The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Get onboard credit and more when you book through the American Express Cruise Privileges Program
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
August 19, 2023 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Some premium travel cards offer extra perks when booking cruises of five nights or more through select travel portals.
Eligible cardholders may receive onboard credits and exclusive amenities, with benefits varying by cruise line and room type.
Perks can include spa vouchers, specialty dining, wine or Champagne, and unique onboard experiences.
Booking must be for double occupancy, and only certain cruise lines and sailings qualify for these benefits.
What to consider
Only U.S.-based cardholders residing in the 50 states are eligible for these cruise perks.
Onboard credits and amenities are not available on all cruise lines or sailings, and some exclusions apply, such as select Galapagos itineraries.
Redeeming points for cruises through the travel portal typically yields lower value (0.7 cents per point) compared to TPG's valuation of 2 cents each as of June 2024.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed chart of which cruise lines offer specific onboard amenities and how to maximize value when booking through premium travel programs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Suppose you want to book a cruise and have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express in your wallet. In that case, you should consider booking through the American Express Cruise Privileges Program.
Cardholders of the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum can get onboard credit and an extra onboard amenity through the Amex Cruise Privileges Program on eligible sailings of five nights or more when they book their cruise through American Express Travel. Here's what you need to know.
What is the Amex Cruise Privileges Program?
You could book a cabin on the Oceania Vista. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
The Cruise Privileges Program offers extra perks on eligible cruises of five nights or more when booking through American Express Travel.
Your booking must be for double occupancy to benefit from the Cruise Privileges Program. You must pay with an American Express card in the eligible Platinum or Centurion cardmember's name, and the cardmember must travel on the itinerary booked.
However, cardmembers can book up to two other rooms on the same sailing that would also get perks through the Cruise Privileges Program.
Only some cruise lines participate in the Cruise Privileges Program. Also, you must be a U.S.-based Platinum or Centurion cardholder residing in one of the 50 states to benefit from the Cruise Privileges Program. If you book an eligible cruise through American Express Travel, you'll usually get an onboard credit per room and additional exclusive amenities unique to each cruise line.
Onboard credit
Enjoy onboard credit with various cruise lines. PRINCESS CRUISES
On Ama Waterways, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea, Uniworld and Windstar, you'll get a $300 onboard credit per room. And on Cunard, you'll receive an onboard credit of $300 per room if you book a Queen Mary ocean-view cabin of category EF (or higher) or a Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth ocean-view cabin of category FA (or higher).
Centurion cardmembers get an additional $200 onboard credit on Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Silversea.
Onboard credits will be applied to your cabin folio at checkout upon completion of your cruise, but they can't be used for casino charges, gratuities or other similar charges. Celebrity Cruises Galapagos sailings aren't eligible for onboard credit even when you make a new Cruise Privileges Program booking through American Express Travel.
A Holland America ship in Alaska. ERICHARDING/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
You'll get an additional onboard amenity per cabin for eligible Cruise Privileges Program bookings through American Express Travel. Onboard amenities vary by participating cruise line, but here's what you can expect for each cruise line based on Amex's cruise partners page:
Ama Waterways: $100 spa voucher
Azamara: Behind-the-scenes ship tour and a bottle of premium Champagne
Celebrity Cruises: Bottle of Champagne or wine
Cunard: Bottle of wine
Holland America Line: Plate of chocolate-covered strawberries
Norwegian Cruise Line: Complimentary dinner for two at Le Bistro Restaurant
Oceania: Premium wine-tasting event, plus a complimentary bottle of wine from the event
Princess Cruises: Plate of canapes
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Exclusive private gallery tour
Royal Caribbean International: Bottle of Champagne
Seabourn: "Suite Dreams" turndown service (once per cruise) and a bottle of premium wine
Silversea (except Silversea Expeditions): Bottle of premium Champagne and tour of the vessel's galley
Uniworld: Bottle of wine and fresh flowers
Windstar: "Romance Under Sail" amenities package including a bottle of premium Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and canapes
Unfortunately, you won't get an onboard amenity on Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos, Silver Discoverer and Celebrity Cruises Galapagos sailings even when you make a Cruise Privileges Program booking through American Express Travel.
Any American Express cardmember can book cruises through Amex Travel. However, only Amex Platinum and Centurion cardmembers get Cruise Privileges Program perks on eligible cruises when they book through American Express Travel; this includes the Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service, any American Express Travel office, eligible Travel Associate Platform agencies and the Agency Services Desk.
For Cruise Privileges Program bookings, you must pay with an American Express card in the Platinum or Centurion cardmember's name. You'll earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar when you book your cruise through American Express Travel using The Platinum Card from American Express or The Business Platinum Card from American Express. If you also have the American Express® Green Card, you might want to use it to pay for your cruise to earn 3 points per dollar on the travel purchase.
To see the cruises available through American Express Travel, head to Amex's cruise website and pare down your results by destination, month and cruise line.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
AMERICANEXPRESSCRUISE.COM
Next, you can filter the cruises by duration, departure port and ship. Remember, your cruise must be five nights or longer to get Cruise Privileges Program perks.
AMERICANEXPRESSCRUISE.COM
Once you select a sailing, decide which room you'd like. Cruise Privileges Program onboard credits for many cruise lines are based on the room type you book, so choose carefully if the onboard credits are important to you.
If you make a new Cruise Privileges Program booking through American Express Travel for an eligible cruise, you'll get an onboard credit and amenity. This means booking through Amex Travel may be better than booking directly with the cruise line.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
