The Pros and Cons of a Carnival Cruise Credit Card
By Jessica Ozar; Updated August 11, 2017How a Carnival Cruise credit card can work for you, and how it might not
Sitting by the pool listening to the wind as the ship cuts through the water is the essence of cruise travel. To get there, consider getting a Carnival World MasterCard Credit Card by Barclaycard to earn rewards towards your next cruise.
The Carnival World MasterCard
The Carnival World MasterCard offers 10,000 bonus FunPoints after the first purchase made on the card, plus two FunPoints per dollar on any Carnival Cruise vacation and Carnival Vacation Club purchases, including onboard purchases charged to the Sail and Sign account, and one FunPoint per dollar on all other purchases. This card has chip technology, no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it easy to purchase items while traveling. Additionally, cardholders can benefit from concierge service to help make reservations for dining, hotels, and more.
Redeeming FunPoints
You have several options to redeem FunPoints:
- Redeem FunPoints towards travel purchases in the form of a statement credit. Simply go online to www.BarclaycardUS.com. The bonus 10,000 FunPoints earned after the first purchase is equal to $100.
- Redeem FunPoints for airfare, hotel and car rentals when booking through Barclaycard's Loyalty Edge portal. Redemptions start at 10,000 FunPoints.
- Redeem FunPoints for onboard spa experiences, merchandise or gift certificates starting at 5,000 FunPoints.
Advantages of the card
Frequent cruise goers can easily redeem FunPoints for a free or discounted cruise based upon the amount of FunPoints they earn. Cardholders are not limited to only Carnival Cruises for rewards redemption. FunPoints can be redeemed on cruises from Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Yachts of Seabourn. FunPoints do not expire as long as the credit card remains open, active and in good standing.
Why the card might not work for some travelers
The credit card is not linked with the VIFP club, meaning that cruise goers will not be able to earn extra benefits like priority boarding or cabin upgrades. This card does not offer rewards on other travel, such as booking flights or purchasing gas.
This card may not be the best choice for travelers looking to go on one cruise every few years, as compared to some other travel cards that allow you to earn points more quickly. Chase Ultimate Rewards, for example, allows travelers to redeem points for cruises, and travelers using a Chase travel rewards card earn points on many types of purchases, not only on cruises.