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USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Credit Card
The bonus points help mitigate the cost, but don’t do it just for the points. Unless you cruise with Carnival multiple times a year, you won’t get many chances to earn bonus rewards with this card. When you get your rewards, your redemption options are limited to Carnival and some other cruise lines. Remember those 20,000 bonus FunPoints you can earn after your first purchase? That’s impressive, considering you typically don’t earn rewards on that kind of transaction. 0% Introductory APR on balance transfers that post to your account within 45 days of account opening.
The ongoing rewards are mediocre
If you do not have enough FunPoints to redeem for the full purchase amount, you can only redeem points for $50 statement credits in increments between $50 and $5,000. If guests spend more onboard than they anticipated and run out of cash in their accounts, they will be contacted by Guest Services to deposit more cash. At any time during the cruise, travelers can check their account balances via the Carnival Hub app, through available kiosks, on stateroom televisions (on select ships), or at the Guest Services desk. Carnival Cruise Line – and all major cruise lines – operate on a cashless basis, with shipboard accounts used for all financial transactions. Each guest’s individual account is linked to a method of payment the guest chooses when checking in for the getaway. We've all experienced billing mistakes and the headaches that come with them.
The best credit cards for booking cruises
The stores and boutiques on board sell a wide range of merchandise ranging from tchotchkes and souvenirs to jewelry and electronics. And purchases made at sea are tax-free, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be less expensive than what you find ashore. But, you may find a unique, must-have item or find yourself needing to buy toiletries you forgot to pack, and your OBC can really come in handy. Carnival often gives members of the US or Canadian armed forces special promotions that may include onboard credit.
This may mean that you could risk missing out on some of the most popular tours if they're fully booked by the time you embark. You can also search Cruise Critic's Deals page to snag the best offers available. Whether you work with an individual travel agent or a large online agency, onboard credit is a standard promotional bonus common in the industry. And the larger the agency, the deeper their pockets when it comes to onboard credit. Loyalty is noticed; if you've worked with the same travel agent for every cruise, your OBC amount is likely to build over time.
How Barclays and Carnival Cruise revived a waterlogged card program - American Banker
How Barclays and Carnival Cruise revived a waterlogged card program.
Posted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, recent credit inquiries, number of open accounts, housing... 0% APR for 6 months applies on all Qualifying Carnival Cruise Booking Purchases. As a Mastercard, the card is also well equipped for travel abroad, as it will be widely accepted by merchants everywhere.
Combining his deep knowledge of credit cards, rewards programs, airlines and hotels with his unique style and sense of humor, Jon makes the complex web of these programs more fun and easy to understand. So if you plan to make sizable purchases at your ports of call, it may be wiser to choose a card with no foreign transaction fees. Whether you dream of sailing up a Norwegian fjord or of calling in at a faraway island port, a cruise presents an appealing vacation option. If your goal involves loading up on points and miles to redeem toward a maritime adventure or you’re looking for a card with cruise-related benefits, you’re in the right place.
Active and retired military members are always eligible for reduced rates, but OBC isn't included in this permanent deal; you'll have to be on the lookout for time-limited promotions in order to snag the credit. Another sure-fire way to earn those precious credits is by investing in the company, a common perk among major cruise lines. At Carnival, you're entitled to $50 OBC on cruises of 6 days or less, $100 on cruises of 7-13 days and $250 on longer if you own a minimum of 100 shares. If you do plan to apply for the card and have high-interest credit card debt, seriously consider using the card’s balance transfer promotion.
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. Cash can also be used in the ship’s casino, or guests can use their Sail & Sign accounts for gambling if funds are available. For accounts set up with credit cards, daily limits do apply for casino play.
The Carnival™ World MasterCard® offers a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for each balance transfer that posts to your account within the first 45 days of card opening. There’s a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the transferred balance, whichever is greater. After the promotional period, you’ll have a variable balance transfer and purchase APR of 14.99%, 19.99% or 23.99%. Many credit cards require that you spend a certain amount before qualifying for a sign-up bonus, but this one doesn’t.
Additionally, cardholders can benefit from concierge service to help make reservations for dining, hotels, and more. Spend just enough on the cruise card to access the initial bonuses and then only use it to pay for cruise-specific purchases. Given the weaker sign-up bonuses, lack of travel protections and significant spending required to earn a free cruise, cruise line credit cards pale in comparison to travel rewards credit cards. If you decide to apply for a credit card of any type, review our guide to application rules from each bank.
But if you go on only one or two cruises a year at most, you might be better off with a general travel credit card that generates more rewards on everyday spending and allows you to use your rewards to book cruises. While this introductory offer is a good deal for a travel card, if getting out of debt is the goal — other balance transfer credit cards can offer a longer interest-free window. Plus, it's generally not advisable to charge large purchases, like travel, on a balance transfer card if your main objective is to get out of debt. As of April 2023, the Carnival World Mastercard offers 25,000 FunPoints after spending $500 within the first 90 days.
However, these cards often limit you to using your rewards based on that specific partner’s rewards program. General travel credit cards, on the other hand, typically offer rewards that you can redeem for just about any travel purchases. A general travel credit — one that's not tied to any specific brand — will be much more straightforward and flexible. One example is the $0-annual-fee Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.
If you ask us if you should get a cruise line credit card, the answer in most cases will be "no." If you’re loyal to a travel brand, getting these special perks can be worth it. Before you choose one, though, consider the whole package, including rewards, fees and other features. You are a big fan of Carnival Cruise Lines and have an upcoming trip (or trips) planned. It may also be a good option if you have high-interest debt that you would like to transfer and pay off while taking advantage of the 0% for 15 billing cycles introductory rate.
One payment method (one single card, for example) may be used for up to 15 guests, making it easy to set up accounts for families or other groups. Please refer to the Introductory Bonus Offer section of the Terms and Conditions for more information about the introductory offer. Please refer to the Reward Rules within the Terms and Conditions for additional information about the rewards program. Forbes Advisor uses data from multiple government agencies to determine how much a typical cardholder might spend.
The Carnival Cruise credit card earns FunPoints, which are different from the VIFP Club points you can earn from Carnival's cruise loyalty program. Frequent Carnival Cruise Line cruisers looking for ways to get a discount on their vacations might find some value in the Carnival World Mastercard, issued by Barclays. However, the card's earning rates aren't the best, and you might do better using a general travel card to rack up points or cash back. That method of payment may be select major credit or debit cards, traveler’s checks, or cash.
