Best "Points" credit card?

[jjm34957]

I like the $0.02

 

Joe

[squirrellee01]

Yeah you earn "points" faster with World Points but you have to reason what the "points" earn you. Plus what you really want to earn, either cash, cruise or airline travel, etc. I have a world points too but after I used it for a month I optted to get another NCL points ( we now have 4) because I wasn't earning enough of anything of value. Remember 1 NCL cruise reward point is equal to $1 off the cruise (500 points = $500) So you only need to spend under $17,000 to get something worth $500. That's the real deal. But you have to be willing to spend it on NCL cruise. So when comparing "points" you have to compare what the "points" equal in terms of the reward, not just how you earn the point but really what the point will get you.

[squirrellee01]

Yeah you earn "points" faster with World Points but you have to reason what the "points" earn you. Plus what you really want to earn, either cash, cruise or airline travel, etc. I have a world points too but after I used it for a month I optted to get another NCL points ( we now have 4) because I wasn't earning enough of anything of value. Remember 1 NCL cruise reward point is equal to $1 off the cruise (500 points = $500) So you only need to spend under $17,000 to get something worth $500. That's the real deal. But you have to be willing to spend it on NCL cruise. So when comparing "points" you have to compare what the "points" equal in terms of the reward, not just how you earn the point but really what the point will get you.

[Marlissa]

Yeah you earn "points" faster with World Points but you have to reason what the "points" earn you. Plus what you really want to earn, either cash, cruise or airline travel, etc. I have a world points too but after I used it for a month I optted to get another NCL points ( we now have 4) because I wasn't earning enough of anything of value. Remember 1 NCL cruise reward point is equal to $1 off the cruise (500 points = $500) So you only need to spend under $17,000 to get something worth $500. That's the real deal. But you have to be willing to spend it on NCL cruise. So when comparing "points" you have to compare what the "points" equal in terms of the reward, not just how you earn the point but really what the point will get you.

 

And this is the exact reason we also have multiple NCL BOA cards. Spending less than 17k gets you $500 NCL credit, the best rewards card (for us) and it, btw, doesn't have a yearly fee.

 

With this card, all purchases earn you 3% and purchases thru NCL earn an additional 1% (capped at 250 points per month and 1000 per year).

 

Do want to clarify something squirrellee01 said: But you have to be willing to spend it on NCL cruise. "It" refers to the reward certificate and not the original $17k that needs to be spent to get a certificate. Would hate to have someone think you have to charge that much with NCL and in turn receive NCL certificates.

[squirrellee01]

Glad you cleared that up for anyone. I wouldn't want them to think the purchases had to be with NCL either.

Sorry for the double post. I didn't even think it posted once!

 

I've been searching other no annual fee cards and not really finding much success because i'm looking for something to earn for flying. But nothing earns at the rate of NCL. My parents did get a good one from American Express Blue Sky no annual fee. Because part of the preapproved application was 30,000 bonus points which you can redeem towards 2 free airline tickets, hotel stays or any other type of travel (after the first $1000 in purchases) They both got letter so they both got accounts and now have more than enough points for 4 airline tickets. The only downfall was that you have to get the pre approved letter for the bonus points. I called AMEX and tried to get it and although I could get the card and earn points, I wouldn't get the Bonus points. Still it may be a good rewards card because it's for any travel related expense, hotel, cruise, car rental, travel package, no expiration date on points, no limit to the number of points you can earn and zero travel restrictions, all with no annual fee.

Just FYI for those looking for something besides NCL.

[fti]

I have found that most cards give 1 point per dollar spent. Then they throw in bonuses, like 2 points per dollar at grocery stores or home improvement centers etc. Capital one has a card with 1.25 points per dollar. The rewards are cash or air or other other goods. I have found that redeeming for cash is the best option, because you can spend it anywhere. I had points with WorldPoints Mastercard, tried to use for airfare but the number of points plus cash I would have had to pay was outrageous. I was able to get cash reward and found cheaper airfare.

 

The rewards with an affinity program would have to be greater than with a general rewards card to be worth losing flexibility.

 

Joe

 

It depends what you want to use the rewards for. I find that cash-back options are usually about 1%. I have a Citibank PremierPass Elite card where I can get 4%-6% back if I use the rewards to book flights (4% for economy class flights, 6% for first/business class flights). I haven't found another card that gives as good a return as this. I would rather pay full price for a cruise and get my flight free if the cruise card gives a return of only 1-2%.

[petesweet]

I personally am very content with the no-fee Royal Caribbean card. I opened one, and my husband also opened one. Each one gained us 15,000 points (which translates to $150 onboard credit). This means we have been given $300 before we have spent a penny (beyond the first charge, which can be as little as $1). Since we prefer Royal Caribbean cruises, we don't mind having it used for OBC. Also, we get double points for anything spent with RCI.

