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Best credit cards for cruises for August 2024

Yahoo Personal Finance· Getty Images
Kendall Little
·Senior Writer, Credit Cards
Updated 17 min read

Ready to say “bon voyage” to land and set sail for the high seas? There are a lot of other travelers today who feel the same — both cruise ship capacity and the number of people aboard cruises are on the rise, according to data from the Cruise Lines International Association.

Many cruise travelers keep coming back: 12% take a cruise twice each year, and another 10% cruise three to five times per year.

The more frequently you spend time on the water, the more it pays to have a travel credit card to maximize your cruise spending. Here’s what to look for and how to get the most out of your next cruise vacation:

While your first instinct might be toward a co-branded cruise rewards credit card with the cruise line you like best, many travelers will get the best value from a general travel credit card.

Annual fee: $95

Welcome offer: Enjoy a $250 credit to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months

Rewards:

  • 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

  • 2x miles on all other purchases

Recommended credit score: Good to excellent

Why we like this card: If you enjoy taking cruises but only get to do so once every couple of years, a flat rewards card like Capital One Venture Rewards could be ideal. Whether you’re traveling or at home, you can use the card to accrue rewards on all of your regular spending for a full 2x miles per dollar.

As for redemptions, this card is best if you prefer to book directly with the cruise line, from a discount site, or with a travel agent. You can use your Capital One Venture Rewards Card miles to cover the charge (within 90 days of it posting to your account). You could then choose to book airfare, hotels, and car rentals through the Capital One Travel portal and maximize the costs of getting to your cruise’s port city with up to 5x on those purchases.

Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card: Best for flexible rewards

Annual fee: $95

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months

Rewards:

  • 5x points on travel through Chase Travel? (not including hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit)

  • 3x points on dining

  • 3x points on online grocery purchases

  • 3x points on select streaming services

  • 2x points on all other travel purchases

  • 1x points on all other purchases

Recommended credit score: Good to excellent

Why we like this card: Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of our favorite travel cards for nearly any traveler — and can potentially bring big savings to your next cruise trip.

To start, the 60,000-point welcome offer (after spending $4,000 within the first three months) is worth up to $750 when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel. Those bonus points, and all points you earn with the card, get boosted by 25% with Chase Travel redemptions for a value of 1.25 cents per point. And you can earn those points quickly on your cruise spending with 5x rewards on Chase Travel purchases and 2x points on all other travel.

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s 2x rewards on travel can be useful if you prefer booking through a travel agent or the cruise line directly, Chase Travel (for 5x rewards) is also a solid cruise booking option. You’ll find sailings to plenty of destinations across the world and even get access to onboard credits, package upgrades, complimentary airport transfers, and more when you book eligible trips with partners through Voyages by Chase Travel.

Unlike other travel options on the site, you won’t be able to book your cruise online. Instead, you’ll need to call and speak with a cruise specialist using the number on Chase Travel.

The Platinum Card? from American Express: Best premium benefits

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

  • Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months

  • Rewards:

    • 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 in spending per calendar year)

    • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel

    • 1x points on all other purchases

  • Recommended credit score: Good to excellent

Why we like this card: We like the Platinum Card from Amex for any type of traveler who is frequently on the go (especially frequent fliers), but it has some specific perks for those who prefer vacationing by cruise ship.

The Platinum Card comes with Cruise Privilege Program benefits when you book sailings lasting five nights or more with eligible cruise lines through Amex Travel. You’ll get up to $300 in onboard credits per stateroom; the exact amount depends on the type of room you book and the cruise line you choose. Also get one unique amenity provided per room you book and a boosted 2x rewards rate on your booking.

This can be a great way to maximize the points you earn with your Platinum Card, as well. Cruise bookings typically only earn 1x point per dollar, but if you’re able to book through Amex Travel and choose a Cruise Privilege Program-qualifying trip, you’ll get even more for your spending. Plus, the 5x rewards on flight spending can be useful for reaching the port city where you embark on your cruise.

As a downside, cruises aren’t the best redemption option for the Membership Rewards points you earn. You’ll get about .7 cents per point when you redeem for cruises through Amex Travel, compared to 1 cent per point on airfare.

Even still, this card’s solid cruise benefits combined with the long list of Platinum Card credits and benefits can be a good option for frequent travelers who also enjoy cruises. Before you apply, look at your regular spending and budget, compared to the Amex Platinum Card’s specific travel rewards and benefits — you’ll always want to ensure you get enough value from a premium travel card to justify the price.

Read more: See our picks for the best American Express credit cards

Discover it? Miles: Best for no annual fee and first-year bonus

  • Annual fee: $0

  • Welcome offer: Get an unlimited match on all the miles you earn over your first year of card membership

  • Rewards:

    • 1.5x miles on every purchase

Why we like this card: For no annual fee, Discover it Miles offers a simple rewards structure, great welcome bonus, and even intro APR — all of which can offer value for your next cruise vacation.

