Anyone have a Carnival FunPoints Mastercard?

[squierjosh]

Has anyone enrolled in the Carnival Mastercard program? I got an email AND a direct mail piece with the offer to earn points toward cruises or onboard credit. Is it like points for flying that are impossible to redeem or find a decent itinerary? Since they give you a point for every dollar you charge, I assume it takes thousands of points to get any discount. This is very tempting, as we love cruises but won't be able to go on another one for a few years (started a family).

 

FYI: I pay my credit cards off every month, so if it has a high interest rate, that doesn't really bother me.

 

Thanks!

[aeneas3]

we have had one since before our last cruise in 2007. Carnival has changed banks many many times since then. Barclay is my least favorite bank but the current program is ok. there are better credit cards that have better % back, better rewards, easier ways to redeem points/cash, and better perks and coverage for purchases. we ONLY use our card onboard so that we can redeem points to get statement credit for onboard purchases. waiting for purchases from last week to hit the card. some important limits to points: you have to redeem points for onboard credit pre-cruise 2 weeks prior to the cruise, you have to book the cruise with points more than 2 weeks prior to the cruise (I think).

 

hope this helps :)

 

ps

what may be a good option for you:

sign up

get bonus points (may require a purchase)

use card as your sign and sail

redeem bonus points for statement credit after your cruise OR use bonus points for OBC

 

ps ps

long paste here for the fun points program

 

Carnival Mastercard® with FunPoints®

 

What is the Carnival MasterCard with FunPoints®?

The new Carnival MasterCard introduces the FunPoints® Rewards program. With FunPoints®, Carnival MasterCard customers can redeem for statement credit or use FunPoints® to redeem for an onboard gift.

 

Your new Carnival MasterCard with FunPoints® will offer so many reward options that your only challenge will be deciding which reward to choose.

 

Where do I book my cruise purchase in order to redeem points?

With FunPoints® you control when you redeem! You do not have to redeem points when you book your travel because booking your travel and redeeming points are separate transactions. Book when it's convenient, then choose to redeem FunPoints® when it's convenient!

 

Book your cruise as you do today. Examples include:

With Carnival at http://www.carnival.com or call 1-800-CARNIVAL

Online through http://www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com

Directly with the cruise line

Travel Agent

Then, redeem points when it's convenient. Log in to access your account at http://www.BarclaycardUS.com and choose the redemption option that you prefer:

Redeem for full or partial statement credit

Redeem for onboard gifts

 

How can I confirm my Carnival MasterCard with FunPoints® points balance?

Confirm your FunPoints® balance by logging into your account at http://www.BarclaycardUS.com. Monthly statements for the account will also reflect your FunPoints® balance.

 

What bank issues the Carnival MasterCard with FunPoints®?

The Carnival MasterCard with FunPoints® is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware.

 

Who is Barclays, and how I can find additional information about them?

Barclays Bank Delaware is the U.S. credit card operations of Barclays PLC. Full information can be found by visiting http://www.BarclaycardUS.com.

 

How can I contact Customer Service for the Carnival MasterCard?

You can reach the Customer Care Department by calling 1-866-255-1304.

 

What if I want to cancel my Carnival MasterCard card?

Please contact the Customer Care Department at 1-866-255-1304.

 

Back to Top

 

FunPoints®

 

What are FunPoints®?

Use your new Carnival MasterCard and earn FunPoints®. You can redeem your FunPoints® for all or a portion of your cruise, airfare, onboard gifts, spa treatments and more.

 

What can I do with Carnival MasterCard FunPoints®?

With your new Carnival MasterCard, you can redeem your FunPoints® for:

Cruise discounts on the World's Leading Cruise Lines

Onboard gifts such as champagne, roses and much more

Onboard credits for spa and special occasions

Any Carnival Cruise Lines purchase including Sail & Sign® purchases made with your Carnival MasterCard

You will continue to earn 2 FunPoints® for every $1 spent on all Carnival Cruise Lines purchases and 1 FunPoint® for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

 

How do I earn FunPoints®?

Earn FunPoints® in the following amounts based upon the type of purchase transaction charged to the Account:

2 FunPoints® per $1 on ALL Carnival Cruise purchases,

2 FunPoints® per $1 on any purchases charged to the Sail and Sign account onboard any Carnival cruise ship, and

1 FunPoint® per $1 spent on all other transactions.

There is no limit to how many FunPoints® you can earn!

