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Best Cards For Cruises
Updated on Tue, 17 Feb 2026
Cruises are a great way to travel. But cruise line credit cards aren’t much help if your goal is a free sailing. Their bonuses are typically small, often worth only about $100 toward a cruise. That’s why you won’t find any of them on our list. Instead, the best options come from bank travel portals or flexible travel purchase reimbursement. Whether you cruise often or are planning your first voyage, these cards will help you get the most value for your time at sea.
Our Rankings
1 | Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X is the best card for cruising because of its flexibility. You won’t get outsized value from points on cruises since there are no transfer partners to leverage. Because of that, you want the card that gives you the most freedom. The Venture X allows you to erase any travel purchase with points, so you can book a cruise directly with the cruise line or through any site and then erase all or part of the charge at a 1 cent per point rate. If you prefer, you can also book through the Capital One portal and use the $300 annual travel credit toward your cruise, though portal pricing should always be compared to booking direct. You’ll also earn 2x points on all purchases, so if you spend $5,000 on a cruise, you’ll earn 10,000 points on that transaction alone.
2 | Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is next on our list because you can redeem Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Travel portal for cruise bookings. Redemptions are generally at 1 cent per point. While you can search and price cruises online, you’ll need to call to complete the booking. You can use any combination of points and cash. One major upside is that Chase offers 8x points on portal bookings, so any portion you pay with cash will earn 8x points. On a large cruise purchase, that earning rate can add up quickly.
3 | Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum is a solid card to use for cruise bookings. You can search and book completely online through Amex Travel and use any combination of points and cash. Unlike Capital One, you’re required to book through the Amex portal rather than directly with the cruise line or any travel site you choose. One advantage is the onboard credit, typically $100–$300 per stateroom on sailings of five nights or longer. Balcony and suite cabins qualify for higher credits, and if you book multiple rooms, each can receive its own credit. You’ll also earn 2x Membership Rewards points on cruise bookings made through Amex Travel.
4 | Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred deserves its own spot on this list because its cruise redemption options are identical to the Reserve. You can search and price cruises through the Chase portal and then call to complete the booking, using any combination of points and cash at 1 cent per point. The main differences are in the perks. The Preferred earns 5x points on portal bookings paid with cash, which can add up quickly on an expensive cruise, but it does not come with the $300 annual travel credit that the Reserve offers. If you want the same cruise flexibility at a much lower annual fee and don’t care about premium lounge perks, the Preferred is a very strong option.
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