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Many travel rewards credit cards are lauded for their hotel and airline rewards and perks. But the best travel rewards cards can also offer a lot of value for cruise enthusiasts. Many of our favorite travel cards offer the same great rewards rates on cruise purchases as they do on other types of travel expenses. This makes picking the best credit cards for cruises easier and, thanks to so many choices, much harder. Find out more in our full guide to choosing the right card for your next cruise.
Great for: Travel and dining
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Rewards Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee N/A
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
75,000 bonus points
This Chase card is your ticket to big rewards on travel spending and dining out, like up to 10x points on spending through Chase Travel, where your points are worth 50% more if you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You'll also score excellent perks, like a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Annual statement credit for travel purchases
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there’s a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10X miles on spending through Capital One Travel, a $300 travel credit, experience credits, and a huge welcome bonus. Read Full Review
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Travel rewards
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
75,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth over $900), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s one of the only low annual fee cards we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review
American Express® Green Card
Great for: Welcome offer
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours. The 1x points on other purchases.
1x - 3x points
Annual Fee
$150
Welcome Offer Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Packs in a big welcome offer, lucrative credits, and premium points for travel and restaurants. These perks justify the annual fee for many new cardholders.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Great for: Travel cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards Earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4X points on travel and at gas stations, 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services, 1x points on other purchases
1x - 5x points
Annual Fee N/A
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Welcome Offer 50,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening
50,000 points
Special travel perks can be yours with this U.S. Bank card. For a nominal annual fee, you can earn 5X points per $1 on travel booked through the Altitude Rewards Center, 4X points on other travel, and more. Plus, to enhance your travel experience, you can enjoy access to airport lounges worldwide with a 12-month Priority Pass Select membership, plus a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Flat-rate travel rewards
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
This is one of our top travel credit cards overall, because of its highly lucrative, yet dead simple rewards program. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and use them to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or to book a trip through Capital One Travel. TSA Pre✓® credit and the opportunity to earn a massive 75,000 Miles sign-up bonus (worth $750 in travel) make this credit card one of the best travel companions. Read Full Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Cruise Privileges program
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
Great for: Unlimited travel rewards
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 bonus points
This card offers unlimited 3X points on common things like restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. This could be a great pick if you spend a lot in those categories. A solid welcome bonus and cell phone protection are the cherries on top. Read Full Review
The best credit cards for cruises are travel rewards cards. But that doesn't narrow the field by much. There are many excellent travel cards, making finding the right one for you a matter of some research. Here are a few things to consider in comparing credit card options before you set sail.
Learn more: How to choose a credit card
The key variable for many people is a card's rewards program. To maximize credit card rewards, you want a card that has a high rewards rate for travel purchases, including cruises.
However, the rewards rate for travel purchases isn't the only factor. You should also consider the type of rewards – a few travel cards offer cash back instead of points, for instance.
Learn more: Travel for free with credit card points
Even if you know you want a points card, the rewards points program you choose determines the value you get from those points. There are four main travel rewards programs to explore while looking at your card options:
The best credit card sign-up bonuses often require you to spend $3,000 or more in just a few months. Cruises can be pricey purchases, so could go a long way towards your spending requirement.
Avoid charging more than you can pay off quickly just to earn the sign-up bonus. Interest fees can add up quickly, and can outpace a sign-up bonus if you let them collect too long.
When it comes to travel rewards cards, chances are good you'll be looking at an annual fee. But the big rewards and other travel perks can make that annual fee well worth paying.
Learn more: Is your annual fee worth it?
With annual fees for travel cards hitting $400 or more, it's important to make sure you get your money's worth. Consider the purchase rewards, sign-up bonus, and cardholder benefits to determine how much value you'll get from a card each year.
Foreign transaction fees are charged by many credit cards for any purchase that:
When you take a cruise from the U.S. with a U.S.-based cruise line, your on-board purchases don't typically incur foreign transactions fees. However, as soon as you step off a ship at a non-U.S. destination, anything you buy will likely be in a foreign currency. Even if it's in U.S. dollars, it will likely route through a foreign bank.
The only reliable way to avoid these fees on in-port purchases is to use a card with no foreign transaction fees. Happily, this includes most travel rewards cards, including our top picks for cruises.
It's a good idea to save for your cruise ahead of time so you can pay it off right away. But if you think you'll need a few months to pay off a cruise or related expenses, a card with an intro APR offer could be useful. The best 0% intro APR cards give you a year or more to pay off your purchases without incurring any interest fees.
Learn more: How credit card interest works
Don't forget that you still need to make at least your minimum payment every month. Your APR will revert to the card's standard rate after the intro period ends.
A lot of travel rewards cards come with some sort of travel insurance. This can include a range of coverage perks like:
The extra peace of mind these benefits can provide is part of what makes a premium travel rewards card worth its annual fee.
As with many airlines and hotels, a number of cruise brands have cobranded credit cards. The cobranded options cover most of the big names. It's also worth mentioning a branded card that offers cruise benefits, but only as one part of a bigger rewards program: Disney® Premier Visa® Card. The purely cruise-related cards include:
So, why don't you see these cards on more best-of lists? The vast majority of cruise goers can simply get more value from regular travel rewards cards. Cobranded cruise cards tend to have much lower rewards rates, even on cruise purchases. They may also have lower limits; travel rewards cards tend to have very good credit limits. And few of the cobranded options offer any extra cruise perks to make it worth having a specialized card in your wallet.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel and dining |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Annual statement credit for travel purchases |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel rewards |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Welcome offer |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel cash back |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Flat-rate travel rewards |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Cruise Privileges program |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited travel rewards |
The best card for cruise purchases is a good travel rewards credit card. Many of the best travel rewards cards offer the same rates on cruises as they do on other types of travel. While there are some cobranded cruise credit card options, they tend to offer less value than regular travel rewards cards.
Charges made onboard a cruise ship do not typically incur foreign transaction fees. Purchases made while in port, including excursions, may be charged foreign transactions fees. The best way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to use a credit card that never charges them.
A good travel rewards card is the best option for onboard purchases and your initial booking. Any purchases made onboard a cruise ship are typically charged to your stateroom account and settled at the end of your trip. In most cases, these charges code as travel. Choose a card that earns bonus rewards for travel purchases to make the most of your cruising expenses.
Our Credit Cards Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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