Should Families Use the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa?

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For many cruise-loving families, it is tempting to sign up for a cruise line credit card that promises free onboard credit and faster rewards toward the next vacation. The Princess Cruises Rewards Visa, issued by Barclays, is tailored specifically to fans of Princess. But is it actually a smart tool for paying for a family cruise, or would most households be better off with a general travel rewards card? This guide breaks down how the Princess card works today, what families can realistically expect to earn, and when it can make sense for repeat cruisers planning Princess vacations.

How the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Works

The Princess Cruises Rewards Visa is a co-branded card issued by Barclays for U.S. residents that earns points on everyday purchases that can be redeemed toward Princess Cruises rewards. According to Princess, cardholders typically earn two points per dollar on eligible Princess purchases such as cruise fares and onboard spending, and one point per dollar on other purchases. Those points can then be redeemed for onboard credit, cruise discounts, and certain travel or merchandise redemptions. While details may change over time, this basic two-tier earning structure has remained consistent, which means the card is most valuable when a family spends heavily with Princess rather than on groceries or gas.

Princess currently advertises a welcome offer of 20,000 bonus points once new cardholders meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. Those 20,000 points are generally positioned as equal to about 200 dollars in onboard credit. For a family sailing on a seven-night Caribbean itinerary, that credit might cover several specialty dinners, a round of mocktails for the kids by the pool, or a photo package purchased in the onboard gallery. Crucially, this bonus typically appears as onboard credit that must be used on a Princess cruise, not as cash back you can deposit into a bank account.

The card generally does not charge an annual fee, which sets it apart from many mid-tier travel rewards cards that cost 95 dollars or more per year. That no-fee structure is attractive for families who only sail every couple of years, since they can keep the card open and maintain their credit line without paying to hold it. However, the tradeoff is that the ongoing rewards rate on non-Princess purchases is modest, and the Princess card may include foreign transaction fees when used abroad. For a family spending heavily in ports overseas, especially in Europe, those fees can quickly eat into the value of any points earned.

Redemptions center around Princess-specific value. Points can usually be redeemed as onboard credit applied to a specific booking, or toward selected cruise discounts and amenities. For example, a family might redeem points for a few hundred dollars in credit on an Alaska sailing and then use that credit to offset the cost of a whale-watching excursion in Juneau or a glacier helicopter tour in Skagway. The catch is that this value is locked into Princess products, so families who are not firmly committed to sailing with Princess in the next couple of years may find the rewards less flexible than a general travel or cash-back card.

Real-World Value: A Sample Family Cruise Scenario

To understand how the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa performs in practice, imagine a family of four from Texas booking a seven-night Caribbean cruise on a newer Princess ship during summer break. Cruise-only fares for an inside or balcony cabin can easily run from about 800 to 1,200 dollars per adult before taxes and port fees, while kids sharing the same cabin might be priced lower on select sailings. If the total cruise fare arrives near 3,000 dollars and the family charges it to the Princess Visa, they would expect to earn roughly two points per dollar on that spend, or about 6,000 points. At a typical valuation, that might translate into roughly 60 dollars of onboard credit, enough for a couple of specialty coffees each morning and a scoop of gelato for the children most days.

Add in onboard spending, which for a family might easily reach another 1,000 dollars between drinks, specialty dining, arcade credits, photos, and shore excursions. If all of that is again charged to the Princess Visa at the double-points rate, the family earns another 2,000 points or about 20 dollars worth of onboard credit. Taken together with the cruise fare, the single vacation could generate close to 80 dollars in value plus any welcome bonus earned earlier in the year. If the family opened the card specifically for this trip and captured the 20,000-point sign-up bonus, they might go into the cruise with about 280 dollars in onboard credit, enough to cover an all-day snorkeling excursion in St. Thomas and a family pizza and movie night on deck.

