There’s one widespread 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 bank card. Nevertheless, these typically do not supply as stable of a worth as the most effective journey bank cards.
For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit score Card at present presents a welcome bonus of 30,000 factors (price $300 in onboard credit score) after you spend $1,000 inside 90 days of account opening and an ongoing charge of two factors per greenback spent on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean, Movie star Cruises and Silversea. This would possibly look like an excellent bonus, however you possibly can truly get a significantly better worth from the welcome bonus on most basic 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 at all times need to pay in 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 guide your cruise?
At TPG, we suggest utilizing a bank card every time and wherever attainable so that you at all times earn rewards in your purchases. On the subject of cruises, you may get some critical advantages by reserving with a bank card.
Earn factors and miles
A cruise is a big expense, which suggests it is a possibility to earn important rewards.
You need to 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 through the use of 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. For those who use money or a debit card in your cruise, a billing mistake can imply cash is already gone out of your account earlier than you understand there’s a problem. Through the use of a bank card, your cash is protected whilst you work to get the difficulty resolved.
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Shield your spending
Many journey rewards playing cards include journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage, so you may be protected in case your journey plans go awry. For those who plan on doing important buying whereas in your ship, you should use a card with buy safety to make sure your gadgets arrive safely house.
Associated: Cruise journey insurance coverage: What it covers and why you want it
The most effective bank cards for reserving cruises
When deciding which bank card to make use of for reserving cruises, you may need to take into account the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and buying protections.
You may also benefit from 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 supplied 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, price $800 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $150
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Amex Inexperienced earns 3 factors per greenback spent on journey 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 may additionally get journey delay insurance coverage* that covers as much as $300 per journey (most of two claims per 12-month interval) and buy safety** 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 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 overview of the Amex Inexperienced.
Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the Amex Inexperienced 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, price $600.
Annual payment: $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 may additionally get journey protections equivalent 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 a further 25% to 75% rewards bonus on each buy — providing you with a fair larger return in your cruise spending.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card.
Apply right here: Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card
Associated: Every little thing it’s best to learn about Financial institution of America’s Most popular 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. In keeping with TPG’s January 2025 valuations, this supply is valued at $1,388.
Annual payment: $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’ll be able to redeem the rewards you earn for an announcement credit score to cowl journey bills, together with cruise line purchases.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards.
Be taught extra right here: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Associated: 7 causes to get the Capital One Enterprise 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, price $1,388 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $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 further perks like complimentary airport lounge entry, an announcement credit score for TSA PreCheck or World Entry and a $300 annual credit score for journey booked by means of Capital One Journey.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Capital One Enterprise X.
Be taught extra right here: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
Associated: Is the Capital One Enterprise X definitely worth the $395 annual payment?
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, price $1,230 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a useful 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, together with cruise bookings. What makes this card stand out is its spectacular journey protections. Once you use it to guide journey, you may get safety in opposition to misplaced or delayed baggage, in addition to journey delays, accidents and cancellations.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Most popular.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
Associated: 6 the reason why the Chase Sapphire Most popular is the right card for the typical 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, price $1,230 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $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 may 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 World Entry. Maybe the most effective perk on this card, nevertheless, is a $300 annual journey assertion credit score routinely utilized to journey purchases, that means you will get $300 again in your cruise reserving while you use this card to pay.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve: Must 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, price $1,600 in response to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $695 (see charges and charges)
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 Categorical 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 means of American Categorical Journey (on as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and comes with complete airport lounge entry, so it is also nice for reserving journey to and out of your cruise departure port.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Categorical
Associated: How one can maximize advantages with the Amex Platinum Card
Backside line
Utilizing the appropriate bank card to guide your cruise lets you rack up some critical rewards in your reserving and defend your self in opposition to a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you are targeted on hitting a useful welcome bonus to assist fund your subsequent journey or incomes bonus factors in your onboard cocktails, you possibly can really feel nice understanding your card is working arduous whilst you’re kicking again at sea.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a number of the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and should differ by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
