Cruising with Carnival doesn’t just mean sunny ports and poolside drinks—it can also mean built-in savings if you know how to book smart. One of the easiest and most overlooked ways to reduce the cost of your trip is to earn cashback with a Carnival gift card. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or a weeklong adventure at sea, learning how to stack gift cards, rewards programs, and booking strategies can make every dollar go further.
Why Carnival Gift Cards Are a Smart Way to Pay
Carnival gift cards are accepted for a wide range of purchases including cruise fares, onboard credit, shore excursions, spa services, drink packages, and more. These cards can be redeemed directly on the Carnival website or by calling to apply them to your booking, making them one of the most flexible ways to pay.
The trick is buying these gift cards at a discount or with cashback built in. That’s where platforms like Fluz come in. Fluz lets travelers purchase digital gift cards with instant cashback, which can be used the same day to pay for your cruise. Instead of paying Carnival directly with a credit card and earning just 1–2% in points, you can boost your savings immediately by using discounted gift cards.
How to Use a Carnival Gift Card on Your Cruise
Using a gift card is simple:
- Book your cruise through Carnival’s official website
- At checkout, choose “Gift Card” as your payment method
- Apply the card number and PIN
- You can combine multiple gift cards for a single booking
Even better, if you’ve already booked a cruise, you can call customer service and apply gift cards retroactively toward the balance. If your cruise is fully paid, you can use Carnival gift cards to pre-purchase add-ons or load them as onboard credit.
Maximize Rewards by Pairing Gift Cards with Loyalty Programs
If you’re a frequent cruiser, don’t forget about Carnival’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club. This loyalty program offers perks like priority boarding, special offers, and free drinks at select tiers. By combining your membership with a discounted gift card strategy, you can double-dip on perks and real savings.
And if you’re using a cashback credit card to purchase the gift card through Fluz, you’re effectively stacking three reward systems:
- Credit card cashback or points
- Fluz cashback on the gift card purchase
- Carnival’s VIFP loyalty perks
What to Watch Out For
While this strategy is effective, keep these notes in mind:
- Gift cards are non-refundable and can’t be exchanged for cash
- They cannot be used to place a deposit on a cruise—only to pay remaining balances or for onboard spending
- Always verify the current cashback rate on Fluz, as it may change
The Bottom Line
Smart cruisers look beyond just base fare pricing. When you earn cashback with a Carnival gift card, you’re saving on money you were already going to spend—whether that’s for your stateroom, drink package, or shore adventure. Combine this with loyalty perks and rewards stacking to truly make waves with your vacation budget.
