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Forbes
21 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Royal Caribbean Credit Card Review 2025: Sailing Nowhere Fast
The sea may be calling, but the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card* is not. Though the card carries so much potential, most cruisers will be disappointed by its low earning rates and distinct lack of benefits while traveling. For a no annual fee card, the welcome bonus delights. You have the opportunity to earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and a $50 discount for flights booked with Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program after spending $3,500, both within the first 90 days of account opening. You can double the value of each point by choosing your reward redemptions carefully. Saving up your points for cabin upgrades, companion fares or cruise vacations can lead to returns of up to 2 cents per point, which is a good return if you're willing to patiently wait for your next reward. Why you can trust Forbes Advisor Our credit card editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Advertisers do not and cannot influence our ratings. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below. This card could feel like a cruise to nowhere based on how low the earning rates are. There's only one bonus category—charges made with Royal Caribbean or its sister brands—and purchases top out at 2 points per dollar spent. The vast majority of your purchases will only earn a single point per dollar. Airline and hotel credit cards typically lavish cardholders with extras like status boosts, priority boarding or discounts, but the Royal Caribbean Visa doesn't offer a single benefit while cruising. The Royal Caribbean Visa Signature earns MyCruise points at the following rates: Additionally, as a new cardholder, you can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and a $50 discount for flights booked with Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program after spending $3,500, both within the first 90 days of account opening. Royal Caribbean (and its sister brand, Celebrity Cruises) offer an assortment of redemption options for MyCruise points. Of these, onboard credit, discounts on cruises and charitable donations have the easiest-to-understand values: Your points are worth 1 cent each, meaning 15,000 MyCruise points would buy you $150 in onboard credit or as a discount off your cruise fare. More exciting options—with a higher return per point—include stateroom upgrades, complimentary companion fares or entirely free cruises. The exact value per point on these varies by the precise sailing you're booking, but could increase your point value up to two cents each. For example, the same 15,000 MyCruise points that are worth $150 in onboard credit are also enough to cover the cost of an upgrade on a four to eight-night cruise from an interior to oceanview stateroom valued at up to $300. Free cruises begin at 50,000 MyCruise points for a three or four-night cruise in an oceanview stateroom (valid on cruise fares up to $1,000). Eligible seven night sailings may be redeemed for 125,000 points. This could be a nice incentive for saving your points until you have enough for a larger redemption. Cardholders can also redeem their points for merchandise, though it generally represents poor value. Forbes Advisor uses estimated spending amounts to simulate the number of points you might earn from this card in one year. Based on data from multiple government agencies, our research shows that a household earning in the 70th percentile brings in $127,200 of income and can reasonably charge $40,398 to a credit card across the following categories: Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card* Rewards Potential The Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Credit Card* is nearly identical to the Royal Caribbean card—both cards have no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and earn MyCruise Rewards points at the same rate. For the most part, you'll simply need to choose between the branding that shows on your card name and design. With the Celebrity Cruises Credit Card, you'll still have access to redemptions, including cruise vacations, discounts and onboard credit at the same prices. Currently, there's one slight advantage to choosing the Royal Caribbean version of the card: Only the Royal Caribbean credit card offers new cardholders a small discount on Air2Sea bookings. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a fantastic, flexible rewards card, especially if you're looking for one without an annual fee (rates & fees). It has no foreign transaction fee and features flexible rewards. While you can't redeem Capital One miles directly for a free cruise, you can reimburse yourself for any travel expenses charged to the card. That's similar to the rate you'd get for onboard credit or fare discounts with the Royal Caribbean card. There are two reasons why the VentureOne could be a better choice for your needs. First, it has a higher base earning rate of 1.25 miles per $1 spent, which means your rewards will add up 25% faster. Additionally, your rewards can be transferred to partnering airlines and hotels. Not only does that add versatility, but it could lead to even greater values. One of the best ways to earn rewards on your cruise fare is with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If you're willing to reserve your cruise through Chase Travel rather than directly with the cruise line or another agency, you can earn 5 Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar