Carnival Rewards Mastercard credit card review: The first cruise card to earn you loyalty status
Carnival Cruise Line has overhauled its loyalty program, rewarding big spenders over frequent cruisers and removing lifetime loyalty status. Its new Carnival Rewards™ Mastercard®, issued by Barclays Bank, is the best way for cruisers to advance through the loyalty tiers and earn more onboard perks and freebies.
Cardholders can also earn points redeemable for Carnival purchases, from cruise deposits and bookings to onboard purchases, such as drinks, Wi-Fi plans and shore excursions.
For dedicated Carnival cruisers, the card's combination of no annual fee, status earning and Carnival-specific rewards can be compelling. But if you don't sail with Carnival regularly, a flexible travel rewards card will likely offer more value.
Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The information for the Carnival Rewards Mastercard 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 Rewards Mastercard: The basics
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard replaces the Carnival World Mastercard as the sole co-branded credit card for Carnival Cruise Line.
Existing cardholders will automatically receive a new card, with previously earned points transferring on a 1:1 basis to the new program. New applicants can earn 50,000 Carnival Rewards points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. The card has no annual fee and is only available to U.S. residents.
It earns 3 points per dollar on eligible Carnival purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
What makes the card stand out is that every dollar spent also earns one Loyalty Status Star toward Carnival elite status, allowing cardholders to make progress toward higher status even when they're not cruising.
Cardholders can also earn 2,500 anniversary bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases each year.
Carnival Rewards Mastercard pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Speeds up accrual of loyalty status and redeemable points | Rewards are limited to cruise-related discounts and loyalty status |
No annual fee | No integration with other Carnival Corp. cruise line loyalty programs |
Bonus categories for cruise and everyday spending | |
Anniversary bonus |
Carnival Rewards Mastercard benefits
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard's perks are geared toward Carnival cruise fans.
No annual fee, plus welcome and anniversary bonuses
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard has no annual fee, making it easy for Carnival cruisers to keep long-term without having to offset an annual cost.
It also offers a welcome bonus of 50,000 Carnival Rewards points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days after opening an account. You could use those points to cover the cost of an inexpensive cruise fare.
In addition, if you spend $2,000 on the Mastercard each year, you will receive an anniversary bonus of 2,500 points. That's enough to get you freebies like a bike tour, manicure or dinner in select specialty restaurants on board.
Fast track to loyalty status
Carnival's previous VIFP Club loyalty program was based on days sailed, and frequent cruisers retained their status for life. With the new Carnival Rewards program, cruisers earn Loyalty Status Stars based on dollars spent, and anyone not grandfathered into lifetime status by Sept. 1, 2026, must re-earn status every two years.
Since the new program rewards spending rather than days sailed, reaching higher tiers can be challenging for cruisers who only sail once or twice per year or don't spend big on suite accommodations or significant onboard purchases.
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard gives cardholders another way to work toward status because eligible card purchases earn Loyalty Status Stars, including purchases made outside Carnival.
Additional benefits
Your Carnival Rewards Mastercard will give you some additional travel benefits.
Cardholders will pay 0% APR on all Carnival cruise bookings for six months after opening the card (after that, a variable APR of 18.49% to 29.49% will apply).
The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, so Carnival cruisers can feel confident using their Mastercard in port and on the ship. It also offers select travel coverages, including trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
Finally, cardholders can access a priority customer service phone number with Carnival Cruise Line.
Related: Should you get a cruise line credit card? Here's a closer look
How to earn and use your rewards
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard earns both Carnival Rewards points, which you can redeem toward eligible Carnival purchases, and Loyalty Status Stars, which help you qualify for status in the Carnival Rewards program.
Earning Carnival Rewards points and Loyalty Status Stars
Carnival Rewards members typically earn 3 points and 3 Loyalty Status Stars per dollar spent on eligible Carnival purchases using any payment method.
However, if you pay with the Carnival Rewards Mastercard, you'll receive an additional 3 points and 1 Loyalty Status Star per dollar, for a total of 6 Carnival Rewards points and 4 Loyalty Status Stars per dollar on cruise bookings, onboard spending and other eligible Carnival purchases.
Certain Carnival purchases are excluded from earning extra points, including government taxes and fees, flights booked through Carnival's air department, and anything paid for with onboard credit or future cruise credits.
Cardholders also earn 2 points per dollar on eligible restaurant and grocery purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Eligible card purchases also earn 1 Loyalty Status Star per dollar, regardless of category.
Carnival Rewards points do not expire. Loyalty Status Stars accrue over two years, after which balances reset and cruisers must begin earning toward status again. There's no limit to the number of points you can earn with your credit card.
Note that only the primary cardholder earns points on their Carnival Rewards accounts. Authorized users do not earn points.
