American Express adds prepaid card for travelers

American Express, longtime purveyor of traveler's checks, is offering a new option for those worried about theft of their money or identity.

The TravelFunds Card is a prepaid, reloadable travel card that works somewhat like a phone card. You load it with $300 to $2,750 and use it to get cash from ATMs or buy from merchants who accept the American Express card.

For a $5 fee, you can reload it at ATMs that accept American Express or by calling a toll-free number. The card is free through Dec. 31; then it will cost $14.95.

The card is available in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds.

The company says it provides a 24-hour service to replace the remaining value of the card if it is lost or stolen. Another security plus: Unlike a debit card, it's not linked to your bank account.

A caveat: Fees can mount. Buying the card through credit card companies other than American Express may incur cash-advance fees. There may be currency-conversion charges. The card expires in three years, requiring $5 to renew. For details, call (888) 412-6945, www.americanexpress.com/travelfundscard.

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Cruise finance plan combines work and play

Having a tough time scraping together cash for a cruise? Maybe your employer can help.

The latest in cruise financing is payroll deduction. You choose the type of cruise you want, and the cost is deducted from your paycheck over 16 to 48 weeks.

St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Genesis Travel Benefits has teamed with Carnival Cruise Lines on the program. Genesis President and Chief Executive Simon Reynolds said he had signed up more than 25 businesses, representing about 250,000 employees, and would begin the program this week.

Genesis' fares are close to Carnival's Super Saver early-booking discounts but higher than many last-minute deals, Reynolds said. A quibble: The Genesis Web site shows the per-paycheck deduction but not the total. Get out your calculator. (800) 881-0303, www.genesiscruises.com.

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2 Florida theme parks get help to stay afloat

Two aging Florida tourist attractions recently got reprieves: Cypress Gardens and Weeki Wachee.

Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, which closed in April, has been bought by a nonprofit environmental group in a $22-million deal. The Trust for Public Land hopes to sell the nearly 70-year-old water-themed park, popularized by swimmer Esther Williams and other stars, to another buyer, which would reopen its botanical and historical exhibits, a spokeswoman said.