Just like a flat cash-back card, the Discover it Miles’ flat 1.5x rewards on every purchase lets you maximize every dollar you spend without having to think about it too much. It may not have the greatest rewards rate compared to some travel cards, but everything from regular bills and utilities to the cost of your next cruise booking will go toward your miles balance.

With the card’s welcome bonus, you’ll also get a match on every dollar you spend over your first year. Say you make $12,000 in purchases the first year, for example, earning 18,000 miles. At the end of the year, you’ll get another 18,000 for a total of 36,000 miles in that year — which you can put toward next year’s cruise spending.

Another benefit for new cardholders is the Discover it Miles’ 0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers. You’ll pay no interest for the first 15 months, with a variable 18.24% – 28.24% APR after that. If you have an upcoming cruise planned, you could charge the cost of the trip to your card and then enjoy making smaller payments without interest (rather than the full upfront cost now) to pay down the balance over the next 15 months before interest kicks in. Just make sure you can pay it off over that period to avoid taking on high-interest debt later on.

Costco Anywhere Visa? Card by Citi: Best for booking cruises through Costco

  • Annual fee: $0 (though you do need a Costco membership)

  • Welcome offer: None

  • Rewards:

    • 4% cash back on eligible gas stations and EV charging stations (up to $7,000 spent per year, then 1%)

    • 3% cash back at restaurants

    • 3% cash back on eligible travel (includes Costco Travel)

    • 2% cash back on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases

    • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Why we like this card: If you’re both a Costco member and love to take cruise vacations, the Costco Anywhere Visa may hit a sweet spot for your wallet. It has plenty of rewards categories to help you make the most of your spending all year, but also rewards cruise purchases you make through Costco Travel at 3% cash back.

When you book your cruise through Costco Travel, you can choose by destination, cruise line, type of cruise, and other categories. You can also score extras while onboard like resort credits, added amenities, and more. Finally, you’ll save even more when you book cruises that are eligible for a Digital Costco Shop Card, which works like an electronic gift card you can use on future Costco Travel, Costco.com, or in Costco warehouses.

If the Costco Anywhere Visa card has any downside, it’s the limited options for redeeming the cash back you earn. Each year after your February billing statement, you’ll receive an annual cash-back gift certificate with your total cash-back balance. Then, you can redeem the cash back in a single transaction at Costco warehouse locations before Dec. 31, 2024.

Despite their limited flexibility compared to general travel cards, some cruise regulars may get outsized value from the co-branded cards offered by cruise line companies. Here are some features you’ll find from these cards today:

Norwegian Cruise Line? World Mastercard?

This card, issued by Bank of America, has a welcome offer of 20,000 bonus points (worth $200 toward your next Norwegian cruise) when you spend at least $1,000 within the first 90 days. There’s no annual fee.

Rewards include 3x points on Norwegian purchases, 2x points on eligible air travel and hotel purchases, and 1x points on all other purchases. You’ll earn WorldPoints, which you can use toward upgrades, discounts, onboard credits, and more when you cruise with Norwegian.

Royal Caribbean Visa Signature?

Royal Caribbean Visa Signature is another no-annual-fee card from Bank of America. Your card purchases earn MyCruise points, which you can redeem for trips with Royal Caribbean and its partners, for room upgrades, or onboard credits.

With this card’s welcome offer, get 25,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days. If you can spend at least $3,500 within the first 90 days, you’ll also get the added benefit of a $50 discount on airfare to your cruise destination through Royal Caribbean’s Air2Sea program. Then, earn 2x points with Royal Caribbean and its sister lines Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, as well as 1 point per dollar on every other purchase.

Read our full review of the Royal Caribbean Visa

Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature?

The Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature is much like the above card from its sister brand Royal Caribbean. This no-annual-fee Bank of America card offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days.

You’ll also earn MyCruise points with this card to use toward future trips with Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, or Silversea at a rate of 2x points on purchases with any of those three brands or 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Check out our Celebrity Cruises Visa review

Carnival? World Mastercard?

This no-annual-fee card from Carnival and Barclays offers 25,000 FunPoints for new cardholders who spend $500 in the first 90 days. FunPoints are redeemable for onboard credits (starting at 5,000 points for $50 in credits) or for statement credits toward eligible Carnival cruise purchases you’ve made in the past 180 days.

Ongoing rewards include 2x points per dollar on Carnival Cruise Lines spending and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Plus, there’s a solid introductory APR offer for balance transfers.

Princess Cruises? Rewards Visa? Card

If you prefer to set sail with Princess Cruises, this no-annual-fee card from Barclays can help you earn points for onboard credits, gift cards, statement credits for Princess Cruises purchases, and even eligible airfare.

There’s a 10,000-point welcome offer when you spend at least $500 within the first 90 days, and rewards include 2x points on Princess Cruise purchases (including while onboard) and 1x points on all other purchases.

