Every month American Express, Chase, and other credit card issuers come up with new offers for their card holders when they make purchases at select merchants.  If you're a cruiser with the right card, then May 2026 might be a good time to pay for a cruise.

Not every cardholder has the same options, so you'll need to check on the American Express website once you've logged in.  Look under Amex Offers & Benefits and be sure to click to add the offer you want to your card before you make the purchase, and verify the terms (and expiration date) ahead of time.

When you’re on a cruise there is one universal truth - you can’t wait to be on another one! Cruise lines are ready to abide and offer incentives for you to book future cruises while you're onboard. Some of the programs offer greater benefits than others, but the bottom line is that if you know what you want, and you're ready to book, you can only win by using these programs.  Below we compare the cost and incentives for booking on land vs onboard for several popular cruise lines...