What the Royal Caribbean International Credit Card offers
The Royal Caribbean International credit card is a co-branded card issued by Citi that earns points specifically for cruise bookings and onboard spending with Royal Caribbean. Unlike a general travel card, it concentrates its rewards on one cruise line rather than spreading benefits across airlines, hotels, and other travel categories.
The card earns 5 points per dollar on Royal Caribbean cruise bookings and onboard purchases, 2 points per dollar on dining and travel outside of cruises, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Points convert to onboard credit at a rate of roughly 1 cent per point, though the exact redemption value can shift. The card carries an annual fee, currently $95, with a statement credit that offsets some of that cost for cardholders who book through Royal Caribbean.
New cardholders typically receive a welcome bonus of points after meeting a spending threshold in the first few months. The card also includes perks like onboard credits for cruise bookings, free cabin upgrades on select sailings, and priority check-in at the port.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 5 points per dollar on Royal Caribbean bookings and onboard spending, which converts to onboard credit worth roughly 1 cent per point.
- An annual fee of $95 applies, with a statement credit that reduces the net cost if you book a cruise in the cardholder year.
- The welcome bonus typically requires $3,000 to $5,000 in spending within the first three months, depending on the current offer.
- This card makes sense only if you cruise with Royal Caribbean regularly — at least once per year — because the rewards do not transfer to other cruise lines or travel partners.
- Rewards earned on the card stay in your Royal Caribbean account and expire if your account becomes inactive for a set period, usually two years.
How the rewards structure compares to general travel cards
A general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold earns points on all travel and dining, then lets you transfer those points to airline and hotel partners or redeem them for cash back. Those cards typically earn 2 to 3 points per dollar on travel and dining, with annual fees between $95 and $250.
The Royal Caribbean card concentrates its earning power on one cruise line. If you sail with Royal Caribbean multiple times per year, the 5x earning rate on bookings and onboard spending can outpace a general card. If you cruise once per year or less, or if you split your cruises between Royal Caribbean and competitors like Carnival or Norwegian, a general travel card often delivers more value because the points work across more vendors.
The key difference is flexibility. A general travel card gives you options; a cruise-specific card locks you into one brand. That trade-off only makes financial sense if you are committed to that brand.
Annual fee and statement credits
The $95 annual fee is not waived in the first year, so you pay it when ready upon approval. Citi offers a statement credit — usually $50 to $100 depending on the promotion — that applies when you book a Royal Caribbean cruise using the card. That credit reduces your net annual cost, but only if you actually book a cruise in that calendar year.
If you do not cruise in a given year, you absorb the full $95 fee with no offset. For someone who cruises every other year, the card becomes expensive in the off years. You would need to cancel and reapply during your cruising year to avoid paying the fee twice without a cruise booking in between.
The statement credit also typically applies only to the cruise fare itself, not to add-ons like beverage packages, specialty dining, or shore excursions booked before you sail. Read the current terms carefully, as these details shift with each offer.
Welcome bonus and how to use it
New cardholders receive a welcome bonus after spending a set amount — usually $3,000 to $5,000 — within the first three months. The bonus is typically 50,000 to 70,000 points, depending on the current promotion. At the standard 1-cent-per-point redemption rate, that translates to $500 to $700 in onboard credit.
The bonus points land in your Royal Caribbean account and can be used toward any future cruise booking or onboard spending. They do not expire when ready, but they do expire if your account sits inactive for two years. If you book a cruise within a few months of approval, you can combine the welcome bonus with the statement credit to offset a significant portion of your cruise cost.
The welcome bonus makes the card most attractive if you are already planning a cruise in the next few months. If you are not planning to sail soon, the bonus sits in your account earning nothing, and you still owe the annual fee.
Onboard perks and cabin upgrades
Beyond points and statement credits, the card includes onboard benefits. Cardholders typically receive a shipboard credit — often $50 to $100 — that posts to your account when you board. You can spend this on anything: drinks, dining, excursions, or the casino.
The card also offers priority check-in at the port, which can save time on embarkation day, and free or discounted cabin upgrades on select sailings. The upgrade availability depends on the ship, the sailing date, and current demand. You do not get a may provide upgrade; instead, you are placed higher in the queue when upgrades are released.
These perks have real value if you cruise frequently and value convenience and onboard spending. For someone taking one cruise per year, the perks are a nice bonus but not a primary reason to carry the card.
When this card makes financial sense
The Royal Caribbean card works best for people who cruise with Royal Caribbean at least once per year and spend money onboard — on drinks, dining, excursions, or cabin upgrades. If you book a cruise, use the card for the booking and onboard spending, and redeem your points for future cruises or onboard credit, the 5x earning rate and statement credit can deliver better value than a general travel card.
The card does not make sense if you cruise less than once per year, if you split your cruises between multiple lines, or if you prefer to book through travel agents or third-party sites. It also does not make sense if you rarely spend money onboard — you would earn points only on the cruise fare itself, which is a smaller pool than someone who buys drinks, specialty dining, and excursions.
Before you explore, ask yourself: Will I cruise with Royal Caribbean at least once in the next 12 months? If the answer is no, the annual fee is not worth it. If the answer is yes, calculate whether the 5x earning rate, welcome bonus, and statement credit will save you more than $95 over the year.
How points expire and what happens to your account
Points in your Royal Caribbean account expire if the account remains inactive for two years. Inactivity means no cruise bookings, no onboard purchases, and no points activity. If you book a cruise or use points during that two-year window, the clock resets.
This matters if you take a break from cruising. If you earn 100,000 points and then do not cruise for two years, those points vanish. You can prevent expiration by booking a cruise before the two-year mark, even if you do not sail for another year after that.
Also note that points are tied to your Royal Caribbean account, not to the credit card itself. If you cancel the card, your points remain in your account. However, you lose access to the card's perks — the onboard credit, the statement credit, and the upgrade priority — so canceling makes sense only if you do not plan to cruise again soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use points from this card on other cruise lines?
No. Points earned on the Royal Caribbean card stay in your Royal Caribbean account and can only be redeemed for Royal Caribbean cruises or onboard spending. They do not transfer to Carnival, Norwegian, Disney Cruise Line, or any other cruise line, and they cannot be converted to cash or airline miles.
What happens if I cancel the card before the annual fee posts again?
You can cancel anytime without penalty. If you cancel before the annual fee renews, you avoid paying it. However, you lose the card's perks going forward — no more statement credits, onboard credits, or upgrade priority. Your points remain in your Royal Caribbean account, but you cannot earn new points without the card.
Does the welcome bonus count toward the annual fee?
No. The welcome bonus and the annual fee are separate. You pay the $95 annual fee when you are approved, and you receive the welcome bonus after meeting the spending requirement. The statement credit — which offsets part of the annual fee — applies only when you book a cruise, not when you earn the welcome bonus.
Can I earn points if I book a Royal Caribbean cruise through a travel agent?
No. Points are earned only when you book directly through Royal Caribbean's website or by phone using the card. If a travel agent books your cruise, even if you pay with the card, the points do not post. This is one reason the card works best for people who book their own cruises.
What is the difference between onboard credit and points?
Onboard credit is a dollar amount that posts to your account and can be spent on anything during your cruise. Points are a separate currency that you redeem for onboard credit or future cruise bookings at roughly 1 cent per point. The statement credit and shipboard credit are both onboard credit; the welcome bonus and earning from spending are points.