By The Adventures of Ed and Serenity

If you’re like us, you don’t just take one vacation a year.

You cruise.

You fly to get to the cruise. You may stay in a hotel before or after the cruise. You eat at restaurants, buy groceries, book excursions and spend money while traveling.

So here’s a question every frequent traveler should ask:

Are you using the right credit card for all that spending?

There are dozens of rewards credit cards competing for your business. Carnival has its own Carnival Rewards Mastercard, but how does it compare with some of the most popular travel rewards cards?

We decided to take a closer look at Carnival’s card and four major competitors:

– Carnival Rewards Mastercard
– Chase Sapphire Preferred
– Capital One Venture
– Capital One Venture X
– American Express Gold

And while there isn’t one card that is perfect for everyone, there are some pretty significant differences between them.

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Carnival Rewards Mastercard

Annual Fee: $0

Let’s start with the card most interesting to cruise lovers.

The Carnival Rewards Mastercard is designed specifically around Carnival travel.

The current card offers up to 6X Carnival Rewards points on eligible Carnival purchases when the credit-card and Carnival Rewards earnings are combined.

You can also earn 2X points at eligible restaurants and grocery stores.

And there’s another feature Carnival cruisers may find interesting:

You can earn one Status Qualifying Star for every $1 spent on everyday purchases.

The current introductory offer is 50,000 Carnival Rewards points after spending $1,000 during the first 90 days, subject to the offer’s terms.

And perhaps the biggest selling point?

There is no annual fee.

There are also no foreign transaction fees.

Carnival Card Advantages

– $0 annual fee
– Up to 6X on eligible Carnival purchases
– 2X at eligible restaurants and grocery stores
– Status Qualifying Stars on everyday spending
– Current 50,000-point introductory offer
– No foreign transaction fees
– Travel protection benefits
– Promotional financing on qualifying Carnival purchases, subject to the terms

The Catch

The biggest limitation is also the reason many people would want the card:

It’s heavily geared toward Carnival.

If Carnival is your primary cruise line, that’s not necessarily a problem.

But if you cruise multiple lines, fly frequently, stay at different hotel chains and want maximum flexibility, a general travel rewards card may provide more options.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred

Annual Fee: $95

Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most recognizable flexible travel rewards cards.

The card currently has a $95 annual fee and offers:

– 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel
– 3X on dining
– 3X on select additional categories
– 2X on other travel
– 1X on other purchases

The card also offers a $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application-fee credit, subject to the applicable terms.

One of the biggest differences between Chase and Carnival is flexibility.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be used in several ways, including travel and transfers to participating travel loyalty programs.

Why Cruisers Might Like It

Think about everything surrounding a cruise.

Maybe you’re flying to Miami.

You need a hotel the night before.

You rent a car.

You eat dinner.

Then you board the ship.

A flexible travel card can potentially earn rewards throughout that entire vacation.

The Catch

You pay a $95 annual fee.

And while Chase points can be extremely flexible, getting the most value from them can require more effort than simply earning Carnival rewards and using them for Carnival-related purchases.

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Capital One Venture

Annual Fee: $95

Capital One Venture takes a much simpler approach.

The card earns 2X miles on everyday purchases, with higher earning rates available for certain purchases through Capital One Travel.

That simplicity can be attractive.

You don’t have to remember a dozen different bonus categories.

Spend $1,000 on everyday purchases and, generally, you’re earning 2,000 miles.

The miles can be used toward travel and can also be transferred to participating travel loyalty programs.

Why Cruisers Might Like It

If you’re the type of traveler who doesn’t want to think about which card earns 3X, 4X or 5X in a particular category, Venture’s simple earning structure is appealing.

It can also be used for travel outside Carnival.

The Catch

There’s a $95 annual fee, and you don’t get Carnival-specific benefits such as Carnival Rewards earning or Status Qualifying Stars.

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Capital One Venture X

Annual Fee: $395

Now we’re getting into premium travel cards.

The Venture X carries a $395 annual fee.

But it comes with substantially more travel benefits.

Current earning includes:

– 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
– 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
– 2X miles on other purchases

The card also provides access to Capital One Lounges and participating Priority Pass lounges, subject to the applicable terms.

Venture X miles can also be transferred to participating travel loyalty programs.

Why Cruisers Might Like It

Here’s where this card can become interesting for frequent cruisers.

If you’re flying to your cruise several times a year, airport lounge access can become a meaningful travel benefit.

Instead of thinking only about the cruise itself, Venture X is designed around the entire travel experience.

The Catch

It’s a $395 annual-fee card.

