The best credit cards for booking, paying for, and earning rewards on your next cruise
The right credit card can save you hundreds (or even thousands) on a cruise, whether you’re booking the trip, paying for excursions, or covering onboard purchases. With cruising surging in popularity and prices climbing, picking the right card matters more than ever.
When it comes to cruise credit cards, there are really two types worth knowing about. The first is general travel cards, which earn flexible rewards, offer strong travel protections, and often trigger bonus earnings on cruise purchases regardless of which line you sail. The second is co-branded cruise credit cards, which make the most sense if you sail a specific line repeatedly or want to earn onboard credit and status perks tied to one brand.
In this post, I’ll cover the best credit cards for booking and paying for cruises, including a quick overview of which cards work best for different types of cruisers. I’ll also share some thoughts from my recent cruise experience, which gave me a fresh perspective on what really matters when picking a card for cruising.
Compare cruise credit cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Earn 100,000 bonus points
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
- 3x points on Dining
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3x Points on Airfare
- Earn 3x Points on Hotels
- Earn 3x Points at Restaurants
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card
Limited-time online offer – 70,000 bonus points
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- Earn a Companion Award
- Free Checked Bag Benefit
Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Limited-time online offer – 70,000 bonus points.
- Get 70,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Each account anniversary, get a 25,000-point Global Companion Award for a travel companion on the same itinerary, when booking travel using your Atmos™ Rewards points.
- Additionally, receive a 100,000-point Global Companion Award annually after spending $60,000 or more on purchases each anniversary year.
- Receive 8 Alaska Lounge passes and 8 Wi-Fi passes every year (2 of each per calendar quarter).
- Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Get 10,000 status points every year on your account anniversary and earn 1 status point for every $2 spent on purchases.
- Save up to $90 per person round-trip with a free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to six guests on the same reservation when you pay for your flight with your card.
- Receive an airport security statement credit up to $120 every four years in connection with the TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry trusted traveler programs.
- Receive a $50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flight cancellations or departure delays of 2 hours+.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a competitive $395 annual fee.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Limited-time online offer – 70,000 bonus points.
Get 70,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Citi Double Cash® Card
Earn $200 after qualifying purchases
- Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase, earn 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
1% cash back when you make a purchase
1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit card
60,000 bonus points online offer
- Earn 4x points on eligible Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises® and Silversea® purchases
- Earn 2x points on eligible airline, hotel, dining, grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Earn 4x points on eligible Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises® and Silversea® purchases.
Earn 2x points on eligible airline, hotel, dining, grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases.
Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening, redeemable for $600 in onboard credit or cruise discounts.
- Earn 4x points on eligible Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises® and Silversea® purchases.
- Earn 2x points on eligible airline, hotel, dining, grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases.
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Receive a $200 cruise discount after spending $20,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year.
- Embark with priority suite boarding and priority luggage.
- Redeem your points for cruise discounts or onboard credit to use toward cruise favorites like specialty dining, beverage packages, Wi-Fi, shore excursions and more on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
- Get up to $120 in Global Entry/TSA Precheck® statement credits every 4 years.
- Enjoy benefits like Visa Signature® Concierge, emergency cash worldwide, common carrier travel accident insurance and more with the Visa Signature card.
- Low annual fee of $99 and no foreign transaction fees.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
60,000 bonus points after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening, redeemable for $600 in onboard credit or cruise discounts.
