There may be one frequent query we get from TPG readers who’re cruise fans: What are the most effective bank cards for reserving cruises?
It may appear logical that one of the simplest ways to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded credit card. Nevertheless, these playing cards usually do not supply as robust a worth because the best travel credit cards.
For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card at present provides a welcome bonus of 30,000 factors (value $300 in onboard credit score or cabin upgrades) after spending $1,000 inside 90 days of account opening. Whereas which will sound interesting, you’ll be able to sometimes get a lot better worth from the welcome bonus on most normal journey bank cards.
If you wish to get probably the most worth out of your cruise purchases, here is our information to the most effective bank cards for reserving cruises and why you at all times need to pay on your trip at sea with a bank card.
The data for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Why use a bank card to ebook your cruise?
At TPG, we suggest utilizing a bank card each time and wherever attainable so that you at all times earn rewards in your purchases. In relation to cruises, you will get some severe advantages by reserving with a bank card.
Earn factors and miles
A cruise is a big expense, which implies it is a possibility to earn important rewards.
You should use a cruise reserving that can assist you hit a spending requirement and earn a helpful welcome bonus on a brand new card, or earn rewards to place towards future journey through the use of a card that earns bonus factors or miles on journey purchases.
Enhance your money circulate
We have all skilled billing errors and the complications that include them. Should you use money or a debit card on your cruise, a billing mistake can imply cash is already gone out of your account earlier than you notice there’s a problem. Through the use of a bank card, your cash stays protected when you work to get the issue resolved.
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Shield your spending
Many journey rewards playing cards embody trip delay and cancellation insurance, so you will be protected in case your journey plans go awry. Should you plan on doing important buying whereas in your ship, you should use a card with purchase protection to make sure your gadgets arrive safely.
Associated: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it
One of the best bank cards for reserving cruises
When deciding which bank card to make use of for reserving cruises, you will need to take into account the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and buying protections. You can even reap the benefits of a card’s extra particular perks, like assertion credit for journey and airport lounge entry to get you to and from the port.
With this in thoughts, we suggest these bank cards for reserving a cruise:
The data for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
American Categorical Inexperienced
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 factors after spending $3,000 in your first six months of card membership, value $800 in line with TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual charge: $150
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Amex Inexperienced earns 3 factors per greenback spent on travel purchases, together with cruises. This implies you will earn bonus factors on the cruise reserving in addition to any flight or lodge purchases you make to get to and out of your cruise. You will additionally get trip delay insurance* that covers as much as $300 per journey (most of two claims per 12-month interval) and purchase protection** for as much as 90 days after you make a purchase order.
*Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
**Eligibility and profit ranges range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.
To study extra, see our full review of the Amex Green.
Associated: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Green card?
Financial institution of America Premium Rewards
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first 90 days of account opening, value $600.
Annual charge: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card earns 2 factors per greenback spent on all journey purchases, together with cruise line purchases in addition to lodge and airline purchases. You will additionally get journey protections corresponding to journey cancellation/delay/interruption insurance coverage.
And in the event you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you will earn a further 25%-75% rewards bonus on each buy, supplying you with a fair better return in your cruise spending.
To study extra, see our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.
Apply right here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Capital One Enterprise Rewards
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. In line with TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this supply is valued at as much as $1,388.
Annual charge: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Capital One Enterprise Rewards earns 2 miles per greenback spent on most purchases, together with cruise bookings. You’ll be able to redeem the rewards you earn for an announcement credit score to cowl journey bills, together with cruise line purchases.
To study extra, see our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
Study extra: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Enterprise X
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening, value $1,388 in line with TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual charge: $395
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: Just like the Enterprise Rewards, the Enterprise X earns 2 miles per greenback spent on most purchases, together with cruises, and comes with a number of journey protections. What makes the Enterprise X stand out is that it may possibly make your journey run extra easily with extra perks like complimentary airport lounge entry, an announcement credit score for TSA PreCheck or International Entry and a $300 annual credit for journey booked by means of Capital One Travel.
To study extra, see our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Study extra: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Most popular
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Chase Final Rewards bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, value $1,538 in line with TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual charge: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a helpful 2 factors per greenback spent on travel purchases, together with cruise bookings. What makes this card stand out is its spectacular journey protections. If you use it to ebook journey, you will get safety in opposition to misplaced or delayed baggage, in addition to journey delays and cancellations.
To study extra, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus factors and a $500 Chase Journey promo credit score* after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, value as much as $2,550 (together with the Chase Journey credit score) in line with TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
*The promotional credit score is legitimate for a one-time use solely; in the event you apply the promotional credit score to a transaction lower than $500, you’ll forfeit the remaining steadiness.
Annual charge: $795
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 8 factors per greenback on all bookings by means of Chase Journey, together with cruises booked within the portal. You will additionally get a barely higher suite of journey protections than with the Sapphire Most popular, plus airport lounge entry.
Maybe the most effective perk on this card, nevertheless, is a $300 annual travel statement credit routinely utilized to journey purchases, that means you’ll be able to stand up to $300 again in your cruise reserving once you use this card to pay.
To study extra, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Backside line
Utilizing the appropriate bank card to ebook your cruise permits you to earn some severe rewards in your reserving and defend your self in opposition to a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you are centered on receiving a helpful welcome bonus to assist fund your subsequent journey or incomes bonus factors in your onboard cocktails, you’ll be able to really feel nice figuring out your card is working exhausting when you’re kicking again at sea.
Associated: How to book a cruise using points and miles
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a number of the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and will range by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
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