RC unveils new credit card

[BigKarl]

If Royal points are used for OBC they can be cashed out at any time during your cruise. Once cashed out you can use the $$$ for anything including gratuities.

Royal points OBC is treated different than say travel agent OBC or OBC given as a promotion from RCL and can be cashed out. At least the current card works this way. No Idea if the new credit card will be the same.

It is quite fun to watch guest services look at me when I ask to Cash out $2000 in OBC!

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

I note that FAQ doesn't exclude casino charges 

WAAAY down in the details, I found this:

 

It doesn't say anything about purchases via a slot machine, but apparently it's going to consider the purchase of casino chips as a "cash advance"....for which they charge a 5% transaction fee....not to mention that they begin charging interest immediately on cash advances.

 

 

So I think our "loophole" for getting cash at the tables is being closed.  

 

Royal has always reported casino spending as a regular "sale" but maybe they are going to categorize casino spending (at least, for "purchase of casino chips") differently.  I guess we'll have to see.

[AshleyDillo]

13 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Royal has always reported casino spending as a regular "sale" but maybe they are going to categorize casino spending (at least, for "purchase of casino chips") differently.  I guess we'll have to see.

I doubt they'll change how they process it onboard, but never say never. 

[smokeybandit]

You can now apply. Just a reminder in general this is still an average travel card, but for some/many it may fit your needs.

 

 

[AshleyDillo]

Port of Tampa had the credit card holders added.

[Southern Dan]

I am unable to upgrade to Royal One Plus apparently.  I have to wait until my Royal One card comes in early June and then request the upgrade...that is lame.

[Carpe Diem]

2 hours ago, Southern Dan said:

I am unable to upgrade to Royal One Plus apparently.  I have to wait until my Royal One card comes in early June and then request the upgrade...that is lame.

Not only do existing card holders have to wait to upgrade to Plus until receiving the new card in June, existing card holders are not eligible for the 70K points bonus promotion with the Plus card because that promo points bonus is only available to new accounts - not eligible for existing Royal Caribbean Visa card holders who upgrade to Plus. 

[Southern Dan]

11 minutes ago, Carpe Diem said:

Not only do existing card holders have to wait to upgrade to Plus until receiving the new card in June, existing card holders are not eligible for the 70K points bonus promotion with the Plus card because that promo points bonus is only available to new accounts - not eligible for existing Royal Caribbean Visa card holders who upgrade to Plus. 

SUPER LAME!

[Jjohnb]

On 4/4/2026 at 5:37 PM, Matt said:

If you look at the "Redemption Option" line, it no longer lists "Cruise Vacations" as a type of redemption, are you no longer going to be able to redeem points for a cruise?  I currently have enough points for one 7 day cruise and am just short of having enough points for a second 7 day cruise, am I going to have to rush and book/redeem the one cruise before June 1st and basically get screwed on the second?  Also, nowhere does RC/BofA state the redemption value for points, they may be giving more points for each dollar spent but if it takes significantly more points to redeem benefits the value of this card is significantly diminished!  It looks like Jason Liberty is screwing RC's faithful once again and spinning it as if they are "enhancing" benefits!  

[Carpe Diem]

6 minutes ago, Jjohnb said:

If you look at the "Redemption Option" line, it no longer lists "Cruise Vacations" as a type of redemption, are you no longer going to be able to redeem points for a cruise?  I currently have enough points for one 7 day cruise and am just short of having enough points for a second 7 day cruise, am I going to have to rush and book/redeem the one cruise before June 1st and basically get screwed on the second?  Also, nowhere does RC/BofA state the redemption value for points, they may be giving more points for each dollar spent but if it takes significantly more points to redeem benefits the value of this card is significantly diminished!  It looks like Jason Liberty is screwing RC's faithful once again and spinning it as if they are "enhancing" benefits!  

You are right, it does not list "Cruise Vacations" as a redemption option.  But, it does list "Cruise Discounts" as a redemption option.  Potentially you could use your points to discount the price of a cruise (??)

I hope the redemption value of points does not decrease with the new card. Still nothing definitive on redemption value of points, but it does say you get a "$100 future cruise discount every year that you spend at least $10,000 on net purchases".  Currently, 10,000 points = redemption value of $100 onboard credit. No change in redemption value there. 

I wonder what Richard Fein is doing these days.  Any chance we could get him back? LOL!

[WAAAYTOOO]

What is the difference between a “base” point and a “bonus” point ?

[Carpe Diem]

2 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

What is the difference between a “base” point and a “bonus” point ?

