It is better imho that they issue new cards, reloading old ones could become messy. Hopefully they start using ecards only for refunds, much more cost efficient for Carnival and safer for the recipient. Mail theft is becoming a bigger and bigger issue. My big box, while impersonal, does a very good job and their reps are more knowledgeable than the Carnival reps they have to talk to. They can apply gift cards right on the spot now without having to contact Carnival and then send an immediate email confirmation. On top of the gift card savings, the journeys cruises typically yield another 3 to 4 hundred in savings with their shopcard rebate plus another 2 percent off with the executive membership. And last but not least sometimes they offer 200 in OBC on top of all this that I can't find on Carnival's website.