Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
The Carnival® World Mastercard® -- cobranded with Barclays -- may appeal to fans of Carnival Cruise Lines, but for others, it's likely to fall short. Its most attractive feature is an APR of 0% for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers. Otherwise, the perks are nothing to write home about. Read our in-depth Carnival® World Mastercard® review to learn if the card offers the perks and benefits that are right for you.
Carnival® World Mastercard®
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR 0% APR for 6 billing cycles from the transaction date on all qualifying Carnival Cruise Booking Purchases. 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
Purchases: 0% for 6 billing cycles on Carnival cruise bookings
Balance Transfers: 0% for 15 billing cycles
Regular APR
20.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable
Rewards 1X-2X
2x FunPoints for every dollar spent on purchases with Carnival Cruise Line and with the World's Leading Cruise Lines brands. 1X FunPoints for every dollar spent on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 FunPoints after first purchase or balance transfer. That's enough to redeem for a $200 statement credit towards your next cruise
20,000 FunPoints
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This credit card may be just what a Carnival Cruise lover is looking for, but doesn't offer much to non-cruisers.
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- 0% introductory offer, good for a 15-month balance transfer
- Welcome offer worth $200 towards a cruise
- Carnival Cruise customers can easily rack up reward points
- 10% back statement credit when the cardholder books a Carnival shore excursion prior to cruising
- No foreign transaction fee
- Limited use of reward points
- No upgraded perks
- High standard interest rates
- High balance transfer fee
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- Get 0% promotional APR for 6 monthson Carnival cruise bookings. After that, a variable APR will apply, either 20.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99%, depending on your creditworthiness.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 20.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is a fee for balance transfers.
- Earn 20,000 FunPoints after first purchase or balance transfer. That's enough to redeem for a $200 statement credit towards your next cruise.
- Get 10% back as a statement credit when you book a Carnival shore excursion on Carnival.com prior to your cruise.
- Earn 2X FunPoints for every dollar spent on any purchases with Carnival Cruise Line AND with the brands of the World's Leading Cruise Lines.
- Count on earning a FunPoint for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Redeem for statement credits toward any Carnival purchase, onboard experiences, and more. Redemptions start at 5,000 FunPoints for a $50 statement credit toward an eligible Carnival Cruise Line purchase in the last 180 days.
- Enjoy greater freedom with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
|
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Full Carnival World Mastercard review
This credit card is a good fit for: Fans of Carnival Cruise Lines or consumers seeking a 0% promotional rate on balance transfers.
Top perks
In the right hands, the Carnival® World Mastercard® could become a favorite. Here are the perks customers are likely to appreciate.
0% for 15 billing cycles on balance transfers
A 0% for 15 billing cycles offer isn't a lifetime, but it is enough time for a cardholder with a plan to transfer high-interest debt and pay it off before the 0% intro offer expires.
Welcome offer worth $200 toward a cruise
The first time a new cardholder makes a purchase or balance transfer, they're credited with 20,000 FunPoints. Those points are worth $200 toward their next cruise.
No annual fee
The goal of credit cards is to make them work for you without draining your checking account. The fact that the Carnival® World Mastercard® has no annual fee is a step in the right direction.
Easy to rack up reward points
Frequent Carnival Cruise Line customers are likely to find it easy to rack up points, especially because they earn 2X FunPoints for every $1 spent on purchases with Carnival Cruise Line and with the World's Leading Cruise Lines brands.
10% back statement credit on shore excursions
To bump the rewards of being a Carnival® World Mastercard® cardholder, 10% of the cost of shore excursions is returned in the form of a statement credit.
No foreign transaction fee
Since Carnival travels to so many foreign ports, it's nice for cardholders to know they won't have to pay a foreign transaction fee as long as they make purchases with their Carnival® World Mastercard®.
Free access to FICO® Score
While FICO isn't the only credit scoring model out there, it is the one most commonly used by lenders. Having the ability to check your FICO® Score any time you would like is a good way to better understand how well you're managing credit.
Fraud liability protection
Because it's a Mastercard, the Carnival® World Mastercard® is backed by Mastercard's promise of fraud liability protection.
What could be improved
No card is right for every consumer. Here's where we believe Carnival® World Mastercard® falls short.
Limited use of reward points
Anyone who regularly cruises with Carnival can benefit from the way reward points are issued back to them through statement credits. However, non-cruisers will find no benefit. The most valuable rewards -- 20,000 FunPoints as a welcome offer and points earned on purchases -- can only be used toward Carnival purchases.
No upgraded perks
Given that the Carnival® World Mastercard® is cobranded with Barclays, it's surprising that perks are not more exclusive. For example, the Carnival® World Mastercard® doesn't offer early boarding, exclusive seating in the dining room, or other perks that set them apart from the standard cruise line passenger.
High standard interest rates
With 20.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable APRs, that means even highly qualified applicants will be stuck with a rate over 20%
High balance transfer fee
The balance transfer fee on the Carnival® World Mastercard® is $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. While nearly all balance transfer offers include a fee, many balance transfer cards charge 3% rather than 5%. Say a cardholder transfers $7,000 of high-interest debt from other credit card companies. The 5% transfer fee means an additional $350 will be added to their balance due.
Suggested credit score
We recommend a FICO® Score of 650 or higher (which is considered good credit) for this card. Approved applicants have an average score of 745. That said, approval depends on a range of factors. These include your annual income, credit history, and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Although your credit score is important, it's not the only thing a credit card company focuses on when determining eligibility.
The Carnival World Mastercard is right for you if:
You are a big fan of Carnival Cruise Lines and have an upcoming trip (or trips) planned. It may also be a good option if you have high-interest debt that you would like to transfer and pay off while taking advantage of the 0% for 15 billing cycles introductory rate.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
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20,000 FunPoints isn't considered an especially generous offer (especially because points must be redeemed on Carnival products or services). However, the card does make it easy to receive the points. While many cards require you to spend thousands of dollars within the first few months of card approval, all a cardholder must do is make a single purchase or balance transfer to receive the points.
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The best way to land a lower APR is to have a strong credit score. The higher your score, the lower the rate you'll be offered.
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The ideal way to use a credit card without paying interest is to pay the card off in full each month. That way, you can earn rewards without forking out money to cover interest.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Dana George has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard, Target, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc, Carnival Corp., and Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard and short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard.