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Some 21.7 million Americans are expected to go on ocean cruises in 2026, according to AAA, marking the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking passenger volume.
With the right credit card, you can earn bonus rewards on everyday spending to help pay for your next cruise, along with valuable perks such as flight discounts, travel credits, free travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
Below, CNBC Select names the best credit cards for cruises, looking at fees, ease of booking, premium benefits and other factors. To see how we made our picks, check out our methodology.
Best credit cards for cruises
- Best for low annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for travel protections: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
- Best for ease of booking: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best no-annual-fee card for cruises: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for premium cruise benefits: American Express Platinum Card®
- Best for booking cruises with Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Best for low annual fee
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most well-rounded cards for booking cruises. It offers a generous welcome bonus, an easy-to-use rewards program, valuable travel protections and a reasonable annual fee.
Cruise benefits: Cardholders earn 5X points on all travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, including cruises, making this one of the most rewarding cards for cruise purchases. Meanwhile, all other travel, such as trips booked directly through cruise lines or other online travel agencies, earn 2X points. When you book cruises through Chase's travel portal, you can pay with points, cash or some combination of the two.
Other perks: The card offers many built-in travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and rental car insurance. Other benefits include up to a $100 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit and a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application fee credit.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for travel protections
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the higher-end version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, geared toward more frequent and premium travelers.
Cruise benefits: Cardholders earn 8X points all purchases booked via Chase's travel portal, including cruises, and 3X points booked elsewhere. The card also offers some of the best travel protections on the market, with perks like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage protection and more.
Other perks: Every year, you'll get up to a $300 annual travel credit that can be used toward cruises and other travel purchases. You'll also have access to Reserve Travel Designers, which can help you build your custom cruise itinerary, plus statement credits related to dining, entertainment, hotels and more.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with luxury perks including, hotel credits, complimentary hotel elite status, travel credits, dining credits, rideshare and delivery benefits and much more.
- Access Priority Pass lounges, including unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club locations.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
- Complicated list of benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for ease of booking
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Card is an appealing choice for cruisers who like simplicity. The card has a low annual fee, doesn't have many spending categories to keep track of and the rewards are easy to redeem.
Cruise benefits: Everyday purchases, including cruise bookings, earn 2X miles. Capital One miles are great for booking cruises because you aren't limited to booking through Capital One Travel — you can book directly through the cruise line or your preferred travel agency and then get reimbursed for the purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile after the fact. For additional flexibility, you can transfer miles to 20+ airline and hotel travel partners.
Other perks: Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $120 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership and Hertz Five Star status*.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
Highlights
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply
Best no-annual-fee card for booking cruises
Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash card has no annual fee, no restrictive bonus spending categories and no headaches when it comes to redeeming your rewards.
Cruise benefits: Cardholders earn a flat 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% back when you pay. Once you've earned at least $25 in rewards, you can redeem them for a statement credit. These statement credits can be applied to any purchase, including a cruise or any other costs associated with cruising.
Other perks: Cardholders have access to Citi Entertainment, which provides early access and special perks at music, theater, dining and sports events. You can also pair this card with other Citi credit cards, like the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), to unlock the ability to transfer your rewards to Citi's travel partners.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure. Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best for premium cruise benefits
Who's this for? The American Express Platinum Card® is a luxury card designed for frequent travelers looking for excellent benefits.
Cruise benefits: Cardholders have access to Amex's Cruise Privileges Program. When you book an eligible cruise and cabin (minimum of five nights with double occupancy) through the program, you'll earn 1 additional Amex point per dollar spent (2X points total). You may also receive $100 to $300 in shipboard credit per stateroom and exclusive amenities depending on the cruise line.
You may also be able to save on cruises by taking advantage of Amex Offers — targeted promotions at participating merchants. In the past, we've seen offers to save hundreds of dollars with various cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises.
Other perks: The Amex Platinum comes with a long list of travel and lifestyle benefits, ranging from annual hotel and airline fee statement credits (enrollment required) to digital entertainment (enrollment required), Equinox (enrollment required), Walmart+ and Uber Cash credits (enrollment required). Cardholders also enjoy extensive airport lounge access, automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), *cell phone protection, **comprehensive travel insurance and much more. Terms apply.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
*Eligibility and benefit level vary by card; terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Best for booking cruises with Costco
Who's this for? If Costco is your go-to for booking cruises and other vacation packages, look no further than the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card.
Cruise benefits: Costco Travel offers members significant savings on cruises and incentives like bonus Costco shop cards, shipboard credit, free beverage packages and other extras. Members with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card earn 3% cash back rewards on Costco Travel purchases.
Other perks: When things go wrong, cardholders can take advantage of travel and emergency assistance, worldwide travel accident insurance, worldwide car rental insurance and damage and theft purchase protection. International travelers can also spend freely with no foreign transaction fees.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a valuable card to pair with a Costco membership, but the rewards program is more restrictive than what you get with a typical cash-back card.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
How to choose the right credit card for cruises
The best cruising credit card for you depends on your goals and spending habits.
If you're dreaming of a Mediterranean cruise, traveling to Europe will add to the cost of the trip. You may want to earn flexible rewards that can be used for airfare, hotels and cruises. However, if you want the ability to book any cruise without restrictions, earning cash back may be the way to go.
The best card for you should earn the most rewards on the categories where you spend the most. You may want to use your points and miles for a cruise, but the actual cruise fare is likely to be just a small portion of what you spend in a year. If your card earns bonus points on dining or groceries, you may be able to earn rewards more quickly and book your next sailing sooner.
Should I get a co-branded cruise line credit card?
Several major cruise lines offer co-branded credit cards. However, the rewards aren't nearly as lucrative as what you'll get with a travel credit card that earns flexible rewards.
The welcome bonuses for cruise line cards offer a fraction of the value you can get from the credit cards with the best bonuses. Not only that, but the rewards you earn are typically tied to a single cruise line and can be cumbersome to use. Unless you're a diehard loyalist of a specific cruise line and you're looking for a card to complement your primary travel card, you'll find more value with a more general rewards card.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for cruising, CNBC Select analyzed over 230 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including: rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date
Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
