Royal Caribbean's new credit cards offer better cruise perks and rewards, and you can maximize their value by earning points strategically and making the most of key cardholder benefits.
For some people, the words "credit card" bring up concerns about overspending, debt, and managing timely payments. However, when used responsibly, credit cards can be a valuable tool for earning rewards.
Truthfully, I can't remember the last time I used my debit card. Instead, I'm always calculating which of my five credit cards will help me earn the most rewards on any given purchase and get me closer to my next travel goal.
That said, the key to being a responsible credit cardholder isn't to spend more; it's to make the most of everyday purchases you're already going to make, such as groceries, gas, and restaurants.
Not to toot my own horn, but I've gotten good at maximizing credit cards without changing my spending habits, redeeming rewards to help offset the cost of pricey vacations I likely wouldn't pay for out of pocket.
In this article, I'll provide a detailed breakdown of how to maximize cruise-related perks and annual credits for Royal Caribbean's new Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® and Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit cards.
Earn the welcome bonus
First, you should strive to meet the requirements for the welcome bonus of whichever card you apply for. It's important to stay in the loop about current offers since they're subject to change.
At the time of writing, the Royal ONE™ Visa Signature®, which has no annual fee, offered a welcome bonus of 45,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. According to the company, those points can be redeemed for $450 in cruise rewards!
For the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature®, which has a $99 annual fee, new cardholders can earn a bonus of 70,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. This comes out to around $700 in cruise rewards that can be redeemed for onboard credit, discounts, and more.
Pro tip: I'd recommend waiting to apply for a new rewards card until you have larger purchases or planned expenses in the foreseeable future. This generally makes it easier to reach the minimum spending requirement for sign-up bonuses without changing your spending habits or buying things you don't really need.
Use your card for Royal Caribbean Group purchases
Regardless of whether you're eyeing the Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® or Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit card, you'll want to use it on cruise spending, as you will earn extra points per dollar on purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
With the Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® card, you will earn three points per dollar spent on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. So, if you buy a drink package for $500, you'll automatically earn a whopping 1,500 points!
Additionally, Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® cardholders will earn four points per dollar spent on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, turning that same $500 drink package into 2,000 credit card points.
One important caveat to keep in mind is that third-party bookings may not qualify. In other words, if you book a Royal Caribbean cruise through a travel website like Expedia, you shouldn't expect that purchase to count toward the bonus spending.
Book cruises for family and friends
On that note, if you are planning group travel, consider using your Royal ONE™ card to pay for eligible cruise expenses for family and friends and ask to be reimbursed.
For example, if you are organizing a big family cruise and cover everyone's initial deposit, you could easily rack up thousands of points without spending more than you normally would.
The same strategy also applies to final payments and pre-cruise purchases. Of course, you want to trust the people you're booking for, so you aren't stuck chasing down payments or covering other people's vacations.
However, as long as everyone is prompt with their reimbursements, this can be a simple way to quickly build your rewards balance!
Earn additional points on everyday spending and non-cruise purchases
While Royal Caribbean Group purchases are the best way to rack up points with the new credit cards, cardholders can also earn bonus points on other purchases in select categories.
For instance, with either card, you'll earn two points per dollar spent on gas, groceries, and electric vehicle charging purchases. This means that certain everyday spending will help you build your rewards balance — even when you aren't planning your next cruise.
All other eligible purchases earn one point per dollar, allowing you to continue accumulating points on everyday spending. Over time, those random shopping trips, movie tickets, and oil changes add up!
Additionally, those with the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® will earn two points per dollar on eligible purchases with airlines, hotels, and restaurants.
Make the card your default option with Apple Pay
With tap-to-pay becoming increasingly common, adding your Royal ONE™ card to Apple Pay is an easy way to make sure you're earning points on purchases you already make — even if you forget your physical card at home.
By setting the card as your default payment option, you can quickly pull the card up on your mobile device without fumbling through your wallet.
This small convenience makes it easier to use your card consistently, rather than handing the cashier the first card you stumble upon.
Take advantage of cruise-related benefits and perks
As a branded credit card, you'll also enjoy a slew of onboard benefits aboard Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea cruises.
All cardholders, regardless of whether you have the Royal ONE™ or Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® card, can take advantage of priority boarding at the terminal. This means you can get on the ship faster and start enjoying your hard-earned vacation sooner.
Those with the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® card will also benefit from expedited luggage delivery, so you won't be stuck waiting hours for your suitcase to finally make its way on board.
Finally, all cardholders should keep an eye out for special events during their sailings.
Use the card's travel credits and benefits
Aside from cruise-related benefits, both credit cards offer perks that are useful for land-based travel. As a Visa Signature® cardholder, you'll have access to the Visa Signature® Luxury Hotel Collection and receive special rates and VIP status at select hotels worldwide.
Moreover, the cards include 24-hour travel and emergency assistance, car rental coverage, access to emergency roadside assistance, trip delay and lost luggage expense reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, and extended warranty protection.
Those with the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® card can also take advantage of the $120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment or renewal. The benefit is available once every four years.
This is a huge benefit for frequent flyers since it makes it easier to breeze through airport security and re-enter the U.S. after an international flight. Since many travelers already plan to pay for one of these programs, the statement credit also helps offset the annual fee by covering a purchase you likely will make anyway.
Take advantage of the anniversary credit
Personally, I don't like to keep all my eggs in one basket when it comes to credit card spending. In other words, I strategically spread my spending across several rewards cards to maximize the value I earn from different loyalty programs.
However, that isn't everyone's jam — and that's okay! If you're someone who loves Royal Caribbean cruises, you may find yourself drawn to these credit cards more than others.
Enter the anniversary credit. Those with the Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® card who spend at least $10,000 in one year will receive a $100 cruise discount. Meanwhile, Royal ONE Plus™ cardholders who spend at least $20,000 in one year will earn a $200 discount.
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when redeeming this credit. First, it can only be applied to future cruise bookings purchased directly with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Silversea. As such, travel agent bookings or those made with third parties, like Expedia or Vacations To Go, won't count. Additionally, you must use the discount before your next card anniversary.
Bottom line: Is the Royal Caribbean credit card worth it?
Royal Caribbean's new credit card options are a huge upgrade from the existing offering, as they let cruisers earn rewards across the entire Royal Caribbean Group portfolio.
Before Royal ONE™ launched, the program wasn't as flexible, and all rewards were tied to a single brand. Now, cruisers can earn and redeem rewards seamlessly across all three brands: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
In my opinion, the no-annual-fee Royal ONE™ card is a solid option for occasional cruisers. On the flip side, the Royal ONE Plus™ card has better earning rates, priority suite boarding, a higher anniversary reward, and a generous TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credit.
As such, it's easy to justify the premium card's $99 annual fee if you cruise with Royal Caribbean Group regularly and can take advantage of its added perks.
