Finding the ideal gift for someone passionate about cruising can be challenging. However, for the cruise enthusiast in your life, or even for yourself, cruise line gift cards and similar options like an Ncl Gift Card alternative, offer a fantastic solution. These versatile presents allow recipients to contribute towards their next cruise adventure, whether it’s for the cruise fare itself or to enhance their onboard experience with beverage packages, specialty dining, or relaxing spa treatments. Even if your recipient is new to cruising, a gift card can be the perfect nudge to embark on their first voyage, making their trip even more special.
For savvy cruisers, purchasing gift cards for personal use, especially when deals arise, is a smart strategy. Keep an eye out for promotions; for instance, organizations like AARP occasionally offer discounts on digital gift cards for major cruise lines, including Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean, potentially saving you up to 10%. Retailers like Target, through their RedCard program, also provide savings, and Black Friday sales can unlock deals on Disney gift cards and other cruise-related promotions.
While not every cruise line directly offers traditional gift cards, many provide alternative methods to contribute to someone’s cruise vacation. If you’re exploring the world of cruise line gifting, this guide will navigate you through seven prominent cruise lines that offer gift card options or similar alternatives, including a closer look at NCL gift card alternatives, where to purchase them, and how to maximize their use.
Holland America Line Gift Cards
Holland America Line stands out by offering traditional gift cards readily available on their website. With denominations ranging from $25 to $2,000, they cater to various gifting budgets. You have the choice between a physical gift card, delivered with a personalized message, or a digital e-gift card, offering a modern touch with customizable audio and photos.
Adding extra value, Holland America occasionally runs promotions, such as bonus gift cards with larger purchases. These gift cards are incredibly versatile, applicable to cruise bookings, pre-cruise expenses, and onboard charges including specialty dining, beverages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and even gratuities. They can also be used towards Holland America’s “Have It All” bundle, encompassing a beverage package, shore excursion credit, Wi-Fi, and specialty restaurant dining.
Holland America gift cards are also conveniently accessible through online retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart, and in physical stores such as Target, Publix, Kroger, and Giant Eagle. Certain credit card reward programs even allow point redemption for these cruise line gift cards. It’s important to note that these gift cards are in US dollars, activated upon receipt, non-resalable, and have a daily purchase limit of $10,000 per buyer.
Related: The 4 classes of Holland America ships, explained
Princess Cruises Gift Cards
Princess Cruises mirrors Holland America’s gift card program, offering their own gift cards on their website with denominations from $5 to $2,000. Similar to Holland America, Princess allows personalization of e-gift cards with photos and audio. They also offer classic physical gift cards with free standard shipping for orders over $100 and expedited shipping options.
Princess gift cards are equally flexible, usable for cruise fares, including Princess Plus and Princess Premier all-inclusive packages, and for settling onboard bills at the passenger services desk. This means they can cover specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments, and other onboard indulgences. However, they cannot be used for land excursions on cruisetours, flights booked through Princess, or gratuities.
Like Holland America, Princess gift cards are found at grocery stores such as Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Giant Eagle, and online at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. Availability is limited to US and Canadian residents, with physical cards not shippable to Canada. Online daily purchase limits are set at $10,000 with a maximum of five transactions. Princess gift cards are transferable as they do not bear a name.
Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries
Carnival Cruise Line Gift Cards
Carnival Cruise Line provides online gift cards customizable from $100 to $1,000. You can opt for mailed physical cards, with an option for gift wrapping in a tin for a small fee, or e-gift cards.
Carnival gift cards can be applied towards cruise bookings, pre-purchased shore excursions, spa treatments, beverage packages, and gratuities. For onboard credit, gift cards must be applied at the guest services desk or Sail & Sign kiosk once onboard.
Carnival gift cards boast wide retail availability, exceeding 9,000 outlets, including Best Buy, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Lowe’s, Safeway, Winn-Dixie, and Publix. They are also sold onboard Carnival ships. While there’s no limit to the number of cards you can purchase, online transactions are capped at five gift cards at a time. Carnival gift cards are in US dollars and are not accepted on ships using other currencies. Like Princess, Carnival gift cards are transferable.
Related: Cruise onboard credit: What it is, where to get it and how best to use it
Disney Cruise Line Gift Cards
Disney Cruise Line gift cards, sold online at shopdisney.com, come in preset amounts from $25 to $500. Choose from over 60 Disney-themed physical designs or themed e-gift cards.
These gift cards are also available at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney retail locations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada. In-person purchases allow loading amounts from $15 to $1,000, and cards are reloadable (in-person only).
Disney gift cards are highly versatile, accepted for cruises, shore excursions, onboard merchandise and expenses, Disney-owned properties like Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Adventures by Disney trips, Disney on Broadway, and Disney retail stores. They are also available in preset amounts at retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
Related: 11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise
Norwegian Cruise Line: Exploring NCL Gift Card Alternatives
While Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) discontinued its traditional gift card program in 2021, gifting options for NCL cruises are still available. Instead of an NCL gift card, you can gift onboard credit or spa certificates. Onboard credit comes in increments up to $100, while Mandara Spa certificates are available in $25, $50, and $100 denominations.
To purchase these gifts, you’ll need the recipient’s birth date or booking reservation number. Orders can be placed directly on Norwegian’s website.
CruiseFirst certificates are another unique NCL gift card alternative. These vouchers, purchased at half their value (e.g., pay $150 for a $300 certificate), can be used towards cruises of six days or longer. They are transferable and make a generous gift, essentially doubling the gift amount. However, CruiseFirst certificates have restrictions: a limit of ten per person per purchase, applicability only to new reservations booked at least 120 days out, a limit of one certificate per sailing, and a three-year expiration from purchase. Despite not being a traditional NCL gift card, CruiseFirst offers significant value for future NCL cruisers.
Royal Caribbean Gift Cards
Royal Caribbean, similar to its sister line Celebrity, offers digital prepaid gift cards akin to gift certificates. These are customizable from $50 to $2,000 and delivered digitally.
Royal Caribbean gift cards can be used for cruise fares (with some restrictions) or applied as onboard credit for specialty dining, beverage packages, spa treatments, gift shop purchases, and more. They cannot cover government taxes, fees, gratuities, or casino expenses.
Related: 35 Royal Caribbean cruise tips and tricks that will make your voyage better
Celebrity Cruises Gift Cards
Following the Royal Caribbean model, Celebrity Cruises offers prepaid digital gift cards in customizable amounts from $50 to $2,000. These make excellent gifts for those sailing with Celebrity.
Purchase requires the recipient’s date of birth or reservation information, or by contacting Celebrity’s Customer Support. Like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity gift cards have limitations on shipboard charges, excluding gift shop purchases, casino debts, shore excursions, and gratuities in their coverage.
Celebrity also offers specialty dining certificates priced at $45 each. If the dining cost is less, the balance is applied as onboard credit.
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