Also be careful booking cruises through a travel agent or other third party. While you'll get the standard three Carnival Rewards points per dollar, you might not get the extra credit card bonus if the purchase doesn't code as Carnival Cruise Line. You will get the full six points if your advisor enters your credit card details in the payment link on the GoCCL.com agent website.
Redeeming Carnival Rewards points
Carnival Rewards members can redeem points for nearly any cruise purchase with Carnival:
- Cruise deposits and payments, either paying entirely in points or using a combination of cash and points
- Onboard spending via the Carnival HUB app for eligible purchases, such as drink packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, Wi-Fi packages and spa treatments
- Onboard credit
- Pre-cruise purchases (not yet available)
You can redeem any points that you have, with no minimum or maximum points spent. Carnival Rewards members can redeem points for a cruise booking regardless of whether they book directly through Carnival or a travel advisor.
For onboard purchases, you can either redeem points for eligible purchases through the Carnival HUB app or convert points into onboard credit through your Carnival Rewards account. Onboard credit provides more flexibility for purchases that can't be ordered through the app, such as individual drinks or extra-fee snacks.
Carnival executives said pricing would be dynamic. Sample pricing on the Carnival Rewards site includes:
- Internet package (valued at $20.40): 1,357 points per person, per day
- Dinner at Bonsai Teppanyaki (valued at $49): 2,400 points
- Thermal suite day pass ($30): 3,000 points
- Multi-mask facial (valued at $99): 5,500 points
- Dolphin Swim and Dolphin Cove shore excursion (valued at $134.99): 13,499 points
These sample rates offer a value of one to two cents per point. Carnival also lists a sample three-day Bahamas cruise for two adults in an inside cabin at 13,499 points (excluding taxes and fees). The cheapest three-night cruise we found cost $165.56 for two before taxes, so you'd be redeeming points for a value just above one cent.
Where the Carnival Rewards Mastercard falls short
The main drawback of the Carnival Rewards Mastercard is that it does not offer travelers much beyond Carnival cruise perks. You can't transfer points to another currency or redeem them for non-Carnival purchases, nor do you get many additional card perks beyond some basic travel protections.
Unlike Royal Caribbean's new co-branded credit cards, Carnival Rewards points cannot be earned or redeemed on sister Carnival Corporation cruise lines. You must stick to cruises on Carnival Cruise Line to benefit.
Is the Carnival Rewards Mastercard worth it?
For frequent Carnival cruisers, the Carnival Rewards credit card can be worth it. The card has no annual fee, and the current welcome bonus provides a substantial number of points after a relatively modest spending requirement. Plus, the welcome offer is enough for a free cruise (or to make a dent in your final payment).
Beyond the welcome offer, the card is most useful for cruisers who want to earn additional Carnival Rewards points on eligible Carnival purchases and work toward higher loyalty status through everyday card spending.
When to apply for the Carnival Rewards Mastercard
Carnival introduced the Carnival Rewards Mastercard on Sept. 1 with a 50,000-point welcome bonus. It has not announced an end date for this promotion, but if you're comfortable with the spending requirement, it's worth considering.
Other cards to consider if you don't want a Carnival Rewards Mastercard
Frequent cruisers often try out different cruise lines and mix land trips with vacations at sea, so they might get more value from a flexible rewards card or a cash-back card. Here are some alternatives.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): This card offers more diverse earning and redemption options and a higher welcome bonus for a slightly higher annual fee of $95. It allows you to earn bonus points on more categories (dining, gas, groceries) and transfer points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. You can redeem points via the Chase Travel℠ portal, including for cruises. To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred card.
- Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees): For cruise travelers who don't wish to pay an annual fee, this card offers cash back and a simple earning structure. You'll earn 2% cash back (1% when you buy and an additional 1% when you pay for your purchase) and 5% cash back on hotel stays, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel. You can't redeem points for cruises, but you can save the cash back to pay for your ocean travel. For more information, read our full review of the Citi Double Cash Card.
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees): This card is a good choice for travelers who wish to avoid an annual fee and still earn points that can be redeemed for travel. You'll earn 3 points per dollar on a wide variety of purchases, including dining and travel (including cruise bookings). Redemption options include flight, hotel and car rental bookings or gift cards and statement credits, which you can use to cover cruise costs. To learn more, take a look at our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.
For additional options, see our full lists of the best cash-back and general travel rewards credit cards.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
Bottom line
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard makes the most sense for loyal Carnival cruisers who want to earn rewards toward future Carnival purchases and make progress toward higher status through both cruise and everyday spending. With no annual fee, there's little pressure to justify keeping the card if you continue to sail with Carnival.
More casual Carnival cruisers may also find value in the current 50,000-point welcome offer. But if you frequently sail with multiple cruise lines or want rewards you can use beyond Carnival, a flexible travel rewards or cash-back card will likely be a better fit.