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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Carnival World Mastercard review: Solid welcome bonus with no annual fee
Senitra is a credit cards expert and TPG contributor. Senitra spent seven years working in marketing, has been a freelance writer for numerous websites and worked as a full-time reporter and editor for several daily and weekly newspapers in Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She has been quoted on her credit card expertise in MarketWatch, Consumer Reports and Kiplinger.
January 29, 2024 • 9 min read
KRISTY TOLLEY/THE POINTS GUY
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note:
Quick summary
A cruise line credit card offers a straightforward welcome bonus and no foreign transaction fees, appealing to frequent cruisers seeking discounts.
The card provides a 10% discount on shore excursion packages booked before sailing, but lacks travel insurance protections and elite cruise status benefits.
Rewards are earned in a proprietary points system, with the best redemption value found on eligible cruise purchases and onboard amenities.
Redemption values vary and the process can be complex compared to other cruise cards, making it less ideal for everyday spending.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Points do not expire and there is no cap on earning, but redemptions for non-cruise purchases yield lower value.
Statement credits for cruise purchases require a minimum redemption amount and must be made within 180 days of the purchase posting.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of cruise line cards versus general travel cards, including which types of travelers each option best serves.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Related stories
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Carnival® World Mastercard® overview
The Carnival® World Mastercard® is a solid offering from the cruise line known for being affordable and fun. The card has an easy-to-earn welcome bonus, no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. There are some drawbacks, namely the lack of benefits, such as travel insurance protections or elite status with the cruise line, and an unnecessarily complex rewards redemption structure. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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.
This card has no annual fee and has a recommended credit score of at least 700.
Let’s check out the details of the Carnival World Mastercard.
The information for the Carnival cruise credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Carnival World Mastercard welcome offer
The Carnival World Mastercard is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 20,000 FunPoints after your first purchase or balance transfer. The 20,000 FunPoints can be redeemed as a statement credit of $200 off your next cruise purchase. The welcome bonus is a decent offer, considering that the card has no annual fee, and you can make one small purchase (like a pack of gum) and get an easy $200.
The Carnival cruise credit card’s two big highlights are that it has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Cardmembers also receive a 10% discount on shore excursion packages (taxes and fees not included) when purchased on Carnival.com prior to sailing. The 10% is returned to you as a statement credit on your card.
As a World Mastercard, the card does have a few benefits. These include a complimentary ShopRunner membership and cellphone protection with up to $1,000 in yearly coverage (with a maximum of two claims per year, for up to $600 per claim, $50 deductible) if your phone is damaged or stolen.
The Carnival Cruise credit card earns FunPoints, which are different from the VIFP Club points you can earn from Carnival’s cruise loyalty program.
Carnival Horizon. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
The card’s earning rates are less than ideal. Cardmembers earn 2 FunPoints for every dollar spent on any purchases with Carnival Cruise Line and the other Carnival Corporation brands (including AIDA, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia and Seabourn Cruise Line), and 1 FunPoint for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
There is no limit to the total FunPoints you can earn, and your FunPoints will not expire, which are two upsides to this card.
You could earn more rewards using credit cards that earn bonus points on specific category spending, such as travel, dining, gas and groceries. The Carnival World Mastercard is probably not a card to use for all your everyday spending because it would take a long time to earn a substantial amount of FunPoints.
You can redeem FunPoints for statement credits toward Carnival purchases, onboard amenities, gift cards, merchandise and travel (including airfare, hotel and car rentals when you book through InComm InCentives on the Barclays website or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card).
Seabourn Encore's spa. SEABOURN CRUISES
Redemption values vary with the Carnival cruise credit card, which makes redeeming points less straightforward than with competitor cruise cards, like the Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® and the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® Credit Card.
You’ll get the best value by redeeming your FunPoints on eligible Carnival purchases and onboard amenities. At best, you’ll get 1.5 cents per point in value.
Redemption values are as follows:
Carnival Cruise Line purchases from $50 to $1,499.99 are at a 1% value, so you would need 5,000 FunPoints to receive a $50 statement credit.
Carnival purchases from $1,500 to $5,000 are at a 1.5% value, so you would need 100,000 FunPoints for a $1,500 statement credit.
All redemptions for the World’s Leading Cruise Lines are at a 1% value, and redemptions start at 10,000 FunPoints.
Airline or hotel statement credit redemptions are at a .9% value.
Redemptions for gift cards start at 3,300 FunPoints for $25.
Rates for onboard amenities and merchandise vary and are not specified in the card’s terms and conditions.
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.
You can redeem your FunPoints either by phone or by logging in to your card account online. For statement credits, purchases must have been posted to your account within the prior 180 days.
The information for the Norwegian Cruise Line credit card and the Royal Caribbean credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Which cards compete with the Carnival World Mastercard?
Our advice to cruise lovers is usually to get a general travel rewards credit card, like one of the following:
If you want to earn more points on your travel purchases: Check out the American Express® Green Card. It earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruises. This means you'll earn bonus points on the cruise booking and any airfare or hotel purchases you make to get to and from your cruise. The card has a $150 annual fee but also includes several travel protections and has annual statement credits for Clear Plus and LoungeBuddy. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Green.
If you want a card with simpler earning and redeeming: Try the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. It also has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases that can be redeemed for travel or dining purchases. For more information, read our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.
If you want to earn flexible rewards: Try the Chase Sapphire Preferred (see rates and fees). For a $95 annual fee, you'll enjoy 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar spent on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Is the Carnival World Mastercard worth it?
Being able to make a single purchase (or do a balance transfer) and receive a welcome bonus helps make this card worth considering for frequent Carnival cruisers. When looking at the card’s overall earning structure and redemption options, you still might do better signing up for a general travel card to earn a bigger welcome bonus or using a card that offers more points per dollar on everyday spending.
Bottom line
The Carnival World Mastercard is a budget-friendly option for fans of Carnival Cruise Line. However, its lack of ongoing rewards and compelling perks might dissuade most travelers from keeping this card long-term.