However, contrast that with a strong general travel rewards card that earns, for example, 2 percent cash back on all purchases without foreign transaction fees. The same 4,000 dollars in cruise and onboard spend would generate about 80 dollars in cash that could be used anywhere, not just with Princess. Many premium travel cards also offer trip delay coverage, baggage insurance, and strong travel protections that are not typically as robust on a no-fee co-branded card. For a family that only sails with Princess occasionally and values flexibility, the general travel card can match or exceed the reward value while also covering hotels, rental cars, or flights associated with the trip.

The calculus becomes more favorable to the Princess Visa when a household consistently cruises with Princess. A family who takes a seven-night Caribbean sailing one year, a 10-night Alaska cruise the next, and then returns for a Mediterranean itinerary a few years later will repeatedly have opportunities to use Princess-specific onboard credit. In that scenario, they might treat the card as a long-term cruise savings tool, letting points accumulate year after year. When they finally book the Mediterranean itinerary, they could redeem several hundred dollars in onboard credit to pay for shore excursions in ports like Barcelona, Athens, and Naples, all covered by years of everyday purchases on the card.

Key Benefits for Princess-Loyal Families

For families who view Princess as their default cruise line, the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa offers a series of benefits that can meaningfully enhance their vacation experience. First, earning double points on Princess purchases means that every deposit and final payment on a cruise, as well as pre-paid items like shore excursions reserved through the Princess website, can help accelerate the pace of rewards. A family that books two cabins for a multi-generational sailing, for instance, would earn double points on each payment, effectively stacking up points that can be redeemed as onboard credit for the grandparents and parents alike.

The welcome bonus is particularly well suited to families planning an imminent cruise. If a household can time their application so that the minimum spending requirement is met using cruise deposits, flights to the departure port, and travel essentials such as luggage or swimwear, they can often earn the full 20,000-point bonus before they sail. That bonus alone, acting as about 200 dollars in onboard credit, could pay for a family spa day, a sushi lunch in a specialty venue, or a photo package of formal night portraits that might have otherwise been cut from the budget.

Another advantage is psychological as much as financial. Some families treat the Princess visa as a dedicated “vacation fund” card. They charge recurring expenses like streaming subscriptions, cell phone bills, and grocery trips to the card, then pay it in full each month. Over the course of a year or two, the gradual accumulation of points feels like a savings plan reserved specifically for their next cruise. Parents can even involve older children in checking the points balance online, turning the eventual redemption into a tangible reward tied to the family’s own spending discipline.

Finally, because the card typically has no annual fee, Princess fans can keep it in their wallet between cruises without financial pressure to downgrade or cancel. This long-term relationship can be useful when future promotions or limited-time offers appear for cardholders. For instance, Princess has occasionally highlighted limited-time onboard credit offers or targeted promotions to cardholders booking select sailings, such as bonus onboard credit on shoulder-season departures or special discounts on longer voyages. While such promotions can change at any time, holding the card ensures a family is in position to take advantage when an appealing offer aligns with their vacation plans.

Drawbacks and Limitations Families Should Know

Despite its clear alignment with Princess fans, the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa comes with several limitations that families need to weigh carefully. The first is the relatively narrow earning structure. Outside of Princess purchases, cardholders typically earn just one point per dollar on everyday spend. In a world where many no-fee cash-back cards offer 1.5 percent or even 2 percent back on all purchases, this lower earn rate can mean sacrificing value every time a parent swipes the card at the supermarket or gas station instead of using a more rewarding alternative.

Redemptions are also less flexible than with general travel or cash-back products. While points can be converted into onboard credit and certain travel or merchandise options, they are directly tied to the Princess ecosystem. A family who accumulates points for several years but then decides to switch future cruises to a different line, or to take a land-based European trip instead, may find those points difficult to use optimally. In contrast, rewards from general travel cards can often be applied to flights, hotels, car rentals, and sometimes even statement credits, giving families the freedom to change plans without worrying about orphaned points.