 

Will Authorized Users earn FunPoints® as well?

Yes, Authorized users earn FunPonts® as well! All FunPoints® earned are assigned to the Primary Cardholder's account.

 

How do credits or returns reflect in my FunPoints® balance?

Credits and returns will reduce your FunPoints® balance.

 

Will all transactions made with my Carnival MasterCard earn FunPoints®?

Not all transactions earn FunPoints®. Unless otherwise specified (such as within a promotional offer), transactions that are not eligible include, but are not limited to:

Cash advances including ATM withdrawals

PIN-based Debit Card transactions

Money orders

Balance transfers

Convenience checks

Drafts

Fees, finance charges

Purchases made on a line of credit and travelers check purchases

Cash Advances at the Casino are not eligible for rewards

Are FunPoints® rounded?

For the purposes of calculating FunPoints®, qualifying transactions are rounded up or down to the closest whole dollar amount as follows:

$0.50 to $.99 will be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar

$0.01 to $.49 will be rounded down to the nearest whole dollar.

For example, a qualifying purchase in the amount of $49.49, will be awarded 49 FunPoints®, but if the transaction amount is $49.50, 50 FunPoints® will be awarded.

 

When will FunPoints® be added to my account?

FunPoints® will be awarded to your account and available for use within one week of the date the transaction posts to your Carnival MasterCard account. Keep in mind that some purchases take longer to post than others, especially those made overseas.

 

Which purchases are eligible for point redemption for statement credit?

Redeem your FunPoints® for a statement credit when you use your Carnival MasterCard for a purchase with Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line or for select airline transactions! Purchases of $50 or more at these merchant locations will qualify. The amount of FunPoints® needed to redeem will vary by transaction.

 

What if I do not have a purchase that is eligible for point redemption?

If you do not have a purchase that is eligible for redemption, then use the card for purchases of $50 or more with one or more of the following merchants:

Carnival Cruise Lines

Costa Cruises

Cunard Line

Holland America Line

Princess Cruises

Seabourn Cruise Line

Airline purchases

Once that transaction posts to the account, you will have 180 days to redeem your FunPoints®.

 

How do I redeem my Carnival MasterCard FunPoints® for Onboard Gifts?

You can redeem FunPoints® up to 15 days before your cruise begins. To redeem FunPoints® for Onboard Gifts, follow these easy steps:

Log in to access your account at http://www.BarclaycardUS.com

Click on the Rewards tab and select "Redeem FunPoints."

Select the "Onboard Gifts" option. Upon selection, items will be added to your shopping cart. You must provide your cruise details and then confirm your redemption choices to successfully redeem FunPoints®.

Your choice(s) will automatically update your FunPoints® balance, and your gift will be ready on the gift delivery date specified.

 

How can I redeem my Carnival MasterCard FunPoints® for statement credit?

You can redeem FunPoints® right away! With the statement credit redemption option, you can choose to redeem for full credit for eligible purchases, or for partial credit of eligible purchases. To redeem FunPoints®, follow these easy steps:

Log in to access your account at http://www.BarclaycardUS.com

Click on the Rewards tab and select "Redeem FunPoints."

Select the "Pay with FunPoints®" option.

Options for redemption will be presented to you, and you should choose the redemption option that most appeals to you. Once you have confirmed your redemption option the Statement credit will typically appear within 72 hours of completing the redemption request and will immediately reflect in your FunPoints® balance. The statement credit will appear as a "Credit Amount" on your statement within one billing cycle after the FunPoints® are redeemed.

 

Is there a cap or a maximum number of FunPoints® that I can earn using my Carnival MasterCard card??

No, an unlimited number of FunPoints® may be earned.

 

Will my Carnival MasterCard FunPoints® expire after a certain time period if they go unused?

FunPoints® will expire and be forfeited 5 years from the date of issuance, or if the account is closed for any reason by you or by Barclays.

 

How can I track my rewards and redemptions?

Monthly Statement

Your monthly Carnival MasterCard statement will display your current rewards balance and a summary of the net FunPoints® you have earned and redeemed that period.

