Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you’re looking to book a cruise this "wave season," you can earn additional cash back or bonus points when you book sailings with a handful of cruise lines using select Bank of America and American Express cards. Even better, these offers are stackable with seasonal value-adds and discount promotions cruise lines are already running, so you'll score even more for your money.
Currently, certain Bank of America cards are awarding 15% cash back on purchases made directly with Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean or Silversea Cruises. Select American Express cards are offering 5 points per dollar spent on voyages booked with AmaWaterways, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as well as cash back for Norwegian Cruise Line sailings.
Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of these offers.
American Express offers
Travelers looking to take a river cruise with AmaWaterways or set sail with luxury lines Oceania or Regent can snag an additional 5 points per dollar spent, on top of what they would normally earn, when they book directly with the cruise line and use their qualifying Amex card. Or, if they want to give one of NCL's new, flashy megaships a try, they can earn a one-time statement credit of $200 for their booking.
Here's what you can earn:
- 5 bonus Amex points per dollar spent when you book directly with AmaWaterways on amawaterways.com (up to 50,000 bonus points, expires May 6)
- 5 bonus Amex points per dollar spent using your qualifying American Express card when you book directly with Oceania, through an Oceania Cruises travel agent or by calling 855-623-2642 (up to 50,000 bonus points, expires June 1)
- 5 bonus Amex points per dollar spent using your qualifying American Express card when you book directly with Regent, via a Regent travel adviser or through American Express Travel® (up to 50,000 bonus points, expires March 31)
- $200 back as a statement credit when you spend $1,000 or more on a Norwegian Cruise Line sailing by booking directly with Norwegian via ncl.com or by calling 888-438-7114 (expires April 13)
TPG editors with both the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express qualified for these offers. Check your card’s offers for qualification and full terms and conditions. If you qualify, you must enroll in these offers before making a reservation.
Bank of America offers
If you've got a qualifying Bank of America card, you can earn additional cash back when you book cruises with premium cruise line Celebrity, family-friendly Royal Caribbean or luxurious Silversea. Although the maximum you can earn is only $150, that's on top of any other points, miles or cash back you'd earn for the purchase.
Here's what you can earn:
- 15% cash back on your cruise when you book directly with Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean or Silversea Cruises using your qualifying Bank of America card ($150 maximum, expires Feb. 14)
Should you choose not to pay for your entire cruise in full at the time of booking, these offers only apply to the first transaction, which is often just a deposit. To maximize the bonus you’ll receive, consider paying in full or making a payment larger than the required deposit (which is usually about $250 per person, depending on the cruise line, with the final payment due a few months prior to sailing).
TPG editors spotted these offers specifically via the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, but other cards might qualify. Check your BankAmeriDeals to see if you qualify and to read the full terms and conditions. If you qualify, you must enroll in these offers before making a reservation.
Additional savings and extras
Because it’s currently wave season — the first quarter of each new year, when cruise lines offer some of their deepest discounts and valuable freebies — you can stack these credit card offers on top of already reduced fares, “third and fourth passengers sail free” promotions, and inclusions like free Wi-Fi, beverage packages, onboard credit and more.
Want to find the best credit card for you? Check out these resources:
- TPG’s CardMatch tool
- How to use the CardMatch tool to get better credit card offers
- How to choose the best credit card for you
- The best Amex cards, according to TPG
- The best Bank of America cards, according to TPG
- All you need to know about cruise line credit cards
