The Four Top Delta American Express Cards for Cruisers

Four Delta SkyMiles@ American Express can be valuable for cruisers.

Here are the Delta Amex cards we think are worthwhile.

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

In addition to the quadfecta mentioned above, there are two more cards: the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. All of the cards feature several perks when traveling with Delta:

• First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to eight others traveling on the same confirmation number. (That could yield some significant savings on a roundtrip!)
• Priority boarding (Main Cabin 1).
• 20% statement credit on select inflight purchases, such as premium beverages and food.
• TakeOff 15
  • Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card members are entitled to something called “TakeOff 15.” This allows them to get 15% off when using SkyMiles to book Delta award flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. (The discount isn’t applicable to partner-operated flights and doesn’t include taxes and fees.)

All information related to the cards mentioned in this post was collected independently by Frequent Floaters and was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

The Four Top Delta Amexes for Cruisers

In our opinion, the best of the bunch for cruisers are the:

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Why?

All of them feature Companion Certificates.

Starting your second year of card membership, you’ll receive a Companion Certificate to use on one eligible roundtrip originating in the U.S. and traveling to:

• United States
• Antigua
• Aruba
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• Bahamas
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Puerto Rico
• USVI
• Mexico
• Grand Cayman
• Jamaica
• Turks and Caicos
• Saint Kitts
• St. Maarten
• St. Lucia
• Costa Rica
• Guatemala
• Panama
• Honduras
• El Salvador

(Back in the olden days — you know, 2023 — the destinations were limited to the U.S. 48.)

One traveler (let’s say you) pays the published airfare and a companion (let’s say your significant other) pays only taxes and fees.

Companion Certificates are basically buy-one-get-one-freeish. René and Lisa have used theirs for positioning to/from cruise ports.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Companion Certificates can be used for select First Class, Comfort+, and Main Cabin trips. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card certificates are redeemable for select Main Cabin fares. (Terms apply.)

Not all fare classes are eligible, which means beggars can’t necessarily be choosers. You might get stuck with an early morning flight or something else you don’t like. But if you book far enough in advance, you can probably find decent. Or, book whatever you can — and when Delta changes your itinerary (which they inevitably will), then you and pick and choose flights that work better for you.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card ossess another advantage over their Platinum counterparts. (Don’t confuse these with the The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express  Cardholders may access Delta Sky Club airport lounges when they travel on same-day, Delta-marketed and -operated itineraries. They also each receive four guest passes each year.

Plus, enjoy access to American Express Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner on days they travel Delta-marketed and -operated itineraries. The card’s official verbiage says those itineraries must be purchased with the Reserve card. But data points suggest the tickets can be bought with any US-issued American Express card.

Final Approach

Four cards (Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card) are the best for fellow cruisers. They feature Companion Certificates that can save you a substantial amount on airfare each year. Plus, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card feature Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Business Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this link.