The Princess Credit Card is a rewards card designed for people who travel frequently or want cash back on everyday purchases
The Princess Credit Card is issued by a bank or financial institution and offers rewards points on purchases you make. The card is marketed toward people who travel or want to earn cash back, though the specific rewards structure, annual fee, and interest rate depend on which version of the card you're considering. Before you decide whether this card fits your spending habits, you need to understand what it actually costs, what you earn, and how the rewards work in practice.
Like any credit card, the Princess card comes with an annual percentage rate (APR) on balances you don't pay off in full each month. It may also charge an annual fee. The rewards you earn are only valuable if you use them before they expire and if the value of those rewards exceeds what you pay in fees and interest. This guide walks you through the real numbers so you can decide whether this card makes sense for your situation.
Key Takeaways
- The Princess Credit Card charges an annual fee and offers rewards on purchases, but the rewards rate and fee amount vary depending on which card product you're looking at.
- You only come out ahead with rewards if you pay your full balance each month, because the interest charged on unpaid balances will quickly erase any points you've earned.
- Rewards points expire after a set period, so you need to redeem them before the important date or lose them entirely.
- The card's value depends on your actual spending pattern — if you don't spend enough to earn rewards that exceed the annual fee, a different card may be better for you.
How the Rewards Program Works
The Princess Credit Card rewards you with points on every dollar you spend. The exact number of points per dollar varies by category — for example, you might earn more points on travel and dining purchases than on groceries or gas. When you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for cash back, travel credits, or merchandise through the card issuer's rewards portal.
Points typically expire after a certain number of years of inactivity, so you need to track when you earned them and use them before the important date. Some cards let you transfer points to airline or hotel partners, which can sometimes give you more value than redeeming them directly for cash. Before you sign up, check the card issuer's website for the exact redemption rates — a point might be worth one cent, or it might be worth less depending on how you redeem it.
Annual Fee and When It Makes Sense
The Princess Credit Card charges an annual fee, which is deducted from your account once per year. This fee is not waived in the first year on most versions of the card, so you pay it when ready after opening the account. The fee amount varies, but you need to earn enough rewards to cover it before you start building actual value.
To figure out whether the card pays for itself, calculate how much you spend per year in categories that earn the highest rewards rate. If you spend $10,000 per year on travel and dining at 3 points per dollar, you earn 30,000 points. If each point is worth one cent, that's $300 in rewards — which covers a $95 annual fee and leaves you $205 ahead. But if you spend $3,000 per year, you earn only 9,000 points, or $90, which doesn't cover the fee. In that case, a no-annual-fee card would be better.
Interest Rates and the Cost of Carrying a Balance
The Princess Credit Card comes with an APR that applies to any balance you don't pay in full by the due date. This rate varies based on your credit score and current market conditions, but it typically ranges from the mid-teens to over 20 percent. If you carry a balance, the interest you pay will quickly exceed any rewards you've earned.
For example, if you charge $5,000 and pay only the minimum, you might pay $50 to $80 per month in interest alone. Over a year, that's $600 to $960 in interest charges — far more than the rewards you'd earn on that same $5,000 purchase. The card only makes financial sense if you pay your full statement balance every month. If you tend to carry balances, a card with a lower APR or a 0% introductory period would be a better choice.
Travel Benefits and Purchase Protections
Beyond rewards points, the Princess Credit Card may include travel-related benefits such as trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, or emergency medical coverage when you charge your ticket to the card. It may also offer purchase protections like extended warranty coverage or purchase protection insurance, which reimburses you if an item you bought is damaged or stolen within a certain window.
These benefits have limits and exclusions, so read the card's benefits guide before you rely on them. For instance, trip cancellation insurance typically covers only cancellations due to illness or death, not cancellations for other reasons. Purchase protection usually has a maximum reimbursement amount and requires you to file a claim within a set timeframe. The benefits are real, but they're not a reason to carry a balance or pay interest — they're a bonus if you're already using the card responsibly.
How the Princess Card Compares to Other Rewards Cards
The credit card market includes thousands of options, and many offer rewards without an annual fee. A no-annual-fee card with a 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases might be better for you than a card with a $95 fee and a 2% rate on specific categories, depending on how you spend. A card with a lower APR might be better if you're not confident you can pay your balance in full every month.
The Princess card is worth considering if you spend heavily on the categories it rewards most and you pay your balance in full each month. If you spend across many categories or you sometimes carry a balance, compare it side by side with cards that have no annual fee or a lower APR. Look at the rewards rates in the categories where you actually spend money, not the categories the card issuer highlights.
How to Decide Whether This Card Is Right for You
Start by tracking your spending for the past three months. Add up how much you spent in each category — travel, dining, groceries, gas, and everything else. Then find the Princess card's rewards rates for those categories and calculate how many points you'd earn in a year. Multiply that by the redemption value of each point to get your annual rewards total. Subtract the annual fee. If the number is positive and meaningful to you, the card may be worth it.
Also consider your credit score. Credit card issuers approve applicants with higher credit scores for better terms, and you may not be approved for the card at all if your score is below a certain threshold. If you're approved, the APR you receive depends on your creditworthiness — people with excellent credit pay lower rates than people with fair credit. Before you explore, check your credit report for errors and work on raising your score if it's below 700.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my rewards points if I close the card?
Most card issuers let you keep your points after you close the account, but some expire them when ready. Check your card's terms before you close it. If you have points you haven't redeemed, redeem them before you close the account to be safe.
Can I get the annual fee waived?
Some cardholders have had success calling the card issuer and asking for a fee waiver, especially if they've been a customer for several years or have a high account balance. There's no may provide, but it costs nothing to ask. The worst they can say is no.
Do I earn rewards on balance transfers or cash advances?
No. Most credit cards, including the Princess card, do not earn rewards on balance transfers or cash advances. You also pay a separate fee for these transactions, usually 3% to 5% of the amount. Use the card only for regular purchases if you want to earn rewards.
What's the difference between this card and a travel card?
The Princess card is a general rewards card that gives you points on many types of purchases. A dedicated travel card typically earns more points on airfare and hotels but fewer points on other purchases. If you travel frequently, a travel card might give you more value, but if you want rewards on everyday spending too, a general rewards card is more flexible.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a meaningful reward?
That depends on your spending and the redemption value. If you spend $1,000 per month and earn 2 points per dollar, you earn 24,000 points per year. If each point is worth one cent, that's $240 in annual rewards. How long it takes to reach a specific redemption goal — say, a $100 travel credit — depends on the redemption rate the card issuer offers.