Chase Sapphire Preferred:Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Based on current valuations, these points are worth approximately $1,538 when transferred to travel partners or up to $1,125 when redeemed through Chase Travel.

The difference is dramatic. The Chase Sapphire Preferred's welcome bonus alone could cover most of a cruise fare, while the Norwegian card's# Best Credit Cards for Cruises: Why General Travel Cards Beat Co-Branded Options

Key Points

• General travel rewards cards typically offer better value for cruise bookings than cruise line co-branded cards through flexible redemption options and higher point values.
• Co-branded cruise cards earn limited rewards locked into specific cruise lines, while flexible cards let you book any cruise line and transfer points to travel partners.
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred and similar cards provide better welcome bonuses, stronger earning rates across multiple categories, and valuable travel protections that co-branded cruise cards lack.

Introduction

Planning a cruise vacation and wondering which credit card will give you the best bang for your buck? You might think a co-branded cruise line card is the obvious choice, but the math tells a different story. While cruise line credit cards from Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival offer onboard perks, general travel rewards cards typically deliver significantly more value through flexible redemption options, better earning rates, and welcome bonuses that could cover a substantial portion of your cruise fare. Let's break down which cards actually maximize your cruise spending and why flexibility beats brand loyalty.

Understanding Your Credit Card Options for Cruises

Co-Branded Cruise Line Cards

Major cruise lines partner with banks to offer co-branded credit cards that promise cruise-specific rewards. These include the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard, Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Card, Carnival World Mastercard, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Card, and Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card.

The Co-Branded Model:These cards earn points that can only be redeemed within their cruise line ecosystem. You'll typically earn 2 to 3 points per dollar on cruise purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Points are generally worth 1 cent each when redeemed for onboard credits, cabin upgrades, or cruise discounts.

The Reality Check:While earning points toward your next cruise sounds appealing, these cards lock you into a single cruise line's ecosystem. Your points can't be transferred to airlines, hotels, or other cruise lines. If you decide to sail with a different cruise line or want to use points for flights to your departure port, you're out of luck.

General Travel Rewards Cards

Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, and American Express Platinum take a different approach. They earn flexible points that can be redeemed through travel portals, transferred to airline and hotel partners, or used as statement credits against travel purchases including cruises.

Head-to-Head: Norwegian Cruise Line Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Let's compare two popular options to see which delivers more value.

Welcome Bonuses

Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard:Earn 20,000 WorldPoints after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, worth $200 toward a Norwegian cruise.

Chase Sapphire Preferred:Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Based on current valuations, these points are worth approximately $1,538 when transferred to travel partners or up to $1,125 when redeemed through Chase Travel.

The difference is dramatic. The Chase Sapphire Preferred's welcome bonus alone could cover most of a cruise fare, while the Norwegian card's bonus covers only a small discount on one sailing.

Earning Rates

Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard:

• 3 WorldPoints per dollar on Norwegian purchases
• 2 WorldPoints per dollar on air and hotel purchases
• 1 WorldPoint per dollar on all other purchases

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 2 points per dollar on all travel purchases
• 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns bonus points across broader categories that benefit your entire travel lifestyle, not just one cruise line. Dining rewards help you earn points year-round, and the travel category includes any cruise line, not just Norwegian.

Redemption Value and Flexibility

Norwegian Cruise Line Card:Points are worth 1 cent each and can only be used for Norwegian cruises, onboard credits, or related travel through their portal. You need 5,000 points minimum to redeem for $50 in onboard credit or 10,000 points for $100 off a cruise.

Chase Sapphire Preferred:Points can be worth 1.25 to 2.05 cents each depending on how you redeem them. You can book cruises through Chase Travel, transfer points to airline partners to book award flights to your departure port, book hotels for pre- or post-cruise stays, or combine points from multiple Chase cards for even more value. As of April 2025, Chase now lets you browse cruises online through their portal, making it easier to compare options from all major cruise lines before calling to book.

Annual Fees

Norwegian Cruise Line Card: $0 annual feeChase Sapphire Preferred: $95 annual fee

The Norwegian card wins on fees, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred's superior earning potential and welcome bonus more than compensate for the annual cost. If you spend $5,000 annually on the card across dining and travel, you'll earn at least 10,000 more points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred compared to the Norwegian card on the same spending, easily justifying the fee.

Royal Caribbean vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

For frequent cruisers considering premium cards, the comparison becomes even more interesting.

Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Card

Welcome Bonus: 30,000 MyCruise points after spending $1,000 in 90 days, worth $300 in onboard creditEarning Rate: 2 points per dollar on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea; 1 point per dollar on everything elseAnnual Fee: $0Key Benefit: $50 discount on Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program after spending $3,500 in the first 90 days

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome Bonus: 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first three months, worth approximately $2,563 based on current valuationsEarning Rate: 8 points per dollar on Chase Travel bookings for flights, hotels, cruises, and more; 3 points per dollar on all other travel and diningAnnual Fee: $550Key Benefits: $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, comprehensive travel insurance

The Royal Caribbean card offers no annual fee and decent earning on its cruise lines, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve's massive welcome bonus could cover multiple cruises. The $300 annual travel credit effectively reduces the annual fee to $250, and the premium travel benefits including lounge access and travel insurance add significant value for frequent travelers.

Other Cruise Line Cards Worth Mentioning

Carnival World Mastercard

The Carnival World Mastercard earns 2 FunPoints per dollar on Carnival and World's Leading Cruise Lines brands (including Holland America, Princess, and Cunard) and 1 FunPoint per dollar everywhere else. New cardholders receive 20,000 FunPoints (worth $200 in onboard credit) after making $1,000 in purchases within 90 days. The card charges no annual fee but offers 0% intro APR on Carnival cruise bookings for six months.

While the no annual fee is attractive, the earning structure mirrors other cruise line cards with the same fundamental limitation: your points are locked into the Carnival ecosystem and worth only 1 cent each.

Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Card

This card earns MyCruise points redeemable with Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Silversea. You'll earn 2 points per dollar on these cruise lines and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The card offers no foreign transaction fees and a welcome bonus of 30,000 MyCruise points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

The slight advantage here is that your points work across three cruise lines instead of one, but you're still locked into a limited ecosystem compared to flexible travel cards.

Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card

Earning 2 points per dollar on Princess Cruises purchases and 1 point per dollar elsewhere, this card follows the familiar co-branded pattern. Points are worth 1 cent each for onboard credits, amenities, cruise rewards, and discounted airfare through Princess's system.

Why General Travel Cards Win for Most Cruisers

Superior Welcome Bonuses

The welcome bonus gap between general travel cards and cruise line cards is enormous. A single Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus (75,000 points worth $1,125+ toward travel) exceeds what you'd earn from spending $25,000 on most cruise line cards. For cruisers who might take one or two cruises annually, that welcome bonus provides better value than years of cruise line card spending.

Broader Earning Potential

General travel cards reward your entire travel lifestyle. The Chase Sapphire Preferred's 3x points on dining means you're earning toward your cruise while enjoying dinner at home. The Capital One Venture X's 2x points on everything means all your spending moves you closer to your next vacation. Cruise line cards typically offer just 1x points on non-cruise spending, making them less effective everyday cards.

Flexible Redemption Options

When you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Capital One miles, you control how to use them. Book any cruise line through a travel portal, transfer points to airlines for flights to your departure port, book pre-cruise hotels, or even pivot to a completely different type of vacation if your plans change. Cruise line card points offer none of this flexibility.

Valuable Travel Protections

Premium travel cards include benefits that cruise line cards typically lack. Trip delay and cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, rental car insurance, and emergency medical assistance provide real financial protection. If weather delays your cruise departure or your checked bag with your formal wear gets lost, these protections save you money and stress.

Points Don't Expire (Usually)

Most general travel rewards points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Many cruise line loyalty points have expiration dates or require activity to keep points active. This makes general travel cards better for infrequent cruisers who might take years between sailings.

When a Cruise Line Card Might Make Sense

Despite the advantages of general travel cards, cruise line cards aren't completely without merit. Consider a co-branded cruise card if you:

Cruise Very Frequently with One Line:If you take four or more cruises annually with the same cruise line, the 2x to 3x earning on cruise purchases could add up to meaningful onboard credits and upgrades. Loyalty benefits within the cruise line's program might also provide perks that complement the card.

Want a No-Annual-Fee Option:For cruisers who don't want to pay an annual fee and cruise occasionally with a specific line, a cruise card provides a way to earn some rewards without ongoing costs. Just recognize you're sacrificing earning potential and flexibility.

Already Maximize Other Categories:If you already carry premium travel cards and want to layer additional rewards on cruise bookings specifically, adding a no-annual-fee cruise line card as a secondary card for cruise purchases only could make sense. Use it for the 3x earning on Norwegian or 2x on Royal Caribbean, then use your primary travel card for everything else.

