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Co-branded cards, such as the Carnival card, can be confusing for some folks. It's easy to think that they are the same as a retail store card, which is only good for purchases at the specific retailer, which issues them. However, this is not the case. These cards, which may have the brand names of airlines, hotels, or other well-known businesses, can be used anywhere that accepts the network that issues them. For example, Mastercard or Visa cards can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard or Visa, even if there is another brand name connected to them on the card. This is nice because you can earn reward points anywhere you shop, not just at one store or chain of stores. The thing to watch out for is where you can redeem your rewards. You want to find a card that lets you redeem your points for a variety of rewards, not just for discounts at the issuing merchant.