A man and woman stand together peacefully on the deck of a cruise ship admiring the sunset.

Should You Get a Cruise Credit Card?

7 min read

Published November 6, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Some credit card issuers offer co-branded cruise credit cards with specific cruise lines.
Cruise credit cards may earn bonus rewards for cruise purchases and provide premium benefits aboard the cruise ship.
A travel credit card may offer more flexible rewards redemption options, like a statement credit for any travel purchase.

If a luxurious adventure across the open sea is your idea of the perfect vacation, then you may want a credit card that rewards your cruise spending. Some popular cruise lines offer their own cards, but they may not be the best credit cards for everyone. Comparing your credit card options today may help you maximize your rewards the next time you set sail.

What's a cruise line credit card?

Some credit card issuers offer co-branded credit cards in partnership with specific cruise lines. Co-branded cruise credit cards may offer rewards for purchases with the partner cruise brand or perks you may use on their cruises. For example, you may be able to earn bonus rewards for a cruise booking through the co-branded card’s online portal. Or every reward earned may equal one onboard credit you can use for an onboard purchase, like a shore excursion or massage.

Most co-branded cruise credit card rewards programs are separate from the same cruise lines’ loyalty programs. So, a co-branded cruise credit card may not help you move up into a more premium loyalty program tier.

Typically, you can only redeem cruise rewards with the affiliated cruise line or a sister company. If you stick to the same cruise line, a co-branded card may be the best credit card option. But the limited redemption options may not work for everyone.

What credit score do you need for a cruise credit card?

Eligibility requirements vary across credit card issuers. But, like other travel credit card options, a good or excellent credit score improves your chances of qualifying for a cruise credit card.

What rewards do cruise credit cards offer?

Many cruise credit cards may offer tiered rewards. That means you might earn rewards at a flat rate across eligible everyday purchases, like groceries or gas. But a qualifying cruise purchase—like the cruise booking itself or a luxurious dinner on the deck—may earn rewards at a higher rate.

You may earn points or cash back on a cruise credit card. The value of your rewards may vary, so make sure you understand the rewards program before you apply.

Cruise credit cards vs. travel rewards credit cards

While it may seem counterintuitive, a standard travel rewards credit card may be a better option than a cruise credit card for some frequent cruisers. Unless you always set sail with the same brand, a travel credit card may offer more opportunities to earn rewards. But the right fit depends on your travel habits, credit priorities, and budget.

Rewards

By choosing a credit card that offers cash back on your most frequent travel purchases, you may maximize your rewards.

Maybe you travel on the same cruise line every year or even embark on multiple voyages. If you’re primarily looking for a credit card to boost your rewards for those trips or help you earn some perks, then a cruise credit card may be the right fit.

Travel credit cards may earn rewards on a wider range of transactions than cruise cards. For example, with the Discover^® it Miles Credit Card, you earn unlimited 1.5x Miles automatically on travel purchases and all your everyday purchases,¹ making it a particularly flexible option.

Other travel credit cards may offer a low flat rate on everyday purchases, plus a bonus rewards rate on travel purchases like airline tickets, hotels, or even cruises.

Welcome offer

As you compare credit cards, don’t overlook welcome offers for new cardmembers. Credit card issuers may provide new cardmembers with a surge of rewards in the first months after account opening to incentivize new applications. A solid welcome offer may seriously boost your rewards and add a lot of value to your new credit card.

Some credit cards require you to spend a certain amount of money within a set timeframe to earn the welcome bonus. For example, you may need to charge $3,000 to your credit card within the first four months of account activity to get the bonus. Consider whether you’re likely to reach that spending minimum before you apply.

Did you know?

Some card’s welcome offers may have spending minimums. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.²

Learn More

Fees

Cruise credit cards and travel credit cards may come with several fees. Make sure you factor in these expenses to determine whether a card is worthwhile.

Discover has no annual fee on any of our cards, but some other premium cruise and travel credit cards charge cardmembers an annual fee. A high annual fee on a credit card may not be a dealbreaker if the rewards and perks offset the cost. If you only take a cruise once a year or less, you may not want a cruise credit card with a high fee.

If you take international cruises, you may not want a credit card with a foreign transaction fee. Some credit card issuers may charge these fees for using your credit card in a country with a different currency. Foreign transaction fees aren’t usually very expensive, but they can add up if you use your card often. Discover^® has no foreign transaction fee.

Other common fees to keep in mind include late fees, balance transfer fees, and cash advance fees. Check with your credit card company for information on these costs.

Redemption options

Reward redemption is typically one of the most significant differences between a cruise credit card and a more general travel credit card.

Many co-branded cruise credit cards only allow you to redeem your rewards for purchases with the partnered cruise line, like a cruise booking or a premium shore excursion. Alternatively, you might exchange rewards for onboard credit to cover a cabin upgrade, for example, or to make an onboard purchase like a massage. These redemption options may help make your cruise especially memorable.

But if you decide to trade in the cruise ship for an airplane for one vacation, then you may not be able to enjoy the rewards you’ve earned on your cruise credit card during that trip.

Travel credit cards usually offer more flexible redemption options. Some cards let you use your rewards for almost any travel purchase. You may be able to redeem miles for airline tickets or hotels, for example.

With Discover, you can turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more.³

Not every travel card allows you to redeem rewards for cruise reservations. You may want to make sure there’s a way to use a travel card’s rewards for cruise spending before you apply.

Travel protections

Travel is often unpredictable. If you face an unexpected hiccup on your trip, like a flight cancellation that makes you miss your cruise ship departure, a cruise rewards card may not offer as much protection as a travel credit card. Some travel credit cards offer insurance to help cover the costs of mishaps like flight delays, trip cancellations, and even misplaced luggage.

The bottom line

If you and your loved ones frequently set sail on the same cruise line, then a co-branded cruise line credit card may help you earn rewards and enjoy premium benefits. But cruise credit cards aren’t always the best credit cards for cruise aficionados. If you tend to scope out multiple cruise companies for the perfect destinations or deals, then a more general travel credit card may be a better fit.

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