Bank of America Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® Credit Card Review: Maximize Royal Caribbean Cruise Rewards
For loyal cruisers, the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® Credit Card offers an impressive 4x points on Royal Caribbean and more. Discover if its robust rewards, substantial bonus, and travel benefits justify its annual fee for your next voyage.
| Annual Fee | $99.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | 60,000 bonus points or $600 credit |
| Rewards Rate | 1x-4x points on purchases |
| Intro APR | None |
| Regular APR | Standard APR 17.74% - 27.74% variable |
| Other Fees | Balance Transfer Fee 5% of each transaction No foreign transaction fees |
Overview
The Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® Credit Card is a powerhouse for loyal cruisers, offering an impressive 4 points per dollar on Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises®, and Silversea® purchases. Its generous rewards structure extends beyond the high seas, with a solid 2 points per dollar on a wide range of everyday spending, including airlines, hotels, dining, groceries, and gas. New cardholders can also net a substantial sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points after meeting the initial spending requirement, which translates to a valuable $600 in onboard credit or cruise discounts.
Beyond its strong rewards rates, the card packs in several travel-friendly perks that help justify its $99 annual fee. It eliminates foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion for international travel, and offers a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years. Frequent spenders can even earn an annual $200 cruise discount. However, it's crucial to note that this card is designed for those who pay their balance in full, as it comes with a high variable APR and lacks an introductory 0% APR offer.
Ultimately, the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® is an excellent choice for frequent sailors with Royal Caribbean's family of cruise lines who want to maximize their onboard experience and travel benefits. If you can leverage the high rewards rates and valuable perks without carrying a balance, this card offers a compelling value proposition that can easily make your next cruise more rewarding. Those who prefer other cruise lines or need flexibility in carrying a balance from month to month should look elsewhere.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel perks
- Annual travel credit/discount
Things to consider
- Annual fee
- No intro APR period
- High regular APR
- High balance transfer fee
- Rewards are specialized
Benefits
Generous Welcome Offer
Right out of the gate, the Royal ONE Plus™ card greets new cardholders with a valuable sign-up bonus. You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. These points are redeemable for $600 in onboard credit or cruise discounts, which is more than enough to cover the card's $99 annual fee for several years. The spending requirement is quite reasonable, making this a highly attainable and rewarding welcome offer for anyone planning a cruise.
Powerful Rewards On and Off the Ship
This card’s primary appeal is its exceptional rewards rate for loyal cruisers. You’ll earn an impressive 4 points per dollar on all eligible purchases with Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises®, and Silversea®. What makes the card stand out, however, is its value beyond cruise bookings. It also offers an excellent 2 points per dollar on a wide range of everyday spending categories, including airlines, hotels, dining, groceries, gas, and even EV charging stations. This versatile rewards structure allows you to accumulate points quickly, whether you're planning your next voyage or just running daily errands. All other purchases earn a standard 1 point per dollar.
Valuable Travel & Cruise Benefits
Beyond its strong rewards program, the Royal ONE Plus™ card is packed with perks that enhance the travel experience. Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years, a benefit typically reserved for premium travel cards with much higher annual fees. When it's time to set sail, you'll enjoy priority suite boarding and luggage handling. Plus, for those who spend significantly on the card, there's an anniversary reward: a $200 cruise discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each year. With no foreign transaction fees, this card is a well-rounded and cost-effective choice for frequent travelers and dedicated cruisers alike.
Drawbacks
The primary limitation of this card is its highly specialized rewards structure. While it's a powerhouse for loyalists of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea, its value diminishes significantly for those who prefer other travel brands or aren't frequent cruisers. The points are best redeemed for cruise discounts or onboard credit within this ecosystem, offering little flexibility for other types of travel. This niche focus means that for many people, the $99 annual fee would be better spent on a more general-purpose travel rewards card.
Furthermore, this card is a poor choice for anyone who might carry a balance. It offers no introductory 0% APR period, and its regular variable APR of 17.74% - 27.74% is quite high, especially for a card that requires good to excellent credit. Any interest charges could quickly cancel out the value of the rewards you earn. The card also carries a steep 5% balance transfer fee, making it an unsuitable option for consolidating debt. Finally, while the card offers an annual $200 cruise discount, it requires a hefty $20,000 in spending each year to qualify, a threshold that may be too high for many cardholders to reach.
Decision Guidance
This card is a must-have for loyalists of Royal Caribbean's family of cruise lines who always pay their balance in full, as its rewards and perks are tailored to maximize the value of future voyages. However, travelers who prefer other cruise lines or need the flexibility to carry a balance will find the card's benefits too restrictive and its high APR a significant drawback.
Summary
For loyalists of Royal Caribbean's family of cruise lines, this card is a powerhouse, offering an exceptional rewards rate on cruises and a surprisingly strong return on broad everyday spending categories. The valuable travel credits and potential for an annual cruise discount easily offset the $99 fee, but this card is strictly for those who pay their balance in full, as it carries a high APR and lacks any introductory interest-free period.