How do credit card rewards work when booking cruises?
Learn how credit card rewards work on cruises, including how to earn and redeem points and what to know about onboard purchases and currency fees.
CIBC
Sep. 21, 2026
5-minute read
A cruise usually involves two kinds of spending: paying for the cruise itself, and then spending on board and in port along the way. How your rewards apply to each depends on how you pay, and whether you have a cash back card or a points-based travel rewards credit card. Here's how it breaks down.
Paying for the cruise itself
Most travel rewards credit cards treat a cruise fare as one bundled travel purchase, even though it includes meals and entertainment. Because everything is combined into that single travel charge, the booking generally will not qualify for a card's higher bonus rates on categories like dining or entertainment, but it may qualify for higher bonuses for cards that include "travel" multiplier.
You have two ways to cover that charge, and which one you choose will depend on your card.
- Paying with your card: instead of paying a cruise line or a travel agent directly, some travel rewards cards offer an accelerated earn rate when you book through the card's own rewards travel portal Opens a new window.. If you have a cash back card, you'll still earn cash back on the purchase, just at the card's standard rate rather than a bonus one.
- Paying with points instead: many travel rewards programs also let you redeem points directly for a cruise, alongside flights, hotels, car rentals, and more, usually through that same rewards travel portal. Cash back cards don't carry a points balance, so this option applies to travel rewards cards only.
Redemption value can vary by sailing and cabin type, so it's worth comparing the cash price against the points price for the same cruise before you decide how to pay for a vacation package.
- Confirm whether your card's rewards travel portal offers a better earn rate than booking directly
- Compare the points price against the cash price for the same cabin and sailing before you decide how to pay
- Ask your cruise line or travel agent how the purchase will be categorized before you book
Earning rewards once you're on board and in port
Once you set sail, purchases can shift in two ways: how they're categorized for rewards, and what currency you're billed in. Here's what to expect with each, no matter which type of card you're carrying.
Excursions and everyday purchases
A shore excursion booked through the cruise line is usually added to your shipboard bill and categorized as travel, the same way the cruise fare is. Booking independently with a local operator may instead categorize as entertainment or local transportation, changing how you earn rewards. Be aware that these third-party tours often lack cruise line vetting and the guarantee that the ship will wait if the tour is delayed.
The same category shift applies to everyday spending in port. Unlike on the cruise ship itself, a meal, coffee, or souvenir bought on land is generally categorized as dining or retail rather than travel, so it earns your card's standard rewards for that category instead of a travel bonus. This applies whether you have a points card or a cash back card, since the category, not the card type, determines the rate.
Foreign currency and conversion fees
Most major international and North American cruise lines bill onboard purchases and shore excursions in a currency other than the Canadian dollar, even when you board at a Canadian port. If that currency is different from your card's currency, the purchase will typically include a foreign currency conversion fee, regardless of whether you're earning points or cash back on it.
Before you sail, compare rates and get a sense of what onboard spending will actually cost by using a currency converter.
A quick checklist before you sail
- Confirm what currency onboard and port charges will be billed in
- Ask how an excursion will be categorized if you plan to book it independently
- Keep receipts if you want to track which purchases earn bonus rewards
A little preparation can help you avoid surprises and get more from your rewards. Be sure to verify how your card earns on travel purchases, compare the value of paying with points against paying in cash, and plan for onboard and port charges that may be billed in another currency.
Ready to learn how much a cruise could earn you? Compare CIBC travel rewards cards.
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