You’ve got a bank card affiliated together with your favourite airline, and it offers you free checked luggage and further miles to redeem towards free journey. You’ve got a card related together with your favourite lodge loyalty program, and also you earn free nights and elite night time credit. If you happen to’re additionally an avid cruiser, does it make sense to get the bank card linked to your favourite cruise line within the hope of incomes free cruises and making your far more rapidly via the loyalty program tiers?
We’ll discover the advantages of making use of for a card together with your favourite cruise line and evaluate that to utilizing a extra basic journey rewards card. You could be shocked at which sort of card truly will get you free cruises extra rapidly.
Associated: A newbie’s information to choosing a cruise line
Do you have to get a cruise line bank card?
Maybe surprisingly, the finest bank cards for reserving cruises are often not cobranded playing cards.
Earlier than you apply for a cruise line’s bank card, contemplate which advantages and perks it gives. Then, evaluate these to TPG’s listing of the finest journey bank cards. It is doubtless that these playing cards — although they do not say “cruise” within the identify of the cardboard — will truly serve you higher.
Why? As a result of they earn extra beneficial rewards, usually at increased charges, which you’ll be able to nonetheless use to pay on your future cruises. Plus, journey bank cards have a tendency to supply protections cruise line bank cards do not, akin to protecting the prices related to canceled journeys or flight delays that would trigger you to overlook your cruise.
If you happen to’re chasing high-level elite standing in a cruise line’s loyalty program, know that proudly owning and spending with a cruise bank card is not going to get you to sure tiers extra rapidly. In reality, the 2 points-earning applications are solely separate.
A cruise bank card earns factors primarily based on {dollars} spent that may be redeemed as credit to cowl card purchases. A cruise line’s loyalty program points a separate sort of level, primarily based on days or cruises sailed, that results in standing ranges that supply growing cruise perks, reductions and freebies. Thus, having a cruise line’s bank card can assist you earn a free cruise however will not make it easier to earn standing with that cruise line.
Associated: A newbie’s information to cruise line loyalty applications
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Particulars on cruise line bank cards
Carnival World Mastercard
Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 factors after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days, redeemable for $300 onboard credit score.
Annual charge: $0
Why we prefer it: The Carnival® World Mastercard® earns FunPoints, which will be redeemed at 1 cent apiece in worth towards Carnival bookings and onboard purchases. The minimal redemption is 5,000 factors, and redemptions can solely be made for purchases made throughout the previous 180 days.
You will earn 2 FunPoints per greenback spent on Carnival and 1 FunPoint per greenback on all different purchases.
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Carnival World Mastercard.
The knowledge for the Carnival World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Superstar Cruises Visa Signature Credit score Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 factors after spending a minimum of $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of card membership, redeemable for $300 onboard credit score.
Annual charge: $0
Why we prefer it: You will earn MyCruise factors with the Superstar Cruises Visa Signature® Credit score Card, which will be redeemed for onboard credit score, cabin upgrades and cruise bookings on Superstar Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea.
The Superstar Cruises Visa Signature earns 2 factors per greenback on purchases with Superstar Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea and 1 level on all different purchases. Plus, you will not pay overseas transaction charges on the cardboard when touring overseas.
The knowledge for the Superstar Cruises Visa Signature Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Disney Premier Visa Card
Welcome bonus: Earn a $300 assertion credit score after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual charge: $49 (there’s additionally a no-fee model, below a barely totally different identify, with fewer perks and a smaller welcome bonus)
Why we prefer it: Earn Disney Rewards {Dollars} with the Disney® Premier Visa® Card, which can be utilized on Disney Cruise Line towards cruise packages, onboard actions and souvenirs. It’s also possible to save on choose Disney island vacation spot packages and experiences throughout your cruise.
You will obtain 5% again as Disney Rewards {Dollars} on purchases made immediately at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com; 2% again at gasoline stations, grocery shops, eating places and most U.S. Disney areas; and 1% again on all different purchases.
For extra info, try our full evaluate of the Disney Premier Visa.
Apply right here: Disney Premier Visa
Holland America Line Rewards Visa Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 factors after spending $500 within the first 90 days of card membership, redeemable for $200 onboard credit score.
Annual charge: $0
Why we prefer it: The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card earns 2 factors per greenback spent with Holland America and 1 level per greenback on all different purchases. You’ll be able to redeem factors at 1 cent apiece towards onboard credit score, cruises, present playing cards or merchandise from Holland America.
With the Holland America Line Rewards Visa, you may additionally obtain Visa Signature advantages, together with the Visa Signature Concierge service. The cardboard doesn’t cost overseas transaction charges and gives a set of journey protections, together with journey accident insurance coverage, journey cancellation and interruption protection, baggage delay insurance coverage and an auto rental collision harm waiver.
The knowledge for the Holland America Line Rewards Visa Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard
Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 factors after making a minimum of $1,000 in purchases on the cardboard throughout the first 90 days of account opening, redeemable for $200 off a Norwegian cruise or $200 in onboard credit score.
Annual charge: $0
Why we prefer it: The Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® earns WorldPoints that may be redeemed on purchases with the cruise line. You should utilize WorldPoints towards cabin upgrades, reductions, unique last-minute bookings, onboard credit, automotive leases, lodge stays, money and present playing cards. Redemptions begin at 2,500 WorldPoints.
You will earn 3 factors for each greenback spent on Norwegian Cruise Line purchases, 2 factors per greenback on eligible airline and lodge purchases and 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
The knowledge for the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Princess Rewards Visa Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 factors after making $500 in qualifying purchases with the cardboard within the first 90 days of account opening, redeemable for $200 in onboard credit score.