 

Online

Go to http://www.BarclaycardUS.com to register and manage your account online. Once logged in, you can view your monthly statement and see how many FunPoints® you have earned as well as how many FunPoints® you redeemed.

 

How will I know how many FunPoints® I have accumulated?

You can view your FunPoints® balance and redemption history by signing onto your Carnival MasterCard account online at http://www.BarclaycardUS.com. Click the Rewards tab to view or redeem FunPoints®.

 

Your FunPoints® balance is also available to you on your monthly billing statements, or via telephone by calling toll free, 1-866-255-1304. Option 4 will take you right to Rewards information.

 

Will I lose my FunPoints® if I close my account?

Yes. FunPoints® earned on or transferred to the Carnival MasterCard card will be forfeited upon closure of your account for any reason whether by you or by us.

 

Will I still need to make a payment if I use my FunPoints® for a statement credit?

If you revolve your balance, statement credits that result from redeeming FunPoints® will not be applied to the minimum payment due. Unless that credit serves to pay your previous balance for the current billing cycle in full, a minimum payment will be needed to keep your account in good standing.

 

When can I redeem my FunPoints®?

You can start redeeming your FunPoints® as soon as FunPoints® are posted to your account, providing your account is open and in good standing. FunPoints® balances are adjusted daily as purchase activity posts to the account. Authorizations, or pending transactions do not impact your FunPoints® balance.

 

Can I redeem FunPoints® if I'm an authorized user on this account?

If you are an authorized user, you may redeem FunPoints® online as long as you have approval from the primary Cardmember and can provide his or her security information to access the account.

 

What if I'm close to redeeming but don't have enough FunPoints®?

Earn more FunPoints® by using your card for new purchases. All qualifying purchases earn FunPoints®.

 

What if I disagree with my FunPoints® balance?

It's possible that your FunPoints® have not posted to your account yet. Transactions and associated FunPoints® typically post within 7 days of your purchase.

 

If your transaction has posted to the account and you still disagree with the point balance, call 1-866-255-1304 (302-255-8888 outside the U.S.) to speak with a Carnival MasterCard representative. Representatives are available .

 

Can I book my Carnival purchase and redeem my FunPoints® for statement credit at the same time?

No. FunPoints® are redeemed for statement credit after the transaction posts to the account. Transactions typically post within 7 days of booking your trip with FunPoints® posting the same day. Once the Carnival purchase transaction posts to your account and reflects in the account balance, you have 180 days to redeem for statement credit.

Edited October 4, 2010 by aeneas3

[smack22]

I have one and used it to get OBC (on board credit) for my cruise in 7 days! Sounds good to me!

[squierjosh]

What do you mean use as sign and sail, if I'm not planning on cruising for a couple of years? Are you just saying when I do cruise to use it, sicne I'd receive double points?

 

I think after doing some research, what we would most likely want to use it for is to have onboard credit or to purchase spa services or something special. So I'd have to do that 2 weeks before the cruise? That's no problem, as we usually book that stuff way ahead of time anyway.

 

 

 

ps

what may be a good option for you:

sign up

get bonus points (may require a purchase)

use card as your sign and sail

redeem bonus points for statement credit after your cruise OR use bonus points for OBC

[toad455]

I am cruising for free this coming January thanks to this credit card. It took 5 years to get all the points needed, but it was worth the wait. And considering how I likely wouldn't have be able to go on a cruise due to some financial problems this year, I'm very thankful to have signed up for this credit card.

[squierjosh]

That's good to hear! I think I'm gonna go ahead and get the card and transfer a couple other cards to it. Do all purchases earn points? LIke if I used it to by gas every month for a few years, would that work?

 

I am cruising for free this coming January thanks to this credit card. It took 5 years to get all the points needed, but it was worth the wait. And considering how I likely wouldn't have be able to go on a cruise due to some financial problems this year, I'm very thankful to have signed up for this credit card.

[aeneas3]

 

 

ps

what may be a good option for you:

sign up

get bonus points (may require a purchase)

use card as your sign and sail

redeem bonus points for statement credit after your cruise OR use bonus points for OBC

 

sorry what I meant was this:

sign up for the card and get your bonus points.

you may then use the card bonus points to get

1. money off on your booking by redeeming your points OR

2. use points for OBC OR

3. when you go on your cruise you can use the card as your sign and sail credit card and after the cruise use your bonus points to get statement credit for your sign and sign purchases. sorry if I did not explain myself :)

Your points should be there if you get the bonus points now and use them in a few years. We have had ours on the card for 3 years.