Best credit cards for booking cruises (general travel cards)
Let’s start with general travel cards, which I’d argue are the best choice for most cruisers. These cards earn flexible rewards that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, offer strong travel protections that matter especially for cruising, and often trigger bonus earnings on cruise purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) is one of the most popular premium credit cards on the market, and it’s an excellent choice for cruisers. Here’s why it stands out:
- Welcome bonus: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first three months
- Annual fee: $795
- Earning on cruise-relevant purchases: 8x points on Chase Travel℠ bookings, 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining
- Travel protections: Primary rental car coverage and Visa Infinite travel and purchase coverage
- Lounge access: Priority Pass™ Select membership, Chase Sapphire Lounge access, and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access
- Annual credits: Up to $300 in annual travel credits, up to $500 in annual hotel credits with The Edit by Chase Travel℠, up to $300 in annual dining credits, and more
- No foreign transaction fees
The Sapphire Reserve is great for frequent travelers who cruise across multiple lines. The combination of bonus points on travel categories, transferable Ultimate Rewards points, and lounge access for embarkation-day airport waits makes this a strong all-around card for cruisers. The travel protections are particularly valuable for cruise travelers, where trip cancellation, baggage delay, and emergency evacuation coverage can save you thousands if things go wrong.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Citi Strata Premier® Card
The Citi Strata Premier® Card (review) is one of the most rewarding mid-range credit cards out there, and it’s especially compelling for cruisers thanks to its broad bonus categories. Here are the basics:
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within three months
- Annual fee: $95
- Earning on cruise-relevant purchases: 3x points on dining, gas and EV charging, supermarkets, airfare, and hotels; 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal
- $100 annual hotel credit: $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (before taxes and fees) when booked through Citi Travel
- Transfer partners: 19 airline and hotel partners at the best ratios, including American AAdvantage
- No foreign transaction fees
The Strata Premier is a great pick for value-seekers who want a lower-fee card that still earns well on cruise-adjacent spending. The 3x earning on airfare and hotels is especially relevant for the flights and pre-cruise stays that often accompany sailing, and the no foreign transaction fees make it useful for purchases at international ports.
Link: Learn more about the Citi Strata Premier® Card
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card (review) might just be the most underrated cruise card on this list, especially for international cruisers. Here’s the basics:
- Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Annual fee: $395
- Earning on cruise-relevant purchases: 3x points on Alaska and Hawaiian flight purchases, 3x points on foreign purchases, 3x points on dining and restaurants globally
- Annual perks: 25,000-point Global Companion Award annually, eight Alaska Lounge passes, eight Alaska inflight Wi-Fi passes, and a 10,000 status point boost
- No foreign transaction fees
The 3x points on foreign purchases is genuinely game-changing for cruisers who sail internationally — we’ve never seen a credit card offer such an incredible blanket return on foreign spending. This card is especially compelling for West Coast cruisers and those flying Alaska-served embarkation ports (like Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles), where the airline benefits like a free first checked bag for you and up to six guests can save real money on the way to your sailing.
Link: Learn more about the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card (review) is one of the best no-annual-fee options for cruisers who want simple rewards on every purchase. Here are the basics:
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,500 within the first six months
- Annual fee: $0
- Earning structure: 1x ThankYou points when you make a purchase and 1x ThankYou points when you pay for that purchase, giving you up to 2x ThankYou points per dollar spent — no caps, no rotating categories
- 3% foreign transaction fee: Best used for domestic spending, not for purchases at international ports
The Double Cash is great for casual cruisers who don’t want to manage points ecosystems, and it pairs beautifully with a premium card like the Citi Strata Premier for non-bonus spending. With American AAdvantage now a ThankYou transfer partner, this card has become even more valuable. That said, the 3% foreign transaction fee means you’ll want to use a different card for purchases in foreign currency at international ports.
Link: Learn more about the Citi Double Cash® Card
Best co-branded cruise credit cards
If you sail with a specific cruise line repeatedly, or you want to earn onboard credit and status perks tied to one brand, a co-branded cruise card might make sense. As is common with co-branded credit cards, they’re often designed as niche products for those who are specifically loyal to a brand, rather than offering the absolute best value you’ll get in the credit card industry. That said, for loyal cruisers, the perks can add up.
Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® Credit Card
Royal Caribbean and Bank of America partnered on two credit cards. The premium option is the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit card, with a $99 annual fee. Here are the basics:
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,500 within the first 90 days
- Annual fee: $99
- Earning: 4x points on eligible Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea purchases, 2x points on eligible airline, hotel, dining, grocery, gas, and EV charging station purchases, and 1x points on all other purchases
- Spending bonus: $200 cruise discount after spending $20,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year
- Cruise perks: Priority suite boarding and priority luggage
- Travel perk: Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every four years
- Redemption: Points can be redeemed for cruise discounts or onboard credit with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, at the rate of one cent per point
- No foreign transaction fees
There’s also a no annual fee version, the Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® credit card, which offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 within the first 90 days, 3x points on eligible Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea purchases, and a $100 cruise discount after spending $10,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Both cards offer no foreign transaction fees.
These cards are best for frequent Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea sailings — and remember, all three brands share the same parent company, so points can be redeemed across them.
Link: Learn more about the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® Credit Card
Disney® Inspire Visa® Card
The Disney® Inspire Visa® Card, issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, is worth considering for Disney Cruise Line fans who also use the card for parks and Disney purchases year-round. Here are the basics:
- Welcome bonus: Earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening with a new Disney Inspire Visa Card
- Annual fee: $149
- Earning: 10% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Stream.ESPN.com; 3% on card purchases at gas stations and most other U.S. Disney locations; 2% on card purchases at grocery stores and restaurants; 1% on all other card purchases
- Cruise-related perks: Earn 200 Disney Rewards Dollars after spending $2,000 per anniversary year on U.S. Disney Resort stays and Disney Cruise Line bookings; savings aboard Disney Cruise Line when using your card to pay for select onboard purchases; savings on select packages and experiences on Disney island destinations
- Cruise financing: Promo APRs can help with financing your cruise at low rates for 6 months
- Other annual perks: $100 statement credit after spending $200 per anniversary year on U.S. Disney Theme Park Tickets; up to $120 annual credit on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN ($10 statement credit each month after spending $10 or more on qualifying subscriptions)
Disney Rewards Dollars can be redeemed toward Disney Park Tickets, Disney Resort stays, Disney Cruise Line, shopping, dining, movies and more in the U.S. There are no block-out dates when redeeming Rewards Dollars.
This card is best for Disney families who also use the card for parks and Disney purchases year-round. For non-Disney spend, a general travel card is likely a better choice.
Carnival® World Mastercard®
The Carnival® World Mastercard® is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware. Here’s what to know:
- Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 Fun Points® after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. Enough for $200 onboard credit
- Annual fee: $0
- Earning: Earn 2X Fun Points® for every $1 spent on purchases with Carnival Cruise Line, and 1X Fun Points® for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Cruise financing: 0% Promo APR for 6 Months on all Carnival Cruise bookings
- Redemption: Redeem Fun Points® for statement credits toward Carnival purchases, or onboard credit, amenities, and more
- Foreign transaction fee: 0%
Coming in September 2026, the card will get enhanced benefits, including earning 1 Status Qualifying Star for every dollar spent toward Carnival Rewards Status, 2X Carnival Rewards Points for every dollar spent at eligible restaurants and grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), and up to 6X Carnival Rewards Points on Carnival purchases (3X from the card plus 3X through Carnival Rewards). Updated redemption options will let you use Carnival Rewards Points toward your cruise, onboard credits, experiences, and more.
This card is best for Carnival loyalists who cruise once or twice per year or more.
Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®
The Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® is issued by Bank of America. Here’s what to know:
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 bonus points after making $1,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening — which can be redeemed for $200 off your next Norwegian cruise
- Annual fee: $0
- Earning: Earn 3 WorldPoints® points for every $1 spent on Norwegian purchases, 2 WorldPoints® points per $1 spent on eligible air and hotel purchases, and 1 WorldPoints® point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Redemption options: Redeem points for stateroom upgrades, travel discounts, exclusive redemption opportunities for last minute cruises, onboard credits, car rentals, hotel stays, cash and gift cards
- No foreign transaction fees
This card is best for NCL loyalists, especially those targeting Haven or specialty dining credits, and for cruisers who want a no-annual-fee card that earns extra on travel categories like air and hotel.
