There’s one widespread query we get from TPG readers who’re cruise lovers: What are the very best 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 usually do not provide as stable of a price because the best travel credit cards.
For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card presently 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, Celeb Cruises and Silversea. This would possibly look like bonus, however you possibly can truly get a a lot better worth from the welcome bonus on most basic journey bank cards.
If you wish to get essentially the most worth out of your trip purchases, right here we discover the very best 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 doable so that you at all times earn rewards in your purchases. In the case of cruises, you will get some severe advantages by reserving with a bank card.
Earn factors and miles
A cruise is a major expense, which implies it is a chance to earn important rewards.
You need to use a cruise reserving that will help you hit a spending requirement and earn a invaluable 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.
Defend from billing errors
We have all skilled billing errors and the complications that include them. Should you 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 difficulty. Through the use of a bank card, your cash is protected when you work to get the issue resolved.
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Defend your spending
Many journey rewards playing cards include trip delay and cancellation insurance, so you will be protected in case your journey plans go awry. Should you plan on doing important procuring whereas in your ship, you should utilize 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
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 think about the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and procuring protections.
You can too 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 line with 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 will earn bonus factors on the cruise reserving in addition to any airfare or lodge purchases you make to get to and out of your cruise. You may 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.
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, price $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 lodge and airline purchases. You may additionally get journey protections akin to journey delay/cancellation/interruption insurance coverage.
And should you’re a Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards member, you will earn an extra 25% to 75% rewards bonus on each buy — providing you with an excellent larger 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. In keeping with TPG’s January 2025 valuations, this provide 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 an announcement credit score to cowl journey bills, together with cruise line purchases.
For extra particulars, see our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
Be taught 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, price $1,388 in line with 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 may well make your journey run extra easily with further 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 Capital One Travel.
For extra particulars, see our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Be taught 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, price $1,230 in line with TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual price: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a invaluable 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 guide journey, you will 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, price $1,230 in line with 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 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 International Entry. Maybe the very best perk on this card, nonetheless, is a $300 annual travel statement credit routinely utilized to journey purchases, that means you may get $300 again in your cruise reserving while 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, price $1,600 in line with 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 will get entry to the American Express Cruise Privileges Program, the place you will 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
Backside line
Utilizing the precise bank card to guide your cruise lets you rack up some severe rewards in your reserving and shield your self towards a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you are targeted on hitting a invaluable welcome bonus to assist fund your subsequent journey or incomes bonus factors in your onboard cocktails, you possibly can really feel nice realizing your card is working laborious when you’re kicking again at sea.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a few of the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and should range by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on here.
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