Key Points

• Premium travel cards earn 2-3x points on cruise bookings while offering trip protection worth thousands.
• Cards with strong travel insurance cover trip delays, medical emergencies, and lost luggage during cruises.
• Flexible points programs beat cruise line co-branded cards for both earning and redemption value.

Introduction

Cruises cost $8,000-$15,000 on average for a week-long sailing. The right credit card can earn you enough points for your next vacation while providing critical travel protections when you're at sea.

Here's the thing: most major cruise lines don't have worthwhile co-branded credit cards. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival offer their own cards, but the rewards are underwhelming compared to flexible travel cards. Your best bet is using premium travel cards that earn bonus points on travel purchases and include serious travel insurance.

I'll walk you through the best credit cards for travel specifically for cruise bookings and which benefits actually matter at sea.

Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is my top pick for cruise travelers.

Earning:

• 3x points per dollar on travel (including cruise bookings)
• 10x points on hotels/cars through Chase Travel
• 3x points on dining worldwide

Key Benefits:

• $550 annual fee
• $300 annual travel credit (covers cruise bookings)
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000
• Emergency evacuation coverage
• Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000
• Trip delay reimbursement after 6+ hours
• Priority Pass lounge access

Example:Book a $6,000 Caribbean cruise and earn 18,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $270+ when redeemed strategically). The trip insurance alone is worth hundreds and covers medical emergencies or trip interruptions.

The $550 annual fee pays for itself with the $300 travel credit, Priority Pass membership, and travel insurance value. For anyone taking one or more cruises per year, this card makes sense.

Current Offer: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Best Value: Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred delivers most of the value at a fraction of the cost.

Earning:

• 2x points per dollar on all travel (including cruise bookings)
• 3x points on dining
• 5x points on travel through Chase portal

Key Benefits:

• $95 annual fee
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000
• Trip delay reimbursement after 12+ hours
• Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000
• Primary rental car insurance

The Trade-Off:You earn 2x instead of 3x on direct cruise bookings and have a longer wait for trip delay coverage. No $300 travel credit or Priority Pass, but you're paying $455 less per year.

That $6,000 cruise earns 12,000 points (worth $150-180). For most people taking one or two cruises yearly, the Preferred is the smarter choice. Check the full best Chase credit cards lineup.

Current Offer: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best for Flexibility: Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X offers simple redemptions and strong value.

Earning:

• 2x miles per dollar on everything (including cruise bookings)
• 10x miles on hotels/cars through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles on flights through portal

Key Benefits:

• $395 annual fee
• $300 annual travel credit
• 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (worth $100)
• Capital One lounges plus Priority Pass
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• No foreign transaction fees

The Advantage:Capital One miles are incredibly flexible. Book any cruise through their portal or erase cruise purchases at 1 cent per mile. No need to learn transfer partners.

That $6,000 cruise earns 12,000 miles (worth $120). Add the $300 credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus, and this card essentially pays you to use it. See how it compares in our Venture X vs. Sapphire Reserve breakdown.

Current Offer: Capital One Venture X

Supporting Card: Citi Premier

The Citi Premier maximizes earning on cruise-related purchases.

Earning:

• 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas, air travel, and hotels
• 1x point on other purchases (including cruise bookings)

Why This Matters:While cruise bookings earn 1x, everything around your cruise earns 3x. Restaurants at ports, grocery runs, rental cars, flights, and pre-cruise hotels all qualify for bonus earning.

Key Benefits:

• $95 annual fee
• ThankYou points transfer to 15+ airline partners
• Trip cancellation/interruption coverage
• No foreign transaction fees

Strategy:Use Citi Premier for ancillary expenses (flights, hotels, dining, excursions) while putting the cruise booking on a Chase card. You'll maximize earning across your entire trip.

$6,000 cruise (1x) + $800 flights (3x) + $600 dining/groceries (3x) = 10,200 ThankYou points worth $120-200.

Current Offer: Citi Premier

Why Cruise Line Cards Usually Aren't Worth It

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival all offer co-branded cards. I don't recommend them for most people.

Royal Caribbean Visa:

• 2x points on Royal Caribbean purchases only
• 1x point everywhere else
• Points worth roughly 0.5 cents each
• $49 annual fee

The Problem:You'd earn 12,000 points on a $6,000 cruise (worth $60). The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 12,000 Ultimate Rewards points worth $150-240, PLUS trip insurance the Royal Caribbean card doesn't offer.

Exception:Cruise line cards only make sense if you cruise with one line 5+ times per year and value onboard perks over earning potential.

Critical Insurance Benefits for Cruises

Premium travel cards prove their worth through insurance that protects against cruise-specific risks.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

Cruise lines have strict cancellation policies. Cancel 60 days before departure and you might lose 50-100% of your fare.

Coverage:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $10,000 per trip
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $10,000 per trip
• Capital One Venture X: Up to $50,000
• Citi Premier: Up to $5,000 per trip

Real Scenario:Your father has a heart attack three days before your $8,000 Alaska cruise. Norwegian won't refund anything. Your Chase Sapphire Reserve reimburses the full amount.

Emergency Medical and Evacuation

Medical evacuations via helicopter from a ship can cost $25,000-100,000 and typically aren't covered by U.S. health insurance in international waters.