 

Another thing I prefer about them is that I can cash in my OBC in $50 increments.

 

And the best thing of all is that I can go to the casino on the ship and pull out cash to use up my OBC that I don't plan to use on the ship. The cost of that cash is put on my ship card, which I pay off with my credit card and get more double points for.

 

Be sure you pay your credit card bill off in total every month or your 1 percent will be costing you many, many more percentage points.

 

You have to squeeze every penny out of things these days.:D

[petesweet]

So now, the only way to make a payment and not get hit for any fees and interest is either making payment by mail (I don't like making payment by mail because they have claimed to have not recieved it in time before) or on the Chase web site, making sure that they receive it by 4pm on a non-holiday weekday before your payment is due. :)

 

All that said, we still love what the card gives us, and when they move the line in the sand we'll figure out how to move with it. I think the only thing that might be a deal breaker for us is if they make it so you can't make your payment AT ALL without incuring a fee of some kind.

 

Why not do a bank draft? Easiest thing in the world, and you never have to worry about making the payment on time--even when you're on the high seas when it comes due!!:)

[petesweet]

I posted my first comment before reading the entire thread. Now I feel like I'm on the NCL board:) .

 

My RC card does not have a monthly spending limit for points, and the points do not expire. Glad I don't have to keep up with stuff like that. I don't like to stress myself out. I let the bank handle the payments and just tell me how much they took out of my account, so I don't have to worry about how to pay the bill either. (And when I feel stressed, I just take another cruise.:D )

 

Happy sailing, everyone.

[packman266]

NCL's BOA card gives you 3% of your expenditures in points. 4% on charges to NCL !. Limits :250 points / month 1000 points/ year You may spend up to 3000 points per cabin. I have three NCL cards so that is 3000 points per year. Usually one free cruise :D ! Then with Citicards AA points you can earn free air. Marriot gives you free rooms So last year I cruised from LA to Mexico from Ft Lauderdale for FREE! :) CapitalOne gives you miles or cash (depending on the card) I have both. CapitalOne Money Market gives you miles points. CapitalOne does not charge a 3% fee on foreign transactions and if you use their Money Market ATM card there is no 3% on atm. You are always "stuck" with local bank fees for ATMs but some banks don't charge them. (find out) I have been doing this for years. I charge "everything" and keep track daily online. I pay "in full" each month so their is no interest to pay. Just call me "Cheap Charley" everyone else does. DREAM 3-02-08 ALMOST ALL IN POINTS!

[secretkobe]

Discover card offers 5% cash back if you book your cruise through their recommended travel agency. Then after you earn enough cash, you can redeem the cash or use it for cruise gift certificate doubling that value. $40 into $80, $80 into $160, $100 into $200 etc. So let's say you book a cruise through the discover card website, the total cost is $2000. You will earn $100 cash back. You can use the $100 as cash or cash it in for a $200 gift certificate for the next cruise. Basically 10% rebate for every cruise!

[ksmaxey]

OK - this thread has my interest. Does anyone use quicken to download transactions directly into quicken? I do this with both my bank (53) and my current MC - through Citibank.

 

Thanks

 

Kevin

[TJ Monks]

...Not sure if a system like that would work. I've love to start saving some points. I also budgeted $500 a month to savings just for travel. I'm so excited about this! My husband also gets his own savings which he will use to spend on car parts. Ha ha. At least we are both trying to save. :)

 

I live off of my NCL card. They give 3% kickback for all purchases and 4% when purchasing cruises, etc from NCL. On the first of each month I pay rent with my paycheck and on the 15th I drive down to BofA and give it all to them. You must pay this off every month or it will work against you. I do, and it works for me. I don't make much salary but have managed to rack up 700 points in 6 months. We have 6 more months to go before our cruise leaves :-)

 

QUESTION: If I pay the cuise in full in July (as required) and get another $500 cashin certificate, I wonder if they'll refund the $500 cash that I paid ? Anyone know ?

Thanks,

Tom

[awoltoday]

In the NCL Mastercard FAQ (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=588120) on the NCL board, some have reported they were successful getting the $500 credit back onto their card by submitting their certificate after final payment had been made.

[awoltoday]

In the NCL Mastercard FAQ (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=588120) on the NCL board, some have reported they were successful getting the $500 credit back onto their card by submitting their certificate after final payment had been made.

[dah]

I just opened a RCCC I am so excited.. I want to hear more tips on using it.. I do plan on paying it off each month... I had my dh be a user of the card but should I have had him apply for his own to get the extra points? I'm also for saving every penny we can. We are going on a cruise in June and I hope to use some of the on-board credits:)

[petesweet]

I just opened a RCCC I am so excited.. I want to hear more tips on using it.. I do plan on paying it off each month... I had my dh be a user of the card but should I have had him apply for his own to get the extra points? I'm also for saving every penny we can. We are going on a cruise in June and I hope to use some of the on-board credits:)

 

Definitely have him get his own, and put your name on it. That way you won't run out of credit (but always pay off each month) and you'll get the extra points.

