There is one common question we get from TPG readers who are cruise enthusiasts: What are the best credit cards for booking cruises?
It might seem logical that the best way to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded credit card. However, these generally don’t offer as solid of a value as the best travel credit cards.
For example, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 points (worth $300 in onboard credit) after you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening and an ongoing rate of 2 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea. This might seem like a good bonus, but you can actually get a much better value from the welcome bonus on most general travel credit cards.
If you want to get the most value from your vacation purchases, here we explore the best credit cards for booking cruises and why you always want to pay for your vacation at sea with a credit card.
The information for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why use a credit card to book your cruise?
At TPG, we recommend using a credit card whenever and wherever possible so you always earn rewards on your purchases. When it comes to cruises, you’ll get some serious benefits by booking with a credit card.
Earn points and miles
A cruise is a significant expense, which means it’s an opportunity to earn significant rewards.
You can use a cruise booking to help you hit a spending requirement and earn a valuable welcome bonus on a new card or earn rewards to put toward future travel by using a card that earns bonus points or miles on travel purchases.
Protect from billing mistakes
We’ve all experienced billing mistakes and the headaches that come with them. If you use cash or a debit card for your cruise, a billing mistake can mean money is already gone from your account before you realize there’s an issue. By using a credit card, your money is safe while you work to get the issue resolved.
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Protect your spending
Many travel rewards cards come with trip delay and cancellation insurance, so you’ll be protected if your travel plans go awry. If you plan on doing significant shopping while on your ship, you can use a card with purchase protection to ensure your items arrive safely home.
Related: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it
The best credit cards for booking cruises
When deciding which credit card to use for booking cruises, you’ll want to consider the rewards a card earns on cruises and benefits like travel and shopping protections.
You can also take advantage of a card’s more specific perks, like statement credits for travel and airport lounge access.
With this in mind, we recommend these credit cards for booking a cruise:
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express Green Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 in your first six months of card membership, worth $800 according to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual fee: $150
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruises. This means you’ll earn bonus points on the cruise booking as well as any airfare or hotel purchases you make to get to and from your cruise. You’ll also get trip delay insurance* that covers up to $300 per trip (maximum of two claims per 12-month period) and purchase protection** for up to 90 days after you make a purchase.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For more details, see our full review of the Amex Green.
Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Green card?
Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days of account opening, worth $600.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card earns 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases, including cruise line purchases as well as hotel and airline purchases. You’ll also get travel protections such as trip delay/cancellation/interruption insurance.
And if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you’ll earn an additional 25% to 75% rewards bonus on every purchase — giving you an even greater return on your cruise spending.
For more details, see our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.
Apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Related: Everything you should know about Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. According to TPG’s January 2025 valuations, this offer is valued at $1,388.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Capital One Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, including cruise bookings. You can redeem the rewards you earn for a statement credit to cover travel expenses, including cruise line purchases.
For more details, see our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
Learn more here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Related: 7 reasons to get the Capital One Venture Rewards card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,388 according to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual fee: $395
Why it’s great for booking cruises: Like the Venture Rewards, the Venture X earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, including cruises, and comes with several travel protections. What makes the Venture X stand out is that it can make your trip run more smoothly with additional perks like complimentary airport lounge access, a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and a $300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel.
For more details, see our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Learn more here: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Related: Is the Capital One Venture X worth the $395 annual fee?
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, worth $1,230 according to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns a valuable 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruise bookings. What makes this card stand out is its impressive travel protections. When you use it to book travel, you’ll get protection against lost or delayed baggage, as well as trip delays, accidents and cancellations.
For more details, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Related: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, worth $1,230 according to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual fee: $550
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruise bookings. You’ll also get a slightly better suite of travel protections than with the Sapphire Preferred, plus airport lounge access and credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Perhaps the best perk on this card, however, is a $300 annual travel statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases, meaning you can get $300 back on your cruise booking when you use this card to pay.
For more details, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
The Platinum Card from American Express
Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership, worth $1,600 according to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
Why it’s great for booking cruises: You won’t earn bonus points on cruise bookings with this card, but you’ll get access to the American Express Cruise Privileges Program, where you’ll receive onboard credit and an extra onboard amenity for each cruise booking.
Plus, the Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights when booking with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and comes with comprehensive airport lounge access, so it’s also great for booking travel to and from your cruise departure port.
For more details, see our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express
Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card
Bottom line
Using the right credit card to book your cruise allows you to rack up some serious rewards on your booking and protect yourself against a wide range of mishaps.
Whether you’re focused on hitting a valuable welcome bonus to help fund your next trip or earning bonus points on your onboard cocktails, you can feel great knowing your card is working hard while you’re kicking back at sea.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
