Carnival and Barclays Introduce Rewards Mastercard for Cruise Loyalty

WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Cruise Line and Barclays US Consumer Bank today announced the launch of the new Carnival Rewards™ Mastercard®, a first-of-its-kind card in the cruise industry. Designed to extend the value of Carnival Rewards, the card empowers members to earn rewards through everyday spend and redeem them to enhance their Carnival experience. Integrated with Carnival's recently launched Carnival Rewards™ loyalty program, the card provides more flexibility, more ways to earn rewards and faster access to loyalty benefits, helping members maximize every dollar spent both at sea and on land.

Everyday Earning, Powered by Carnival Rewards The 2026 Travel Rewards and Loyalty Report from Barclays found 71% of travelers prioritize getting a great deal, and 86% look for ways to maximize their travel budget. Built to complement Carnival's new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, the no-annual-fee Carnival Rewards Mastercard gives cardmembers more ways to earn and redeem the value of everyday spending and helps them to earn toward their next cruise.

Purchases also accumulate Status Qualifying Stars to help customers unlock higher loyalty status levels faster simply by using the card. Combined with real-time point redemptions toward Carnival experiences, the card extends the benefits and value of loyalty far beyond the cruise itself.

Key card benefits include:

• Up to 6X points (3x points from the card, plus up to 3x points through Carnival Rewards) on eligible Carnival purchases, including cruise fares, shore excursions, onboard activities, spa treatments and specialty dining.
• 2X points on eligible restaurant and grocery store purchases.
• 50,000 bonus points for new cardmembers after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days (terms apply).
• 1X points on everything else.
• Earn up to 4 Status Qualifying Stars on Carnival purchases when combined with the Stars earned through Carnival Rewards and 1 Status Qualifying Star on all other purchases.
• 0% Promotional APR for 6 months on all Carnival cruise booking purchases, offering added flexibility when planning and paying for Carnival vacations (terms apply).
• Real-time redemption toward eligible Carnival purchases.
• Redeem points for cruise upgrades.
• 2,500-point annual card anniversary bonus after spending $2,000 on purchases.

"More and more, today's travelers are looking for rewards programs that deliver true value as they venture away from home," said Doug Villone, Head of US Cards and Partnerships at Barclays US Consumer Bank. "Our partnership with Carnival is rooted in a shared commitment to meeting those evolving needs. With the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard, we're giving cardmembers more ways to earn on everyday purchases and making it easier to turn everyday spending into rewards for their next cruise."

Seamless Transition Beginning this month, existing cardmembers will be transitioned to the new Mastercard product during their next billing cycle, with migrations rolling out throughout September. All existing Fun Points® balances will convert 1:1 into new Carnival Rewards Points landing directly in cardmembers' centralized Carnival Rewards accounts.

"Carnival is always looking for new ways to bring our guests closer to the experiences they love," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "Together with Barclays, we're offering our guests a new way to experience Carnival beyond the ship. For every dollar spent, cardmembers earn valuable rewards that can be redeemed toward the Carnival experiences they love. The Carnival Rewards Mastercard strengthens the connection between everyday life and the vacations our guests look forward to, creating a more seamless and rewarding experience from planning to sailing and beyond."