As TPG's cruise team lead, Gene Sloan oversees the site's cruise content and also writes many of TPG's main cruise guides. He has spent nearly 30 years writing about cruise ships and cruising, and he is one of the world's best-known authorities on the topic.
February 4, 2020 • 10 min read
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Editorial note: Late Tuesday, after this story initially published, Princess said 10 passengers on Diamond Princess had tested positive for coronavirus. The passengers will be taken ashore for treatment, while the remaining passengers and crew on the ship will be quarantined on board for at least 14 days).
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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.
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Quick summary
Cruise itineraries in Asia are being significantly disrupted due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, with many sailings rerouted or canceled.
Travelers who have recently visited China or have symptoms may be denied boarding, and enhanced medical screenings are now common at embarkation.
Some cruise ships have faced quarantine or port denials, leading to delays and extended onboard stays for passengers.
Refunds are generally provided if boarding is denied, but voluntary cancellations by travelers due to virus concerns may not be eligible for refunds.
What to consider
Boarding restrictions apply globally for those recently in China, with varying time frames set by different cruise lines.
Travel insurance typically does not cover cancellations due to illness outbreaks, but may offer protection for quarantine or mandatory evacuation situations.
Airlines are often waiving change fees for affected flights, but passengers who booked independently must coordinate changes themselves.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed examples of specific cruise line responses, including rerouted ships, canceled sailings and guidance on navigating travel insurance and rebooking procedures.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Booked on a cruise to Asia in the coming months? We're guessing you're getting a little nervous.
With the spread of coronavirus in China showing no signs of slowing, and more cases popping up by the day in nearby Thailand, Singapore and Japan, you may be starting to think now isn't the best time for a cruise trip around the region.
Or maybe you're still hot on going, but you're worried your voyage is going to be hopelessly fouled up. After all, we've already seen some lines cancel or significantly alter upcoming sailings that had included stops in China. Airlines, too, have been altering flights to such cruise hubs in Asia as Tianjin (the port for Beijing), Shanghai and Hong Kong.
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One thing to keep in mind if you're particularly worried about coronavirus exposure is that, unlike land resorts, cruise ships can move. If your upcoming sailing is scheduled to go somewhere where coronavirus is a serious concern, your cruise line can (and almost certainly will) reroute your ship to a destination that's in a relatively coronavirus-free zone.
That said, all is not likely to be perfect with at least some upcoming Asia sailings. Among the issues that you need to consider as you get ready for your upcoming trip:
You could be denied boarding
If you've been to China lately, or you're planning a trip there soon, you could be denied boarding when it's time for your cruise to begin. Until further notice, most major cruise lines are denying boarding to anyone who has traveled through China in the 14 days leading up to their sail date (some lines have set the cut-off at 15 or even 30 days). This includes people who have only briefly traveled through the country on their way to other destinations.
Note that the boarding denials are happening on all ships across the globe, not just in Asia. If you traveled through Beijing, Shanghai or (at some lines) even semiautonomous Hong Kong last week, you will not be able to board a cruise ship this week in Europe or the Caribbean.
Many cruise lines also have added extra medical screening at boarding for passengers who've been in contact with people who traveled to China in recent days, as well as holders of Chinese and Hong Kong passports, regardless of when they were last in China. Anyone who reports feeling unwell or shows flu-like symptoms at check-in also is getting extra screening. Anyone who shows a fever or low blood oxygen levels during such screening is being denied boarding, too.
As you might expect, cruise lines are giving full refunds to anyone denied boarding.
Your itinerary could change
Cruise lines have scrambled in recent days to remove port calls in China from upcoming Asia sailings and replace them with alternative stops in nearby countries. In some cases, lines only have adjusted trips departing in the next few days or weeks. Others have altered voyages as far out as the end of March. Typical of the changes we're seeing:
Crystal Cruises has replaced calls at Hong Kong with stops at Keelung, Taiwan (the port for Taipei) on four upcoming Crystal Symphony sailings departing in February and March.
Cunard has canceled an overnight call in Hong Kong by its well-known flagship, Queen Mary 2, scheduled for Feb. 18 to 19. The ship instead will go to Singapore.
Seabourn Cruise Line rerouted its Seabourn Ovation over the weekend away from Xiamen, China. The vessel instead will stop in Sandakan, Malaysia, on Feb. 10. Ovation also had to skip a call at Da Nang, Vietnam, on Tuesday when local officials would not grant it clearance.
Cruise lines also have been rerouting ships scheduled to embark and disembark passengers in Chinese ports. The current sailing of Holland America's 1,404-passenger Westerdam, for instance, now will end on Feb. 15 in Yokohama, Japan (the port for Tokyo), instead of Shanghai. All subsequent sailings of the ship through March 28 now will begin and end in Yokohama instead of Shanghai or Hong Kong.
The Westerdam voyages had been scheduled to include calls at such Chinese ports as Qingdao and Tianjin but now will focus on Japan and South Korea.