What else cruise credit card shoppers should consider
Beyond the welcome bonus and earning rates, there are a few other factors that matter when picking a credit card for cruising:
- Foreign transaction fees: Many sailings depart from or call at international ports, and a card with foreign transaction fees can cost 3% on onboard purchases charged in foreign currency. This is one of the most overlooked considerations for cruisers.
- Travel insurance quality: Trip cancellation, interruption, and medical evacuation matter more for cruises than most trips. Compare coverage limits across cards before relying on one.
- Onboard credit vs. cash back flexibility: Co-branded card rewards are often restricted to cruise line redemptions, while general travel card points offer more flexibility (cash back, travel transfers, etc.).
- Annual fee math: Calculate break-even based on how often you cruise and what perks you’ll actually use. A $99 annual fee that earns you a $200 cruise credit pays for itself, but only if you’ll spend the threshold to unlock it.
- Booking directly vs. through a travel portal: Some cards bonus cruise bookings made through their own portals; others require booking directly with the line to earn co-branded rewards. Read the fine print.
- Pairing strategies: Consider pairing a co-branded card (for cruise purchases) with a general travel card (for everything else). This is often the best strategy for cruise loyalists who want to maximize rewards.
- Welcome bonus timing: If you have a large cruise booking coming up, applying before that booking can help you meet minimum spending requirements organically.
My take after my first cruise in 20 years
I just took my first cruise in over 20 years, and I have to say, my expectations were exceeded. We sailed with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima for a three-night cruise from San Juan, with stops in St. John and St. Barts. The goal was to “dip our toes” in the cruising world, so to speak.
I’m not someone who is going to be converted into exclusively vacationing on cruises rather than hotels. That being said, after the first experience, I’m 100% sure this won’t be my last one. A few thoughts on that front, which inform how I’d think about credit cards for cruising:
- Cruising is just such an easy experience, and there’s something so refreshing about that. You really don’t have to think about anything, and it’s also just really enjoyable to sit on a deck and enjoy the views.
- Cruising is especially good for families. Having a card that earns extra on dining, travel, and the cruise itself can really pay off when you’re booking for multiple people.
- In an era where it feels like so many luxury hotels rip you off at every possible corner, I can’t say how nice it was to not sign a single check, not once be asked to tip someone, and to be able to order whatever one wants without it costing extra. The all-inclusive nature of premium cruising means a credit card with strong onboard purchase protections matters more than maximizing every category.
Bottom line, the experience reinforced for me that the best credit card for cruising depends a lot on what kind of cruiser you are. If you’re sailing internationally to interesting destinations, the Atmos Rewards Summit Card’s 3x on foreign purchases is unbeatable. If you’re sticking to one cruise line, a co-branded card is worth considering. And if you’re somewhere in between, a flexible general travel card like the Sapphire Reserve or Strata Premier is hard to beat.
Bottom line
The best credit card for booking a cruise depends on your travel patterns and which cruise line (if any) you’re loyal to. For most cruisers, I’d recommend starting with a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Strata Premier, or Atmos Rewards Summit Card. These cards earn flexible rewards, offer strong travel protections, and bonus on cruise-related categories.
If you sail with a specific cruise line repeatedly, a co-branded card from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney, or Virgin can add real value through onboard credit, status perks, and brand-specific benefits. The best strategy is often pairing a co-branded card (for cruise purchases) with a general travel card (for everything else).
Whichever card you pick, make sure to consider foreign transaction fees, travel protection coverage, and how rewards can actually be redeemed before applying. The right card can save you hundreds (or even thousands) on a cruise, but only if it matches how you actually travel.
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