There may be one widespread query we get from TPG readers who’re cruise fans: What are the perfect bank cards for reserving cruises?
It might sound logical that the easiest way to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded bank card. Nevertheless, these playing cards typically do not provide as sturdy a worth as the perfect journey bank cards.
For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit score Card at the moment 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 possibly can usually get a lot better worth from the welcome bonus on most basic journey bank cards.
If you wish to get probably the most worth out of your cruise purchases, here is our information to the perfect bank cards for reserving cruises and why you at all times wish to pay in your trip at sea with a bank card.
The knowledge 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 at any time when and wherever potential so that you at all times earn rewards in your purchases. Relating to cruises, you may get some critical 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 vital rewards.
You should utilize a cruise reserving that will help you hit a spending requirement and earn a priceless 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 stream
We have all skilled billing errors and the complications that include them. In the event 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 notice there’s a problem. By utilizing a bank card, your cash stays protected when you work to get the problem resolved.
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Defend your spending
Many journey rewards playing cards embody journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage, so you may be protected in case your journey plans go awry. In the event you plan on doing vital buying whereas in your ship, you should use a card with buy safety to make sure your gadgets arrive safely.
Associated: Cruise journey insurance coverage: What it covers and why you want it
The very best bank cards for reserving cruises
When deciding which bank card to make use of for reserving cruises, you may wish to take into account the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and buying protections. It’s also possible to 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 knowledge 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 response to 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 journey 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 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 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 be taught extra, 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
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 similar to journey cancellation/delay/interruption insurance coverage.
And in the event you’re a Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards member, you may earn an extra 25%-75% rewards bonus on each buy, providing you with an excellent higher return in your cruise spending.
To be taught extra, 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
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 accordance with TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this provide 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 may redeem the rewards you earn for an announcement credit score to cowl journey bills, together with cruise line purchases.
To be taught extra, see our full overview of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score 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 response to 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 will possibly make your journey run extra easily with extra 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 Capital One Journey.
To be taught extra, see our full overview of the Capital One Enterprise X.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score 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 response to TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual charge: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a priceless 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 ebook journey, you may get safety towards misplaced or delayed baggage, in addition to journey delays and cancellations.
To be taught extra, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Most popular.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular 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 response to 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 stability.
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 perfect perk on this card, nevertheless, is a $300 annual journey assertion credit score robotically utilized to journey purchases, that means you possibly can stand up to $300 again in your cruise reserving once you use this card to pay.
To be taught extra, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Backside line
Utilizing the fitting bank card to ebook your cruise permits you to earn some critical rewards in your reserving and shield your self towards a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you are centered on receiving a priceless 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 onerous when you’re kicking again at sea.
Associated: How one can ebook a cruise utilizing factors and miles
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, among the advantages could also be supplied by Visa® or Mastercard® and will fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
