which Credit Card carries the best rewards for free cruising??

[jmsettles]

As much as we love to cruise, we have been researching credit cards that carry the best reward/point system to accumulate a free cruise. Anyone have any advice on this topic??
Are they really all that they say they are, and do they tend to have alot of blackout dates for cruising?
As much as we use our credit card, we may as well be earning something.....
Would appreciate any advice, positive, or negative on the subject.
Thanks!!

[jmsettles]

As much as we love to cruise, we have been researching credit cards that carry the best reward/point system to accumulate a free cruise. Anyone have any advice on this topic??
Are they really all that they say they are, and do they tend to have alot of blackout dates for cruising?
As much as we use our credit card, we may as well be earning something.....
Would appreciate any advice, positive, or negative on the subject.
Thanks!!

[Cruise Fanatic]

Most of the cruise line credit cards are pretty similar. They are all going to have certain restrictions. A rebate credit card like Discover would probably work just as well where you could just apply the money you get rebated to any cruise that you choose.

[tncruiseman]

I have had great experience with American Express Membership Rewards, with many charges accumulating double points (groceries, gas, etc.) I use these points for free airfare and then shop for the cruise deal.

[crusinjohn]

I have a carnival sea miles card and have already redeemed 75,000 points last april and just 2 days ago 50,000 more. 1 point earned for every dollar spent. 50,000 points equal $500.00 so it is equivalent to a 1% rebate. not such a great deal. I found a chase business card some 6 months ago that pays me 3% back at the gas pump, 3% back at home emprovement stores- Home Depot, Lowes, and 1% on all other purchases. I am a Home Builder and use my credit card alot.I am no longer using my Seamiles card.

[Terri R.]

quote:

Originally posted by tncruiseman:
I have had great experience with American Express Membership Rewards, with many charges accumulating double points (groceries, gas, etc.) I use these points for free airfare and then shop for the cruise deal.

That is what we use, as well, for accumulating points. We use our AmEx for any and every purchase we can for that reason.

We recently redemmed points for our airfare to Cozumel for our (*gasp* Hope I can say it! ) CVC week's stay at a resort in Cozumel. We had a really wonderful week's vacation for next-to-nothing.

I'm thinking of looking into a Visa or MC card that has some sort of rewards program, though, as a back up. Sometimes places don't take AmEx, but take either of those.

I was thinking, perhaps, of picking out an airline and applying for one of their cards (like Continental or British Airways). We always pay our credit card balances in full each month, so I'm not too worried about interest rates, although I'd prefer the lowest possible, in case a payment ever gets lost in the mail or something...

[retcwby]

one thing about the seamiles card it does pay 2 for one points on $$ spent at carnival