New Fun Points - cautiously optimistic

[aggieastrosfan]

The new Fun Points system debuts today, and so far, it's a vast improvement!

 

You can redeem the points for any transaction made in the last 180 days - all my Carnival purchases from the last 6 months are coming up as redeemable. The rate of return is just over 1% (a $750 deposit requires71,429 points to get a credit for), but when you get the double points for cruise purchases, it's about 2.1%.

 

Still not the best rewards card out there, and my regular purchases will continue to go on another card, but for now I'll continue to use it for all my Carnival purchases, as this will give me the best return on those out of the cards I have.

 

Still can't find the general redemption rates for past purchases. Would be nice to know. :rolleyes: I did a few calculations, and on all the eligible purchases I have for redemption, it was exactly the same, just over 1%.

[LHP]

Getting to book through anyone (as opposed to having to use ICE) was the best improvement they made......

 

we still get a better deal with American Express...but as you said this new Carnival program is looking like a big improvement.....

[okgirl]

Does anyone have the new website to check this out. We were planning on redeeming our points for an OBC for our Feb cruise if possible but I haven't seen anything in my email about the new site.

[aggieastrosfan]

Does anyone have the new website to check this out. We were planning on redeeming our points for an OBC for our Feb cruise if possible but I haven't seen anything in my email about the new site.

 

I just used the same site I always used, juniper.com. My point total now appears in the upper left corner, and there's an extra option on the menu bar for Rewards.

[MIKECEASTLAKE]

Just wondering how you figure out how much credit we can get with 73,000 points? I just spent 2 hours on the phone and they could only tell me to book a cruise and see how much credit is available?

Thanks

Mike

[mygrls03]

On my account it shows I need 78,800 points for a $549 credit on my last cruise deposit. That's not very good :(

[cruise365 24/7]

On my account it shows I need 78,800 points for a $549 credit on my last cruise deposit. That's not very good :(

 

 

Well, just got back from my 4th carnival cruise last week and received something in the mail from carnival master card. They refuse to rectify the situation on the card which in the end screws me over so I will be canceling the card and never sailing on carnival again if that is how they treat their customers. If they refuse to change something so minor I cringe to think what they would do if it were a major situation.

[aggieastrosfan]

Just wondering how you figure out how much credit we can get with 73,000 points? I just spent 2 hours on the phone and they could only tell me to book a cruise and see how much credit is available?

Thanks

Mike

 

That part I can't figure out. I don't see what the redemption rate is, just how many points my prior Carnival purchases are worth. It makes me a little uneasy not knowing how they're coming to their point totals.

 

78.8k points for a $549 credit? That's horrible!

[trock]

So I heard this story the other day from a co-worker who 'heard it from another..".. and it could very well be applied to the Carnival credit card, because afterall it's a purchase..;)

 

I can not tell you if it's true though...

 

Some 'guy' went to the US mint website and ordered $15,000 worth of the Sacagawea dollars-.. when he received them he cashed them in at the bank to pay his credit card BUT used the $15G towards frequent flier miles... ( I cannot imagine what this weighed or if it was one lump sum??)

 

As I said, don't know if it's true,-it's a legitimate purchase.. I don't know if there are any restrictions??

 

:)

[aggieastrosfan]

So I heard this story the other day from a co-worker who 'heard it from another..".. and it could very well be applied to the Carnival credit card, because afterall it's a purchase..;)

 

I can not tell you if it's true though...

 

Some 'guy' went to the US mint website and ordered $15,000 worth of the Sacagawea dollars-.. when he received them he cashed them in at the bank to pay his credit card BUT used the $15G towards frequent flier miles... ( I cannot imagine what this weighed or if it was one lump sum??)

 

As I said, don't know if it's true,-it's a legitimate purchase.. I don't know if there are any restrictions??

 

:)

 

It's true. My carpool's co-worker does this. He apparently knows how many he can order before they charge for shipping as well, so he orders as many as he can once a month. I think my carpool said he got over 100k CC points in a year as a result of it.

 

DH heard that they're starting to process it as a cash advance now. Don't know if this is true or not, but I know you can definitely "buy" dollar coins from the U.S. Mint online with a CC!

[trock]

It's true. My carpool's co-worker does this. He apparently knows how many he can order before they charge for shipping as well, so he orders as many as he can once a month. I think my carpool said he got over 100k CC points in a year as a result of it.

 

DH heard that they're starting to process it as a cash advance now. Don't know if this is true or not, but I know you can definitely "buy" dollar coins from the U.S. Mint online with a CC!

 

 

WOW crazy stuff!

LOL!

[loopdloops]

I pay my college tuition with it. It comes up as a payment to the dept of education and then I pay my cc with my tuition money as soon as it posts. So, I charge about 10k on my cc without any fees.

[KimandBryinKC]

Does this new Funpoint program actually allow you to redeem funpoints for a Carnival cruise purchases made at other places other than through Carnival? If so...I cannot believe that they do not have something in place that would into account how much you actually spend for a particular cruise and adjusting the point redemption value for it.

 

For example...the same carnival cruise booked through Expedia for $1500 may cost $2000 through the Carnival website. If you were then able to redeem funpoints at a 1% benefit level, it would take only 150,000 points for the Expedia purchase, but 200,000 points through the Carnival site. All for the same exact cruise.

[Clearcruiser]

I just redeemed 20000 fun points for $200 of on board credit for our cruise departing in January. You have to be 15 days outside you departure date to redeem points for on board credit or gifts (including bottles of wine, bar coupons or spa appointments).

 

For anyone who is interested you can log onto www.BarclaycardUS.com to view you account and redeem rewards.

 

Not a bad deal for me since I don't like to use this card with such a high interest rate.

[Uncle Doug]

It has to be better than the Seamiles program. Went online to look at some of the point redemption options. The OBC is a good option but is a flat 1% exchange. The redemption for past use credit is a slightly higher option 1.05%. In the long run that option may be better as (1) slightly better exchange rate (2) While OBC seems like a great idea any charges while onboard build up points at 2 for 1. So a $200 charge while onboard will generate 400 points for future use.

 

Use the card to pay for your cruise at double points, use the points to reduce your credit card bill, use your sail & sign to double your points for your next cruise.

 

It will still be a high interest card. Of course all cards are high interest cards now days. We have continued to use our card for most buys then pay the card off at the end of the month. Have not paid any interest in years.

[tomngerri]

Would be interested to hear if there's been any change in how sign and sail transactions in slot machines are handled.

 

The T & C on the new system states... Transactions that are not eligible to earn Points include, but are not limited to, cash advances including ATM withdrawals, PIN-based Debit Card transactions, money orders, balance transfers, convenience checks, drafts, fees, finance charges, purchases made on a line of credit and travelers check purchases. Cash Advances at the Casino are not eligible for rewards.

 

In the past I have used my Sign and Sail in Slot machines. There was never a fee, and the money received was treated as a purchase as opposed to a cash advance. This was convenient...and also provided a much better opportunity to earn "free" rewards than carrying boxes of coins to the bank per what was reported a couple posts ago.

 

Can anyone report how their Sign and Sail casino transactions were handled recently?

[willyguy]

Hi does anybody have a link to the new fun points?

[KroozFoolz]

Hi does anybody have a link to the new fun points?

https://gif.barclaycardus.com/apply/img/smc/CarnivalFunPointsBrochure.pdf

 

http://www.mycarnivalmastercard.com/

 

I have not seen a complete list of rewards/points required anywhere yet, just some examples.