There may be one frequent query we get from TPG readers who’re cruise fans: What are the perfect bank cards for reserving cruises?
It may appear logical that one of the best ways to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded bank card. Nevertheless, these playing cards typically don’t supply as sturdy a worth as the perfect journey bank cards.
For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit score Card could sound interesting should you ceaselessly cruise with that line. Nevertheless, you may sometimes get significantly better worth from common journey playing cards.
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.
If you wish to get essentially the most worth out of your cruise purchases, right here’s our information to the perfect bank cards for reserving cruises and why you at all times need to pay in your trip at sea with a bank card.
The very best bank cards for reserving cruises
When deciding which bank card to make use of for reserving cruises, you’ll need to take into account the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and buying protections. You may as well 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 January 2026 valuations.
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Annual payment: $150
Why it’s nice for reserving cruises: The Amex Inexperienced earns 3 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, together with cruises. This implies you’ll 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’ll 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 differ 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, learn our full overview of the Amex Inexperienced.
Associated: Who ought to (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Inexperienced card?
American Categorical Platinum
Welcome bonus: New cardmembers can discover out their supply and could also be eligible for as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 within the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides differ, and also you might not be eligible for a proposal. In response to TPG’s January 2026 valuations, this bonus is value as much as $3,500.
Annual payment: $895
Why it’s nice for reserving cruises: Bonus factors aren’t the inducement for reserving cruises on the Amex Platinum. As an alternative, you may leverage the Cruise Privileges Program by reserving an eligible crusing of not less than 5 nights along with your card by way of amextravel.com or by calling the quantity on the again of your card. If you do that, you could possibly obtain:
$100 to $300 per cabin onboard creditOne distinctive amenity per cabin
Keep in mind, you should e book an eligible cruise by way of American Categorical Journey to obtain these advantages, and never each cruise and cabin will supply the identical advantages.
Additionally, the Amex Platinum would not have a bonus class for cruises, so you’ll earn 1 Membership Rewards level per greenback spent on these purchases.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: American Categorical Platinum 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 payment: $95
Why it’s 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’ll additionally obtain journey protections, together with journey cancellation/delay/interruption insurance coverage.
And should you’re a Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards member, you’ll earn a further 25%-75% rewards bonus on each buy, providing you with a fair larger return in your cruise spending.
To study extra, learn 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 response to TPG’s January 2026 valuations, this supply is valued at as much as $1,388.
Annual payment: $95
Why it’s 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 an announcement credit score to cowl journey bills, together with purchases from cruise strains.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the Enterprise Rewards.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Capital One Enterprise X
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening, value $1,850 in response to TPG’s January 2026 valuations.
Annual payment: $395
Why it’s 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 units Enterprise X aside is its capacity to make your journey run extra easily with further perks, corresponding to complimentary airport lounge entry, which makes the journey to the airport earlier than your cruise significantly better.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the 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 January 2026 valuations.
Annual payment: $95
Why it’s nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a worthwhile 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, together with cruise bookings made straight. When you e book by way of Chase Journey, you may earn 5 factors per greenback spent.
Plus, should you e book a particular cruise and cabin with Voyages by Chase Journey, you may obtain onboard credit, package deal upgrades, non-public transfers and extra. Eligible cruise strains embody AmaWaterways, Movie star, Norwegian, Oceania and extra.
What units this card aside is its sturdy journey protections. If you use it to e book journey, you’ll get safety in opposition to misplaced or delayed baggage, in addition to journey delays and cancellations.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the Sapphire Most popular.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome bonus: Earn 125,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, value $2,563 in response to TPG’s January 2026 valuations.
Annual payment: $795
Why it’s nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 8 factors per greenback spent on all bookings by way of Chase Journey, together with cruises booked within the portal. You’ll additionally get a barely higher suite of journey protections than with the Sapphire Most popular, plus airport lounge entry.
The Sapphire Reserve additionally unlocks entry to Voyages by Chase Journey, just like the Sapphire Most popular.
Maybe the perfect perk on this card, nonetheless, is a $300 annual journey assertion credit score robotically utilized to journey purchases, that means you may stand up to $300 again in your cruise reserving if you use this card to pay.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Backside line
Utilizing the proper bank card to e book your cruise lets you earn some critical rewards in your reserving and shield your self in opposition to a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you’re centered on receiving a worthwhile 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 exhausting when you’re kicking again at sea.
Associated: How you can e book a cruise utilizing factors and miles
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 costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