Read our full review of the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa

To choose the best travel credit card, you need to find the combination of rewards, benefits, and fees that fit your budget and travel plans. That’s true for cruise credit cards too. But also consider what specific benefits the card or rewards program offers to help you save when you set sail.

These are some card features to look for:

If your cruise rewards card has an annual fee, do the math to make sure you’re getting enough value to offset the cost. Also, look at the card’s ongoing APR, foreign transaction fees, and any other fees that may apply. The interest rate, in particular, will likely be high on any travel credit card. Spend only what you can afford to pay down when your balance is due whenever possible, and you can avoid those high interest charges altogether.

If you want to get rewarded for the money you spend booking your cruise vacations, choose a card with eligible travel rewards. Some travel cards only offer boosted rewards on specific travel purchases, like airfare or hotel bookings. Others will have a broader travel rewards category more likely to include cruises. Look for specific details on eligible spending within your card’s rewards program terms.

In addition to earning rewards on cruises, also consider how you can redeem rewards for cruises. Often, the best way to maximize redemption value is to book through the rewards program portal — but not every rewards program offers cruise travel as a redemption option. See if there are other ways to get a good redemption value on cruise spending, such as putting those rewards toward a statement credit cruise purchases charged to your account.

Using a credit card with travel protections to book your cruise can save you major headaches later on. Travel credit cards (especially more premium cards with annual fees) often come with benefits such as travel assistance services, delay reimbursement, travel cancellation or interruption insurance, and more. To gain access to these protections, make sure you book your trip and pay using the card.

If cruises are your preferred type of vacation, prioritize benefits that help you save on cruise spending. This might include discounts or onboard credits, access to special pricing and voyages, and more. But don’t forget the extra costs of getting to your port city, too. Many travel cards offer benefits and credits for air travel and hotel stays, which can offer additional savings on your way to the ship.

Even if you go on cruises regularly, a general travel credit card can offer more flexibility, potential rewards, and ongoing benefits than you’ll often find from co-branded cards from cruise lines.

Start with the welcome offer. Among the cruise line cards we found, many welcome offers topped out around 20,000 or 25,000 points — worth around $200 to $250. Travel credit cards, on the other hand, typically offer welcome bonuses worth 60,000 to 80,000 points or more — a potential $600 to $800 value.

How you earn rewards is another important thing to consider. Co-branded cruise cards tend to only offer bonus rewards on your cruise spending and a maximum 1 point per dollar anywhere else. With a regular travel card, you can find rewards categories to make the most of your everyday spending at home and on those large purchases you make toward travel when planning a vacation (cruise or otherwise).

Finally, consider how you redeem your rewards. Cruise line credit cards do allow you to use your rewards for onboard credits or toward your cruise purchase. But you’ll get a lot more flexibility elsewhere. This might include using rewards toward your cruise booking, booking a flight to your port city with points or miles, booking the hotel you’ll stay in the night before you embark, and other purchases. That added flexibility can help ensure you get the best value from your points and bring down the overall cost of your cruise travel.

Many travel credit cards, including those good for cruises, require good to excellent credit for approval. If you don’t already have a solid credit score, you may want to take time to build your credit before you apply.

Student credit cards, secured credit cards, and other cards for credit-building are great options to improve your score and credit history. Then, you can upgrade to a more rewarding travel card in the future, and put your good credit habits to use while you earn rewards to use for upcoming trips.

Our search for the best credit cards for cruises began with our existing ratings of travel credit cards. The criteria used for these ratings includes details such as APR, annual fee, and security features as well as travel rewards rates, ease of redemptions, sign-up bonus, and more.

First, we looked for the best general travel cards for cruise travelers to use when they book and when they cruise. We went through all of our top-rated travel cards to individually look for cruise-related benefits. Then, we prioritized those travel cards that offer general travel rewards, rather than just boosted rewards specific to air travel or hotels.

Our search took on a more subjective approach from here, allowing us to consider what exactly travelers are looking for in a card to help them save on cruise travel. For our final picks, we included the cards we believe have the best combination of benefits designed for cruises, high ratings under our overall travel card rubric, rewards on both travel and everyday spending, and more. We also prioritized cards with more affordable annual fees for this list — unless there were significant or unique benefits for cruises on a card with a higher annual fee.

We also wanted to highlight the most rewarding co-branded cruise rewards credit cards from cruise lines. While we believe general travel cards may be more rewarding for the greatest number of readers, we also understand the value of a co-branded card for committed cruise fans who travel very frequently. The co-branded cards listed above are those cards from major issuers today that received the highest ratings in our overall rubric.

Finally, none of the cards on our list charge foreign transaction fees — making them all easy to use when traveling by cruise to international destinations. And we also included a majority of cards with a range of travel protections to help you in case of delay, trip interruption, and other unforeseen circumstances.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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