Coverage:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Emergency evacuation included
• American Express Platinum: Up to $100,000

Real Scenario:Severe allergic reaction while cruising 200 miles from port. Helicopter evacuation to Miami costs $75,000. Your Chase Sapphire Reserve covers it.

This benefit alone makes premium cards worth considering for cruise travel.

Trip Delay Coverage

Coverage:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: After 6+ hours, up to $500 per ticket
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: After 12+ hours, up to $500 per ticket
• Capital One Venture X: After 6+ hours

Real Scenario:Your flight from Fort Lauderdale is delayed 8 hours. Hotel room ($200) and meals ($75) are reimbursed up to $500.

Lost or Delayed Baggage

If your luggage is delayed and your ship leaves without it, you'll need to buy clothes and toiletries for your entire cruise.

Coverage:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $3,000 per passenger
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $3,000 per passenger
• Capital One Venture X: Coverage included

Maximizing Rewards on Cruise-Related Purchases

Smart travelers optimize every purchase, not just the cruise booking.

Before You Sail:

• Flights: Chase Sapphire Reserve (5x through portal) or Amex Platinum (5x direct bookings)
• Pre-cruise hotel: Chase Sapphire Reserve (10x through portal)
• Rental car: Chase Sapphire Reserve (primary insurance)
• Groceries: Citi Premier (3x) or Amex Gold (4x)

During Your Cruise:

• Onboard purchases: Card with no foreign transaction fees earning travel bonuses
• Shore excursions: Book through Viator or local operators (often cheaper, earns travel/dining bonuses)
• Dining at ports: Chase Sapphire Reserve or Citi Premier (3x)

After Your Cruise:

• Return flights and hotels: Continue using travel cards for bonus earning
• Future cruise deposits: Put deposits on premium travel cards for insurance coverage

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using a Card Without Trip Insurance:Booking a $10,000 cruise on a card with no trip cancellation coverage is the biggest mistake. One family emergency and you could lose everything.

Paying Foreign Transaction Fees:A 3% fee on a $6,000 cruise is $180 in unnecessary costs. Every recommended card has no foreign transaction fees.

Not Maximizing Total Trip Earning:People focus only on the cruise booking and ignore $2,000-4,000 in ancillary purchases. Optimizing these can earn more total points than the cruise itself.

Ignoring Rental Car Insurance:Using your card's primary coverage can save $20-40 per day compared to the rental company's insurance.

Which Card Is Right for You?

Choose Chase Sapphire Reserve if:

• You take 2+ major trips per year
• Trip insurance is important
• You want maximum earning (3x vs 2x)
• The $300 travel credit effectively reduces your fee

Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred if:

• You take 1-2 trips per year
• You want solid insurance without a huge fee
• 2x earning on travel is sufficient

Choose Capital One Venture X if:

• You want simple, flexible redemptions
• The $300 credit and anniversary bonus offset the fee
• You prefer booking flexibility over transfer partners

Choose Citi Premier if:

• You spend significantly on dining, groceries, and gas
• You want to build ThankYou points for transfers
• Your strategy involves multiple cards for different categories

For most people cruising once or twice per year, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It offers strong insurance at a reasonable cost while earning solid rewards.

FAQ

Do cruise line credit cards offer better value than general travel cards?

No. Cruise line cards earn 1-2x points worth 0.5-0.7 cents each. General travel cards earn 2-3x points worth 1.5-2+ cents each. You get 3-4x the value with flexible cards, plus significantly better trip insurance.

Will my credit card trip insurance cover cruise-specific issues?

Most premium card insurance covers standard disruptions like illness, injury, weather, and family emergencies. Cruise-specific issues like missed ports or itinerary changes may not be covered unless they result in trip cancellation or significant delay. Read your Certificate of Insurance for exact coverage.

What's the best card if I only cruise once every few years?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred balances reasonable annual fee ($95) with solid insurance and 2x earning. For once every 2-3 years, consider getting a card for that trip, earning the signup bonus, then downgrading after a year.

Should I pay for my cruise with points or earn points on the purchase?

If you have excess points and get 1.5+ cents per point value, using points makes sense. However, paying cash lets you earn new points AND maintains full trip insurance coverage. For expensive cruises, I recommend paying cash with a premium card for maximum insurance protection.

Do I earn bonus points on deposits or only final payment?

You earn points on every charge, including deposits and final payments. A $1,000 deposit on Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x) earns 3,000 points immediately. The $5,000 final payment earns another 15,000 points. Total: 18,000 points.

Final Recommendations

The right credit card for cruises earns thousands of points while providing trip insurance and protecting against expensive emergencies.

My Top Picks:

Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Reserve for frequent cruisers wanting maximum earning and premium insurance.

Best Value: Chase Sapphire Preferred for occasional cruisers wanting solid earning and insurance at a reasonable fee.

Best for Simplicity: Capital One Venture X for flexible redemptions without complexity.

Best Supporting Card: Citi Premier for maximizing earning on ancillary purchases.

Start with one solid travel card and use it consistently for all cruise-related purchases. You'll earn enough points for your next vacation while protecting yourself against expensive disruptions.

Ready to learn more? Check our complete guide to travel credit cards or learn about maximizing Chase Ultimate Rewards.

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