Carnival World Mastercard review: Solid welcome bonus with no annual fee
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.
Related: The best no annual fee credit cards
Carnival World Mastercard benefits
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.
The card lacks the travel and shopping protections that many other travel credit cards have, such as trip delay insurance, lost or delayed baggage protection, trip cancellation insurance, extended warranty or purchase protection. The protections can come in handy when you’re facing travel troubles, although you can buy stand-alone insurance policies if you don’t have a credit card that provides them.
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.
Related: 6 valuable travel perks that you can get with a credit card
Earning points on the Carnival World Mastercard
The Carnival Cruise credit card earns FunPoints, which are different from the VIFP Club points you can earn from Carnival’s cruise loyalty program.
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.
Related: Should you get a cruise line credit card? Here's a closer look
Redeeming points on the Carnival World Mastercard
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).
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.
Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
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.
For additional options, see our full list of the best travel rewards credit cards.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
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.
Updated 3/5/2025.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.