Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a major player in the global cruise industry, known for its “Freestyle Cruising” concept that offers passengers flexibility in dining, entertainment, and dress codes.
Because cruises represent large, lump-sum travel expenses, choosing the right credit card to book your Norwegian voyage can yield massive rewards.
The Norwegian Cruise Line® Mastercard®
Bank of America issues the co-branded NCL Mastercard. Benefits typically include:
- Bonus “WorldPoints” on Norwegian Cruise Line purchases.
- Points that can be redeemed for onboard credits, stateroom upgrades, or even free cruises.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Is it worth it? Like many cruise line cards, the NCL Mastercard is best for absolute loyalists. Because WorldPoints are generally inflexible and tied to the NCL ecosystem, casual cruisers are usually better off with a general travel rewards card.
General Travel Cards for Norwegian Cruises
When booking an NCL cruise, the transaction typically codes as Travel. Therefore, cards with broad travel multipliers are exceptional choices:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® / Preferred®: Both cards code cruises as travel, earning you 3x or 2x Ultimate Rewards points respectively. You also get industry-leading trip cancellation/interruption insurance—crucial for expensive cruise vacations.
- American Express® Green Card: Earns 3x Membership Rewards points on travel, including cruises.
- Capital One Venture X: A flat 2x miles on all purchases means you get a strong return on the cruise fare, shore excursions, and onboard spending.