What the Princess Cruise Credit Card offers
The Princess Cruise Credit Card is a co-branded Visa issued by Chase in partnership with Princess Cruises. It gives you onboard credits when you spend, a sign-up bonus after you meet a spending threshold, and discounts on future cruise bookings. The card charges an annual fee, so the real question is whether the rewards and perks justify that cost for your actual cruise habits.
The card is designed for people who cruise with Princess regularly or plan to book a cruise soon. If you cruise once every few years or have never sailed with Princess, the annual fee will likely cost more than you get back. If you cruise annually or book multiple trips, the math shifts in your favour.
Key Takeaways
- The Princess Cruise Credit Card charges an annual fee and offers onboard credits and a sign-up bonus, so it only makes financial sense if you cruise with Princess at least once per year.
- Onboard credits are applied to your shipboard account and can be used for drinks, dining, shore excursions, and other expenses during your cruise.
- The card earns a higher rewards rate on Princess cruise bookings than on everyday purchases, so the bulk of your value comes from booking through the card.
- You can downgrade or close the card after earning the sign-up bonus if you do not plan to cruise again within the next year.
Annual fee and what you get for it
The Princess Cruise Credit Card charges an annual fee. This fee is charged on the anniversary of your account opening each year. You do not get a grace period to cancel before the fee posts, so mark your calendar if you plan to close the account.
In return for the annual fee, you receive an onboard credit that posts to your account after your first cruise. This credit reduces what you owe on your shipboard account during that trip. The amount varies depending on the card version and current promotions, so check the current offer before you explore.
The annual fee is worth paying only if you will use the onboard credit and earn enough rewards to offset it. If you do not plan to cruise within the next year, close the card before the anniversary date to avoid paying again.
Sign-up bonus and spending requirements
New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus after spending a set amount within a set timeframe, usually three months. The bonus is typically an onboard credit that posts after your first cruise with Princess. You must actually take a cruise to receive it — the credit does not post for booking alone.
The spending requirement is high enough that most people cannot meet it through everyday purchases alone. If you are planning a cruise, you can count the cruise fare itself toward the requirement when you book it on the card. This makes the bonus much easier to reach if you are booking a cruise in the near term.
If you do not plan to cruise within the timeframe, do not open this card. The bonus is only valuable if you will actually sail and use the onboard credit.
Rewards on cruise bookings versus everyday spending
The card earns a higher rewards rate when you book a Princess cruise directly on the card. This is where most cardholders get their value. Every dollar spent on a cruise booking earns points or onboard credits at a rate significantly higher than everyday purchases.
Everyday purchases — groceries, gas, restaurants — earn a much lower rate. For non-cruise spending, you would likely earn more value from a general-purpose rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or a flat-rate card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The Princess card is a single-purpose tool: it is designed to reward Princess cruise bookings, not to be your primary card.
If you book cruises through a travel agent or third-party site instead of directly with Princess, you will not earn the higher rate. You will only earn the everyday rate, which makes the annual fee harder to justify.
How onboard credits work during your cruise
Onboard credits are added to your shipboard account before you board. You can use them to pay for drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, spa services, casino chips, or any other onboard expense. They function like a prepaid balance on your account.
Credits do not carry over to future cruises. Whatever you do not spend during that trip is forfeited. Plan your spending in advance so you use the full amount. Many cruisers budget for drinks or excursions specifically to use up their credits.
If you have a companion sailing with you, you can sometimes transfer credits to their account, but policies vary by promotion. Check the terms of your specific bonus before you sail.
When the Princess card makes financial sense
The card is worth keeping if you cruise with Princess at least once per year and book your cruise directly on the card. The onboard credit from the annual fee plus the rewards from booking should exceed the annual fee amount. If you cruise every two years or less frequently, the math does not work.
The card also makes sense if you are booking a cruise in the next few months and can meet the sign-up bonus spending requirement. You get the bonus onboard credit plus the annual onboard credit in your first year, which can add up to meaningful value on a single trip.
Close the card if your cruise plans change or if a year passes without a booking. There is no benefit to paying the annual fee if you are not sailing.
Comparing the Princess card to other cruise rewards options
Princess Cruises also offers a rewards program called Princess Rewards that does not require a credit card. You earn points when you cruise and can redeem them toward future cruises or onboard credits. The program is free to join and has no annual fee.
If you cruise infrequently, the free Princess Rewards program alone may be enough. You earn points slowly, but you pay nothing. If you cruise annually and want to maximize rewards, the credit card accelerates your earning on bookings.
Other cruise lines offer their own co-branded cards with similar structures. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney each have credit card partnerships. Compare the annual fee, sign-up bonus, and rewards rate across the lines you actually sail with before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the onboard credit on someone else's cruise if I am not sailing?
No. Onboard credits are tied to your shipboard account and can only be used during a cruise where you are a passenger. You cannot transfer credits to a family member or friend sailing on a different booking. Some promotions allow you to add a companion to your account and share credits, but this requires sailing together.
What happens to my onboard credit if I cancel my cruise?
If you cancel your cruise, the onboard credit is typically forfeited. The credit was issued for that specific sailing and does not transfer to a future cruise. Check your card agreement and the promotion terms for your specific bonus, as policies can vary.
Do I earn rewards if I book a cruise as a gift for someone else?
Yes, you earn the higher rewards rate when you book the cruise on the card, even if someone else will be sailing. However, the onboard credit from the sign-up bonus is tied to your first cruise as a passenger, so you must sail yourself to receive it.
Can I downgrade the card instead of closing it?
Chase may offer a downgrade option to a no-annual-fee version of the card, though this is not may provide. Contact Chase directly to ask if a downgrade is available. If not, closing the card is your only option to avoid the annual fee.
Does the card work if I book through a travel agent?
If the travel agent books the cruise directly with Princess on your card, you should earn rewards. However, if the agent uses a third-party booking system or their own account, the booking may not register under your card and you will not earn the higher rate. Always confirm with your agent that the cruise will be booked on your Princess card before you proceed.