Annual charge: $0
Why we prefer it: The Princess® Rewards Visa® Card earns factors that may be redeemed for onboard credit score and facilities, present playing cards, assertion credit towards Princess purchases and eligible airfare purchases, making it a extra versatile card than many different choices on this listing.
You will earn 2 factors per greenback in your purchases with Princess, together with all onboard purchases, and 1 level per greenback on all the pieces else.
The Princess Rewards Visa comes with Visa Signature perks, together with Visa Signature Concierge. Journey coverages additionally include the cardboard. These embody journey accident insurance coverage, journey cancellation and journey interruption protection, baggage delay reimbursement, journey emergency companies and an auto rental collision harm waiver.
You will get free entry to your FICO rating and $0 fraud legal responsibility safety, that means you will not be accountable for unauthorized expenses. You additionally will not be charged overseas transaction charges.
The knowledge for the Princess Rewards Visa Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit score Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 factors after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days, redeemable for $300 onboard credit score.
Annual charge: $0
Why we prefer it: The Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit score Card earns MyCruise factors, like the cardboard for its sister model Superstar Cruises. You’ll be able to redeem MyCruise factors for upgrades, reductions and versatile onboard credit you should use in numerous methods, akin to eating at specialty eating places, shore excursions, in outlets or on the spa.
You will earn 2 factors per greenback on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean, Superstar Cruises and Silversea, and 1 level per greenback on different purchases. The cardboard does not cost overseas transaction charges and comes with quite a few reductions, gives, journey perks and occasion entry with Visa Signature perks.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit score Card.
The knowledge for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Evaluating cruise bank cards to basic journey bank cards
Now that you have seen the welcome bonuses, incomes charges, redemption choices and further perks for the cruise line playing cards, let’s check out how they stack up in opposition to basic journey rewards playing cards.
Bank cards from cruise traces are inclined to have a flat redemption fee of 1 cent per level. Thus, it is going to require vital spending in your bank card to earn sufficient factors for a free cruise this fashion.
However, rewards that you may earn from different journey bank cards have increased values, based on our month-to-month level valuations. Paying on your cruise with a basic journey bank card could earn extra factors in the long term, together with providing factors which might be extra beneficial and permit extra choices in the way you redeem your factors. Sure, you should use these factors to pay for cruises, however you could possibly additionally redeem them for different components of your upcoming trip.
Furthermore, the welcome bonuses from cruise bank cards usually are not robust. Basic journey bank cards provide bonuses which might be price way more than this — generally offering greater than $1,000 in worth. Moreover, cruise bank cards often do not provide journey protections for any issues you encounter throughout your journey.
Associated: How you can choose the proper journey bank card for you
Evaluating a typical journey rewards card to a cruise line bank card
Evaluate the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card to the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit score Card.
Whereas the Royal Caribbean card has no annual charge, it earns 2 factors per greenback solely on Royal Caribbean, Superstar Cruises and Silversea spending and 1 level per greenback on all the pieces else. These factors can solely be used with Royal Caribbean and are price simply 1 cent apiece.
On the flip aspect, the Sapphire Most well-liked has an annual charge of $95. The factors it earns, nonetheless, are price 2.05 cents apiece, based on TPG’s December 2024 valuations. Plus, you possibly can earn 2 factors per greenback on all journey spending (not only one cruise line) and 5 factors per greenback if you are going to buy journey via the Chase Journey℠ portal. You will additionally earn bonus factors on further spending classes, together with eating (together with eligible takeout and supply companies), streaming companies and on-line grocery purchases.
Royal Caribbean’s welcome bonus is less complicated to earn; you get 30,000 factors (price $300) after spending $1,000 in 90 days.
Whereas you need to spend $4,000 inside three months to earn the Sapphire Most well-liked’s welcome bonus, it is a way more beneficiant 60,000 factors (price $1,230, per TPG’s December 2024 valuations).
The Sapphire Most well-liked can be the extra versatile card as a result of its factors will be redeemed in quite a lot of methods. Identical to with the Royal Caribbean card, you could possibly use the factors out of your Sapphire Most well-liked to e book a cruise within the Chase Journey portal, paying together with your factors as in the event that they have been money.
Moreover, you could possibly additionally use your Chase factors to e book lodges or rental vehicles, e book actions from tour operators accessible on the positioning or switch your factors to Chase’s airline and lodge companions to e book flights and lodge nights.
Whereas the Disney Premier Visa and a few cruise bank cards do can help you redeem factors for flights, the spending required to earn sufficient factors for these redemptions will likely be vital since factors are price simply 1 cent every.
Given the weaker welcome bonuses, lack of journey protections and vital spending required to earn a free cruise, cruise line bank cards pale compared to journey rewards bank cards. If you happen to resolve to use for a bank card of any sort, evaluate our information to software guidelines from every financial institution. These will make it easier to perceive the applying course of and your probabilities of approval.
Associated: How you can e book a cruise utilizing factors and miles
Backside line
A cruise bank card is not going to earn you particular standing together with your cruise line, provide you with a ton of journey perks or get you free cruises rapidly. You will doubtless get extra bang on your buck with a extra basic journey card.
If you’re loyal to a selected cruise line and really feel its bank card might add worth due to reductions on shore excursions or different onboard advantages, combining this with one in every of our finest journey bank cards could also be your very best resolution. Spend simply sufficient on the cruise card to entry the preliminary bonuses after which solely use it to pay for cruise-specific purchases. Use your basic journey card for all the pieces else.
The fact, nonetheless, is that most individuals will likely be higher served by a basic journey card. If you happen to ask us if you happen to ought to get a cruise line bank card, the reply usually will likely be “no.”
Associated: 15 ways in which cruising newbies waste cash on their first cruise
