American Express Travel Rebrands Cruise Collection, Advisors Still Barred from Participating

Just a month after American Express restricted access to its travel amenities program to in-house bookings only, the company has relaunched its Cruise program as the Cruise & Yacht Collection.

According to the company the new name and identify “reflect the evolution of its portfolio across premium cruise, yacht and superyacht experiences.”

The Collection brings together 20 participating cruise lines and yacht brands, including The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and Aman at Sea, alongside newer premium cruise partners Virgin Voyages, and Explora Journeys.

The program offers Platinum Card and Centurion Members between $100 and $300 in onboard credit per stateroom, plus a special amenity on bookings across 20 cruise lines and yacht brands.

They also earn 2X Membership Rewards on eligible bookings.

While the program remains a rewarding option for clients, as of last month, American Express Travel cut advisors out of the equation, leaving the entire advisor industry fuming.

Effective, Sept. 15, 2026, American Express Platinum members only receive these benefits if they book directly through Amex Travel. This leaves clients with the tough decision to book without the help of their regular travel advisor or stay with their advisor and miss out on the onboard credit and amenity.

ASTA has stepped up on behalf of advisors to request a meeting with American Express to discuss the impact on cardholders and travel advisors. The Association has launched a petition that demands Amex restore third-party travel advisor access to the program. As of Oct. 20, 2026, the petition is approaching 6,000 signatures.

So far, Amex has declined to listen.

“We met with Amex prior to the implementation of the change and they declined to delay or reverse the decision,” a spokesperson for ASTA told TMR. “We have not met with them since the launch of the petition, but they are aware it exists.”