That means you need to actually use the benefits.

If you don’t travel frequently or don’t use the card’s premium benefits, paying a premium annual fee may not make sense for your situation.

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American Express Gold Card

Annual Fee: $325

The American Express Gold Card takes a different approach.

Instead of focusing primarily on travel spending, it heavily rewards everyday spending on restaurants and groceries.

The current card earns:

– 4X points at restaurants worldwide, subject to the applicable annual limit
– 4X at U.S. supermarkets, subject to the applicable annual limit
– 5X on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
– 3X on qualifying flights
– 2X on eligible cruises booked through Amex Travel
– 1X on other eligible purchases

The annual fee is currently $325.

Amex also offers a variety of statement credits and other benefits, subject to enrollment and terms.

Why Cruisers Might Like It

Let’s be honest.

Cruisers eat.

A lot.

If restaurants and groceries make up a significant portion of your monthly spending, earning 4X Membership Rewards points in those categories could be valuable.

The card also offers flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to participating airline and hotel programs.

The Catch

The $325 annual fee is considerably higher than Carnival’s $0 annual fee.

You also need to use the card’s credits and benefits to get the most out of it.

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Which Card Makes the Most Sense for You?

There isn’t one rewards card that is automatically the best for every cruiser.

Your spending habits matter.

Your cruise line matters.

How often you fly matters.

How much you’re willing to pay in annual fees matters.

And perhaps most importantly:

Will you actually use the rewards?

Dedicated Carnival Cruiser

The Carnival Rewards Mastercard deserves a serious look.

There’s no annual fee, and the rewards are designed around Carnival.

If you regularly cruise Carnival, earning rewards that can be used toward future Carnival-related purchases can be particularly relevant.

The Status Qualifying Star component also gives the card a Carnival-specific feature that the general travel cards don’t provide.

Cruiser Who Also Flies Frequently

A flexible card such as Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture X may make more sense for someone whose travel spending extends well beyond the cruise itself.

Think:

Flight → Hotel → Rental Car → Restaurants → Cruise → Hotel → Flight Home

A general travel rewards program can potentially cover more pieces of that trip.

The Simple Rewards Traveler

Capital One Venture is straightforward.

It’s designed around earning 2X miles on everyday purchases, with additional earning opportunities through Capital One Travel.

For someone who doesn’t want to juggle multiple bonus categories, that simplicity can be valuable.

The Foodie Cruiser

American Express Gold deserves consideration for people who spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

The 4X earning structure in those categories is one of the card’s defining features.

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Our Take at The Adventures of Ed and Serenity

Here’s the most important thing we took away from this comparison:

There isn’t one rewards card that is automatically the best for every cruiser.

The right choice depends on how you actually travel.

For a dedicated Carnival cruiser, the Carnival Rewards Mastercard has a very specific advantage:

It’s built around Carnival.

For someone who travels broadly, the flexibility of a general travel rewards program may be more important.

And for a frequent traveler who can take advantage of premium travel benefits, a card such as Venture X offers a substantially different package of travel perks.

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The Bottom Line

Here’s how we would summarize the five cards:

Carnival Rewards Mastercard: Built for the Carnival cruiser.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Built for the traveler who wants flexible rewards without a huge annual fee.

Capital One Venture: Built for someone who wants simple, straightforward travel rewards.

Capital One Venture X: Built for frequent travelers who want premium travel benefits.

American Express Gold: Built for people who spend heavily on restaurants and groceries.

So before you apply for another credit card, ask yourself:

Where does most of my travel spending actually go?

Because the best rewards strategy isn’t necessarily about chasing the biggest points multiplier.

It’s about matching the card to how you actually travel.

For us at The Adventures of Ed and Serenity, that’s an especially important question because cruising isn’t just an occasional vacation.

It’s an adventure.

And if we’re going to spend money getting there, staying there and cruising there, we want our spending to work for us and help fund the next adventure.

What’s your rewards card?

Are you using a Carnival card, a general travel card, or something completely different?

Tell us in the comments also hit the like a follow button for more travel tips!!!

What’s your next Adventure?

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About The Adventures of Ed and Serenity

The Adventures of Ed and Serenity is all about cruising, travel, real-life experiences, helpful tips and discovering the world one adventure at a time.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Credit-card rewards, annual fees, introductory offers, APRs, eligibility requirements and benefits can change. Always review the issuer’s current terms and conditions before applying. Never spend more than you otherwise would simply to earn rewards, and carrying a credit-card balance can substantially reduce or eliminate the value of rewards.