Cruise lines that are changing embarkation and disembarkation ports for upcoming cruises typically are rebooking flights for passengers affected by the changes, if the passengers had arranged their air through the lines. Passengers who had arranged their own flights to meet the ships are being told to contact the airlines directly to change their routings. The lines have noted that most airlines have waived change fees for flights in and out of China.
Expect to see more such itinerary changes in the coming weeks. If you were dead set on seeing a particular port in China on an upcoming sailing, you may be disappointed. On the flipside, your Asia cruise may end up stopping somewhere else that could be just as interesting.
Your cruise ship could get quarantined
Worry about the spread of coronavirus already has prompted several ports to block the arrival of cruise passengers, at least temporarily. More than 5,000 passengers on a Costa Cruises vessel docking in Civitavecchia, Italy, last week weren't allowed to disembark the ship for several hours after a single passenger showed signs of illness. Testing revealed the illness wasn't coronavirus, and the passengers eventually were let off.
And as of publishing, passengers on a Princess Cruises ship that pulled into Yokohama on Monday have been held on the vessel for more than 24 hours while local authorities conduct health checks on all 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew. The checks were ordered after a resident of Hong Kong who was on a previous sailing of the ship -- the Diamond Princess -- tested positive for coronavirus. The resident of Hong Kong who tested positive didn't report symptoms of an illness while on the vessel, which he left on Jan. 25. He visited a hospital in Hong Kong six days later with symptoms of the illness.
(Editor's note: Late Tuesday, after this story initially published, Princess said 10 passengers on Diamond Princess had tested positive for coronavirus. The passengers will be taken ashore for treatment, while the remaining passengers and crew on the ship will be quarantined on board for at least 14 days).
With tensions high, expect more such cases in the coming days.
With the Diamond Princess in temporary quarantine in Yokohama harbor, Princess today canceled the next sailing of the vessel -- an eight-night voyage around Japan and Taiwan. And it's not the only soon-to-depart Asia cruise that's been canceled in recent days.
Cruise giant Royal Caribbean has canceled every sailing of its massive, Shanghai-based Spectrum of the Seas through March 4 — eight voyages in all. That's a big deal, as Spectrum of the Seas is one of the world’s 10 biggest cruise vessels. It can hold up to 4,905 people, which means the cancellations could be affecting as many as 39,240 vacationers.
Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas, shown here in Hong Kong, currently sails to Japan out Shanghai. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean.
While Spectrum of the Seas primarily caters to the Chinese market, North Americans can book its voyages on the line's U.S. website. It's the only Royal Caribbean vessel currently based in China.
Other lines canceling soon-to-depart China sailings in recent days include MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises. The canceled MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises sailings were specifically aimed at Chinese travelers and not bookable on the lines' U.S. websites.
The big question now is whether the cancellations will spread beyond March. Already, Princess has canceled two sailings in June that had been scheduled to begin and end in Shanghai. The line also has altered several sailings that include China stops scheduled for May and June. So far, other lines haven't followed in making changes that far out.
What options do you have?
For travelers who already have paid thousands of dollars for a cruise that includes a China stop in the coming months, the coronavirus outbreak is, no doubt, worrying. But before you panic too much, know this: If the virus still is raging in the country at the time of your departure, your line will not take you there. Cruise lines are notoriously cautious in situations such as this. As long as the U.S. government is warning Americans not to travel to China, cruise lines will reroute ships to other ports in the region.
If that doesn't make you feel better -- maybe the idea of going to different ports is a deal-breaker for you -- you could cancel the voyage. But if the departure is in the next few months, you can't count on getting your money back. For now, cruise lines aren't offering refunds to passengers who want to cancel cruises due to coronavirus fears.
Be warned, too, that most travel insurance policies won't reimburse you for canceling a trip due to an illness outbreak at a destination. That said, most policies — including those provided by a premium credit card — do cover trip cancellation or interruption if you're quarantined by a physician. And, some policies offer cancellation or interruption protection if your destination is under a mandatory evacuation. You also should be able to get at least a partial refund for a canceled trip if you purchased cancel-for-any-reason trip insurance. Be sure to talk it over with your insurance company before you pull the trigger on canceling.
How to find out if your cruise is affected
Cruise lines are contacting customers on sailings that are being canceled or rerouted due to the outbreak. If you've booked through a travel agent, your line also will be contacting your travel agent, who in turn should reach out to you. If you think you're on a sailing that already has been affected, and you haven't heard from anyone, there's no harm in contacting either your line (by phone, email, tweet or online chat) or your agent, should you have one.
Many lines have also placed information on boarding restrictions and other coronavirus-related information at dedicated pages on their websites.
Looking for more on cruising? Our cruise planning guide starts here:
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4X
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1X
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As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
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Recommended credit
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Pros + cons
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Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
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More details
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
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Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
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.
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Rewards rate
Rate
Category
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Excellent to Good
Pros + cons
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
More details
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
American Express® Gold Card
TPG Editor's Rating4/5
TPG Editor's Rating4/5
at American Express's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
Rewards rate
Rate
Category
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Excellent to Good
Pros + cons
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
More details
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.
Pros
Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