I think that compared to other credit cards, the % back and perks for this carnival card makes everyday use of this card not advisable. You can get better rewards and better protection/perks from other cards and then use their cash back/points programs towards other things. You will save more money this way.

 

hope that all makes sense :) sorry for not explaining it well enough earlier.

Edited October 4, 2010 by aeneas3

[aeneas3]

That's good to hear! I think I'm gonna go ahead and get the card and transfer a couple other cards to it. Do all purchases earn points? LIke if I used it to by gas every month for a few years, would that work?

 

yes all purchases earn points but there are MUCH better cards out there for daily use. the best way to use this card is to get the bonus points for your one purchase or whatever the requirements are now. then do not use the card except on your cruise or to book the cruise if they have a bonus offer.

for example we use amex or a citibank diamond rewards mastercard for everyday use and just use this carnival card when we are on the boat as our credit card for sign and sail :)

 

fatwallet has an excellent finance forum with a credit card selection thread. there are a few "best credit card for me" online engines.

[Julienatul]

yup, cruising for free in a few days. It takes a little while to build up points just like frequent flier miles but its great when you can cash in. You can also use points to get onboard credit, spa credit and bon voyage gifts. It is well worth it

[OSUKNIGHT]

I use mine for CCL excursions. I get one free excursion using points every cruise. :)

[beach410]

I have it, I like it, used it for our last cruise, cruised for about $150 plus on board expenses. The program is much better now then it used to be, very simple to use and redeem points. I like that the points are dollar for dollar, other cards I have are not, its less. I like that I just received double points for the purchases I made for the cruise and on the cruise as well.

[okwriter]

Since you're looking to earn points toward a cruise that you aren't taking for several years, I'll pass along my experience.

 

I just signed up earlier this year (February?). I already have 15,000 points and just keep accumulating them. By using them on my two upcoming cruises and continuing to use them for everyday purchases for a few years, I plan to save enough points for a very nice cruise.

 

Like you, I pay our balance off monthly, so interest is irrelevant. A couple of things I really like about Barclay: they send me an email when they mail my statement; they send me an email reminder about my upcoming payment; and they email me when my payment is received. Their online interface is very user friendly, making it easy to check my pending and authorized transactions any time.

 

Do a search here for Carnival Mastercard or Fun Points and you'll find more threads on the subject. Good luck with whatever you decide!

[EmmasNana]

I have been using my NCL mastercard and have been wondering since now I travel with Carnival more often if the Carnival cc would be more beneficial. With this card I am using I get 1 point per $ spent and certain places(on occasion) are more points.

There are also some times where I can get extra points for other things.

 

 

I charge everything that can be charged and pay off every month.

 

This year, not counting the 1 point per dollar(which so far has been $75o, I have received $50ish.

 

Since I do more Carnival now than NCL, would the carnival card be woth it to change to? I don't want to keep swapping cards. I am also looking at the capital one card too.

If I change one more time...which would be better? My DH is getting PO'd when I want to change cards for the main charging one.

[Lake Erie Sailor]

Has anyone enrolled in the Carnival Mastercard program? I got an email AND a direct mail piece with the offer to earn points toward cruises or onboard credit. Is it like points for flying that are impossible to redeem or find a decent itinerary? Since they give you a point for every dollar you charge, I assume it takes thousands of points to get any discount. This is very tempting, as we love cruises but won't be able to go on another one for a few years (started a family).

 

FYI: I pay my credit cards off every month, so if it has a high interest rate, that doesn't really bother me.

 

Thanks!

 

Congrats on the new family!

 

If you use it for everyday purchases, then by the time you are ready to cruise, you should have enough points to at least cover most of your cruise, since you pay for your cruise and then use the points to pay that part of the charge. We tried to use it to pay part of a charge that was more than our points, but could not figure out how to make a partial payment on our last cruise, so this time I paid my deposit and then covered the charge. Then went back and made another payment that was just under the number of points I had accumulated (they make this easy to figure out). Hoping this month I can do the same before our final payment. (If not, we still got a very cheap cruise.)