 

Make your deposit and your final payment on your credit card. Charge your on-board tips against the card. If you end up with too much credit, you can get the money back on the ship.

[dah]

I recieved my RCCC yesterday:) I'm ready to start racking up some point's! I had to run out and use it ... found a great sale on summer clothes for the cruise! How far in advance to your cruise do you request your vouchers for on board credits? We are going in June and thought we would use what we could then and then after start saving up for another cruise!

[goldenrod]

This is how my wife and I always fly Business class to Europe for free! We each get a Citi Bank AAdvantage cards they give either 20,000 or 25,000 miles once you charge $750 depending on the promotion their running they even throw in 10,000 bones miles once you charge the $750. I have three corprations and my wife has a real estate firm we get cards for all the corprations and her real estate firm plus we get personal cards, we get both Master cards and Visa all told we have collected over 300,000 miles. By the way we pay all our cards every month, and have never paid a dime of intrest we keep the cards a year (the firt year has no fee for the card the second year their is a fee so we cancel them then 9 months later we do it all over again. We have flown to Europe 3 times on Amercan Airlines Business Class for free! This year were flying to Copenhagen in Aug. for free again to take a Regent cruise, you just have to learn how to play the system. And we don't feel guilty not when the credit card companies are charging as much as 24% intrest. Were just taking advantage of what they offer.

[loveysbydesign]

Anyone have the new SeaMiles card from Chase???

[TJ Monks]

NCL gives 3% anytime, anywhere and 4% when you pay NCL for something. There are no annual fees. Can anyone beat this ? If so please let me know and I'll switch. I just cashed in $1000 for my fall cruise and had to get another card for my wife as I've already maxed the 1,000 points per year on my card. Until I find something better, I guess that we'll be taking a free cruise each year for our vacation. :D To paraphrase... "It doesn't suck !"

 

Thanks,

Tom

[Jade13]

This is how my wife and I always fly Business class to Europe for free! We each get a Citi Bank AAdvantage cards they give either 20,000 or 25,000 miles once you charge $750 depending on the promotion their running they even throw in 10,000 bones miles once you charge the $750. I have three corprations and my wife has a real estate firm we get cards for all the corprations and her real estate firm plus we get personal cards, we get both Master cards and Visa all told we have collected over 300,000 miles. By the way we pay all our cards every month, and have never paid a dime of intrest we keep the cards a year (the firt year has no fee for the card the second year their is a fee so we cancel them then 9 months later we do it all over again. We have flown to Europe 3 times on Amercan Airlines Business Class for free! This year were flying to Copenhagen in Aug. for free again to take a Regent cruise, you just have to learn how to play the system. And we don't feel guilty not when the credit card companies are charging as much as 24% intrest. Were just taking advantage of what they offer.

 

Ok, but I thought these cards (we use the BofA Visa) have disclaimers that you can only get the $20,000 or $25,000 once - basically to get people from canceling and getting new cards?

 

Also, Suzi Orman says it ruins your credit rating to cancel your credit cards. So, I haven't tested the theory. You obviously have great credit but just curious if you check each year and if canceling the cards affects your ratings (even if only temporarily)? And, I realize, even so, a dip in the ratings has not affected your ability to get more cards. Just curious if you have any idea what canceling does to ones credit rating?

[partysally]

I think the max is 250 points per month, and they expire after 3 yrs. To redeem call BOA and ask for the certificates. Got mine in about 5 days.

 

 

Looks like the party is over. Letter from BofA saying the 4% disappears

as of the New Year (2009).

 

It was a nice run.

[squirrellee01]

Got the same letter. Actually like 8 of them. ha ha

but They talk it up like now you can spend the points on cash back, other travel, resturants, gift certificates. It's the World Points and I had a world points card too and it takes a LOT more spending to get anything of value. So far as I can tell, it's not going to be as good as it used to be.

Good thing we got one last free cruise in. Going in January, Mini-suite for our family of 4. 9 days, out of pocket money, $400. :)

 

 

Sheryl

[truchattycathy]

HMMM I still like Capital One. I get a point for every dollar I spend and can cash it in for any travel I want. Just pay for the travel on my card and submit online for the credit, and as long as I have enough points they credit my account. I paid for my next cruise this way, and am working on earning enough points to pay for the next one the same way. And yes I use it like a debit card(even keep a register say as not to overspend). Trying to get my dh to use it for more points, but he does not like credit cards or cruising. His loss!