A common question we get from cruise-enthusiastic TPG readers is: What are the best credit cards for booking cruises?
It may seem logical that the best way to earn rewards on a cruise booking is to get a Cruise Line Cobranded Credit Card However, these generally do not provide as solid value as best travel credit cards,
For example, Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card Currently a welcome bonus of 30,000 points (worth $300 in onboard credits) when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening and an ongoing rate of 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Provides. This may seem like a nice bonus, but you can actually get much better value. welcome bonus On most common travel credit cards.
If you want to get the most value from your holiday shopping, here we explore the best credit cards for cruise booking and why you’ll always want to pay for your holidays at sea with a credit card.
Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card information has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why use a credit card to book your cruise?
At TPG, we recommend using credit cards whenever and wherever possible so you’re always earning rewards on your purchases. When it comes to cruises, booking with a credit card will net you some serious benefits.
Earn points and miles
Cruises are a significant expense, which means it’s an opportunity to earn significant rewards.
You can use cruise bookings to help meet the spending requirement and earn a valuable welcome bonus on the new card or plan for future travel by using the card that earns bonus points or miles on travel purchases. You can earn rewards for.
Avoid billing mistakes
We’ve all experienced billing mistakes and the headaches that come with them. If you use cash or a debit card to pay for your travel, a billing mistake could mean money has been taken out of your account before you realize the problem. Using credit cards keeps your money safe work to solve the problem,
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keep your expenses safe
Many travel rewards cards come with Trip Delay and Cancellation Insurance So if your travel plans go awry you’ll be protected. If you plan to make important purchases while on your ship, you can use a card with purchase protection To ensure that your goods reach home safely.
Connected: Cruise travel insurance: what it covers and why you need it
Best Credit Cards for Cruise Booking
When deciding which credit card to use for booking a cruise, you’ll want to consider the rewards the card earns on cruises and benefits like travel and shopping protection.
You can also take advantage of the card’s more exclusive benefits, like statement credits for travel and access to airport lounges.
With that in mind, we recommend these credit cards for booking cruises:
American Express Green Card information independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express Green Card
welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first six months of your card membership, which is worth $800 as of January 2025, according to TPG. Valuation,
annual fee:$150
Why is it great for cruise booking?: Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel shoppingWhich also includes touring. This means you’ll earn bonus points on cruise bookings as well as any airfare or hotel purchases you make to and from your cruise. you will also get it travel delay insurance* Which covers up to $300 per trip (maximum two claims per 12-month period) and purchase protection**For 90 days after purchase.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. The policies are underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Connected: Who should (and shouldn’t) get an Amex Green Card?
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 points, a value of $600 after you spend $4,000 in the first 90 days from account opening.
annual fee:$95
Why is it great for cruise booking?: The Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card earns 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases, including cruise line purchases as well as hotel and airline purchases. You will also get travel protection such as trip delay/cancellation/interruption insurance.
And if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you’ll earn an additional 25% to 75% rewards bonus on every purchase – giving you an even bigger return on your cruise spending.
For more information, see our Full Review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card,
apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
Connected: Everything You Need to Know About Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards Program
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. According to TPG January 2025 Valuation The value of this offer is $1,388.
annual fee:$95
Why is it great for cruise booking?: Capital One Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, including cruise bookings. You can redeem earned rewards for statement credits to cover travel expenses, including cruise line purchases.
For more information, see our Full Review of Capital One Venture Rewards,
Learn more here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Connected: 7 Reasons to Get the Capital One Venture Rewards Card
Capital One Venture
welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,388 as of January 2025, according to TPG. Valuation,
annual fee: $395
Why is it great for cruise booking?: Like Venture Rewards, Venture What makes the Venture $300 annual credit For travel booked through Capital One Travel,
For more information, see our Capital One Venture,
Learn more here: Capital One Venture
Connected: Is Capital One Venture
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, valued at $1,230 as of January 2025, according to TPG. Valuation,
annual fee:$95
Why is it great for cruise booking?: Chase Sapphire Preferred earns a valuable 2 points per dollar spent travel shopping Which also includes cruise booking. What makes this card stand out is its impressive travel protection. When you use it to book travel, you’ll be protected against lost or delayed luggage, as well as protection against travel delays, accidents and cancellations.
For more information, see our Chase Sapphire Preferred full review,
apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Connected: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler
Chase Sapphire Reserve
welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, valued at $1,230 as of January 2025, according to TPG. Valuation,
annual fee:$550
Why is it great for cruise booking?: Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruise bookings. You’ll get a slightly better suite of travel protections than the Sapphire Preferred, plus airport lounge access and a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. However, perhaps the best benefit of this card is that $300 annual travel statement credit Automatically applies to travel purchases, meaning you can get $300 back on your cruise booking when you use this card to pay.
For more information, see our Chase Sapphire Reserve full review,
apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Connected: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go midtier or premium?
Platinum Card from American Express
welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership, which is worth $1,600 as of January 2025, according to TPG. Valuation,
annual fee: $695 (see Rates and Fees,
Why is it great for cruise booking?: You won’t earn bonus points on cruise bookings with this card, but you will get the convenience of American Express Cruise Privilege ProgramWhere you will receive onboard credit and additional onboard amenities for every cruise booking.
Additionally, Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights when booking with the airline or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and comes with Is Extensive airport lounge accessSo it’s also great for booking travel to your cruise departure port.
For more information, see our Amex Platinum Full Review,
apply here: Platinum Card from American Express
Connected: How to Get the Most Out of the Amex Platinum Card
ground level
Using the right credit card to book your cruise can help you get some serious rewards on your booking and save yourself from a variety of mishaps.
Whether you’re focused on securing a valuable welcome bonus to help you fund your next trip or earning bonus points on cocktails on your ship when you head back to sea. If so, you can feel great knowing that your card is working hard.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some benefits may be provided by Visa® or MasterCard® and may vary by product. See the relevant benefits guide for details, as rules and exclusions apply.
Click for Amex Platinum rates and fees Here,