on your fare. Onboard charges earn 2 points per dollar, which is the same multiplier you'd get from the Royal Caribbean card. The Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee, though most cardholders find they get enough value from the card to offset it. You'll get a $50 credit for hotel bookings made with Chase Travel annually, perfect for a night if you arrive at your point of embarkation the night before. The card also includes numerous forms of travel insurance and the ability to transfer points to airlines or hotels for additional redemption options. Additionally, your points are worth 25% more, or 1.25 cents each, when used for travel booked through Chase Travel (including cruises). Unfortunately, the Royal Caribbean Visa Card doesn't quite hit the mark when choosing a travel rewards credit card. We love that it offers no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, but it lags many other cards in terms of earning rates, redemption versatility and the value per point. Unless you have a massive amount of regular spending with Royal Caribbean, you're likely better off looking for a card with broader options. Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including: We give greater weight to the card features we believe cardholders will use most frequently. These factors combine to generate a star rating for each card. To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards. *The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Mortgage Rates Today: June 6, 2025 - 30-Year Rates Steady, 15-Year Rates Down
Currently, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.76%, compared to 6.85% a week ago, according to the Mortgage Research Center. For borrowers who want to pay off their home faster, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.74%, down 2.03% from the previous week. If you're thinking about refinancing to lock in a lower rate, compare your existing mortgage rate with current market rates to make sure it's worth the cost to refinance. Today, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage is 6.76%, compared to last week when it was 6.85%. The APR on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is 6.79%. The APR was 6.88% last week. APR is the all-in cost of your loan. With today's interest rate of 6.76%, a 30-year fixed mortgage of $100,000 costs approximately $649 per month in principal and interest (taxes and fees not included), the Forbes Advisor mortgage calculator shows. Borrowers will pay about $134,477 in total interest over the life of the loan. Today's 15-year mortgage (fixed-rate) is 5.74%, down 2.03% from the previous week. The same time last week, the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage was at 5.86%. The APR on a 15-year fixed is 5.78%. It was 5.91% a week earlier. A 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with today's interest rate of 5.74% will cost $830 per month in principal and interest on a $100,000 mortgage (not including taxes and insurance). In this scenario, borrowers would pay approximately $49,802 in total interest. Today's average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage (a mortgage above 2025's conforming loan limit of $806,500 in most areas) fell 4.29% from last week to 7.18%. Borrowers with a 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage with today's interest rate of 7.18% will pay approximately $678 per month in principal and interest per $100,000 borrowed. That would be $144,315. Mortgage rates initially trended downward post-spring 2024. However, they surged again in October 2024—despite cuts by the Federal Reserve to the federal funds rate (its benchmark interest rate) in September, November and December 2024. Rates began to drop again in mid-January 2025, but experts don't forecast them falling by a significant amount in the near future. Mortgage rates are influenced by various economic factors, making it difficult to predict when they will drop. Mortgage rates follow U.S. Treasury bond yields. When bond yields decrease, mortgage rates generally follow suit. The Federal Reserve's decisions and global events also play a key role in shaping mortgage rates. If inflation rises or the economy slows, the Fed may lower its federal funds rate. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fed reduced rates, which drove interest rates to record lows. A significant drop in mortgage rates seems unlikely in the near future. However, they may decline if inflation eases or the economy weakens. To get an estimate of your mortgage costs, using a mortgage calculator can help. Simply input the following information: Mortgage interest rates are determined by several factors, including some that borrowers can't control: While the above factors set the base interest rate for new mortgages, there are several areas that borrowers can focus on to get a lower rate: As you compare lenders, consider getting rate quotes for several loan programs. In addition to comparing rates and fees, these programs can have flexible down payment and credit requirements that make qualifying easier. Conventional mortgages are likely to offer competitive rates when you have a credit score between 670 and 850, although it's possible to qualify with a minimum score of 620. This home loan type also doesn't require annual fees when you have at least 20% equity and waive PMI. Several government-backed programs are better when you want to make little or no down payment: Comparing lenders and loan programs is an excellent start. Borrowers should also strive for a good or excellent credit