The best credit cards for cruises in September 2024
Published 2:49 PM EDT, Thu May 16, 2024
With the opportunity to experience many tourist sites and enjoy a plethora of activities onboard, cruising can be an incredibly fun and eye-opening experience. But before you sail into the sunset, you may be wondering what credit card is best for cruises.
The best travel credit cards for cruises earn points and miles when you use them to pay for your time at sea, and also come with valuable perks such as travel credits and airport lounge access.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO? credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Our team of experts reviewed dozens of credit cards that either earn bonus rewards on travel and/or cruises or earn rewards you can use to book cruises. We evaluated factors including rewards, travel benefits and select fees. Using a data-based approach, we narrowed down the list to the top six credit cards that scored highly based on our weightings. Read our full methodology below.
-
Chase Sapphire Reserve?: Best credit card for cruises
-
Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card: Best for travel rewards beginners
-
The Platinum Card? from American Express: Best for upscale cruise and travel amenities
-
American Express? Green Card: Best for earning Amex points on cruises
-
U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card: *Best for travel statement credits
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
-
Bank of America? Premium Rewards? credit card: *Best for cash back on cruises
The information for the Bank of America? Premium Rewards? credit card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
The Platinum Card? from American Express
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
American Express? Green Card
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
All information about American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card
*The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
*The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Our picks at a glance
| ? | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Best for | Notable feature? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve?
| $550
| 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
| Cruises
| Redeem points for 1.5 cents each when you book through Chase Travel
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card
| $95
| 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
| Travel rewards beginners
| Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel?
|
The Platinum Card? from American Express
| $695
| 80,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
| Upscale cruise and travel amenities
| Access to Amex Cruise Privileges program benefits
|
American Express? Green Card * The information for the American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. | $150
| 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
| Earning Amex points on cruises
| Earn 3x points on travel, transit and restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
|
U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. | $400
| 50,000 points after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening
| Travel statement credits
| Up to $325 in annual credits for eligible travel purchases (including cruises) and dining, takeout and restaurant delivery purchases
|
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. | $95
| 60,000 online bonus points after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
| Cash back on cruises
| Generous statement credits and travel protections for a card in this fee range
|
All information about American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Credit cards to help you book cruises vs. branded cruise credit cards
While every credit card for cruises has advantages when it comes to earning and redeeming rewards, you’ll see quite a difference in perks between general travel credit cards and co-branded credit cards from cruise lines.
With a regular travel credit card, you’ll earn rewards that are more versatile. Co-branded cards typically limit you to redeeming rewards within that cruise line’s rewards program. General travel credit cards let you redeem your rewards toward all kinds of travel purchases, including plane tickets and hotel rooms.
Travel rewards credit cards generally offer more overall travel perks, such as Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credits, airport lounge access and hotel elite status. Some offer statement credits toward eligible spending or bonus points on everyday expenses, such as dining or gas. While co-branded cruise credit cards may offer select discounts, they typically only apply to the cruise line.
Benefits of using credit cards for cruises
Travel rewards credit cards can offer strong earning opportunities on cruise purchases. Plus, you can redeem rewards toward your next cruise or other travel purchases.
Some major issuers, such as American Express and Chase, allow cruise bookings through their travel portals. Many cards also offer statement credits that you can apply to your cruise purchase or even the flight to get you to the departure port.
If you’re worried about complications in your trip, know that many top travel credit cards offer travel insurance that covers you from the moment you book your cruise to disembarkation day. While you hope you never have to use benefits such as trip cancellation insurance, travel accident insurance or lost luggage reimbursement, in the case of an unfortunate event, these protections can save you a decent amount of money.
How to pick the best cruise credit card for you
When choosing the perfect credit card for your next cruise, consider these factors:
- Cruise line loyalty: If you’re loyal to a specific cruise line, its co-branded credit card might be a great option for earning loyalty program rewards and getting cruise-specific benefits. Make sure you compare the perks against a traditional travel credit card, especially if you don’t cruise often.
- Earning points: A good credit card for cruises will earn bonus rewards on your booking and onboard spending. Since cruise purchases typically fall into the “travel” category on your credit card statement, using a card that earns extra points on travel can get you closer to your next vacation.
- Travel benefits: For example, if you’re flying to your cruise’s departure port, a credit card that offers airport-specific benefits such as airline fee credits or lounge access can save you money and make your journey more comfortable. If you’ll stay the night in port before or after your cruise, a card that offers hotel elite status or booking discounts could also be useful.
- Travel protection: Your credit card may come in handy if you need to cancel your vacation due to an event covered by your card’s travel insurance, such as if you get sick. Some cards also offer baggage delay insurance, medical evacuation insurance and more. But for cruise-specific coverage, you’ll want to consider paying separately for a cruise insurance policy.
Managing expenses and budgeting for a cruise with credit cards
For most cruises, you’ll pay for your vacation before you set sail. This can be different from a resort stay where the cost hits your credit card during checkout. For some travelers, this can be freeing, as they’ve already paid off the bulk of their vacation cost before their trip, but others may need to adjust their budgeting to account for this.
You can also use your credit card to cover expenses beyond the cruise reservation. These are likely to come up even if your cruise is marketed as “all-inclusive.” Onboard, you may find opportunities to spend on drinks, specialty dining, photos and spa treatments. You’ll also need to budget for expenses during your days in port. And don’t forget about your travel to and from the cruise port, including if you need to stay at a hotel prior to embarking.
Using a credit card for these expenses will earn you more rewards, but always make sure your credit card spending fits into your budget.
