Best Credit Card For Cruises in 2026

Other Options to Consider

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "510", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "$300 Annual Travel Credit"} ]]

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Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "438", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "High Travel Rewards" } ]]

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How to Choose a Credit Card for Cruises

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Navigating the sea of credit card options for your cruise can feel overwhelming, but focusing on a few key features will help you find the perfect card to maximize your rewards and enhance your voyage.

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A common pitfall is getting lured in by a large welcome offer while overlooking high annual fees or costly foreign transaction fees that can negate your earnings on international sailings. Additionally, ensure the card’s rewards program is flexible and offers real value for booking cruises, not just general travel.

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Key Factors

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• Rewards on Cruise Bookings: Look for cards that offer accelerated rewards for travel, specifically including cruise line purchases, to maximize your earnings.
• Flexible Redemption Options: A good cruise card allows you to redeem points or miles for statement credits against cruise purchases or book travel directly through a portal with a favorable value.
• Cruise-Specific Benefits: Some cards partner with cruise lines to offer valuable perks like onboard spending credits, exclusive discounts, or cabin upgrades.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Choose a card that waives foreign transaction fees, as these can add up to 3% to every purchase you make on the ship or in foreign ports.
• Annual Fee vs. Value: Weigh the card's annual fee against the monetary value of its rewards and benefits to ensure you're coming out ahead.
• Travel Insurance and Protections: Comprehensive travel protections, such as trip cancellation insurance and baggage delay reimbursement, can provide peace of mind if your plans go awry.

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What to Watch Out For

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Don't get swayed by a card co-branded with a specific cruise line without weighing the tradeoffs; these cards often provide great onboard benefits but may lack flexibility and offer poor rewards on your daily spending. Another pitfall is assuming all travel rewards cards treat cruise bookings equally, as some may not offer bonus points for cruise purchases or have cumbersome redemption processes. It's crucial to read the fine print to ensure the card's benefits align with your actual cruising and spending habits.

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Decision Flow

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• If you are fiercely loyal to a single cruise line, then a co-branded cruise credit card is likely your best bet. These cards are designed to reward your loyalty with exclusive onboard perks like stateroom upgrades, complimentary drinks, or onboard spending credits that you can't get elsewhere. While the rewards on everyday spending might not be top-tier, the value comes from enhancing your experience with your favorite cruise line.
• If you prefer to shop around for the best cruise deals across different lines, opt for a general travel rewards card. These cards offer bonus points or miles on a broad category of travel purchases, including cruises, and provide flexible redemption options. You can use your rewards for statement credits to offset the cost of your cruise, book through the card’s travel portal, or transfer them to airline and hotel partners for other parts of your vacation.
• If your main goal is to avoid fees, look for a no-annual-fee travel card that also waives foreign transaction fees. While you might not get the high-end perks or accelerated rewards of premium cards, you’ll save money on fees both at home and abroad, making it a straightforward way to earn some rewards without the upfront cost.
• If you want the full VIP experience and travel frequently beyond just cruises, a premium travel card is the way to go. Despite a high annual fee, these cards often provide hundreds of dollars in travel credits, comprehensive trip insurance, airport lounge access, and other elite benefits that can make your entire journey, from airport to port, more comfortable and luxurious. The value of these perks can easily outweigh the fee for a frequent traveler.

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Maximize Your Return with Cruises

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To get the most value from your credit card when booking a cruise, consider these strategies:

• Stack with shopping portals: Before booking directly with a cruise line, click through an online shopping portal to earn additional cash back, points, or miles on top of your credit card rewards.
• Book through your card's travel portal: Many premium travel cards offer elevated rewards rates or special discounts when you book your cruise through their dedicated travel portals.
• Transfer points for higher value: Instead of redeeming points for a simple statement credit, you can often get more value by transferring them to an airline or hotel partner to book your cruise package.
• Check for targeted offers: Log into your credit card account to check for limited-time offers, like Chase Offers or Amex Offers, which can provide statement credits for spending with specific cruise lines.

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Supercharge your Rewards with Kudos

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This free app automatically selects your best card at checkout, helping you earn up to $750 more in rewards each year. Get started for free.

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Other Things to Consider

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Beyond general travel cards, consider if a cruise-line-specific card makes sense for you; if you're loyal to one line, the exclusive onboard credits and perks can be very valuable. Regardless of which card you choose, it's crucial to manage it responsibly by paying your balance in full to avoid interest charges that can quickly erase the value of any rewards you've earned. It's also smart to carry some cash for small purchases in port where cards may not be accepted. Finally, while Buy Now, Pay Later plans can help spread out the cost of a cruise, treat them as another form of debt to be managed carefully alongside your credit card payments to keep your finances on track.

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Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do cruise lines have their own co-branded credit cards?

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Yes, many major cruise lines partner with banks to offer co-branded credit cards that provide special perks and rewards for loyal customers. These cards often earn points or offer discounts specifically for that cruise line.

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Is it better to use a general travel rewards card or a cruise line's card?

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It depends on your travel habits; if you are loyal to one cruise line, a co-branded card might offer more value. However, a general travel rewards card provides greater flexibility for earning and redeeming points across various travel purchases, not just cruises.

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Should I worry about foreign transaction fees on a cruise?

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It's a good idea to use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, as onboard charges can sometimes be processed in a foreign currency. This is also important for any purchases you make at international ports of call.

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