Foreign transaction fees can be another practical drawback on some co-branded cruise cards, including versions of the Princess Visa highlighted in third-party card reviews. If the card charges a typical 3 percent fee on non-U.S. currency purchases, then using it in port to pay for a family lunch, a souvenir shop visit, or a shore excursion booked locally can cost extra. A family spending 800 dollars across several Mediterranean ports of call might lose around 24 dollars in fees, effectively erasing much of the value created by the double points on onboard purchases.

Finally, the Princess Visa generally does not compete with premium travel cards in terms of ancillary benefits. Many higher-fee travel cards provide priority boarding on partner airlines, complimentary lounge access, robust trip delay and cancellation insurance, or elevated rental car protections. For a family that flies cross-country to reach a cruise embarkation port, those benefits can be worth hundreds of dollars over time. The Princess card focuses instead on cruise-specific rewards, so households must decide whether those rewards outweigh the lost value of broader travel protections found elsewhere.

Comparing the Princess Visa With General Travel Cards

When deciding whether to use the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa for a family cruise, it helps to compare it to the kinds of general travel cards many households already carry. Consider a widely available no-fee card that earns 1.5 to 2 percent back on all purchases and allows statement credits or travel reimbursements. Using that card to pay for a typical 5,000-dollar family cruise, including airfare to the departure port, pre-cruise hotel nights, and onboard spending, might generate between 75 and 100 dollars in rewards. Those rewards could then be used toward the cruise itself or to offset future expenses like rental cars, park tickets, or even back-to-school shopping once the vacation is over.

In contrast, using the Princess Visa on that same 5,000 dollars split between Princess and non-Princess purchases would see part of the spend earning double points and part earning single points, with the value locked into Princess redemptions. If 3,500 dollars went to Princess and 1,500 dollars went to other travel providers, the family might earn about 8,500 points on Princess purchases and 1,500 points elsewhere, or roughly 100 dollars in onboard credit value for future cruises. On paper, that looks similar in dollar terms to the general card, but the difference is choice; one reward can be spent anywhere, the other must be used in the Princess ecosystem.

Another comparison point is trip protection. Some general travel cards with annual fees in the range of 95 to 250 dollars offer automatic trip cancellation and interruption coverage when the card is used to pay for travel. If a child becomes ill just before sailing or a severe storm disrupts air travel to the port, that coverage could reimburse nonrefundable cruise fares or additional hotel nights. Families considering hurricane-season sailings to the Caribbean or early-season Alaska cruises with a risk of flight disruptions may value this type of safety net as much as pure rewards.

The comparison suggests a blended strategy for many families. Parents might use a strong general travel card for airfare, pre- and post-cruise hotels, and foreign purchases in port, capturing higher rewards rates and better protections. They could then reserve the Princess Visa for direct payments to Princess such as deposits, final cruise balances, and pre-booked excursions. That way, the family benefits from both flexible rewards and Princess-specific onboard credit, effectively layering value across multiple cards without committing all their spend to a single, narrow rewards program.

Best Strategies for Families Who Decide to Get the Card

For families who ultimately decide that the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa fits their travel style, thoughtful planning can significantly improve the card’s value. Timing the application before a large cruise-related purchase is one of the most effective moves. If a family intends to book a 4,000-dollar Alaska balcony cabin for next summer, applying for the card a few weeks before paying the deposit can allow them to hit the minimum spending requirement for the welcome bonus using cruise payments, airfare, and travel gear alone. By the time final payment is due, the 20,000-point bonus may already be available for redemption as onboard credit on that same Alaska sailing.

Another strategy is to consolidate Princess-specific expenses onto the card while using more rewarding alternatives for everyday categories. Parents can designate the Princess Visa as the “cruise-only” card, pulling it out to pay deposits on new sailings, pre-booked shore excursions, onboard upgrades such as Princess Plus or Princess Premier fare add-ons, and spa or specialty dining reservations made through the Princess website. For groceries, gas, and school expenses, they can rely on other cards with higher category bonuses or simpler cash-back structures.

