Best Cruise Credit Cards 2025
Karl says, “For cruising, you need a credit card that protects your investment and rewards your adventures. My top pick is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which offers comprehensive travel protections and valuable rewards for cruise-related purchases. The Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® is a great runner-up with no annual fee and rewards tailored for cruisers, while the Carnival World Mastercard® and Princess Cruises® Rewards Visa® both provide fantastic bonus offers and earning potential for your onboard experiences.”
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Key offer
– Comprehensive Travel Protections:
The card offers robust coverage such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip)
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and trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket). These benefits help protect your non-refundable cruise costs if your trip is canceled or cut short, and cover additional expenses during delays.
– Valuable Rewards and Redemption Flexibility:
Earn 2X points on travel and 3X points on dining—including cruise-related onboard purchases. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel, making it easier to convert your rewards into onboard credits, future cruise fares, or other travel experiences.
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$95
While not a cruise-specific card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers unmatched flexibility and value for cruise purchases, with superior travel protection and the ability to book cruises through the Chase portal for 50% more value.
Card Rewards
• 5X points on travel purchased through chase travel portal (excluding the $50 annual hotel credit).
• 5X points on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025.
• 5X points on Peloton gear over $150, up to 25,000 points until Mar. 31, 2025.
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• 3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
• 2X points on all other travel purchases.
• 1X point on all other purchases
Premium Benefits
– Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance covers non-refundable travel expenses in case your cruise is canceled or shortened due to covered reasons like severe weather or illness.
– Trip Delay Reimbursement provides up to $500 per ticket if your cruise or connecting travel is delayed more than 12 hours.
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– Baggage Delay and Lost Luggage Protection ensure you’re reimbursed for essential purchases (up to $100 per day for 5 days) if your luggage is delayed, and offer coverage up to $3,000 per person for lost or damaged baggage.
– No foreign transaction fees, so you can use your card internationally without extra charges—a benefit for cruises that often involve multiple countries.
– 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service is available to assist with travel planning, reservations, or any issues that arise while cruising.
– Earn bonus points on travel bookings (especially through Chase Travel) and dining, which can be transferred to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs or redeemed for valuable travel credits.
Minimum Qualification
Chase won’t approve you for this card if you have the Sapphire Reserve or if you have opened this card in the last 48 months. If you want to apply for this card and currently have the Sapphire Reserve, you can call Chase to downgrade it to a Freedom Unlimited. After three days, you can apply for this card.
Foreign Transaction
$0
Key offer
• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it an attractive and cost-effective option for cruisers.
• Generous welcome offer and rewards structure specifically designed to enhance your cruise experience, with rewards redeemable for valuable onboard benefits and upgrades.
Welcome offer
Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. These bonus points are redeemable for $300 onboard credit, stateroom upgrades, and more.
Annual fee
$0
Card Rewards
• 2 points per $1 spent on qualifying Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea purchases.
• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
• Redeem points for onboard credit, stateroom upgrades, and cruise vacations across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
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• Access the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection for special rates and VIP status at select hotels worldwide.
• Enjoy exclusive VIP events, world-class culinary experiences, and 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge services.
• Benefit from travel and emergency assistance, car rental coverage, and emergency roadside assistance.
• Receive discounts at select merchants and hotels, along with extended warranty protection.
• Qualify for a $50 Air2Sea Airfare Discount on a qualifying airline ticket if you spend at least $3,500 in the first 90 days.
Foreign Transaction
- None
Key offer
• No annual fee and a generous welcome offer that kick-starts your rewards with 30,000 bonus FUNPOINTS.
• Enhanced earning potential with 2X FUNPOINTS on Carnival and World’s Leading Cruise Line purchases, allowing you to quickly accumulate rewards for cruise vacations and onboard experiences.
Welcome offer
Earn 30,000 bonus FUNPOINTS after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. These bonus points are redeemable for $300 onboard credit, stateroom upgrades, and more.
Annual fee
$0
Card Rewards
• Earn 2X FUNPOINTS for every $1 spent on Carnival Cruise Line and World’s Leading Cruise Line purchases.
• Earn 1X FUNPOINT for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
• Redeem FUNPOINTS toward onboard credit, stateroom upgrades, cruise vacations, and other Carnival-related experiences.
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• Enjoy 0% promotional APR for 6 months on all Carnival cruise bookings, helping you finance your cruise without interest charges.
• Benefit from 0% promo APR on balance transfers for 15 months.
• Receive a 10% statement credit back on Carnival shore excursions when you purchase them through Carnival.com.
• Access exclusive offers and discounts tailored for Carnival cruisers.
Foreign Transaction
- None
Key offer
– No annual fee with a generous welcome offer that rewards you early (20,000 bonus Points after only $500 spent)
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– Accelerated rewards: Earn 2X Points on Princess purchases to maximize benefits for cruise-related spending
– Designed to enhance your cruise experience by offering flexible redemption options for onboard credit and exclusive Princess benefits
Welcome offer
Earn 20,000 bonus Points (worth $200 in onboard credit) after spending $500 in the first 90 days
Annual fee
$0
Card Rewards
– 2X Points per $1 spent on Princess purchases (including onboard purchases)
– 1X Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Premium Benefits
– Redeem Points for onboard credit, amenities, gift cards, merchandise, and travel redemptions
– 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 months (if completed within 45 days of account opening)
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– Comprehensive travel coverages including travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage delay reimbursement, travel emergency services, and auto rental collision damage waiver
– 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
– Free online access to your FICO® Credit Score
Foreign Transaction
- None
Best Cruise Line Co-Branded Cards
| Card | Best For | Key Benefits | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® | Royal Caribbean loyalists | • 2X points on Royal Caribbean purchases • 25,000-point bonus • Onboard credit offers |
$0 |
| Carnival World Mastercard® | Carnival Cruise Line fans | • 2X points on Carnival purchases • 20,000-point bonus • Special onboard offers |
$0 |
| Princess Cruises® Rewards Visa® | Princess Cruises regulars | • 2X points on Princess purchases • 10,000-point bonus • Onboard discounts |
$0 |
Protection Benefits Comparison
| Benefit | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Co-Branded Cards | Capital One Venture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip Cancellation | Up to $10,000 | Limited | Up to $2,000 |
| Medical Evacuation | Up to $100,000 | None | Included |
| Lost Luggage | Up to $3,000 | Basic coverage | Up to $3,000 |
| Travel Accident | $1,000,000 | Varies | $250,000 |
Pro Tips for Cruise Travelers
Flexible Points Cards
- Book through credit card travel portals
- Redeem points in the Chase travel portal or call to book a cruise with UR points.
- Stack with cruise line promotions
- Use travel credits for excursions
Co-Branded Strategy
- Book directly with cruise line
- Stack with loyalty programs
- Use sign-up bonus for upgrades
- Maximize onboard spending rewards
Value Maximization
- Compare portal vs. direct booking
- Look for point multiplier offers
- Use card benefits for upgrades
- Stack multiple rewards programs