people of all ages.
The AARP Rewards program is a free loyalty program that gives members the opportunity to earn points for completing AARP Rewards activities like completing health quizzes and playing AARP games. Points earned can be redeemed for gift cards among other rewards.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line change angers classic cruisers
You don’t have to be an AARP member to join, but AARP members earn 50% more points and can access exclusive members-only rewards like discounted gift cards. Discounted travel and cruise line gift cards offered through the program, including Carnival and Royal Caribbean gift cards, are only available for AARP members to purchase.
If you want to take advantage of AARP’s members-only rewards, you can join AARP before 2024 ends for $12 for your first year before the membership cost increases in January, but you should be aware that the Carnival Cruise Line discount offered through the program has decreased twice in 2024.
The AARP discount on Carnival Cruise Line gift cards is shrinking
Earlier this year, the AARP Rewards website offered members a 10% discount on Carnival Cruise Line gift cards, meaning you could buy a $100 Carnival gift card for $90 or a $500 Carnival gift card for just $450. You could also purchase multiple gift cards in order to stack the savings. By purchasing five $500 Carnival gift cards, you could get $250 off $2500 to use toward your cruise fare and onboard purchases.
But five Carnival gift cards no longer come with that much savings as 2024 draws to a close. This fall, the AARP Rewards program’s Carnival gift card discount amount changed to 8% off, and now in late December, Carnival gift cards have dropped to a discount of just 5% off.
While you can still buy up to five gift cards per month to increase your savings, you’ll have to pay more for each gift card. A $100 Carnival gift card now costs $95 and a $500 Carnival gift card now costs $475.
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If you’re not loyal to Carnival and want to sail with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Holland America Line, you can still get more substantial savings.
The AARP Rewards catalog still offers Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises gift cards at a 10% discount, and members can purchase up to 25 of these gift cards per month. Holland America Line gift cards are available at an 8% discount with a purchase limit of five gift cards per month.
Princess Cruises gift cards were previously offered but are not currently available on the AARP Rewards website. The website says discounted gift cards are available while supplies last.
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