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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.
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6 ways to maximize the new Royal Caribbean Visa cards
Erica Silverstein is the managing editor for TPG's cruise team. She’s covered the cruise industry for nearly 20 years and has sailed on more than 60 ships. Her work has appeared on Cruise Critic and in The Washington Post, Fodor’s and Let’s Go travel guides.
June 21, 2026 • 9 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.
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Quick summary
Two new cruise-focused cards offer targeted perks and discounts for fans of select cruise lines, including priority boarding and onboard credits.
Cardholders can earn points at cruise line merchants, with additional opportunities for everyday and travel-related purchases.
Annual spending can unlock cruise discount credits, which must be used within a set period and are only valid for direct bookings.
Additional travel protections and concierge services are included, with premium cardholders receiving expedited luggage delivery and a travel security enrollment credit.
What to consider
Bonus points are awarded only for purchases made directly with the cruise lines, not through third-party agencies or travel agents.
Anniversary cruise discount credits require meeting annual spending thresholds and must be redeemed before the next card anniversary date.
Priority boarding and expedited luggage delivery are not available on all sailings and may vary by cruise.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of how to maximize cruise-related perks, earn bonus points efficiently and leverage travel protections with these cruise-branded cards.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Royal Caribbean Group’s two new cobranded credit cards offer cruise discounts and perks to fans of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea. The cards' benefits are more targeted than those offered by flexible travel rewards cards, so cruise aficionados should be sure to maximize the available perks to make it worth adding one of these cards to their wallet.
Both cards offer welcome bonuses that can jump-start your points earning toward free cruises.
With the Royal ONE Visa Signature credit card, which has no annual fee, new cardholders can earn 30,000 points after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.
As for the Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature credit card, new cardholders can earn an even larger bonus of 60,000 points after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This card comes with an annual fee of $99.
To put these welcome offers in perspective, 1 point is equal to 1 cent. So, 30,000 and 60,000 points can be redeemed for $300 and $600 in onboard credit or cruise discounts, respectively. We priced out a three-night mid-December Bahamas cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas for two people, and the cruise fare (including taxes and fees but before mandatory gratuities) came to $597.
Earn the Royal ONE welcome bonus and you'll have enough points to cover about half the cost of this sailing or significantly reduce the price of a future cruise. With the Royal ONE Plus welcome bonus, you could cover the full cruise fare for two, with a few dollars left over.
Make cruise line purchases with your card
Izumi Hibachi on board the reimagined Mariner of the Seas. TIM AYLEN/ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Both of these new Royal Caribbean credit cards offer bonus points for various spending categories, but cardholders get the most points for cruise purchases.
With the Royal ONE Visa Signature credit card, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea purchases.
Meanwhile, those with the Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature credit card will earn 4 points per dollar spent on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea purchases.
The key to maximizing value is understanding what constitutes a cruise purchase.
Anything you buy from one of these cruise lines, not just a vacation booking, will earn the bonus points. Book a shore excursion, a beverage package, an internet plan or a bon voyage gift on the cruise line website, and you’ll earn 3 or 4 points per dollar spent on those expenses. All your onboard spending — such as spa treatments, drinks and specialty restaurant surcharges — will earn the extra points if you pay with your Royal Caribbean cobranded card.
On the flip side, if you book a Silversea, Celebrity or Royal Caribbean cruise with Expedia or a travel agent and either appears as the merchant of record on your card statement, you will not earn bonus points. If you plan to arrange your next sailing through a third-party provider, you’ll want to make sure the charge will code to Royal Caribbean — otherwise, you’re not maximizing the number of points you could earn from that booking.
Earn extra points for everyday and noncruise travel purchases
ALVARO GONZALEZ/GETTY IMAGES
Royal Caribbean purchases are the most lucrative, but cardholders can also earn bonus points for other spending categories with these cards.
With either card, you will earn 2 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery and electric vehicle charging purchases. Everyday expenses related to your commute and home-cooked meals will bump your points total a little closer to your free cruise goal.
Cruise fans who choose the more premium Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature credit card can also earn 2 points per dollar spent on eligible airline, hotel and dining purchases.
Whether you’re cheating on your favorite vacation type with a resort stay, or booking flights to your departure port and a precruise or postcruise hotel stay, you can double your points earnings. Plus, restaurant meals at home or out of town will also get you extra points.
The benefits are different depending on which card you have.
Cruise travelers who hold the basic Royal ONE card are entitled to priority boarding on embarkation day in a special cardholder line. Royal ONE Plus cardholders also can access priority boarding, but they get to board with the suite guests who sometimes wait in exclusive lounges or separate boarding areas. Note that priority boarding isn’t available on all sailings.
The boarding process can sometimes be chaotic and overly long, especially with Royal Caribbean’s and Celebrity’s biggest ships. This priority perk can streamline that process, allowing you to start your vacation early with less hassle at the terminal.
Royal ONE Plus cardholders also benefit from expedited luggage delivery via the suite guest luggage drop-off area. You’ll have no worries that your bags won’t make it on board before you need to change for dinner, as your suitcases will be delivered first.
Every year you hold onto your Royal Caribbean card, you’ll be rewarded with an anniversary credit — if you spend enough.
The stakes are fairly low if you have the Royal ONE Visa Signature credit card. Spend at least $10,000 in one year (that’s less than $1,000 per month), and you’ll receive a $100 cruise discount.
You have to work a little harder with the Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature credit card. You’ll need to spend $20,000 annually and pay the annual fee, but you’ll get a bigger $200 cruise discount.
You will maximize the value of your credit card by spending enough to earn the discount and making sure you use it. The cruise discount can only be applied to the booking of a future cruise purchased directly with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Silversea; travel agent bookings or those made with online travel agencies won’t count.
Also, you need to use the cruise discount before your next card anniversary. While you don’t necessarily have to cruise that year, you must book the cruise between the time you receive the anniversary bonus and your next anniversary date. If you don’t cruise at least once a year, it will be difficult to get the most value from this card benefit.
Use your card's travel credits and perks
JUSTIN PAGET/GETTY IMAGES
The new Royal Caribbean credit cards don’t just offer cruise perks. They come with Visa Signature travel benefits that are useful for vacations on land as well as at sea.
Travel protection benefits include 24-hour travel and emergency assistance (including emergency roadside assistance), car rental coverage, reimbursement for expenses due to trip delays, trip interruption and cancellation coverage, and lost luggage reimbursement. Cardholders also have access to the Visa Signature Concierge, who can help with travel and dining reservations 24 hours a day.
Royal Caribbean cardholders can access the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, which offers exclusive rates and special status at select hotel properties in the U.S. and abroad.
Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
The best way to maximize your Royal ONE Visa Signature credit card or Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature credit card is to book a lot of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Silversea sailings on your card. This will get you the most bonus points, help you reach the minimum annual spending needed for the anniversary reward and ensure you can use your points and cruise discount credits to offset additional cruise costs.
Because every cruiser knows there’s nothing better than an excuse to take more vacations at sea.
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.