Families should also pay attention to how onboard credit is applied and used once on the ship. Princess typically treats onboard credit as a balance on the cabin folio that is automatically used to offset charges like drinks, spa treatments, and souvenirs. Savvy parents might plan ahead by pre-booking a few key experiences, such as a wildlife-focused excursion in Ketchikan or a cultural walking tour in Lisbon, and then using onboard credit to cover incidentals like specialty coffees, kids’ arcade games, or laundry services. This approach ensures that the reward value truly enhances the vacation rather than disappearing into unplanned impulse purchases.

Finally, as with any rewards card, disciplined payment habits are critical. The value of double points on a cruise fare is quickly erased if the family carries a balance at a high interest rate. Treat the Princess Visa as a charge card for which the statement is paid in full every month. Families can even set automatic payments from a dedicated savings account labeled “Vacation Fund” so that each cruise payment is matched by a planned payoff, keeping the focus on free onboard extras rather than on long-term credit card debt.

Who Should Skip the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa

Not every traveling family will benefit from adding the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa to their wallet. Households that rarely cruise with Princess or tend to try different lines from year to year are usually better off with flexible travel or cash-back cards. If your last three vacations have included a Royal Caribbean sailing, a land-based trip to national parks, and a Disney cruise, a Princess-specific rewards structure may feel too narrow. In that case, general travel rewards that can be steered toward whichever brand is chosen next give parents more control and help prevent unused points from expiring or becoming difficult to redeem.

Families carrying existing credit card debt or working to repair their credit should also approach co-branded rewards cards cautiously. While the lure of a 200-dollar onboard credit bonus is strong, interest charges on a growing balance will far outweigh the short-term benefit. For those households, focusing on a low-interest card or even using a debit card for travel purchases may be more responsible until balances are under control. They can still enjoy Princess promotions such as sale fares, resident discounts, or military onboard credit offers without needing the cruise card.

Another group that might skip the card is families who value strong travel insurance benefits from their credit cards. Premium travel cards often include emergency medical evacuation coverage, baggage delay compensation, and rental car insurance, all of which can be invaluable on complex trips involving multiple flights and long pre- or post-cruise stays in international cities. Because the Princess Visa is centered on rewards rather than protections, those families may be better served keeping their travel purchases on a card that emphasizes insurance and assistance services.

Lastly, frequent international travelers may prioritize cards with no foreign transaction fees. If you envision spending heavily in ports such as Santorini, Reykjavik, or Yokohama, and you prefer to book local shore excursions and restaurants rather than ship-sponsored options, even a modest foreign transaction fee can erode the value of your rewards. A card designed for global use without those fees can be a better everyday companion, while Princess-specific value might instead come from the cruise line’s own promotions, onboard booking discounts, or loyalty program tiers.

The Takeaway

The Princess Cruises Rewards Visa can be a useful tool for families who are genuinely loyal to Princess and comfortable planning at least one cruise every year or two. When used strategically, particularly to capture the welcome bonus and double points on Princess purchases, the card can generate hundreds of dollars in onboard credit that pays for real experiences kids and parents will remember, from glacier excursions to special dining nights. The fact that the card usually carries no annual fee makes it easy to hold long term as a dedicated cruise payment method.

Yet the card’s narrow reward structure, limited redemption flexibility, and potential foreign transaction fees make it a less compelling option as a primary, everyday card for most households. Families who sail different lines or prefer land-based vacations may derive more value from general travel or cash-back cards that provide broad flexibility and stronger travel protections. The optimal strategy for many will be a hybrid approach: keep a versatile, high-earning travel card for flights, hotels, and everyday life, and, if Princess is a regular part of your travel calendar, layer the Princess Visa on top for direct cruise purchases and occasional bonus offers.

