Whether you prefer sunny beaches or glacier-lined coastlines, cruises offer great value and fun for a wide variety of travelers. Cruises attract families, multi-generational groups, couples, and solo travelers alike. And with lodging, meals, entertainment, and transportation all included at one price, it’s easy to understand the wide appeal.
If you’re looking for ways to save money on your next cruise vacation, using points and miles could be a smart way to reduce your travel expenses. But cruise bookings work a bit differently than flights and hotels, and that can impact how much value you’ll get from your rewards. Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your credit card rewards when you book your next cruise.
Should you use credit card points to book a cruise?
Booking a cruise with credit card rewards can help you save money on vacation costs. So, if you’re sitting on a stockpile of points and miles, applying those rewards toward a cruise might make perfect sense—especially if going on a cruise is a high-priority travel experience for you.
That said, using credit card points for cruises doesn’t always offer the highest redemption value compared to some other reward options. Savvy rewards enthusiasts are sometimes able to score incredible deals when using credit card points for travel perks like flights and hotel stays. If your primary goal is to maximize the value of your travel rewards, a cruise redemption might not accomplish that goal.
Of course, only you can decide if using your credit card rewards to book a cruise is a good idea in the end. You might find a better redemption value on a luxury hotel stay or business-class flights. But if you prefer to use your credit card points to enjoy a fun-filled family or couple’s cruise, then that’s exactly what you should do.
How to book cruises with credit card rewards
There are several ways you can use credit card rewards to book a cruise. Your best redemption options will depend on which cards you carry and how flexible you are when it comes to travel dates and preferred cruise lines.
Here are three popular ways to use credit card points for cruises.
1. Use credit card travel portals
At this time, no major credit card reward program features a cruise line as a direct transfer partner. However, several major credit card issuers offer travel portals where you can book a cruise with points through their rewards platforms.
Chase Travel℠ portal
You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for cruises through Chase Travel—often at an increased value. If you carry the card_name, your points are worth 1.25 cents each (or 25% more) when you redeem them through the Chase travel portal. Meanwhile, card_name cardholders can redeem points for cruises and other travel through the Chase travel portal for 1.5 cents per point.
If you use the Chase travel portal, keep your eye out for cruise promotions and bonus events. Sometimes you may be able to find redemption opportunities that offer even more value if you’re flexible when it comes to travel dates and preferred cruise lines.
American Express Travel® portal
Another solid option for booking cruises with rewards is the American Express Travel® portal. Here you can use Amex points for cruise bookings and other eligible travel-related purchases.
Membership Rewards points typically have a value of 1 cent per point when you redeem them through the Amex travel portal. This isn’t the best redemption value (especially if you explore redemption options with Amex travel partners). But using the Amex travel portal is simple and easy to use. Plus, since there are limited ways to redeem credit card rewards for cruises, this option could be worth considering if you have a surplus of Membership Rewards points.
2. Redeem rewards for statement credits
Some credit cards let you use the points and miles you earn as statement credits for travel purchases. Statement credits offer a flexible way to pay for cruises with points, but they typically don’t feature the best redemption rates.
Capital One
With Capital One Miles, you aren’t able to book cruises through the card issuer’s travel portal, but you have the flexibility of redeeming rewards for statement credits. To use this option, book your upcoming travel directly through a cruise line or a travel agency. From there, you should have the option to apply your Capital One miles as a statement credit once the charge posts to your account.
Redeeming Capital One miles for statement credits on travel purchases offers convenience and flexibility, but it’s important to understand the value proposition. While this option allows you to cover eligible travel expenses (within 90 days of purchase) at a rate of 1 cent per mile, it might not always be the most lucrative way to use your rewards.
3. Transfer points to travel partners
A few hotel and airline brands—namely United Airlines and Marriott—offer cruises you can book with cash or points. If you’re a member of either loyalty programs or if you hold a credit card that’s a travel partner with United or Marriott, you could consider seeing what type of cruise redemption options are available here. In general, the redemption rates usually aren’t the best.
You can also use transferable points to cover other travel-related expenses that may come up during your cruise vacation. For example, you might transfer points to cover flights to the departure port, a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay, or excursions at your destinations.
➤ SEE MORE:How to redeem credit card rewards for non-traditional lodging options
Best credit cards for cruise travel
The best credit cards for booking a cruise depend on your credit profile, spending habits, travel preferences, and favorite loyalty programs. There are many valuable options available. Below are a few standouts to consider:
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Smart strategies to maximize credit card rewards while booking a cruise
There’s no best way to book a cruise with credit card rewards, but if you’ve decided to use points or miles to book a cruise, the following tips could help you maximize your rewards for additional value.
- Book during deals or sales: Cruise lines and travel portals may offer sales or limited-time bonuses from time to time. Start looking early for deals—especially if your travel dates or cruise line preferences are flexible—and you might be able to make your rewards stretch further.
- Use partial redemptions: Even if you don’t have enough points to cover the cost of your entire cruise, you may be able to use some rewards to lower your travel costs. However, if you have limited rewards, it’s typically best to use points and miles for flights and hotels first, then move on to cruise costs.
- