One of the common questions we get from TPG readers is Cruise enthusiasts: What is the best credit card to book a cruise?
The best way to get a reward on a cruise booking is to get a co-branded credit card from a cruise company, which seems logical. However, these cards are generally less valuable than the best travel credit cards.
For example, Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® credit card currently offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 (a $300 worth of on-board credit or cabin upgrade), spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening. While this may sound appealing, it is often better value for you from the welcome bonuses on most general travel credit cards.
If you want to get the most value from your cruise purchase, here is our guide to booking the best Cruise credit card and why you always want to pay for your credit card on your sea vacation.
Information on Royal Caribbean Signature Credit Cards has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why book your cruise with a credit card?
At TPG, we recommend using a credit card where possible and where possible so that you can always receive the rewards for your purchase. When it comes to cruising, you will get some serious benefits with your credit card booking.
Earn points and miles
Cruising is a huge fee, which means it is an opportunity to get huge rewards.
You can use cruise booking to help you meet your spending requirements and earn valuable welcome bonuses on your new card, or get rewards for future trips by using a card that earns bonuses or miles when you travel purchase.
Improve cash flow
We all experienced billing errors and the headaches that followed. If you are cruising with cash or debit card, a billing error may mean that your account has disappeared from your account before you realize there is a problem. By using a credit card, your money remains protected while working to solve problems.
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Protect your spending
Many travel reward cards include travel delays and cancellation insurance, so if something goes wrong with your travel plan, you will be protected. If you plan to do a lot of shopping on board, you can use a card with purchase protection to ensure your items arrive safely.
Related: Cruise Travel Insurance: What It Covers and Why It Is Needed
The best credit card to book a cruise
When determining which credit card is used to book a cruise, you need to consider the rewards one card receives on cruise and travel and shopping protection, such as travel and shopping protection. You can also take advantage of the card’s more specific allowances, such as a declared credit for travel and airport lounge access, which allows you to and from the port.
With this in mind, we recommend these credit card booking cruises:
Information on American Express green card has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express Green
Welcome bonus: Based on TPG’s August 2025 valuation, it cost $3,000 in your first six months and $3,000 in your first six months, earning 40,000 points.
Annual fee: $150
Why is it great for booking tours: Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases (including cruises). This means you will receive bonus points on your cruise booking, as well as any flight or hotel purchases you travel to and from the cruise. You will also get travel delay insurance*, up to $300 per trip (maximum claims every 12 months) and purchase protection** up to 90 days after you purchase.
*Qualifications and income levels vary from card to card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more information, visit AmericaneXpress.com/benefitsguide. The policy is insured by AIG New Hampshire Insurance Company.
**Qualifications and income levels vary from card to card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more information, visit AmericaneXpress.com/benefitsguide. The policy is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
To learn more, see our full review of Amex Green.
Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get an Amex green card?
Bank of America’s premium rewards
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 points worth $600 after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days of opening an account.
Annual fee: $95
Why is it great for booking tours: Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card earns 2 points per dollar on all travel purchases, including cruise purchases and hotel and airline purchases. You will also get travel protection such as cancel/delay/interruption insurance.
And if you are the preferred reward member of Bank of America, you will get a 25%-75% bonus every time you purchase, resulting in a larger return on your cruise spend.
To learn more, see our complete review of Bank of America’s premium rewards credit cards.
Apply here: Bank of America Advanced Rewards Credit Card
Reward for joint venture in the capital
Welcome bonus: Spend $4,000 in the first three months of opening and earn 75,000 miles. According to TPG’s August 2025 valuation, this offer is worth up to $1,388.
Annual fee: $95
Why is it great for booking tours: One Capital Risk Reward earns 2 miles per dollar on most purchases including cruise bookings. You can redeem the rewards you receive for the declared credit reward to cover the tour costs, including the purchases of the cruise company.
To learn more, see our complete review of Capital One Venture Rewards.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X
Welcome bonus: According to TPG’s August 2025 valuation, earning 75,000 miles worth $1,388 after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening an account.
Annual fee: $395
Why is it great for booking tours: Like venture capital rewards, Venture X earns 2 miles per dollar on most purchases, including Cruises, and offers multiple travel protections. What makes the Venture X stand out is that it can make your trip smoother with free airport lounge access (a declared credit from TSA Precheck or Global Antory), and the annual credit for travel booking through Capital One One Travel is $300.
To learn more, see our full review of Capital One Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Card
Chase Sapphire’s first choice
Welcome bonus: Based on TPG’s August 2025 valuation, earning 75,000 Chase Chase Ultimate Rewards bonus points in the first three months, and spending $5,000 in the first three months of opening, worth $1,538.
Annual fee: $95
Why is it great for booking tours: Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2 worth of valuable points per spend on travel purchases (including cruise bookings). What makes this card stand out is its impressive travel protection. When you use it to book a trip, you will get protection from lost or delayed luggage as well as travel delays and cancellations.
To learn more, see our full review of Chase Sapphire’s preferred choice.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire preferred card
Chatong Sapphire Reserve
Welcome bonus: Based on TPG’s August 2025 valuation, spending $5,000 (including Chase Travel Credit) from the first three months of account opening, earning 100,000 bonus points and $500 in Chase Travel promotion credit*, and spending $5,000 in the first three months to purchase $5,000 in the first three months.
*Promotional credit is valid only for one-time use; if you apply promotional credit to transactions less than $500, you will lose your remaining balance.
Annual fee: $795
Why is it great for booking tours: Chase Sapphire Reserve all bookings through Chase Travel, including Cruises booked on the portal. You will also get a travel protection kit instead of the preferred choice for sapphire, as well as access to the airport lounge.
But perhaps the best privilege on this card is the $300 annual travel statement credit that is automatically applicable to travel purchases, which means that when you use this card to pay, you can get up to $300 in your cruise booking.
To learn more, see our full review of Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Bottom line
Book your cruise with the right credit card, and you can get some serious rewards on your booking and protect yourself from all kinds of misfortunes.
Whether you are focusing on getting valuable welcome bonuses to help you with your next trip or earn bonus points on a boat cocktail, know that your card is working hard when you kick back at sea.
Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles
For Capital One products listed on this page, Visa® or MasterCard® can offer some benefits and may vary from product to product. For more information, see the respective welfare guidelines to the applicable terms and exclusions.
