Planning your next cruise? If you’ve been diligently accumulating points and miles, you might not have to pay out of pocket for your upcoming sea voyage. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use your points and miles to potentially cover the entire cost of your cruise, or at least make a significant dent in it.
Should You Use Points and Miles for Cruises?
Before diving into the strategies, it’s important to understand that using points and miles for cruises can sometimes yield less value per point compared to other travel expenses like flights or hotel stays. For example, while you might be able to redeem points for 1 to 1.5 cents each on cruises, this rate is often lower than what you could get when booking business class flights or luxury hotel stays.
However, if you have a surplus of points and prefer a practically free cruise over other options, or if you have specific points that are best used for cruises, this could be a perfect opportunity.
Best Ways to Book Cruises Using Points and Miles
1. Direct Booking Through Credit Card Travel Portals
Many credit card issuers like Chase, American Express, and Capital One allow you to book cruises directly through their travel portals where you can use your points to pay for part or all of the cruise.
- American Express Membership Rewards: You can use your points to book cruises through Amex Travel at a rate of about 0.7 cents per point. While not the best value compared to transferring to travel partners, it’s straightforward and convenient.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: If you hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem points for 1.5 cents each towards travel, including cruises booked through their portal. Sapphire Preferred cardholders get 1.25 cents per point.
- Capital One Travel: Capital One miles are redeemable at a rate of 1 cent per mile for travel purchases, including cruises, which can be booked directly or erased as a travel expense after the fact.
2. Co-branded Cruise Line Credit Cards
Some cruise lines offer their own co-branded credit cards which allow you to earn points that can be redeemed towards the cost of a cruise. However, the flexibility and value might be limited compared to more general travel rewards cards.
- Royal Caribbean Visa Signature: Earn points that can be redeemed for cruise credits, upgrades, and even free cruises. However, compare the point redemption value to ensure it’s the best use of your spending.
3. Convert Hotel Points to Cruise Credits
Some hotel loyalty programs allow you to convert your points into cruise credits. For instance, Marriott Bonvoy members can use points for cruise credits with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, although the redemption rate might not always represent the best value.
Using Points for Related Travel Expenses
Often, the best use of points in relation to cruises is for related travel expenses like flights to the departure port or hotel stays before and after your cruise. Here’s how you can maximize value:
- Flights: Use airline miles or transferable points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards to book flights to and from your cruise’s starting point.
- Hotels: Redeem hotel points for free nights before or after your cruise. This can be particularly valuable if you’re departing from or returning to cities with expensive hotel rates.
Tips for Maximizing Value
- Be Flexible: Flexibility with your dates and destinations can help you find better redemption rates or special promotions.
- Compare Redemption Rates: Always compare the cash price to the points price to ensure you’re getting good value from your points.
- Consider Transfer Partners: Sometimes transferring points to an airline or hotel partner can yield more value than redeeming directly for a cruise.
Final Thoughts
While redeeming points for cruises might not always offer the highest value, with a bit of strategy and some flexibility, you can still cover significant parts of your cruise vacation with points and miles. Whether you’re using them directly for the cruise through a travel portal, offsetting the cost of related travel expenses, or taking advantage of a co-branded cruise credit card, there are numerous ways to turn your points into memorable travel experiences.
Remember, the key to maximizing travel rewards is to stay informed about your options and make choices that align with your travel goals and preferences. Happy cruising!
