Royal Caribbean’s new Royal ONE Visa cards (0 or $99 annual fee) bring welcome bonuses and cruise perks—here’s how to choose.
Royal Caribbean is turning up the heat for cruisers with two new co-branded credit cards from Bank of America—both designed to reward repeat sailers.
If you’re considering a **Royal ONE Visa** for your next voyage, the key question is simple: will your cruising habits match the card’s earning structure and perks?
Two cards, two annual-fee paths
The lineup is split clearly. The **Royal ONE™ Visa Signature®** has **no annual fee**, while the **Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature®** costs **$99 per year**. The difference matters because the Plus card only makes financial sense if you cruise frequently enough to use its added benefits.
Both cards come with welcome offers aimed at getting you to “think cruise” right away.. The no-annual-fee card offers a larger points push relative to what you’ll pay to hold it. while the Plus card is built to reward higher sail frequency and add convenience perks that regular passengers tend to value.
Welcome bonuses that can translate into real cruise value
The **Royal ONE Visa** welcome offer: earn **45,000 bonus points** after spending **$2,000** in the first **90 days**.. Those points can be redeemed for multiple Royal Caribbean-related options such as onboard credits and cabin upgrades.. Redemption is generally valued at **1 cent per point**. with a specific exception mentioned for a **seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise**. which costs a set point amount for a fixed cash valuation.
For the **Royal ONE Plus**. the welcome offer is even higher on the surface: earn **70. 000 bonus points** after spending **$3. 000** in the first **90 days**.. The same general redemption logic applies for Royal Caribbean-related redemptions. which is why the welcome bonus is positioned as a meaningful head start for cruise planning.
There’s a practical angle here: these welcome bonuses are often what people remember most—because they can directly reduce the cost of the next trip.. But they’re also time-sensitive.. If you’re not already planning a cruise soon after opening the account. you may end up spending beyond your usual comfort level just to hit the threshold.
How rewards earnings work on each card
Where things start to diverge is in earning rates.. The no-annual-fee **Royal ONE Visa** is positioned as a cruise-focused supplement rather than an all-purpose rewards engine.. It earns **3 points per dollar** on Royal Caribbean. Celebrity Cruises. and Silversea purchases. and **2 points per dollar** on groceries. gas. and EV charging.. Everything else earns **1 point per dollar**.
The **Royal ONE Plus** increases the rewards density on the cruise lines and expands value in common travel categories.. It earns **4 points per dollar** on Royal Caribbean. Celebrity Cruises. and Silversea. and **2 points per dollar** on groceries. gas. EV charging. airfare. hotels. and dining.. Non-bonus purchases still earn **1 point per dollar**.
This matters because frequent cruisers often spend across airfare, hotels, and meals around sail dates—not just on cruise tickets. The Plus card is clearly designed for that wider “trip wrapper,” while the base card keeps the focus tighter.
Perks that frequent sailers actually feel
The **Royal ONE Plus** adds benefits that are less about earning points and more about smoothing the travel experience.. Cardholders receive **priority boarding** on Royal Caribbean. Celebrity Cruises. and Silversea cruises. plus **private luggage handling** with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.
It also includes a **$120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit every four years**, and it carries **Visa Signature travel protections**.. These are the kinds of perks that don’t always show up in your spreadsheet until you experience them—especially the TSA/Global Entry credit. which can help reduce friction on busy travel days.
Meanwhile, the Royal ONE Visa’s value is more straightforward: its strength is that you can earn cruise rewards without an annual fee, meaning you’re less exposed if your cruising pace slows.
The “should I apply?” checklist
For most travelers, choosing between the two comes down to how often you realistically sail. The **Royal ONE Visa** is the easier fit for cruise fans who might take one trip per year or who prefer keeping cards simple—especially if they plan to use flexible rewards elsewhere.
The **Royal ONE Plus** is best suited to people who sail with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea **at least a couple of times per year**. Otherwise, the **$99 annual fee** can become difficult to justify, even with the higher welcome bonus and added perks.
There’s also a broader travel-finance reality worth keeping in mind: many travelers get better overall value by using transferable rewards cards instead of keeping everything tied to one cruise brand.. Still. co-branded cards can be ideal when you’re consistent. loyal. and able to convert points into the kind of cruise perks you’ll actually use.
Bottom line for cruisers
The new **Royal ONE Visa** cards are a clear attempt to lock in cruise customers—with one card for occasional sailers and another for frequent travelers who want priority handling and extra convenience.
If you cruise only once a year or want a lower-risk card to hold. the no-annual-fee **Royal ONE Visa** is the simpler decision.. If you’re a repeat cruiser and can comfortably get value from priority boarding. luggage handling. and the higher rewards rate. the **Royal ONE Plus** becomes more compelling.
Whichever you choose, make the decision based on your next sailing timeline—and whether the annual fee will be “paid back” through real perks, not just points math.