Best Cruise Credit Cards
of April 2026
Cruise credit cards unlock onboard credit, cruise-specific rewards, and valuable travel perks. Whether you’re loyal to one line or mix itineraries, compare every card by earn rate, onboard value, and real-world annual fee math. Rankings update automatically as offers change.
Earn points redeemable for onboard credit with a specific cruise line — typically 2×–3× on cruise bookings. Best if you sail one line consistently and want loyalty perks like priority boarding and statement credits on fares.
All 5 co-branded cruise cards here carry no annual fee.
Earn flexible points (Amex MR, Chase UR) on cruise bookings and everything else. Better if you sail multiple lines or want rewards that stretch to flights, hotels, and dining — often higher earn rates than co-branded cards.
Compare all travel cards- Onboard credit — $150–$300 from welcome offers can offset excursions or drinks packages
- Earn rate — 2×+ on cruise bookings; general travel cards often earn 3× on all travel
- No foreign txn fee — essential; cruise purchases are often processed internationally
- Trip cancellation — large upfront cruise deposits make this coverage especially valuable
Live Cruise Card Rankings
All 7 cruise credit cards scored by earn rate, welcome offer value, onboard perks, and annual fee math. Rankings are independent — no affiliate revenue from card applications.
Co-Branded Cruise Cards Compared
Every major cruise line has a co-branded card. All carry no annual fee and earn points redeemable for onboard credit. Here’s how they stack up.
| Card | Cruise Line Earn | Welcome Offer | Onboard Credit Value | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Bank of America | 2× on Royal Caribbean | 30,000 pts after $1k | $300 | $0 |
| Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® Bank of America | 2× on Celebrity | 30,000 pts after $1k | $300 | $0 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® Bank of America | 3× on Norwegian | 20,000 pts after $1k | $200 off cruise | $0 |
| Carnival® Mastercard® Barclays | 2× on Carnival | 20,000 FunPoints® after $1k | Variable | $0 |
| Princess® Rewards Visa® Barclays | 2× on Princess | 15,000 pts after $500 | $150 stmt credit | $0 |
General Travel Cards Worth Considering
These cards don’t tie rewards to one cruise line — points transfer to airlines and hotels or redeem for travel statement credits.
- 3× on all travel including cruise fares
- 3× on dining (pre/post cruise restaurants)
- $209 CLEAR® Plus credit annually
- No foreign transaction fee
- Points transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners
Best for cruise travelers who also spend heavily on dining. CLEAR credit nearly offsets the annual fee on its own.
- 8× on Chase Travel bookings
- 3× on dining, 2× on all other travel
- $300 annual travel credit (offsets cruise excursions)
- Priority Pass lounge access (1,300+ lounges)
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
High fee but $300 travel credit + lounge access make the effective cost manageable for frequent travelers. Lounge access is particularly useful for pre-cruise airport days.
Cruise Credit Card FAQ
Co-branded or general travel card — which is better for cruises?
It depends on how you cruise. If you’re loyal to one line and sail at least once a year, a co-branded card makes sense — $150–$300 in onboard credit from the welcome offer easily justifies the $0 annual fee. If you mix lines or want rewards usable beyond cruising, a general travel card with transferable points usually wins on total value.
Is onboard credit worth the annual fee?
For co-branded cruise cards — yes, easily. Every card here has a $0 annual fee, so any onboard credit is pure upside. The welcome offers alone range from $150–$300 in onboard value after a modest spend requirement. Just note that onboard credit typically expires at the end of each sailing, so plan to use it.
Do cruise cards have foreign transaction fees?
This is a critical detail to check. Many cruise purchases are processed internationally even when booked through a US website. The general travel cards (Amex Green, Chase Reserve) have no foreign transaction fee. Verify before using co-branded cards onboard — some charge 3% on non-US transactions.
Do cruise credit cards include trip cancellation insurance?
The premium general travel cards (Chase Sapphire Reserve) include trip cancellation and interruption insurance when you pay with the card. Co-branded cruise cards typically do not include robust travel insurance. For cruises — where you’re often paying large deposits months in advance — this coverage matters significantly. Check each card’s guide to benefits for exact terms.
Which cards include lounge access for cruise travelers?
Premium travel cards in the $450–$795/year range include Priority Pass or airline lounge access — useful for pre/post-cruise travel days at the airport. The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides Priority Pass with access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide. Co-branded cruise cards do not include lounge access.
Can I carry both a cruise card and a general travel card?
Yes, and it often makes sense. Use a co-branded cruise card for actual cruise bookings and onboard spend to earn line-specific perks. Use a general travel card for flights, hotels, dining, and everything else. Since all co-branded cruise cards here have no annual fee, stacking them with a travel card costs nothing extra.