Besides the Citi Custom Cash, is there another card that offers 5% cash back or points for cruises booked outside of a travel portal? I’m not interested in flights, hotels, or car rentals, as there are plenty of cards for those. I’m specifically looking for other travel options (especially cruises) that provide 5% back and can be booked independently, without going through a portal.
Thanks in advance…
You can earn 4% with the USB Altitude Connect, but there’s no card that offers 5X for cruises.
Fane said:
You can earn 4% with the USB Altitude Connect, but there’s no card that offers 5X for cruises.
I think USBAR gives 4.5%.
Fane said:
You can earn 4% with the USB Altitude Connect, but there’s no card that offers 5X for cruises.
I think USBAR gives 4.5%.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. 3X translates to 4.5% for travel.
USB AC is 4% flat though.
@Fane
It’s not exactly flat. It’s 1cpp (4%) if redeemed for travel or credited to a US Bank account. Otherwise, it’s 0.8cpp (3.2%).
Aven said:
@Fane
It’s not exactly flat. It’s 1cpp (4%) if redeemed for travel or credited to a US Bank account. Otherwise, it’s 0.8cpp (3.2%).
Bank account fees are waived if you have the card!
I personally use discounted gift cards from AARP for cruise purchases. You can get 10% off Carnival/RCL/Celebrity and 8% off Princess/HAL.
I think the best you’ll find is 3X transferable points, which is about as good as 5%. Also, Citi Custom Cash has a limit of $500, and most cruises will cost more than that.
Willow said:
I think the best you’ll find is 3X transferable points, which is about as good as 5%. Also, Citi Custom Cash has a limit of $500, and most cruises will cost more than that.
But most cruise lines allow you to make payments depending on how far out you book. I split my cruise payments on the CCC over 5 months.
@Brynn
That’s good to know. I was calculating it’d be $650 on the Citi Custom to be about equal to the Altitude Connect’s 4%. So to do it all at once, it’d be better to use the Altitude Connect above ~$670.
Do any of the cruise lines or booking sites let you pay with Apple Pay?
USB Altitude Reserve can give you an effective 4.5% if you pay with Apple Pay. It’s not 5%, but it’s pretty close.
Nash said:
Do any of the cruise lines or booking sites let you pay with Apple Pay?
USB Altitude Reserve can give you an effective 4.5% if you pay with Apple Pay. It’s not 5%, but it’s pretty close.
You get 4.5X back on travel, even if they don’t accept mobile payment.
Nash said:
Do any of the cruise lines or booking sites let you pay with Apple Pay?
USB Altitude Reserve can give you an effective 4.5% if you pay with Apple Pay. It’s not 5%, but it’s pretty close.
Carnival does take Apple Pay.
AARP membership gives a 10% straight discount on Carnival, which is our most frequent cruise line. You don’t get the travel bonus since AARP doesn’t code as such, but a straight 10% stacked on the standard 2% from Venture X or 1.5% from Freedom Unlimited is still quite good.
I don’t think there is one.
Does the BofA Customized Cash count Cruises as Travel?
Wellington said:
Does the BofA Customized Cash count Cruises as Travel?
Yes.
Bank of America has a broad definition of travel.
Just keep in mind it’s a $2,500 quarterly cap, and cruises with the family can be quite costly.
I work in the industry and use the BofA PR and get 3.5% cashback with their travel definition (and have platinum honors).
It also works with foreign cruise lines that process the transaction through another country and/or currency.
I think the best you’ll find are the uncapped 3X travel categories from Chase Sapphire Reserve, AMEX Green, or Wells Fargo Autograph. The US Bank Altitude Connect offers a flat 4% on travel, but the redemption options are limited.
USBAR gives 4.5X back on travel and mobile wallet.
BofA Premium Rewards will give you 4.2% uncapped when redeemed for airfare if you have platinum honors with them. 3.5% if you want straight cash back. The BofA Custom Cash will give you 5.25%, but only on $2,500 a quarter. I like cashback on cruises for flights, since I usually need a flight to get to the cruise!
Edit: Chase Sapphire Reserve will give you 3%, with points worth 50% more if you book through their portal, making it 4.5% back.
If booking through Costco is an option, you can also get 2% back from an executive membership.