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Best credit cards for cruises in 2024
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:
Best credit cards for cruises in 2024
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 offerEarn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR19.99% - 29.74% variable
- Recommended credit scoreGood, Excellent
- Rewards rate
- 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Receive up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees
- Receive a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels
- Access Hertz's Five Star membership tier, offering free upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more
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.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Card review
- Annual fee$95
- Welcome offerEarn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months — that's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Card type(s)Travel
- Ongoing Purchases APR20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent/Good
- Rewards rate
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
- Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
- On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year
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 points from the generous welcome offer, plus 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.
Learn more:
Chase Sapphire Preferred review
See our picks for the best Chase credit card
- Annual fee$695
- Welcome offerEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
- Card type(s)Travel
- Ongoing Purchases APRSee Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent/Good
- Rewards rate
- 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay)
- Get up to $199 back per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your card (CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues)
- Enjoy up to $200 in Uber savings annually on rides in the U.S. — that's $15 in Uber Cash for rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)
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.
Learn more:
American Express Platinum Card review
See our picks for the best American Express credit cards
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerDiscover will automatically match all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year, with no minimum spending requirement or maximum rewards cap
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR18.24% - 28.24% variable
- Introductory APR0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (18.24% - 28.24% variable APR after that)
- Rewards rate1.5x miles on every dollar of every purchase
- Benefits
- No minimum spend required to earn the welcome bonus
- Use Miles at Amazon.com checkout and when you pay with PayPal
- Turn Miles into cash or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more
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.
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 thinking 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, after which the standard APR applies. 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.
Learn more: Discover it Miles review
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerNone
- Card type(s)Cash-back
- Purchase APR20.49% variable
- Rewards rate
- 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging for the first $7,000 per year (1% after that)
- 3% unlimited cash back on restaurants and eligible travel (includes Costco Travel)
- 2% unlimited cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases
- Benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
- Special access to purchase tickets to concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more
- Damage & theft purchase protection may cover you for repairs or a refund if purchases are damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase (90 days for New York residents)
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.
Learn more: Costco Anywhere Visa Card review
Co-branded cruise cards to consider
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:
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn 20,000 bonus points after you make $1,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days, which can be redeemed for $200 off your next Norwegian cruise
- Merchant systemMastercard
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR19.24% - 29.24% variable
- Rewards rate
- 3x WorldPoints® points on Norwegian purchases
- 2x points on eligible airline and hotel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Redeem points for upgrades, travel, on-board credits, and more
Learn more: Read our full review of the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn 30,000 MyCruise® bonus points, worth $300 in onboard credits, after spending at least $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR19.24% - 29.24% variable
- Rewards rate
- 2x MyCruise® points on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- $50 discount on Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program after spending at least $3,500 within the first 90 days
- Redeem your points toward cruise upgrades, discounts, cruise vacations, and onboard credits
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Learn more: Read our full review of the Royal Caribbean Visa
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn 30,000 MyCruise® bonus points, worth $300 in onboard credits, after spending at least $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR19.24% - 29.24% variable
- Rewards rate
- 2x MyCruise® points on qualifying purchases with Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Silversea
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Redeem your points toward cruise upgrades, discounts, cruise vacations, and onboard credits
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Learn more: Check out our Celebrity Cruises Visa review
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn 25,000 FunPoints® after spending $500 on purchases within the first 90 days, which can be redeemed for $250 towards your next cruise
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR20.24% - 29.99% variable
- Introductory purchase APR0% intro APR on Carnival cruise bookings for the first 6 months, after which the standard APR applies
- Introductory purchase APR0% intro APR on Carnival cruise bookings for the first 6 months, after which the standard APR applies
- Rewards rate
- 2x FunPoints on Carnival Cruise Line purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Redeem your points for statement credits toward any Carnival purchase, onboard experiences, and more
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerEarn 20,000 bonus points after spending $500 within the first 90 days, which can be redeemed for $200 in onboard credits
- Card type(s)Travel
- Purchase APR20.24% - 29.99% variable
- Introductory APR0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balance transfers completed within the first 45 days
- Rewards rate
- 2x points on Princess purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Redeem your points for onboard credits and amenities, gift cards, or statement credits toward purchases on Princess and eligible airfare purchases
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Learn more: Read our full review of the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa
How to choose a credit card for cruises
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:
Fees
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.
Rewards on cruise spending
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.
Cruise rewards redemptions
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.
Travel protections
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.
Added benefits for cruises
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.
Should you get a co-branded cruise line card?
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.
What credit score do you need for a credit card for cruises?
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 methodology
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
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
