American Express Travel Cruises: Unlock the Best Cruise Deals and Rewards

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American Express Travel Cruises offers exclusive deals and rewards that can save you money and enhance your cruise experience.

With over 80 cruise lines in their network, you're spoiled for choice.

You can earn Membership Rewards points on your cruise bookings, which can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, or transferred to airline partners.

Plus, you'll get access to special perks like onboard credits, free upgrades, and priority check-in.

Cruise Options

I've used American Express Travel to book cruises and I can tell you it's a great resource. You can search for cruises all over the world on AmexTravel.com.

One of the best things about booking cruises through AmexTravel.com is that they periodically highlight special offers. These offers usually come in the form of credits to use onboard.

If you're looking for a cruise that fits your budget, searching on AmexTravel.com is a good place to start.

Benefits

If you're an American Express cardholder, you're in for a treat. The Cruise Privileges Program offers onboard credit and a special amenity, like a complimentary dinner for 2 or a bottle of premium champagne, on select cruises.

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Booking a cruise through AmexTravel.com can be a great idea, especially if there are special offers. But don't forget to compare different booking sites, as some may have better or exclusive promotions.

The Platinum Card from American Express offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. You can also get a targeted 125,000-point bonus offer using the CardMatch tool.

If you need to fly to or from your cruise port, Amex Travel will give you 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines, and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel with The Platinum Card from American Express.

Some American Express cardholders may receive special cruise offers, such as:

  • Spend $1,000 or more, and get $250 back from Norwegian Cruise Line. The offer expires July 24.
  • Get 5 Membership Rewards points for every eligible dollar spent with river cruise line AmaWaterways. The maximum point total allowed is 50,000. The offer expires Aug. 4.

Remember, only 100 Amex Offers are visible at one time, so add offers to your card and new ones may appear.

Fees and Rewards

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AmexTravel.com charges a fee of $6.99 per domestic ticket or $10.99 per international ticket, but this fee is waived for Amex Platinum cardholders when booking.

You can also add Trip Cancel Guard coverage to your booking for reimbursement of up to 75% of the cost of non-refundable prepaid flight expenses.

Insider Fares

Insider Fares are discounted fares available on AmexTravel.com, and they only apply if you pay for the entire flight with Membership Rewards rather than cash.

These fares are exclusive to logged-in users with enough Membership Rewards points to cover the entire flight. They're not just about matching the cash price in points, but can offer a slight discount.

For example, the JFK-ATL route showed a discount from 25,259 Membership Rewards points to 24,120, changing the value from 1 cent per point to about 1.05 cents per point.

The difference can be fairly minimal, but it's still a great perk for AmexTravel.com users.

Earning American Express Rewards

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You can earn American Express rewards on cruises booked through Amex Travel with any Amex card that participates in the Membership Rewards program.

The American Express Green Card, for example, earns 3 points per $1 on all eligible travel, including cruises.

If you have the Amex Platinum card, you'll get access to the Cruise Privileges Program, which offers onboard credit and a special onboard amenity, like complimentary dinner for 2 or a bottle of premium champagne.

It's worth keeping an eye on the Amex Offers program to see if there are any cruise offers available to you.

You can also search for cruises on AmexTravel.com, where you'll find tools to book cruises and periodic special offers in the form of credits to use onboard.

Fees

AmexTravel.com charges a fee to book, but they bundle this into the displayed price. The fee is $6.99 per domestic ticket or $10.99 per international ticket.

These fees are waived as a benefit of the Amex Platinum card, just make sure you’re logged into your Amex account when booking.

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You can add Trip Cancel Guard coverage when purchasing flights via AmexTravel.com, which provides for reimbursement of up to 75% of the cost of the non-refundable prepaid flight expense.

This coverage is applicable when your flight is canceled for any reason and is valid until 2 full calendar days prior to your trip’s originally scheduled departure date.

Booking and Offers

If you're considering booking a cruise through American Express, you'll want to know about the special offers available. Some of these offers include onboard credits, discounts, or other special features that can make your cruise more affordable.

These offers are usually sent to American Express cardholders, particularly those with cards like the Platinum Card, American Express Gold Card, or The Business Platinum Card. You can check your account to see if you're eligible for any of these deals.

To find out if you're eligible, log in to your American Express account and check for available offers. Some offers are capacity controlled, so it's a good idea to add them right away in case they disappear.

Credit: youtube.com, Quick Guide: The American Express Cruise Privilege's Program

If you're at capacity, you can add offers to your card, and new ones may appear. This is because only 100 Amex Offers are visible at one time, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on your account for new offers.

Here are some of the cruise offers you might receive:

  • Spend $1,000 or more, and get $250 back from Norwegian Cruise Line. The offer expires July 24.
  • Get 5 Membership Rewards points for every eligible dollar spent with river cruise line AmaWaterways. The maximum point total allowed is 50,000. The offer expires Aug. 4.

New Amex Cruise Offers

If you're an American Express cardholder, you might have noticed some exciting new cruise offers popping up in your account. These offers can be a great way to save money on your next cruise.

Spend $1,000 or more on Norwegian Cruise Line and get $250 back, or earn 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent with AmaWaterways, up to 50,000 points. These offers are only available to some cardholders, but they're definitely worth exploring.

The offers are available to cardholders with The Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Gold Card, and The Business Platinum Card from American Express. Check your account to see if you're eligible.

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Some offers are capacity controlled, so it's best to add them to your card as soon as you see them. Also, keep in mind that only 100 Amex Offers are visible at one time, so if you're at capacity, new offers may appear.

Here are some of the Amex cruise offers that have been sent to cardholders recently:

  • Spend $1,000 or more on Norwegian Cruise Line and get $250 back
  • Earn 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent with AmaWaterways, up to 50,000 points

If you're not an American Express cardholder, you might consider applying for a card, especially if you're planning a cruise soon. The Platinum Card from American Express is offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership.

How to Book Cruises

Booking cruises can be a breeze if you know the right steps to follow. To book a cruise through American Express, visit their cruise booking page and find the cruise you're interested in.

Once you've found the cruise you want, log in to your American Express account to access your booking information.

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At checkout, you'll have the option to use your card, pay with points, or use a combination of both. If you choose to pay with points, you'll need to redeem at least 5,000 points.

Here are the key steps to book a cruise through American Express:

  1. Visit Amex’s cruise booking page and find the booking you want.
  2. Log in to your American Express account.
  3. At checkout, use your card, pay with points, or use a combination of both.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are 100,000 Amex points worth in travel?

100,000 Amex points are worth at least $1,000 in travel, but can be redeemed for more valuable experiences like business class flights to Europe.

What payment method is the best to use in a cruise?

For most cruises, credit and debit cards are the preferred payment method due to their convenience and improved security. Check with your cruise line to confirm their accepted payment methods.

Teresa Halvorson

Senior Writer

Teresa Halvorson is a skilled writer with a passion for financial journalism. Her expertise lies in breaking down complex topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content. With a keen eye for detail, Teresa has successfully covered a range of article categories, including currency exchange rates and foreign exchange rates.

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