You can book a Caribbean cruise with points through a travel portal such as Chase Travel, which Chase says lets you book cruises entirely online across more than 40 cruise lines and more than 20,000 itineraries. You can also earn cruise-line points on a co-branded card such as the Royal ONE Visa Signature, which Bank of America and Royal Caribbean Group announced on March 31, 2026.
Which route is better depends on what the cruise costs in cash and how often you sail the same line. Here is how each option works and what to check before you pay.
Booking Through a Travel Portal
This is the most flexible option for most readers. Chase says you can use Ultimate Rewards points to pay for all or part of a cruise fare through Chase Travel. Sapphire Reserve cardmembers earn 8x points on Chase Travel bookings, and Chase says cruises are booked entirely online.
On eligible "Voyages by Chase Travel" sailings, Chase says benefits could include onboard credits, package upgrades and more. They apply only to certain partner lines and may require a minimum sailing length or a specific room category.
Check your own card's terms for how many cents each point is worth in the portal, because the rate depends on the card. Say a $1,200 inside cabin and your points redeem at 1 cent each. That cabin costs 120,000 points, and an onboard credit offered alongside it doesn't change that number. Compare the portal price with the cruise line's own price before you book.
Co-Branded Cruise Cards
Royal Caribbean Group's new cards replace the old Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Visa Signature cards. Royal Caribbean says existing cardholders have their accounts converted automatically and receive the new card by mail.
- Royal ONE Visa Signature: $0 annual fee. It earns 3x points on eligible Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea purchases, 2x on groceries, gas and EV charging, and 1x on everything else. Royal Caribbean lists 30,000 points after $1,500 in purchases within 90 days.
- Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature: $99 annual fee. It earns 4x on those three cruise brands, 2x on air, hotels, dining, groceries, gas and EV charging, and 1x on everything else. Royal Caribbean lists 60,000 points after $2,500 within 90 days.
Royal ONE Rewards points can be redeemed for cruise discounts and onboard credit on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea. Royal Caribbean says the points don't expire and there's no cap on rewards. Both cards also have an annual cruise discount after a spending threshold, which is $100 on Royal ONE after $10,000 in purchases and $200 on Royal ONE Plus after $20,000.
Cruise-line cards make sense if you sail the same line more than once and will use the discounts. They don't make sense as a first travel card. For the Carnival side, see our Carnival Rewards Mastercard review.
Marriott Bonvoy and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points on Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sailings. It is a luxury product, and the redemption has been a fixed-dollar discount per block of points rather than a one-to-one trade. Check Marriott's page for the current rate before you decide it's worth a Bonvoy balance.
Paying Cash With Card Benefits
For many travelers the best total value is paying cash on a card that earns bonus travel points, then layering in the credits and protections that card carries. Check which of your cards cover trip delay and trip cancellation for a prepaid cruise, because the terms differ from card to card.
What to Check Before You Book
First, hurricane season runs from June through November in the Atlantic, so a Caribbean cruise in those months needs a plan for itinerary changes. Read the trip-delay and trip-cancellation terms on the card you'll pay with before you book.
Second, cruise lines have traditionally run their main promotions from January through March. If you're planning a Caribbean sailing for 2027, that is the window to watch for onboard credits and reduced deposits.
Practical Takeaway
If you have a points balance in a transferable currency, start with the travel portal price and compare it with the cruise line's own price. If you sail one line regularly, look at that line's card for the discounts. If you have specific dates in mind, book once the price works, since cabins on popular sailings sell out. Our guides to booking cruises with points and miles and the best credit cards for booking cruises go further on each route.
Updated October 17, 2026: booking options.