Value Specific Onboard Perks:Some cruise line cards occasionally offer cardmember-exclusive perks like priority boarding, onboard credits, or cabin upgrades that might appeal to brand loyalists. However, you should calculate whether these perks outweigh the opportunity cost of using a more rewarding card.

Best General Travel Cards for Cruise Bookings

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Why We Recommend It:The Chase Sapphire Preferred hits the sweet spot of valuable rewards, reasonable annual fee, and cruise-friendly benefits. The 75,000-point welcome bonus provides extraordinary value, and the ability to earn 5x points when booking travel through Chase Travel (including cruises) makes it easy to rack up points quickly.

Cruise-Specific Advantages:

• Browse cruises online through Chase Travel's portal (booking requires a phone call)
• Points worth up to 1.5x on select hotels and flights through Points Boost feature
• Primary rental car insurance when you book with the card
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• No foreign transaction fees for onboard purchases

Best For: Cruisers who want strong everyday earning, flexibility, and don't need ultra-premium perks.

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Why We Recommend It:For frequent travelers who cruise regularly and want maximum rewards plus premium benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve delivers. The $300 annual travel credit (which can be used toward cruises) significantly offsets the $550 annual fee.

Cruise-Specific Advantages:

• 8x points on bookings through Chase Travel
• 3x points on all travel purchases including direct cruise bookings
• $300 annual travel credit applicable to cruise purchases
• Priority Pass airport lounge access (great for cruise departure travel)
• Enhanced travel protections including trip delay coverage
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership

Best For: Premium travelers who cruise multiple times per year and value lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance.

Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Capital One Venture X

Why We Recommend It:The Venture X offers premium benefits similar to the Sapphire Reserve but with simpler redemption options. The 2x miles on everything means you don't need to worry about bonus categories, and the $300 annual travel credit plus anniversary bonus effectively reduces the annual fee.

Cruise-Specific Advantages:

• 2x miles on all purchases including direct cruise bookings
• 10x miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel
• $300 annual travel credit
• 10,000 anniversary bonus miles
• Priority Pass lounge access
• No foreign transaction fees

Best For: Travelers who want simplicity, don't want to track categories, and prefer straightforward 2x earning on everything.

Check the current Capital One Venture X offer

American Express Platinum Card

Why We Recommend It:While not exclusively a cruise card, the Platinum Card's comprehensive travel benefits and access to valuable Amex Offers (which frequently include cruise line discounts) make it worth considering for cruise enthusiasts who want premium perks.

Cruise-Specific Advantages:

• Access to Amex Offers for cruise line discounts (past offers included hundreds of dollars off with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Celebrity)
• 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel
• Extensive airport lounge access
• $200 annual hotel credit
• Automatic elite status with Hilton and Marriott
• Comprehensive travel insurance

Best For: Luxury travelers who want the best airport experience and can maximize the card's many credits and benefits.

Apply for the Platinum Card

Booking Cruises with Points: A Practical Guide

Through Travel Portals

Chase Travel:As of April 2025, Chase lets you browse cruises from major lines including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, and MSC Cruises online through their portal. While you can't complete bookings online (you must call 855-234-2542), you can research options and get cruise ID numbers before calling. Points are worth 1 cent each for basic redemptions, but the Points Boost feature can increase value up to 1.5x or 2x on select bookings for premium cards.

Capital One Travel:Capital One's portal lets you book cruises online directly, which is more convenient than Chase's call-in requirement. Your miles are worth 1 cent each toward cruise bookings, and you can pay with points, cash, or a combination.

American Express Travel:Amex Membership Rewards points can be used to book cruises through their travel portal at 1 cent per point, though you'll often get better value by transferring points to airline partners for flights to your cruise departure port.

Transfer Partners Strategy

A smart approach many experienced points users take: book the cruise with cash or on a rewards card to earn points, then transfer points to airline partners to book award flights to the departure port. This strategy often delivers the highest total value because:

• You earn points on the cruise purchase
• You avoid using points at potentially lower values for the cruise itself
• You get maximum value transferring points to airlines for business or first-class flights

Making the Decision: Which Card for Your Cruise Style

Occasional Cruisers (1-2 Cruises Yearly)

Best Choice: Chase Sapphire Preferred

You'll benefit most from the massive welcome bonus and flexibility to book any cruise line. The 3x dining rewards help you earn points year-round, and the lower annual fee makes it easier to justify keeping the card even in years you don't cruise.