[aeneas3]

I have been using my NCL mastercard and have been wondering since now I travel with Carnival more often if the Carnival cc would be more beneficial. With this card I am using I get 1 point per $ spent and certain places(on occasion) are more points.

There are also some times where I can get extra points for other things.

 

 

I charge everything that can be charged and pay off every month.

 

This year, not counting the 1 point per dollar(which so far has been $75o, I have received $50ish.

 

Since I do more Carnival now than NCL, would the carnival card be woth it to change to? I don't want to keep swapping cards. I am also looking at the capital one card too.

If I change one more time...which would be better? My DH is getting PO'd when I want to change cards for the main charging one.

 

the card is beneficial for the bonus points you get for signing up and making a purchase - if you can find a bonus for signing up. then you can use those points for obc or towards a cruise. see above.

 

for everyday use this is NOT a good card.

 

You may be able to accrue enough bonuses to get a free cruise in 5 years but over that time you could have earned 33% - 100% more in rewards with other cards. American Express Blue Sky is a decent everyday purchase card that gives rewards towards travel.

 

see a review of the card here

Edited October 5, 2010 by aeneas3

[EmmasNana]

Well OK, thanks... I think I will be better off with what I have or going with the capital one deal. I definetly like being able to getting cash back over OBC or ...whatever...

[Lady_Jag]

Sorry, I was lazy and didn't read the other replies. I just wanted to state that it is EASY to earn and redeem points. I got my card on my Carnival Dream cruise in June and already redeemed my points for $50 payments (NOT OBC) 3 times already. (I pay off my statement every month as well.)

Edited October 5, 2010 by Lady_Jag

[truchattycathy]

I have a Carnival M/C and honestly I don't use it that much, but knowing the points expire after 5 years, I cashed mine in for onboard credit. It was simple. Like previously stated, there are other cards out there that have better earning potential.

[willyguy]

Thank for the information.

[papilliontraveler]

Same here, will be cruising next March for free, balcony room on the Glory. Took 4yrs. to build up enough points. I started in 2006 and things were different then. You could use the points for all cruise lines, resorts, air, etc. A couple of years ago they changed things. I do like the points calculator they now have.

I too, pay my card off every month, so I don't mind the high interest rate.

[happy40th]

I have a Carnival M/C and honestly I don't use it that much, but knowing the points expire after 5 years, I cashed mine in for onboard credit. It was simple. Like previously stated, there are other cards out there that have better earning potential.

 

My dad got the CC credit card. Where can I see a chart to see how many points he needs to get $50 OBC, $100 OBC...?

[DGP1111]

My dad got the CC credit card. Where can I see a chart to see how many points he needs to get $50 OBC, $100 OBC...?

 

http://www.carnivalfunpoints.com/mvt/

 

Click on "Learn More", and then go to Page 2 for some sample points redemption. I hope this link is of assistance. :)

[disneyden]

Since you're looking to earn points toward a cruise that you aren't taking for several years, I'll pass along my experience.

 

I just signed up earlier this year (February?). I already have 15,000 points and just keep accumulating them. By using them on my two upcoming cruises and continuing to use them for everyday purchases for a few years, I plan to save enough points for a very nice cruise.

 

Like you, I pay our balance off monthly, so interest is irrelevant. A couple of things I really like about Barclay: they send me an email when they mail my statement; they send me an email reminder about my upcoming payment; and they email me when my payment is received. Their online interface is very user friendly, making it easy to check my pending and authorized transactions any time.

 

Do a search here for Carnival Mastercard or Fun Points and you'll find more threads on the subject. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

With this card, can you sign up for automatic payments?

All of my bills are automatically paid each month and I love it!

[okwriter]

With this card, can you sign up for automatic payments?

All of my bills are automatically paid each month and I love it!

 

Yes, you can! I don't choose that option because I pay out of different accounts (personal, business, etc.), but YES, you can do that.

[horse1]

Hi, I have used the funpoints for a free 4 day cruise to the Bahamas. It may take time to earn enough points, but, it sure feels good to go on a free cruise.

 

Do any of the other cards that give you rewards have annual fees? This card does not. I think the Amex card has a quite large annual fee. To me a card with a fee is no bargin.