score between 670 and 850 and a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less. Further, making a minimum down payment of 20% on conventional mortgages can help you automatically waive private mortgage insurance premiums, which increases your borrowing costs. Buying discount points or lender credits can also reduce your interest rate. Most rate locks last 30 to 60 days and your lender may not charge a fee for this initial period. However, extending the rate lock period up to 90 or 120 days is possible, depending on your lender, but additional costs may apply. A mortgage interest rate reflects what a lender is charging you on top of your loan amount in return for allowing you to borrow money. Annual percentage rate (APR), on the other hand, is a calculation that includes both a loan's interest rate and finance charges, expressed as an annual cost over the life of the loan. In other words, it's the total cost of credit. APR accounts for interest, fees and time. Since APRs include both the interest rate and certain fees associated with a home loan, the APR can help you understand the total cost of a mortgage if you keep it for the entire term. The APR will usually be higher than the interest rate, but there are exceptions.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Today's Mortgage Refinance Rates: June 6, 2025
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance fell to 6.84% today, according to the Mortgage Research Center. The 15-year, fixed-rate refinance mortgage average rate is 5.74%. For 20-year mortgage refinances, the average rate is 6.63%. Related: Compare Current Refinance Rates The current 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance average rate stands at 6.84%, versus 6.9% last week. The annual percentage rate (APR) on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is 6.87%, lower than last week's 6.93%. The APR is the all-in cost of a home loan—the interest rate including any fees or extra costs. At the current interest rate, borrowers with a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage of $100,000 will pay $655 per month for principal and interest, according to the Forbes Advisor mortgage calculator. That doesn't include taxes and fees. Over the life of the loan, the borrower will pay total interest costs of about $136,302. The 20-year fixed mortgage refinance average rate stands at 6.63%, versus 6.77% last week. The APR, or annual percentage rate, on a 20-year fixed mortgage is 6.67%. It was 6.81% last week. At the current interest rate, a 20-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance of $100,000 would cost $753 per month in principal and interest. That doesn't include taxes and fees. That borrower would pay roughly $81,291 in total interest over the life of the loan. For a 15-year fixed refinance mortgage, the average interest rate is currently 5.74%. The same time last week, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage stood at 5.84%. The APR, or annual percentage rate, on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.78%. Last week, it was 5.89%. Based on the current interest rate, a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance of $100,000 would cost $830 per month in principal and interest—not including taxes and fees. That would equal about $49,763 in total interest over the life of the loan. The average interest rate on the 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance (a loan above the federal conforming loan limit of $806,500 in most places) dropped week-over-week to 7.23%. Last week, the average rate was 7.61%. Borrowers with a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance with today's interest rate will pay $681 per month in principal and interest per $100,000 borrowed. A 15-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance has an average interest rate of 6.38%, up 1.59% from last week. At today's rate, a borrower would pay $864 per month in principal and interest per $100,000 borrowed for a 15-year, fixed-rate jumbo refi. Over the life of the loan, that borrower would pay around $55,831 in total interest. Mortgage lenders charge different interest rates for purchase and refinance loans. Current refinance rates are typically 0.01% to 0.15% higher for a 30-year fixed rate versus a purchase loan. You can reduce your interest rate by paying your closing costs up front instead of rolling them into the loan with a no-closing-cost refinance loan. Buying discount points and avoiding mortgage insurance can also help. When considering a mortgage refinance, compare your current interest rate, mortgage balance and loan term with the new interest rate and term. This comparison helps you estimate your new monthly payment and savings, making it easier to determine if refinancing is the right choice. You may want to refinance your home when you can lower your interest rate, reduce monthly payments or pay off your mortgage sooner. You may want to use a cash-out finance to access your home's equity or take out a new loan to eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI). Refinancing your mortgage can make sense if you plan to remain in your home for a number of years. There is, after all, a cost to refinancing that will take some time to recoup. You'll need to know the loan's closing costs to calculate the break-even point where your savings from a lower interest rate exceed your closing costs. You can calculate this by dividing your closing costs by the monthly savings from your new payment. Our mortgage refinance calculator could help you determine if refinancing is right for