Charles H. Miller
Those looking to get a free cruise or at least save on any such arrangement should considering getting the Carnival™ World MasterCard®. While it has no annual fee, the card does come with a decent sign-up bonus of 10,000 “FunPoints,” worth $100, and the option to earn additional points with the daily card use. Also, cardmembers get to benefit from 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months, after which the rate goes to 14.24%, 19.24% or 24.24%. Here are the details…
Highlights
- Sign-up bonus of 10,000 “FunPoints,” worth $100
- Earn 2x FunPoints on any Carnival purchase, and 1x FunPoint on everything else.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, then 14.24%, 19.24% or 24.24%.
- No annual fee
How It Works?
Sign-up bonus: 10,000 bonus “FunPoints” after you use the card for the first time. Those points could be redeemed for a credit of up to $100 toward your next cruise purchase on Carnival and the World’s Leading Cruise Lines.
Points: Earn 2 “FunPoints” per dollar spent on all Carnival Cruise Lines purchases including onboard purchases charged to Sail & Sign®; and 1 “FunPoint” per dollar spent on everything else.
No foreign transaction fee: Makes this card “perfect for cruising around the world.”
Concierge service: As part of the deal, cardmembers get personal assistance via telephone, including recommendations and reservations for dining, travel, hotels, entertainment and more.
APR: It is either 14.24%, 19.24% or 24.24% variable on purchases. For balance transfers, there is the 0% introductory rate for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, after which a variable APR of 14.24%, 19.24% or 24.24% will apply.
Costs
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months, then 14.24%, 19.24% or 24.24% Variable
- 14.24%, 19.24% or 24.24% Variable APR on Purchases
- 3% Balance Transfer Fee (minimum $5)
- 0% Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0 Annual Fee
At Barclaycard’s secure website
Pros
- Sign-up bonus, worth $100, is great for a card that has no annual fee. The only “problem” is that you have to use those $100 toward next cruise purchase on Carnival and the World’s Leading Cruise Lines.
- No foreign transaction fee – makes this card suitable to be used even while travelling to other countries.
Cons
- 0% APR is limited to balance transfers – it would be nice to see it being available on purchases as well. Or we are asking too much from a card that has no annual fee?
- Limited redemption options – all the points you earn could only be used toward next cruise purchase; other options are not available.
Is This The Card For You?
Except if you take these cruises regularly, you are better off getting some different travel-focused credit card. That being said, this card won’t cost you a single penny — it has no annual fee — and you will also benefit from a sign-up bonus worth $100. That money, however, must be used towards getting a new cruise as other redemption options are not available. If you’re cool with that, feel free to check out the Carnival™ World MasterCard®. It could earn you free cruises, after all. 😉