Methodology
Our money and data analytics teams reviewed personal travel credit cards available to new applicants that earn bonus points or cash back on travel and/or cruises, or earn rewards that you can use to book cruises. To create our list of the best cruise credit cards, we gave each a star rating out of five, based on the following factors and our editorial judgment:
Sign-up bonus value (25%)
Most travel rewards cards offer a welcome bonus of points or miles after you meet a spending requirement in your first months with an account. We calculated how much those bonuses are worth using valuations from The Points Guy, and gave better scores to cards that offer more value.
Rewards value (25%)
Credit card points and miles aren’t all created equal. We used spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and estimates of rewards values from The Points Guy to determine which cards dole out the best rewards value.
Travel benefits (25%)
Cards that offer travel perks, such as airport lounge access or elite status, got a boost in this category. We also looked closely at travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay and travel accident insurance.
Select fees (15%)
Cards with no or low annual fees got a leg up in this category. Because cruises often visit countries outside the US, we also gave better grades in this category to cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Annual credits and bonuses (10%)
Credit cards with credits or bonuses for spending in eligible categories (including airline spending, hotel expenses, and Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees) ranked highly in this category.
What didn’t make the cut
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card * The information for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : Like the Sapphire Preferred, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey charges a $95 annual fee. Its points structure is more flexible (you’ll earn 3x points on cruise bookings without having to book through the issuer’s platform), but Wells Fargo points are worth less than Chase Ultimate Rewards, according to valuations from The Points Guy. Plus, the Sapphire Preferred offers stronger travel and purchase protections and better transfer partners.
- Bank of America? Premium Rewards? Elite credit card * The information for the Bank of America? Premium Rewards? Elite credit card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : This card’s earning rates and redemption options are similar to those available with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card. The annual fee on this card is significantly higher, although it offers more opportunities in the way of statement credits to help offset the cost.
- American Express? Gold Card: This card only earns 1 point per dollar spent on cruise purchases while also carrying a high $325 annual fee (terms apply, see rates and fees). But if you spend a decent amount on dining and groceries, you could still earn a lot of travel rewards points with this card, since it offers 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide with no cap and 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets with a cap of $25,000 in spending per year (then you’ll earn 1 point per dollar).
- Citi Strata Premier? Card * The information for the Citi Strata Premier? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : This is a decent pick if you’re looking to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points to redeem for travel, but the card comes with a poor earning rate of just 1 point per dollar spent on cruises.
- Bilt Mastercard?: Unfortunately, you can’t book cruises through the Bilt Travel Portal, which is one of the easiest ways to redeem your Bilt Rewards points. However, this no annual fee card earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel (including cruises) and offers strong travel protection benefits. Use the card five times each statement period to earn points (see rewards & benefits).
- Co-branded cruise line cards, including Carnival? World Mastercard? * The information for the Carnival? World Mastercard? has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature? Credit Card * The information for the Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature? Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , Norwegian Cruise Line? World Mastercard? * The information for the Norwegian Cruise Line? World Mastercard? has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Royal Caribbean? Visa Signature? Credit Card * The information for the Royal Caribbean? Visa Signature? Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : While some of these cards might offer cruise discounts or an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR), the rest of the perks are quite weak. You typically won’t find strong welcome offers, desirable earning rates or flexible redemption options — especially when compared to general travel credit cards. But if you’re loyal to a certain cruise line, one of these cards could make sense.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The handful of credit cards specifically designed for frequent cruisers work best for those who are loyal to a particular cruise line. This is because you’ll sometimes receive exclusive perks, such as discounts or onboard benefits. But if you don’t cruise often or are brand-agnostic, you’ll likely do better with a general travel rewards card.
Credit card benefits for cruise travelers vary, which makes it important to use a card that works best for your needs. For cruise-specific perks, this can include anything from statement credits that reimburse you for eligible expenses to travel protections such as coverage for trip cancellation. You’ll also find that some of the cruise co-branded cards offer more specialized perks unique to the cruise line.
Cruise fares can be expensive, so be sure to only charge what you can afford to pay off to your credit card. You’ll want to make sure your credit limit is high enough to pay for your cruise, especially if you’re only required to pay a small deposit at the time of booking and automatically charged for the rest of the cruise cost at a later time. Be careful not to cancel the credit card on file after you pay your deposit so you don’t have issues paying your remaining cruise balance.
At times, you’ll find that select credit cards offer special promotions for cruises. For example, American Express cards participate in Amex Offers where you’ll receive a statement credit or earn bonus points when you activate an offer and make a qualifying purchase. Occasionally, cruise lines may appear in your Amex Offers, which can save you some money when you book your cruise. Some co-branded cruise credit cards include promotions. For example, the Royal Caribbean? Visa Signature? Credit Card * The information for the Royal Caribbean? Visa Signature? Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers a $50 discount on the cruise line’s Air2Sea program for new card holders who make at least $3,500 in purchases within their first 90 days with an account. And the Carnival? World Mastercard? * The information for the Carnival? World Mastercard? has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers special financing on Carnival Cruise bookings that could help you spread out payments.
Yes, you absolutely can earn miles or points by using an airline credit card or hotel credit card to book a cruise. A cruise is like any other purchase you make with your credit card.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card? from American Express, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for American Express? Green Card * The information for the American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , please visit this page.
All information about American Express? Green Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, Bank of America? Premium Rewards? Elite credit card, Carnival? World Mastercard?, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature? Credit Card, Citi Strata Premier? Card, Norwegian Cruise Line? World Mastercard?, Royal Caribbean? Visa Signature? Credit Card, U.S. Bank Altitude? Reserve Visa Infinite? Card and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines, hotel chain, or other commercial entity and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of such entities.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended and should not be understood to constitute financial, investment, insurance or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any financial, insurance or investment decisions.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.
Want to connect with CNN Underscored Money on partnerships, inquiries or have feedback? Contact Us