you. Refinancing a mortgage isn't that different than taking out a mortgage in the first place, and it's always smart to have a strategy for finding the lowest rate possible. Here are some suggested approaches to get the best rate: Having a strong credit score is one of the best things you can do to get approved and get a lower rate. You're also likely to look better to mortgage refinance lenders if you don't have too much debt relative to your income. You should keep a regular watch on mortgage rates, which fluctuate often. Also see if you can manage a mortgage payment for a shorter loan term since they usually have lower interest rates. Since the final quarter of 2024, national average mortgage rates have remained in the middle-to-high 6% range, and experts expect this trend to continue through the first half of 2025. If inflation slows and unemployment levels hold steady or rise, the Federal Reserve may reduce the federal funds rate, potentially leading to lower mortgage rates in the second half of the year. However, if inflation stays high and unemployment decreases, rates are likely to remain stable. Since mortgage rates are expected to change little in the first half of the year, those looking to refinance at a lower rate should consider waiting until later in the year. In the meantime, improving your credit score and paying down your loan balance will help you secure the lowest possible rate when you're ready to explore refinancing options. You can usually refinance a mortgage in as quickly as 45 to 60 days, but it depends on many factors – like the type of home loan you choose. Always check with your lender before committing to borrow. Most lenders allow you to refinance a mortgage six months after you start paying it off, although some require that you wait 12 months. Contact your lender to be sure. Closing costs for a refinance can be anywhere from 2% to 6% of the cost of the loan. It's always a good idea to ask the lender what kind of closing costs they'll charge before you decide to borrow from them.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Mortgage Refinance Rates Today: June 5, 2025
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance declined to 6.88% today, according to the Mortgage Research Center. Rates averaged 5.76% for a 15-year financed mortgage and 6.69% for a 20-year financed mortgage. Related: Compare Current Refinance Rates Currently, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance is 6.88%, down 1.36% from this time last week. Borrowers with a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage of $100,000 will pay $658 per month for principal and interest at the current interest rate, according to the Forbes Advisor mortgage calculator, not including taxes and fees. Over the life of the loan, the borrower will pay total interest costs of about $137,385. Another way of looking at loan costs is the annual percentage rate, or APR. For a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, the APR is 6.91%, lower than last week's 7.01%. The APR is essentially the all-in cost of the home loan. For a 20-year fixed refinance mortgage, the average interest rate is currently 6.69%, compared to 6.87% last week. The APR, or annual percentage rate, on a 20-year fixed mortgage is 6.73%. It was 6.91% last week. At today's interest rate, a 20-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance of $100,000 would cost $757 per month in principal and interest – not including taxes and fees. That would equal about $82,131 in total interest over the life of the loan. For a 15-year fixed refinance mortgage, the average interest rate is currently 5.76%. The same time last week, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage stood at 5.91%. The APR, or annual percentage rate, on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.81%. Last week, it was 5.95%. Based on the current interest rate, a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance of $100,000 would cost $831 per month in principal and interest—not including taxes and fees. That would equal about $50,033 in total interest over the life of the loan. The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance (a loan above the federal conforming loan limit of $806,500 in most places) decreased week-over-week to 7.26%, versus 7.62% last week. At today's interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance, a borrower would pay $683 per month in principal and interest on a $100,000 loan. A 15-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance is 6.39% on average, up 0.68% from last week. At today's interest rate, a borrower with a 15-year, fixed-rate jumbo refinance would pay $865 per month in principal and interest per $100,000 borrowed. Over the life of the loan, that borrower would pay around $55,950 in total interest. No, mortgage refinance rates are typically higher than purchase loan rates due to additional risk for the lender. Cash-out refinance rates are also higher than a standard rate-and-term refinance as you are increasing your loan balance by tapping your equity. The application process for refinancing a mortgage is similar to getting a home purchase loan regarding the required paperwork and home appraisal. Additionally, similar closing costs from 2% to 6% of the loan amount apply, which is an extra expense. When you refinance, your new rate is based on current refinance rates and your loan term. This rate replaces your existing mortgage repayment terms. When considering a mortgage refinance, compare your current interest rate, mortgage balance and loan term with the new interest rate