There may be 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 the easiest way to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded credit card. Nevertheless, these playing cards typically do not supply as sturdy a price 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 that will sound interesting, you may sometimes get significantly better worth from the welcome bonus on most basic journey bank cards.
If you wish to get essentially the most worth out of your cruise purchases, this is our information to the very best bank cards for reserving cruises and why you all the time need to pay to 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 advocate utilizing a bank card at any time when and wherever potential so that you all the time 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 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 invaluable 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.
Enhance your money circulation
We have all skilled billing errors and the complications that include them. If you happen to use money or a debit card to your cruise, a billing mistake can imply cash is already gone out of your account earlier than you notice there’s a problem. By utilizing a bank card, your cash stays protected whilst 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 may be protected in case your journey plans go awry. If you happen to plan on doing vital purchasing whereas in your ship, you should utilize a card with purchase protection to make sure your gadgets arrive safely.
Associated: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need 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 think about the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and purchasing protections. You can too make the most 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 advocate these bank cards for reserving a cruise:
The data for the American Specific 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 Specific Inexperienced
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 factors after spending $3,000 in your first six months of card membership, value $800 in accordance 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 may 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 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 degree varies by card. Phrases, situations 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 fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations 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 may additionally get journey protections equivalent to journey cancellation/delay/interruption insurance coverage.
And in the event you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you may earn an extra 25%-75% rewards bonus on each buy, providing you with a fair higher 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 a press release 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 accordance 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 might probably make your journey run extra easily with further perks like complimentary airport lounge entry, a press release credit score for TSA PreCheck or World Entry and a $300 annual credit for journey booked by 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 accordance with TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual charge: $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. Whenever you use it to guide journey, you may 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 accordance 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 Chase Journey, together with cruises booked within the portal. You may additionally get a barely higher suite of journey protections than with the Sapphire Most popular, plus airport lounge entry.
Maybe the very best perk on this card, nevertheless, is a $300 annual travel statement credit routinely utilized to journey purchases, that means you may rise up to $300 again in your cruise reserving whenever 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 fitting bank card to guide your cruise means that you can earn some critical rewards in your reserving and defend your self in opposition to a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you are targeted on receiving a invaluable welcome bonus to assist fund your subsequent journey or incomes bonus factors in your onboard cocktails, you may really feel nice realizing your card is working laborious whilst 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, among the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and should fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
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