Frequent Cruisers (3+ Cruises Yearly)

Best Choice: Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X

The higher earning rates and premium travel benefits justify the increased annual fee. Airport lounge access becomes valuable when you're traveling to cruise ports multiple times per year, and the comprehensive travel insurance protects your significant cruise investment.

Brand-Loyal Cruisers

Consider: Your preferred cruise line's card as a secondary card

If you exclusively cruise with one line and take multiple sailings annually, adding their co-branded card makes sense as a supplement to a primary travel rewards card. Use the cruise card only for cruise line purchases to earn 2x to 3x points, but use your primary rewards card for everything else.

Budget-Conscious Cruisers

Best Choice: Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One Venture

Both cards offer no annual fee for the first year (Chase Freedom Unlimited has no annual fee ever) and earn points in the same ecosystems as their premium siblings. You can transfer points to a family member's premium card or upgrade later to access better redemption values.

Luxury Cruisers

Best Choice: American Express Platinum Card

The premium benefits, extensive lounge access, and Amex Offers make this ideal for luxury cruise travelers. The automatic Hilton and Marriott elite status helps with pre- and post-cruise hotel stays, and the comprehensive travel insurance provides peace of mind on expensive cruise packages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing Based on Annual Fee Alone

The cheapest card isn't always the best value. A $0 annual fee cruise card that earns minimal rewards will cost you more in lost earning potential than a $95 card that earns 2x to 3x points on major spending categories.

Ignoring Welcome Bonuses

The welcome bonus often represents more value than years of earning at standard rates. Don't overlook cards with higher welcome bonuses just because they have a higher minimum spend requirement. If you can meet the spend naturally (without manufactured spending), the bonus is worth pursuing.

Forgetting About Transfer Partners

Many cruisers overlook the value of transferring points to airline partners. Instead of using 50,000 points for a $500 cruise discount, you might get better value transferring those points to an airline partner for business class flights to your departure port, which could cost $2,000+ if purchased with cash.

Not Using Multiple Cards Strategically

You don't need to pick just one card. Many successful points earners use a combination: a premium travel card for major purchases and category bonuses, a no-annual-fee card for everyday spending, and possibly a cruise line card exclusively for cruise bookings.

Booking Too Far in Advance

While planning ahead is important, booking cruises extremely far in advance with points can backfire. Cruise prices fluctuate significantly, and you might miss better deals. Consider booking closer to departure when prices are clearer, or book with cash and use points for flights and hotels instead.

Maximizing Your Cruise Rewards Strategy

Stack Multiple Cards

Use different cards for different purchases to maximize earning:

• Premium travel card for the cruise booking (3x to 5x points)
• Dining card for meals before and during your trip (3x points)
• Category bonus card for cruise-related shopping
• No-foreign-transaction-fee card for onboard purchases in international waters

Combine with Cruise Line Loyalty

Your credit card strategy should complement, not replace, your cruise line loyalty program. Earn points through your preferred card while also accumulating status and benefits through the cruise line's own loyalty program by providing your loyalty number when booking.

Time Your Applications

Apply for travel rewards cards two to three months before you plan to book your cruise. This gives you time to meet minimum spend requirements naturally and receive the welcome bonus before booking.

Watch for Limited-Time Offers

Both general travel cards and cruise line cards occasionally run elevated welcome bonuses. Set alerts for these promotions, as an increased bonus can significantly change the value proposition.

Consider Authorized Users

Adding an authorized user can help you meet minimum spend requirements faster and earn additional welcome bonuses on some cards. Some cards also provide authorized user cards at no additional cost, letting your travel companion earn points on their spending too.

The Bottom Line

For most cruisers, general travel rewards cards provide better value than cruise line co-branded cards through superior welcome bonuses, flexible redemption options, broader earning categories, and comprehensive travel protections. The Chase Sapphire Preferred stands out as the best all-around option for its balance of rewards, reasonable annual fee, and cruise-friendly benefits.

Cruise line cards fill a niche role for frequent, brand-loyal cruisers who want to maximize rewards on cruise-specific spending, but even in these cases, they work best as secondary cards alongside a primary travel rewards card. The flexibility to book any cruise line, transfer points to travel partners, and pivot your redemption strategy when plans change makes general travel cards the smarter choice for building long-term cruise rewards.

Before you apply, calculate your potential rewards based on your actual spending patterns and cruise frequency. Factor in welcome bonuses, annual fees, and redemption values to identify which card delivers the most value for your specific situation. Your next cruise might be closer than you think when you're earning points efficiently with the right card.

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