and term. This comparison helps you estimate your new monthly payment and savings, making it easier to determine if refinancing is the right choice. There are a number of reasons why you should refinance your home, but many homeowners consider refinancing when they can lower their interest rate, reduce their monthly payments or pay off their home loan sooner. Refinancing also may help you access your home's equity or eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI). Refinancing your mortgage can make sense if you plan to remain in your home for a number of years. There is, after all, a cost to refinancing that will take some time to recoup. You'll need to know the loan's closing costs to calculate the break-even point where your savings from a lower interest rate exceed your closing costs. You can calculate this by dividing your closing costs by the monthly savings from your new payment. Our mortgage refinance calculator could help you determine if refinancing is right for you. Refinancing a mortgage isn't that different than taking out a mortgage in the first place, and it's always smart to have a strategy for finding the lowest rate possible. Here are some suggested approaches to get the best rate: Having a strong credit score is one of the best things you can do to get approved and get a lower rate. You're also likely to look better to mortgage refinance lenders if you don't have too much debt relative to your income. You should keep a regular watch on mortgage rates, which fluctuate often. Also see if you can manage a mortgage payment for a shorter loan term since they usually have lower interest rates. National average mortgage interest rates will have the most significant impact on refinancing trends throughout 2025, whether they rise or fall. While predicting mortgage interest rates is challenging, experts expect them to remain in the middle-to-high 6% range during the first half of 2025, similar to the final quarter of 2024. However, rates could potentially decrease by the end of the year. If inflation slows and national unemployment levels remain steady or increase, the Federal Reserve might cut the federal funds rate, leading to lower mortgage rates. On the other hand, if the opposite happens, average rates will likely see little movement. Since experts anticipate minimal movement in average mortgage rates during the first half of the year, those looking to refinance at a lower rate may want to wait until later in the year to secure the best rate. In the meantime, improving your credit score, making on-time payments and paying down your loan amount will put you in the best position to secure a low rate when you begin shopping for a refinance offer. Closing costs for a refinance can be anywhere from 2% to 6% of the cost of the loan. It's always a good idea to ask the lender what kind of closing costs they'll charge before you decide to borrow from them. You should always shop around when you're trying to get a new mortgage or refinance an existing one. Take a look at the best mortgage refinance lenders as a starting point and try applying online. Always find out the closing costs each lender will charge, and make sure you're able to communicate well with the lender you want to choose. In a bumpy housing market, you'll probably be in touch with the lender more often than you realize. You can usually refinance a mortgage in as quickly as 45 to 60 days, but it depends on many factors – like the type of home loan you choose. Always check with your lender before committing to borrow.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Norwegian Cruise Line Credit Card Review 2025: Cruise Rewards That Leave Loyalty Adrift
The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard* is designed for frequent sailors, but no matter how much you love the onboard experience, you'll likely be disappointed by the credit card. This no annual fee card offers elevated earnings on cruise expenses but stops short of offering any VIP perks like stateroom upgrades, free drinks or discounted excursions. You won't pay annual fees with the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard*. And even better, there are no foreign transaction fees. That makes this a good option for your tours, meals and souvenirs ashore, regardless of where your cruises take you. Although the standard earning rates on this credit card lean more toward basic than exciting, Bank of America Preferred Rewards members get a pretty sweet boost. You can earn 25% to 75% more on every purchase, depending on your average account balances with Bank of America and Merrill. Why you can trust Forbes Advisor Our credit card editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Advertisers do not and cannot influence our ratings. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below. The WorldPoints you earn from this credit card are most interesting when used toward Norwegian Cruise Line redemptions—which you might consider exactly the point. But some redemption options, like cruise discounts or onboard credit, are no better than what you'd get from a cash-back card but without the flexibility. Even if you limit your search to no annual fee credit cards, you'll find numerous options for credit cards that earn rewards at higher rates or with more bonus categories (or both). The Norwegian card is best, unsurprisingly, for Norwegian Cruise Line charges but not much else. The NCL credit card is best for transactions made directly with Norwegian Cruise Line but earns WorldPoints® Rewards on all purchases: Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on