Ultimately, whether families should use the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa for cruise vacations comes down to how often they sail with Princess, how disciplined they are with credit, and how much they value onboard credit as opposed to flexible cash or miles. By mapping out your upcoming trips, estimating cruise and onboard spending, and comparing potential rewards across cards, you can decide if this co-branded card will truly enhance your next voyage or if your family’s wallet is better served by more flexible alternatives.

FAQ

Q1. Is the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa worth it for a first-time Princess family cruiser? For a first-time family sailing with Princess, the card can be worthwhile if you plan to meet the welcome bonus spending requirement using your cruise fare and associated travel costs, and if you are confident you will use the resulting onboard credit on that trip. If you are unsure whether you will sail with Princess again soon, a flexible cash-back or travel card may provide more long-term value.

Q2. Can I use Princess Visa onboard credit for shore excursions for my kids? In many cases, onboard credit redeemed from Princess Visa points can be applied toward shore excursions booked through Princess, including family-friendly tours. Families often use onboard credit to cover activities like beach days, wildlife safaris, or cultural city tours that everyone can enjoy together, but availability and rules can vary by sailing.

Q3. Does the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa charge foreign transaction fees? Some versions of the card have included foreign transaction fees when making purchases in non-U.S. currencies, which can reduce the value of using the card in international ports. Families expecting to spend significantly in foreign countries should check the latest card terms or consider a separate card with no foreign transaction fees for off-ship purchases.

Q4. How many points do I earn on a typical family cruise fare? With the common earning rate of two points per dollar on Princess purchases, a 3,000-dollar cruise fare for a family could generate around 6,000 points. At typical redemption values, this might translate to roughly 60 dollars in onboard credit, with additional points earned on pre-booked excursions and onboard spending paid with the card.

Q5. Can I combine Princess Visa rewards with other onboard credit offers? In many situations, onboard credit earned through Princess Visa redemptions can sit alongside other credits from promotions, travel agents, or loyalty benefits on your stateroom folio. Families sometimes board with several sources of onboard credit that collectively cover a significant portion of their on-ship spending, although specific combinability can vary by offer.

Q6. Is it better to use a general travel card for flights and hotels to the cruise port? Often yes. A strong general travel card may offer higher rewards rates on airfare and hotels, plus valuable protections like trip delay and lost luggage coverage. Many families choose to put flights and pre- or post-cruise hotel stays on a general travel card while reserving the Princess Visa for cruise fare, deposits, and Princess-booked excursions.

Q7. What happens if I earn Princess points but cancel or delay my cruise plans? Because Princess Visa rewards are tied to the Princess ecosystem, points are generally most valuable when you have an actual Princess cruise planned. If your plans change and you delay cruising for several years or switch to another line, it may become harder to use your points optimally compared with flexible cash-back or transferable points.

Q8. How should families avoid interest charges when using the Princess Visa? The best approach is to treat the card as a tool for earning rewards, not as a way to borrow long term. Families can set a dedicated budget for cruise spending, charge deposits and final payments to the card, and then pay the full statement balance each month, ideally via automatic payments, so that interest charges never undercut the value of the earned onboard credit.

Q9. Can older kids or teens have spending privileges tied to the Princess Visa onboard? Onboard purchases are typically charged to the cabin folio via each guest’s cruise card or medallion, which is backed by the credit card on file. Parents can usually adjust spending privileges for children, allowing teens to make limited purchases for snacks or arcade games that ultimately post to the family’s account funded in part by onboard credit.

Q10. If my family cruises with multiple lines, should we still get the Princess card? If Princess is only one of several cruise lines you use and you sail with it infrequently, a broad travel or cash-back card will likely serve you better as your primary rewards tool. In that case, you might skip the Princess Visa altogether or open it only when planning a specific Princess-heavy period of travel where the welcome bonus and onboard credit redemptions clearly justify the added card.