Royal Caribbean is about to roll out two new credit cards that that are going to be offer more incentives to consumers.
For the first time, the company is introducing a single credit card that works across all three of its cruise brands: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The new cards, called Royal ONE and Royal ONE Plus, are part of a bigger push the company has had to build customer loyalty.
Instead of earning rewards tied to just one cruise line, this new program is designed to let you earn and redeem across all of them.
The cards are expected to launch in the coming weeks, although an exact date hasn’t been announced yet.
Here's what has been announced and what you can expect with the new cards.
The first tri-branded cruise credit card
Not only is there a new credit card, but it's different how you can use it to redeem rewards.
Instead of being locked into just Royal Caribbean rewards, you'll be able to earn points whether you’re sailing on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea, and then use those points across any of those brands.
The company says their goal is to make make rewards more flexible and easier to use as guests move between different lines. This is important given the recent changes to loyalty programs to make earning points between the lines easier.
It further reduces being siloed by brand. Instead, you can mix and match which cruise line you sail on and how you redeem your points.
This new card is designed to follow how people actually cruise today.
There's no word yet when you start applying for the card. Current cardholders will receive the new terms and conditions and then begin the conversion process automatically.
Two cards are launching
Royal Caribbean is launching two versions of the card to provide a choice in how they opt to travel.
Royal ONE (no annual fee)
The base version of the card comes with no annual fee and focuses on straightforward rewards:
- 3X points on purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea
- 2X points on groceries, gas, and EV charging
- 1X point on all other purchases
It also includes a few travel perks, such as:
- Priority boarding on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises
- A $100 anniversary reward after qualifying spend
- No foreign transaction fees
This version is clearly aimed at casual cruisers who want to earn rewards without paying a yearly fee.
Royal ONE Plus ($99 annual fee)
The upgraded version of the card adds more earning power and additional perks, especially for frequent cruisers.
- 4X points on purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea
- 2X points on groceries, gas, EV charging, plus air, hotel, and dining
- 1X point on all other purchases
Extra benefits include:
- Priority suite boarding across all three brands
- Priority luggage handling (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity)
- A $200 anniversary reward after qualifying spend
- A $120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
This card carries an annual fee, but it also has more perks and you can earn points more quickly to help justify it. I think it's aimed at people that love to cruise already and who travel often enough to justify the annual fee.
Here are a few other important differences about these cards:
- The anniversary reward is recurring each year
- Points don't expire
- The old card has a maximum cap on points, but the new card doesn't
- The minimum point redemption will move from 1,000 to 5,000 points
| Category | Royal ONE | Royal ONE Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Points and Annual Fees | ||
| Points | 3X points on eligible Royal Caribbean Group purchases 2X points on eligible grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases | 4X points on eligible Royal Caribbean Group purchases 2X points on eligible airline, hotel, dining, grocery, gas and EV charging station purchases 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases |
| Annual Fee | No annual fee No foreign transaction fees | $99 annual fee No foreign transaction fees |
| Benefits | ||
| Anniversary Reward | Annual $100 cruise discount after you spend $10,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year | Annual $200 cruise discount after you spend $20,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year |
| Exclusive Travel Benefits | Priority boarding Exclusive cardholder events | Priority boarding through suite entrance Priority luggage Exclusive cardholder events Up to $120 in statement credit every 4 years to use toward your TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applications |
| Redemption Options | Onboard credit or cruise discounts across the family of brands | Onboard credit or cruise discounts across the family of brands |
| Visa Signature Benefits | ||
| Extended Warranty Protection | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Delay Expense Reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Travel & Emergency Assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside Dispatch | Yes | Yes |
| Lost Luggage Expense Reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Cancellation & Interruption Coverage | Yes | Yes |
Better rewards
Another improvement over the current credit card is what you convert your points into as you sail.
Points earned with the Royal ONE cards can be used for cruise fare discounts or onboard credits that can be redeemed for:
- Shore excursions
- Beverage packages
- Specialty dining
- Wi-Fi packages
- Onboard experiences
That flexibility is key. It aligns the credit card more closely with how people actually spend money on a cruise. They want rewards that save them money on how they already like to cruise.
What happens to the current Royal Caribbean credit card
If you already have the existing Royal Caribbean credit card, you won't be left behind.
Royal Caribbean Group says current cardholders will be automatically converted to the new Royal ONE card. From there, they’ll have the option to upgrade to the Royal ONE Plus version if they want the additional perks.
Is the new Royal Caribbean Royal ONE card worth it?
Ever since Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty mentioned a new credit card was in the works, plans are revolved around the idea of offering more to loyal cruisers.
When asked about the Royal Caribbean credit card during an earnings call, he said they were working on something better.
"We do have a co-branded credit card. It is tied today to our loyalty program, but not in the way that fits our ambition."
That ambition is evident in how this credit card offers more incentives than before, and it's part of a larger journey of empowering loyal cruisers.
Royal Caribbean Group introduced status matching in 2024, and then added Points Choice so you could earn points no matter which cruise line you sailed on.
The credit card is the third step, because now you can earn credit card points and not be limited if you use them for a Royal Caribbean, Silversea, or Celebrity Cruise. And whichever line you choose, you can earn points for that sailing back in the loyalty program of your choice.
That kind of flexibility didn’t exist before in this way.
"I think people want to be recognized," Mr. Liberty explained. "They and not just recognized for their spend today, but recognized for all that they have done in the past."
"And then we need to make sure we're creating an environment across our brands to make sure that in their lifetime of vacation, we have the right vacation experience that is relevant to them, and that they're benefiting from continuing to stay inside our ecosystem."
Both of these cards were made for those who love cruising and sail on Royal Caribbean brand ships pretty much every year.
That's because the reward earning potential is so much higher for booking a cruise and using the card to pay for any extras.
The Royal ONE Plus card certainly is best for anyone that cruises more than once a year, and the annual fee is negated by the $200 anniversary reward (with qualifying spend).
I think the genius of this card is you can earn points and then later decide if you want to redeem the points towards any one of the Royal Caribbean Group brands. That flexibility offers more freedom in how you can jump between lines more easily than in the past.
Of course, for those who don't foresee a cruise vacation in their future or are more immersed in the world of credit card rewards, it may not make sense to add this card to their wallet.