Norwegian purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on eligible air and hotel purchases and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members may earn 25% to 75% more points on eligible charges. These are great earning rates for transactions with Norwegian Cruise Line, such as your actual cruise fare and any onboard charges. However, the other purchase categories aren't particularly competitive. New cardholders can also earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. The Norwegian Cruise Line Mastercard earns WorldPoints rewards, which are best used toward awards with NCL. Options include: When redeeming for upgrades or free cruises, the value of your redemption will vary based on the precise costs of that sailing. Full category upgrades, like going from an oceanview to a balcony, cost 30,000 points for cruises longer than five nights. Therefore, when the cost to upgrade with cash is $300 or less, you'd be better off redeeming your WorldPoints for a discount on the cruise fare and booking your preferred room directly. When the cost is higher, though, there's some room for strategic arbitrage and getting an impressive return on your points. The ability to redeem points for a free cruise is where you could potentially get an oversized return for your points—assuming you want to travel to the Bahamas, the Caribbean or Mexico. Redemptions could be worth more than 1 cent per point, especially if you're traveling on peak dates or new ships where cruise fares are typically higher. Some sailings or dates may be excluded. Forbes Advisor uses estimated spending amounts to simulate the number of points you might earn from this card in one year. Based on data from multiple government agencies, our research shows that a household earning in the 70th percentile brings in $127,200 of income and can reasonably charge $40,398 to a card annually across the following categories: Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard* Rewards Potential The more multipurpose Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) is another no-annual-fee travel rewards card with no foreign transaction fees, making it a viable alternative for some cruisers. Its rewards are far more flexible than the Norwegian Cruise card's: You can redeem Capital One miles to reimburse yourself for any travel expenses charged on the card (including cruise expenses) or transfer them to airline or hotel partners to cover other elements of your vacation. The earnings structure on the VentureOne is quite different from the Norwegian card. Sadly, you won't earn any bonus miles on cruise charges but you might be able to make up for that with its base earnings rate of 1.25 miles per $1 spent. That extra 25% on general spending could go a long way toward your next trip. Another major advantage of the VentureOne is its low intro APR offer of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR after that; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you. Ironically, you can earn a stronger rate on your cruise fare with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card than with a co-branded cruise credit card. This fan-favorite travel card earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. There is one major caveat, though—to earn 5 points per dollar on your cruise fare, you'll need to book through Chase Travel (otherwise, you'll only earn 2 points per dollar spent, which is also what you'll earn for onboard charges). When redeeming points to pay for a cruise or other travel, your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are worth 1.25 cents each when booked with Chase Travel, which is better than most Norwegian Cruise Line WorldPoints redemptions. You can also transfer your points to over a dozen airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. The Sapphire Preferred also shines for its generous included travel protections, like complimentary trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and primary auto rental coverage. Simplicity is the name of the game with the Citi Double Cash® Card. It earns cash back at a flat rate of 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they're paid off, and earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. If your spending habits are varied and not disproportionately focused on Norwegian cruise expenses, rewards could add up faster. This is primarily a cash-back credit card, so redemptions are easy and flexible. There's a major downside to this card to consider. Namely, the card charges a foreign transaction fee. Norwegian uses the U.S. dollar for its cruise fare and all onboard charges, so you won't need to worry about foreign transaction fees for anything you buy on the ship. However, the Double Cash would be a poor choice to use for charges you make on shore while docked at international ports of call. The Norwegian Cruise Line card offers modest value, but its lack of cruise perks means you might want to look twice before applying. If you're willing to save up your points for free cruises or if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, there could be an interesting case to get this card. Otherwise, more general travel credit cards could be more rewarding, even if you limit your search to cards with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including: We give greater weight to the card features we believe cardholders will use most frequently. These factors combine to generate a star rating for each card. To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards. *The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
