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There are a bunch of fairly lucrative travel credit card offers floating around right now (cruising-related pun fully intended).
Some are for flexible and transferrable points (i.e., American Express® Membership Rewards® and Chase Ultimate Rewards®), several are hotel credit cards and one is a co-branded airline card.
A few are great cards with benefits you’ll really enjoy. Others are fine — but they present nice opportunities to complement your travel card arsenal.
Let’s check ‘em out!
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Transferrable / Flexible Points
We like these kinds of cards because there are so many ways to redeem their bonus points. You can transfer them to a travel partner, apply them as cash toward the purchase of travel through the issuer’s travel service, redeem them for cash back or merchandise or gift cards…
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Current Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full. Terms apply.
Annual Fee: annual_fees. card_name
Notable Other Features and Perks: 35% Pay With Points rebate: receive a 35% rebate on points you use to pay for eligible trips on a selected airline or on business or first class trips purchased through American Express Travel (benefit applies on up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year.)
Select airport lounge access (terms apply). Earn up to $200 back each calendar year on eligible purchases made with a select airline (terms apply, enrollment required). Statement credit opportunities for select airport security services (terms apply, enrollment required). Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required). Access to American Express Travel’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program.
Why It’s Good for Cruisers: American Express® Membership Rewards® points are a great travel currency. Amex boasts nearly 20 travel partners to which you can transfer points. Plus, airport lounge access is always nice. Access to American Express’ Cruise Privileges Program, which features benefits such as up to $300 stateroom onboard credit with select cruise lines and a special amenity unique to each cruise line.
Personally, I love the 35% Pay With Points rebate. It helps me recoup the annual fee every year. (card_name)
For More Information and Where to Apply: Read about and learn how to apply for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express right here.
card_name
What Does It Earn?: Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which both René and I really like.
Current Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Here’s why this is somewhat significant. The minimum spending requirement was $15,000 up until this past Wednesday. So, if you were holding out on getting the card_name, you potentially save a lot of money.
Annual Fee: annual_fees.
Notable Other Features and Perks: Redeem points for a 25% bonus when booking travel — including cruises! — through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3X per eligible dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines anniversary/membership year. Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, plus trip delay reimbursement. Auto rental collision damage waivers. Cell phone insurance for the primary cardholder and employee phones on the same account. Terms apply.
Why It’s Good for Cruisers: Like Amex’s Membership Rewards program, Chase Ultimate Rewards® features a generous array of travel partners. Chase, though, has an edge (in my opinion) when it hotel brand partners. They have Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott. (Amex has Marriott, Hilton, and Choice).
The 25% points bonus on Ultimate Rewards bookings is great. Plus, Chase has better cashback/statement credit redemptions than Amex, should you decide to go that route. I appreciate the trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement; Chase usually stipulates that only a portion of your trip be paid with the card. (But, hey, with 3X earnings on travel, just charging the whole thing might be a good option.)
For More Information and Where to Apply: Read about and learn how to apply for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card right here.
Look at these two lovable companions!
Hotel Cards
Good golly, there are a bunch of hotel credits with huge offers right now!
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
What Does It Earn? Hilton Honors points
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 130,000 bonus Hilton Honors points after spending just $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card within three (3) months of being approved for card membership through this promotion. Terms apply.
Annual Fee: $95 (Rates and fees. Terms apply.)
Notable Features and Perks: Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status and 10 complimentary Priority Pass Select visits each year. (Enrollment required.) Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Terms apply.
Why It’s Good for Cruisers: If you like a big welcome offer and Hilton Gold status, this is for you. The card earns 6X at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), at U.S. supermarkets, and U.S gas stations.
For More Information and Where to Apply: Read more about and learn how to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card right here. (All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by Frequent Floaters. It is not available through our affiliate partner and has not been reviewed by them or the card issuer.)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
What Does It Earn?: Hilton Honors points.
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee: $450 (See Rates and Fees. Terms apply.)
Notable Features and Perks: Hilton Diamond status. An annual Free Night Award. Up to $250 Hilton Resort Statement Credit for eligible purchases. Up to $250 in eligible airline incidental purchases are charged to the card (enrollment required).
Why It’s Good for Cruisers: Some people are going to flip out at the $450 annual fee — and that’s certainly a chunk of change. (See Rates and Fees.) But getting up to $250 in resort statement credit and $250 in eligible airline incidental purchases helps you come out ahead. And don’t forget that Hilton Diamond status. As I’ve said before, this card would be in my wallet if I weren’t maxed out on the number of Amexes I can hold.
For More Information and Where to Apply: Read more about and learn how to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card right here. (All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Frequent Floaters. The card is not available through our affiliate partner and has not been reviewed by them or the card issuer.)
card_name
What Does It Earn?: IHG One Rewards points
Current Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Annual Fee: annual_fees.
Notable Features and Perks: Annual anniversary Reward Night valued at 40,000 points or under (starting the second year of card membership). Complimentary IHG Rewards One Platinum Elite status. Earn up to 26X total points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at IHG hotels & resorts. “4th Night Free.” When cardmembers redeem points for a consecutive four-night stay, they can receive the fourth Reward Night free (during the same stay at that hotel).
Why It’s Good for Cruisers: The annual Reward Night is pretty much why I hold the card. It’s easy to recoup the annual fee by redeeming the Reward Night. Platinum Status is nice — but fairly hit-and-miss in terms of upgrades. I don’t know how early you arrive in a port city before a cruise (or stay after the sailing ends) but the Fourth Night Free could come in handy if that’s you.
For More Information and Where to Apply: Read more about and learn how to apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card here.
card_name
What Does It Earn?: IHG One Rewards points
Current Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full.
Annual Fee: annual_fees
Notable Features and Perks: Annual anniversary Reward Night valued at 40,000 points or under (starting the second year of card membership). Complimentary IHG Rewards One Platinum Elite status. Earn up to 26X total points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at IHG hotels & resorts. “4th Night Free” benefit. Earn 5X points per eligible $1 spent on on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants.
Why It’s Good for Cruisers: Pretty much the same reasons as its consumer/personal counterpart: the annual anniversary night and status.
For More Information and Where to Apply: Read more about and learn how to apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card right here.
Time to Set Sail!
Big 100,000+ bonus point welcome offers are available now for ten travel rewards credit cards. A few are limited time offers set to expire soon — so, don’t wait if you’re curiosity is piqued!
See Rates and Fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
See Rates and Fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
See Rates and Fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card annual fee is $550…not $99. Not sure the free first year is correct either
I figured maybe if I put it in the universe that the fee would magically lower. 🙂
Thanks for the heads-up!