This single Amex offer could cover a 3rd of the cost of your Royal Caribbean cruise
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean cruise this month? You might want to do it with an American Express card.
Some American Express cardholders this week began seeing an offer for 25,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when spending $1,500 or more on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
That's a significantly large number of Membership Rewards points. TPG currently values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, meaning the 25,000 bonus points would be worth $500 at our valuation.
To put it another way, if you spend $1,500 on a Royal Caribbean cruise using an American Express card, you'll get a third of that money back in Membership Rewards points.
Note that this is a targeted offer, which means only select cardholders will receive it. Also, you must enroll in this specific Amex Offer in order to redeem it.
Other caveats include the stipulation that cardmembers can only enroll in the offer with one American Express card. Additionally, the offer is only valid on cruise bookings made online at Royal Caribbean's website, by calling 866-562-7625 or through a travel agent (where Royal Caribbean is reflected as the merchant of record). Reservations must be booked on U.S. websites.
The $1,500 spending threshold excludes money spent for onboard purchases, e-gift card and physical gift card purchases made online, and transfers to Royal Caribbean ships. Spending on MGM Resorts International Joint Vacation and Royal Wedding packages is also excluded from the offer.
Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries
The offer only applies to cruises with the Royal Caribbean brand — not its Royal Caribbean Group sister brands Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises and TUI Cruises.
The deal expires on Dec. 31.
The new Royal Caribbean offer is just one of several cruise-related offers that have popped up for American Express cardholders in recent months.
Two others that have been sent to some American Express cardholders and still are active for bookings are:
- Get 5 Membership Rewards points for every eligible dollar spent with Oceania Cruises, up to 50,000 points. The offer expires on Dec. 29.
- Get 5 Membership Rewards points for every eligible dollar spent with Seabourn, up to 50,000 points. The offer expires on Dec. 31.
- Spend $1,000 or more with Holland America and get $300 back. The offer expires on Dec. 29.
Some examples of Amex cards where you might receive the Royal Caribbean offer are:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
This week, several TPG staffers who carry various types of American Express cards received this offer.
To find out if you are eligible for the offer, check your American Express card account. If you see the deal, it's best to add it right away, as it might disappear. Some offers are capacity-controlled.
Here's another tip: Only 100 Amex Offers are visible at one time. So, if you're at capacity, add offers to your card to see if new ones appear.
Also, don't forget that if you need to fly to or from your cruise port, you will earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel with the Amex Platinum.
Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained
If you're not an American Express cardholder, you might consider applying for one. The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
You may also be eligible for a targeted 125,000-point bonus offer using the CardMatch tool (offers are subject to change at any time).
If the Amex Platinum isn't for you, read our guide on choosing the best American Express card that suits your style.
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