There’s one frequent query we get from TPG readers who’re cruise fanatics: What are one of the best bank cards for reserving cruises?
It might sound logical that one of the simplest ways to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded bank card. Nonetheless, these playing cards usually do not provide as robust a worth because the greatest journey bank cards.
For instance, the Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit score Card presently gives 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 which will sound interesting, you’ll be able to sometimes get significantly better worth from the welcome bonus on most normal journey bank cards.
If you wish to get probably the most worth out of your cruise purchases, here is our information to one of the best bank cards for reserving cruises and why you all the time need to pay on 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 e-book your cruise?
At TPG, we suggest utilizing a bank card at any time when and wherever attainable so that you all the time earn rewards in your purchases. In the case of cruises, you may get some severe advantages by reserving with a bank card.
Earn factors and miles
A cruise is a major expense, which implies it is a chance to earn vital rewards.
You need to use a cruise reserving that can assist you hit a spending requirement and earn a helpful 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 circulate
We have all skilled billing errors and the complications that include them. For those who use money or a debit card on your cruise, a billing mistake can imply cash is already gone out of your account earlier than you understand there’s a difficulty. Through the use of a bank card, your cash stays protected when you work to get the difficulty resolved.
Day by day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Defend your spending
Many journey rewards playing cards embrace journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage, so you may be protected in case your journey plans go awry. For those who 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 need to think about the rewards a card earns on cruises and advantages like journey and buying protections. You may as well 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 suggest these bank cards for reserving a cruise:
The data 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 based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual price: $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 stage 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, 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 price: $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 akin to journey cancellation/delay/interruption insurance coverage.
And should you’re a Financial institution of America Most popular Rewards member, you may earn a further 25%-75% rewards bonus on each buy, supplying you with an excellent larger return in your cruise spending.
To study 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. Based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this provide is valued at as much as $1,388.
Annual price: $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 a press release credit score to cowl journey bills, together with cruise line purchases.
To study 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 based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual price: $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 make your journey run extra easily with extra perks like complimentary airport lounge entry, a press release credit score for TSA PreCheck or International Entry and a $300 annual credit score for journey booked by Capital One Journey.
To study 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 based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Annual price: $95
Why it is nice for reserving cruises: The Chase Sapphire Most popular earns a helpful 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, together with cruise bookings. What makes this card stand out is its spectacular journey protections. If you use it to e-book journey, you may get safety towards misplaced or delayed baggage, in addition to journey delays and cancellations.
To study 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) based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
*The promotional credit score is legitimate for a one-time use solely; should you apply the promotional credit score to a transaction lower than $500, you’ll forfeit the remaining steadiness.
Annual price: $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 one of the best perk on this card, nevertheless, is a $300 annual journey assertion credit score robotically utilized to journey purchases, which means you’ll be able to stand up to $300 again in your cruise reserving once you use this card to pay.
To study extra, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Backside line
Utilizing the suitable bank card to e-book your cruise lets you earn some severe rewards in your reserving and shield your self towards a variety of mishaps.
Whether or not you are centered on receiving a helpful welcome bonus to assist fund your subsequent journey or incomes bonus factors in your onboard cocktails, you’ll be able to really feel nice realizing your card is working exhausting when you’re kicking again at sea.
Associated: e-book 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 differ by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
