There is one common question we get from TPG readers who are cruise enthusiasts: What are the best credit cards for booking cruises?
It might seem logical that the best way to earn rewards on cruise bookings is to get a cruise line cobranded credit card. While these cards generally don’t offer as strong a value as the best travel credit cards, some cobranded cards on the market could be a good choice for certain types of cruisers.
If you want to get the most value from your cruise purchases, here’s our guide to the best credit cards for booking cruises and why you always want to pay for your vacation at sea with a credit card.
The best credit cards for booking cruises
When deciding which credit card to use for booking cruises, you’ll want to consider the rewards a card earns on cruises and benefits like travel and shopping protections. You can also take advantage of a card’s more specific perks, like statement credits for travel and airport lounge access to get you to and from the port.
With this in mind, we recommend these credit cards for booking a cruise:
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express Green
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership, worth $800 according to TPG’s April 2026 valuations.
Annual fee: $150
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruises. This means you’ll earn bonus points on the cruise booking as well as any flight or hotel purchases you make to get to and from your cruise.
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You’ll also get trip delay insurance* that covers up to $300 per trip (maximum of two claims per 12-month period) and purchase protection** for up to 90 days after you make a purchase.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Green.
Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Amex Green card?
American Express Platinum
Welcome bonus: New cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they’re eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
According to TPG’s April 2026 valuations, this bonus is worth up to $3,500.
Annual fee: $895
Why it’s great for booking cruises: Bonus points aren’t the incentive for booking cruises on the Amex Platinum. Instead, you can leverage the Cruise Privileges Program by booking an eligible sailing of at least five nights with your card through American Express Travel® or by calling the number on the back of your card. When you do this, you could receive:
- $100 to $300 per cabin onboard credit
- One unique amenity per cabin
Remember, you must book an eligible cruise through American Express Travel to receive these benefits, and not every cruise and cabin will offer the same benefits.
Also, the Amex Platinum doesn’t have a bonus category for cruises, so you will earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on these purchases.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: American Express Platinum Card
Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, worth $600.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card earns 2 points per dollar spent on all travel purchases, including cruise line purchases. You’ll also receive travel protections, including trip cancellation/delay/interruption insurance.
And if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you’ll earn an additional 25% to 75% rewards bonus on every purchase, giving you an even greater return on your cruise spending.
To learn more, read our full review of the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card.
Apply here: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Capital One Venture Rewards
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. According to TPG’s April 2026 valuations, this offer is valued at $1,388.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Capital One Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases, including cruise bookings. You can redeem rewards for a statement credit to cover travel expenses, including purchases from cruise lines.
To learn more, read our full review of the Venture Rewards.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,388, according to TPG’s valuations.
Annual fee: $395
Why it’s great for booking cruises: Like the Venture Rewards, the Venture X earns 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases, including cruises, and comes with several travel protections.
What sets Venture X apart is its ability to make your trip run more smoothly with additional perks, such as complimentary airport lounge access, which makes the trip to the airport before your cruise much better.
To learn more, read our full review of the Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,538 according to TPG’s April 2026 valuations.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns a valuable 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases, including cruise bookings made directly. If you book through Chase Travel, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent.
Plus, if you book a specific cruise and cabin with Voyages by Chase Travel, you can receive onboard credits, package upgrades, private transfers and more. Eligible cruise lines include AmaWaterways, Celebrity, Norwegian, Oceania and Virgin Voyages, among others.
What sets this card apart is its robust travel protections. When you use it to book travel, you’ll get protection against lost or delayed baggage, as well as trip delays and cancellations.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome bonus: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $2,563 according to TPG’s valuations.
Annual fee: $795
Why it’s great for booking cruises: The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 8 points per dollar spent on all bookings through Chase Travel, including cruises booked in the portal. You’ll also get a slightly better suite of travel protections than with the Sapphire Preferred, plus airport lounge access.
The Sapphire Reserve also unlocks access to Voyages by Chase Travel, like the Sapphire Preferred.
Perhaps the best perk on this card, however, is a $300 annual travel statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases, meaning you can get up to $300 back on your cruise booking when you use this card to pay.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Bottom line
Using the right credit card to book your cruise allows you to earn some serious rewards on your booking and protect yourself against a wide range of mishaps.
Whether you’re focused on receiving a valuable welcome bonus to help fund your next trip or earning bonus points on your onboard cocktails, you can feel great knowing your card is working hard while you’re kicking back at sea.
Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
