The best credit cards for booking cruises

There may be one frequent query we get from TPG readers who’re cruise fanatics: What are the most effective bank cards for reserving cruises?

It might sound logical that one of the best ways to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded credit card. Nevertheless, these typically do not supply as stable of a price because the best travel credit cards.

For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card at the moment provides a welcome bonus of 30,000 factors (value $300 in onboard credit score) after you spend $1,000 inside 90 days of account opening and an ongoing price of two factors per greenback spent on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean, Movie star Cruises and Silversea. This may look like bonus, however you may truly get a significantly better worth from the welcome bonus on most normal journey bank cards.

If you wish to get probably the most worth out of your trip purchases, right here we discover the most effective bank cards for reserving cruises and why you all the time 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.

Why use a bank card to e-book your cruise?

At TPG, we suggest utilizing a bank card at any time when and wherever doable so that you all the time earn rewards in your purchases. In relation to cruises, you may get some severe advantages by reserving with a bank card.

Earn factors and miles

A cruise is a major expense, which suggests it is a possibility to earn vital rewards.

You should use a cruise reserving that can assist you hit a spending requirement and earn a useful welcome bonus on a brand new card or earn rewards to place towards future journey by utilizing a card that earns bonus factors or miles on journey purchases.

Shield from billing errors

We have all skilled billing errors and the complications that include them. In case 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 understand there’s a difficulty. By utilizing a bank card, your cash is secure whilst you work to get the issue resolved.

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Shield your spending

Many journey rewards playing cards include trip delay and cancellation insurance, so you may be protected in case your journey plans go awry. In case you plan on doing vital buying whereas in your ship, you need to use a card with purchase protection to make sure your gadgets arrive safely residence.

Associated: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it

The very best bank cards for reserving cruises

When deciding which bank card to make use of for reserving cruises, you may need to think about the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and buying protections.

You may as well make the most of a card’s extra particular perks, like assertion credit for journey and airport lounge entry.

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 offered by the cardboard issuer.

American Categorical Inexperienced Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 factors after spending $3,000 in your first six months of card membership, value $800 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

Annual price: $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 may earn bonus factors on the cruise reserving in addition to any airfare or resort 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 degree 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 differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.

For extra particulars, 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 bank card

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first 90 days of account opening, value $600.

Annual price: $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 resort and airline purchases. You will additionally get journey protections akin to journey delay/cancellation/interruption insurance coverage.

And if you happen to’re a Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards member, you may earn an extra 25% to 75% rewards bonus on each buy — providing you with a good better return in your cruise spending.

For extra particulars, see our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.

Apply right here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Associated: Everything you should know about Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program

Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations, this supply is valued at $1,388.

Annual price: $95

Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Capital One Enterprise Rewards earns 2 miles per greenback spent on all purchases, together with cruise bookings. You may redeem the rewards you earn for a press release credit score to cowl journey bills, together with cruise line purchases.

For extra particulars, see our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

Study extra right here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Associated: 7 reasons to get the Capital One Venture Rewards card

Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening, value $1,388 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

Annual price: $395

Why it is nice for reserving cruises: Just like the Enterprise Rewards, the Enterprise X earns 2 miles per greenback spent on all purchases, together with cruises, and comes with a number of journey protections. What makes the Enterprise X stand out is that it might probably make your journey run extra easily with extra perks like complimentary airport lounge entry, a press release credit score for TSA PreCheck or International Entry and a $300 annual credit for journey booked by Capital One Travel.

For extra particulars, see our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

Study extra right here: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Associated: Is the Capital One Venture X worth the $395 annual fee?

Chase Sapphire Most popular Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Final Rewards factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, value $1,230 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

Annual price: $95

Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a useful 2 factors per greenback spent on travel purchases, together with cruise bookings. What makes this card stand out is its spectacular journey protections. Whenever you use it to e-book journey, you may get safety towards misplaced or delayed baggage, in addition to journey delays, accidents and cancellations.

For extra particulars, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Associated: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Final Rewards factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, value $1,230 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

Annual price: $550

Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, together with cruise bookings. You will additionally get a barely higher suite of journey protections than with the Sapphire Most popular, plus airport lounge entry and credit score for TSA PreCheck or International Entry. Maybe the most effective perk on this card, nevertheless, is a $300 annual travel statement credit mechanically utilized to journey purchases, which means you may get $300 again in your cruise reserving if you use this card to pay.

For extra particulars, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Associated: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?

The Platinum Card from American Categorical

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 factors after spending $8,000 within the first six months of card membership, value $1,600 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

Annual price: $695 (see rates and fees)

Why it is nice for reserving cruises: You will not earn bonus factors on cruise bookings with this card, however you may get entry to the American Express Cruise Privileges Program, the place you may obtain onboard credit score and an additional onboard amenity for every cruise reserving.

Plus, the Amex Platinum earns 5 factors per greenback spent on flights when reserving with the airline or by American Categorical Journey (on as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and comes with comprehensive airport lounge access, so it is also nice for reserving journey to and out of your cruise departure port.

For extra particulars, see our full review of the Amex Platinum.

Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Express

Associated: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on here.