Royal Carribean Credit Card

[cruisinelmo]

I would like some input on those cruise critic members concerning the Royal Caribbean credit Card and how you used it to get more "bang for your buck" towards an upcoming cruise. We just discovered that Royal Caribbean offers a credit card and we are investigating what is the best way to use it.

[smokeybandit]

It's one of the worst travel perk cards out there unless you're booking 4-5 cruises per year.

[Tlbecker1]

We have a Royal credit card, but we don’t use it.  We use our Citibank card which has much better perks.

[cruiseguy1016]

We use the card even though there are cards out there with much better perks. We like to see money being "earned/set aside" for cruises. We use it to pay down the cost of the cruise and to add some OBC. We have enough points for a free cruise, we'll be booking that in the near future. 

[cruisinelmo]

18 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

We use the card even though there are cards out there with much better perks. We like to see money being "earned/set aside" for cruises. We use it to pay down the cost of the cruise and to add some OBC. We have enough points for a free cruise, we'll be booking that in the near future. 

I was thinking along those lines too.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

It's one of the worst travel perk cards out there unless you're booking 4-5 cruises per year.

Lol I'm booking more than 4 or 5 a year. But I long since closed that card, pre covid. Oh well. I dont charge enough I want more than the 2 cards I have. 

[mugtech]

          The best thing about it is the first time you use it you get $200 off the cruise you are booking.  The 2% rewards and the restrictions on how the rewards can be used makes it useless after the first cruise.  I have a visa which gives me 4% rewards for travel, plenty of others which give 3% rewards for travel.  I cancelled my RCI card and plan to apply for one again next time I book a cruise from home as opposed to Next Cruise just for the price reduction.

[Seville2Cabo]

We've had it since 2005 and for the first few years it was great and we did get free cruises. Have not used it in probably 15 years (except $100 per year to keep it active).  So many better options for travel cards.

 

Probably a good choice if you can't manage your points or cash back.

[moposh]

I have it and use it.  I have gotten a couple free cruises.  

[cruiseguy1016]

4 hours ago, mugtech said:

          The best thing about it is the first time you use it you get $200 off the cruise you are booking.  The 2% rewards and the restrictions on how the rewards can be used makes it useless after the first cruise.  I have a visa which gives me 4% rewards for travel, plenty of others which give 3% rewards for travel.  I cancelled my RCI card and plan to apply for one again next time I book a cruise from home as opposed to Next Cruise just for the price reduction.

 

The current promo is $250.

[mugtech]

27 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

The current promo is $250.

Even better

[kruzerci]

One of the worst and most restrictive credit cards for travel rewards. Go with another option. 

[colesc15]

Actually just received ours in the mail today. Spend $1k and get the $250 bonus points, will use as obc for our transatlantic and probably not use the card again. My chase preferred is much better with more flexibility

[jwlane]

5 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

 (except $100 per year to keep it active).

Current BoA card has no annual fee.

[Seville2Cabo]

28 minutes ago, jwlane said:

Current BoA card has no annual fee.

True, but after a few years of not using it, I got a letter saying they were going to cancel unless I made a charge by a certain date.  Now I try to make a small purchase every year, although not sure why as I don't think I will use it again.

[Tree_skier]

8 hours ago, cruisinelmo said:

I would like some input on those cruise critic members concerning the Royal Caribbean credit Card and how you used it to get more "bang for your buck" towards an upcoming cruise. We just discovered that Royal Caribbean offers a credit card and we are investigating what is the best way to use it.

I have one and I use as a back up card.  My primary card is an American Express card. It gets me all kinds perk and travel benefits. I use that for everything except Royal Caribbean purchases.  I will use the RC Visa as a back up card for instances that don't accept AE.  Costco and a couple of online merchants I have shopped at, being a few examples.  We cruise three times a year generally, so it is surprising how quickly it adds up.  We also use it for our online spending onboard the ship as well.  Any Royal purchase, both booking and onboard spending, gets 2x points.  When I get onboard I generally hit up the casino and charge to my onboard account.  There is no premium to do that from a machine and the onboard spend gets you 2x points.

 

I'm sure there may be higher bang for your buck cards as many poster will tell you.  That being said, it makes me smile when I see money hit my cruise planner and I know that some of my expenses are being covered. 

[PhoenixCruiser]

I have a large family who likes to cruise, just not as often as I do.

 

I book all of our cruises / drink packages  / dining packages  / shore excursions with my credit card and share the benefits they earn for me.

 

Make the card work for you!

[mugtech]

Have a Wells Fargo card with no annual fee which pays 2% on all purchases, can redeem as small as $25 statement credits.

[temple1]

Does anyone have the current list of benefits. When we were cruising a couple of times a year the benefits added up quickly. I hate going to the BOA website and try to ferret out the benefits. 

[molly361]

I just signed up for it again only to get $250 OBC for spending $1,000.  After that one purchase I won't use the card again.  I have done this many times over the years.   I use a card that gives me  2% cash back on everything.  That's good enough for me

[zebra36]

Got card last year for sign-up bonus. After paying off cruise for this fall will have enough points for just over $300 OBC and will cancel when return from cruise.  Have been thinking of Celebrity lately and will have to look into them for a bonus /no fee card next year.

[Tall22]

I was just approved for the card and am wondering how long it takes for the $250 to become available after the $1000 charge requirement is met. I am sailing Aug 31st and am concerned that it will not be available to be used for OBC by then. What have been your experiences?

[toxicfairy]

I just got one strictly for the $250 OBC. 

Once you spend $1000 in the first 90 days you get Points worth $250 OBC. I figure since I have a cruise booked for next August and I have to pay for it anyway I might as well take advantage of the perk to get the OBC. I'll pay it off and dump it in a drawer after that lol.

[Coralc]

I would drop it if we could quit booking cruises. Next time we book, I think I will try to use up most of the points and switch to the BofA general travel card. 

[sailor05]

I've had one for years and only use it for anything purchased from Royal Caribbean to get the 2%. That includes the cruise fare, cruise planner purchases and my onboard account which I take out cash for gambling so that can quite hefty.  The other purchases only being 1% is easily beat my my other cards where I get up to 5%