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While everyone needs a vacation — and taking a cruise is one of the best options out there — coming home to a mountain of bills (including interest payments) can ruin the fun in a hurry. Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive.
Best for premium cruise benefits
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. New cardholders are also eligible to earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. That’s on top of earning 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below. Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express are entitled to the benefits of the American Express Cruise Privileges Program when they book at least five nights. You’ll get access to benefits like a credit of up to $300 redeemable toward dining and spa services onboard, plus amenities like wine, champagne and chocolate. For AmEx Platinum's baggage insurance plan, eligibility and benefit level varies by card.
Best for Travel Earnings and Insurance
This means you could charge your cruise to your card and pay it down interest-free for more than a year. Some credit cards earn bonus points on the general “travel” category, which includes cruises, while other cards earn bonus points at stores that sell cruise line gift cards. Meanwhile, some cards offer a flat rate for earning points or cash-back. And just as you have many cruise options to choose from, there are numerous credit cards you could choose to pay with. Cruise line-specific cards might seem like an obvious choice, but they aren't always the best. Flexible rewards credit cards have more redemption options, often provide heftier bonuses for new cardholders and usually earn more points in many categories.
Smart Strategies to Save Money on Car Insurance
That’s not particularly helpful if you want to use points toward airfare or a hotel stay. The best travel credit cards typically require good or excellent credit scores to qualify. A good credit score is at least a 670 on the FICO scoring model, while an excellent score is at least an 800.
Best credit cards for cruises in 2023
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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
When compared with other "flexible currency" cards, their value pales in comparison. Capital One also offers the ability to redeem miles in exchange for cruise line gift cards with companies like Carnival or Royal Caribbean. The card has travel accident insurance protections, too, which adds value when using the card to pay for travel.
If you plan on doing significant shopping while on your ship, you can use a card with purchase protection to ensure your item arrives safely home. At TPG, we recommend using a credit card whenever and wherever possible so you always earn rewards on your purchases. When it comes to cruises, you'll get some serious benefits by booking with a credit card.
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. The best credit card for a cruise depends on what type of rewards you are looking for.
5 Things to Know About the Royal Caribbean Credit Card - NerdWallet
5 Things to Know About the Royal Caribbean Credit Card.
Posted: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road. Although several major cruise lines offer cobranded credit cards, using a more general travel rewards card will usually offer greater value. Below, CNBC Select breaks down the best credit cards for cruises and why it may not be what you initially thought.
Our list of the best credit cards for cruises includes a boatload of cards you’ll want to have on board before you sail off into the sunset. Other benefits include comped checked bags on American flights, plus discounts on in-flight food and drink purchases. When using the card for trips booked with American Airlines Cruises, you’ll earn two miles per dollar spent. You’ll also double dip your way to AAdvantage elite status both by using the card to pay for the sailing and for using the airline’s dedicated cruise site.
Points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase so you’re effectively getting a 25% discount on your cruise. We couldn’t write a post about the best credit cards to book a cruise without mentioning cruise line-specific credit cards. Unfortunately, these cards don’t offer as much value as other travel rewards credit cards unless you’re a cruise-only traveler with zero interest in earning flexible points or cash-back.
The Citi Premier Card makes sense if you want to earn travel rewards (that can be redeemed for cruises) on your travel and everyday purchases. All of this means that it’s a great time to start earning rewards for your next cruise. The Ink Business Preferred card is one of the best business credit cards to book a cruise. Be careful when using an American Express card to purchase gift cards. Each card’s terms can vary, and many state that gift card purchases don’t count toward welcome bonus minimum spending or bonus points.
For more details, please see our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card. Alternatively, use the card for an everyday high spend category, such as groceries and save your cash back for a future cruise purchase. If you book a cruise with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll enjoy travel protections if the trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed.