When you buy something you get 1 BASE point for each dollar spent. A $100 purchase = $100 base points. If you make  Royal Caribbean purchase (cruise, shore excursions, internet, etc) you currently get 2  points per dollar spent. ThE extra points are the BONUS points. A $100 Royal Caribbean purchase = 200 points. With the new card, Royal One gets 3x points on Royal Caribbean purchases. Royal One

Plus gets 4x points on Royal Caribbean purchases

[WAAAYTOOO]

18 minutes ago, Carpe Diem said:

When you buy something you get 1 BASE point for each dollar spent. A $100 purchase = $100 base points. If you make  Royal Caribbean purchase (cruise, shore excursions, internet, etc) you currently get 2  points per dollar spent. ThE extra points are the BONUS points. A $100 Royal Caribbean purchase = 200 points. With the new card, Royal One gets 3x points on Royal Caribbean purchases. Royal One

Plus gets 4x points on Royal Caribbean purchases

So there’s no difference, really.  Thanks !

[AndrewPunch]

I am wondering if I book two cabins with the new credit card does the boarding/luggage benefits track with the booking numbers or only the card holder?  Do both rooms get the benefit or only the one the card holder is in?

[asquared17]

2 minutes ago, AndrewPunch said:

I am wondering if I book two cabins with the new credit card does the boarding/luggage benefits track with the booking numbers or only the card holder?  Do both rooms get the benefit or only the one the card holder is in?

i don’t think you have to use the card to book or even as a method of payment (although it would likely make sense to). 

i believe it’s by cardholder …. but that would make sense and we all know royal likes to make things ~different so maybe this is more speculation

[smokeybandit]

18 minutes ago, AndrewPunch said:

I am wondering if I book two cabins with the new credit card does the boarding/luggage benefits track with the booking numbers or only the card holder?  Do both rooms get the benefit or only the one the card holder is in?

Priority Boarding: You and other guests on the same reservation may use the Royal ONE RewardsSM priority boarding lane on boarding day for participating Royal Caribbean Group® sailings. To access the lane, present your cardholder status via the applicable Royal Caribbean Group mobile app, printed set sail pass, a digital boarding pass, or your physical credit card. Joint Cardholders and Authorized Users must present their physical credit card. Designated arrival time may be coordinated during the online check-in process.

[DunwoodyDad]

any ideas on how the priority luggage handling will work? 

[mworkman]

Here a thought…if one current has the old card and decides to fill out the application for the plus card choosing the Celebrity card, would that be considered a new account, thus collecting on the bonus offer?

[smokeybandit]

Priority Luggage: You and other guests on the same reservation are eligible for priority luggage handling at designated Suites luggage drop off areas at curbside or check in. Cardholders receive expedited luggage service during both embarkation and debarkation. To access the designated Suites drop-off areas, present your cardholder status via the applicable Royal Caribbean Group mobile app, printed set sail pass, a digital boarding pass, or your physical credit card. Joint Cardholders and Authorized Users must present their physical credit card. Priority luggage service may not be available on all sailings.

 

------

 

I can't tell if that'd be using the Star Class luggage drop off or some special line just for card holders. Otherwise, there is no other suite luggage perk at embarkation.

[bobroo]

An under appreciated perk of suite luggage tags is that no matter what terminal you are disembarking, you'll always find the suite luggage grouped closest to customs.

[smokeybandit]

16 minutes ago, bobroo said:

An under appreciated perk of suite luggage tags is that no matter what terminal you are disembarking, you'll always find the suite luggage grouped closest to customs.

Though T5 at Port Canaveral you have to go past customs to find your bags, then come back against traffic to get in the customs line.

[John-Kerry]

Even though they will automatically switch the card over to the Royal One card in June, right now they are offering a $450  bonus when you apply for it from the royalcarribean site (this bonus my not be available when automatically switching over) I just got mine and the original card points will get moved to it in June ( but with an additional 45,000 bonus points)

[Eric Extreme]

On 5/10/2026 at 9:37 AM, John-Kerry said:

Even though they will automatically switch the card over to the Royal One card in June, right now they are offering a $450  bonus when you apply for it from the royalcarribean site (this bonus my not be available when automatically switching over) I just got mine and the original card points will get moved to it in June ( but with an additional 45,000 bonus points)

I called and asked about this very thing and was told points couldn't be transferred if I apply for a new card. It seems different people are saying different things to customers. I even had one person at NextCruise try to tell me I would get the bonus points after the new card gets sent in June, and someone else in NextCruise said the opposite.

[mworkman]

Somewhat related, if you don’t use all your OBC and it gets sent back to your account..I’m somewhat puzzled on how it reflects the current amounts..notice below any ideas on the conversion from dollar back to points? 

[Carpe Diem]

I logged into my existing Royal Caribbean Visa card online account to check the balance.  This notice popped up.  It's a lot of what we already know, but there might be some new details in there:

 

 

[mworkman]

I now see the answer to my question, RC returns the remaining balance back to the card in the form of cash and BOA doesn’t convert it back to points, they just give you credit on your account. 

[USCG Teacher]

9 minutes ago, mworkman said:

I now see the answer to my question, RC returns the remaining balance back to the card in the form of cash and BOA doesn’t convert it back to points, they just give you credit on your account. 

That is how it has worked in the past in my experience, but I wasn't certain that it would carry through with the new card setup.