Carnival MasterCard

[DebbieMo]

Anyone use carnival credit card?. Were you able to redeem points for your cruise?

 

 

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[firemanbobswife]

There are many threads on this topic. If you do a search, you should find all the info you are looking for :)

[ShakyBeef]

Yes, I have the Carnival FunPoints MC. I've had it since 2005 and have taken 3 free cruises with the points I've accrued. I currently have somewhere over 165,000 FPs waiting to be cashed in for another statement credit after my next cruise. Give me a minute and I'll post some thread links here where the pros / cons / of and tips and tricks for the card have been discussed...

 

And don't hesitate to ask questions. I'll help if I can.:)

[ready2cruzagain]

There was another thread a couple of days ago about people having problems redeeming their points for the past few weeks. I just redeemed mine twice and had no problem at all.

[tropicaledrink]

I wonder if you are asking about something I am also curious about...I've been trying to redeem some points, and I keep getting an "error" message. Both on the app and on my computer - anyone else having this issue?

[DebbieMo]

There are many threads on this topic. If you do a search, you should find all the info you are looking for :)

 

Doh, I should have done that. Thanks :)

[DebbieMo]

Yes, I have the Carnival FunPoints MC. I've had it since 2005 and have taken 3 free cruises with the points I've accrued. I currently have somewhere over 165,000 FPs waiting to be cashed in for another statement credit after my next cruise. Give me a minute and I'll post some thread links here where the pros / cons / of and tips and tricks for the card have been discussed...

 

And don't hesitate to ask questions. I'll help if I can.:)

 

Nice!! Thanks :)

[DebbieMo]

I wonder if you are asking about something I am also curious about...I've been trying to redeem some points, and I keep getting an "error" message. Both on the app and on my computer - anyone else having this issue?

 

Are you sure you have enough points for what you are trying to redeem? I read that you have to have all the points. Maybe someone else woth experience can help.

[breckbird]

I wonder if you are asking about something I am also curious about...I've been trying to redeem some points, and I keep getting an "error" message. Both on the app and on my computer - anyone else having this issue?

yes having the same problem

[ShakyBeef]

DebbieMo,

 

Here are just a few of the more recent threads about the card:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1973605

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2314847

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2095352

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2011082

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2093792

 

There's lots of info and experience from those of us who have and use the card, and plenty of pro- and anti-Carnival MC opinions offered within. Let me know if you have any specific questions.:)

 

Happy reading.:)

[DebbieMo]

DebbieMo,

 

Here are just a few of the more recent threads about the card:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1973605

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2314847

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2095352

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2011082

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2093792

 

There's lots of info and experience from those of us who have and use the card, and plenty of pro- and anti-Carnival MC opinions offered within. Let me know if you have any specific questions.:)

 

Happy reading.:)

 

 

Thank you so much for doing this [emoji3]. This will probably give me more than enough info but if I have any questions I'll let you know.

 

 

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[ShakyBeef]

Unless Barclay's changed the way they do it, you do not have to have the FPs to cover the full amount of a qualifying purchase for a statement refund. You can cash in all or some of your points towards the amount, and get a portion of the purchase amount "paid back" to you.

 

Huh, I hadn't heard about this redemption problem people are having.:confused: I guess it's time for me to go look up another thread, and do some reading on the subject, myself:o...

[ShakyBeef]

Thank you so much for doing this [emoji3]. This will probably give me more than enough info but if I have any questions I'll let you know.

 

 

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You're very welcome! Enjoy. I'm a fan of the card (which will be pretty obvious after you read a few of my many posts on the subject:o). The way I use it has gotten me several thousands of $$$ back (statement credits) in just 11 years. It's been totally Free Cruising Money:D - I've never paid a penny in fees or interest. ...I only wish I had switched over from using my debit card for everything to a rewards card like this years before I did.

[tropicaledrink]

Are you sure you have enough points for what you are trying to redeem? I read that you have to have all the points. Maybe someone else woth experience can help.

 

I've had the card for 5 years, and haven't had this problem. :) I'm honestly not sure what is going on, and I haven't had time to call. I'll try to call next week if it isn't fixed by then!

[DebbieMo]

You're very welcome! Enjoy. I'm a fan of the card (which will be pretty obvious after you read a few of my many posts on the subject:o). The way I use it has gotten me several thousands of $$$ back (statement credits) in just 11 years. It's been totally Free Cruising Money:D - I've never paid a penny in fees or interest. ...I only wish I had switched over from using my debit card for everything to a rewards card like this years before I did.

 

 

Haha, I noticed :). I will follow your advice and pay my utilities and whatever else I can on it. Quick question so I make sure I understand this fully. What situations do you only have 6 months to redeem your points? Is that after you've used the card to pay your on board expenses?

 

 

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[ShakyBeef]

Haha, I noticed :). I will follow your advice and pay my utilities and whatever else I can on it. Quick question so I make sure I understand this fully. What situations do you only have 6 months to redeem your points? Is that after you've used the card to pay your on board expenses?

 

 

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You have 180 days (6 months) after the date any qualifying purchase (a purchase for which you can get "paid back" via a statement credit) is made to cash in FunPoints for that purchase. After 180 days, that qualifying purchase "expires", and disappears off your list of possibilities for refunds.

 

So, for instance, after returning home from my September 2016 cruise, after I have paid off my S&S balance with my MC, I'll log into my Barclay's account, go to the "Pay with FunPoints" section, and pick which of my qualifying purchases I want to cash in my FPs for - my final cruise fare payment, or my S&S balance. Both will be well within the 180 day limit, but my initial cruise deposit and booking of my shore excursion (paid in February) will by then have expired as qualifying for a statement credit.

 

If all of your qualifying purchases "expire" before you get around to cashing in points for them, you still have your points. Just keep adding to them, and you can cash them in on the next qualifying purchase you make.

 

Qualifying purchases are any from Carnival, and Carnival Corp.-owned line (HAL, Princess, Costa, etc.), and any hotel or airfare. But the best redemption rate is for Carnival purchases.

[DebbieMo]

You have 180 days (6 months) after the date any qualifying purchase (a purchase for which you can get "paid back" via a statement credit) is made to cash in FunPoints for that purchase. After 180 days, that qualifying purchase "expires", and disappears off your list of possibilities for refunds.

 

So, for instance, after returning home from my September 2016 cruise, after I have paid off my S&S balance with my MC, I'll log into my Barclay's account, go to the "Pay with FunPoints" section, and pick which of my qualifying purchases I want to cash in my FPs for - my final cruise fare payment, or my S&S balance. Both will be well within the 180 day limit, but my initial cruise deposit and booking of my shore excursion (paid in February) will by then have expired as qualifying for a statement credit.

 

If all of your qualifying purchases "expire" before you get around to cashing in points for them, you still have your points. Just keep adding to them, and you can cash them in on the next qualifying purchase you make.

 

Qualifying purchases are any from Carnival, and Carnival Corp.-owned line (HAL, Princess, Costa, etc.), and any hotel or airfare. But the best redemption rate is for Carnival purchases.

 

 

Ok, so it's not like you lose it. You will just have to redeem it next time which also gives you a chance to accrue more points before redeeming. So you are not forced to use your 2000 points when having 5000 would give you a better return for example.

 

 

 

 

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[ShakyBeef]

Ok, so it's not like you lose it. You will just have to redeem it next time which also gives you a chance to accrue more points before redeeming. So you are not forced to use your 2000 points when having 5000 would give you a better return for example.

 

 

 

 

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Correct. You don't lose your FunPoints, you just lose the chance to redeem them for that particular purchase.

 

As of the last time I checked (years ago), FunPoints did expire after 5 years. But recently, I think I saw someone post that they don't expire. So I'm about to go over to Barclay's and check on that...

 

ETA: Hooray! Barclay's has lifted the 5 year expiration on FunPoints! From the Barclay's site: "As long as your card is open, active and in good standing, your FunPoints do not expire." :D

Edited March 4, 2016 by ShakyBeef

[DebbieMo]

Correct. You don't lose your FunPoints, you just lose the chance to redeem them for that particular purchase.

 

As of the last time I checked (years ago), FunPoints did expire after 5 years. But recently, I think I saw someone post that they don't expire. So I'm about to go over to Barclay's and check on that...

 

ETA: Hooray! Barclay's has lifted the 5 year expiration on FunPoints! From the Barclay's site: "As long as your card is open, active and in good standing, your FunPoints do not expire." :D

 

 

Thank you for all the helpful info! Excited to start using it for all my purchases!

 

 

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[theplanner2010]

Debi -

Did you just get the same offer I got today for the $75 gift card plus 10,000 points?

[DebbieMo]

Debi -

Did you just get the same offer I got today for the $75 gift card plus 10,000 points?

 

Yes, I did.

[ShakyBeef]

Thank you for all the helpful info! Excited to start using it for all my purchases!

 

 

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You're very welcome! Yay, 10,000 FP sign-up bonus is great! I only got 5000, way back in 2005.:o

 

And don't forget RewardsBoost! Check there first before doing any online shopping. Chances are, many of the stores you already buy from are RewardsBoost sellers. If you go thru the RewardsBoost portal to get to their site, instead of just going straight there, you get extra points multipliers!;)

[theplanner2010]

Yes, I did.

 

Have you actually tried applying yet? The link on my email wasn't working so I had to apply through another offer (that was not as good) then open a case with Barclay customer service to get the terms stated in the email.

[Micahs Grandad]

We rarely use the card these days as there are much better ones.

 

We had 70,000 points and decided to use them on last cruise first week of Feb and got $ 700 obc which was on top of an additional $ 300 from various other sources.

 

Knew we would not use them all up and went to guest services to make sure this would be refundable.

 

Turns out it goes on your account as cruise cash is it is either use it or lose it.

 

Luckily we checked or would have been rather unhappy campers.

 

Cashed out the money via the casino so no hard one but couldnt believe they would find a way to keep money after we earned the points using a carnival mc.

 

Complained via JH who said he would have people look into this.

[ShakyBeef]

Cashing in FPs for OBC is not the way to go if you want to get the most FPs for your money, and thus, the most money for your FPs.

 

It's much better to do it this way: use the MC for booking your cruise, buying excursions, pre-purchases (BV, FunShops, etc.), final payment, and S&S account balance. All of these get you 2 points per dollar spent. Then, redeem your points towards one or more of those purchases for a statement credit. Also, qualifying purchases made through Carnival of $1500 or more get a better redemption rate than lesser amounts.

 

I would never cash in my FPs for OBC. That's just throwing money away, IMO. I see that it must be an attractive option for some, but I can't think of any scenario in which I would choose it over the statement credit.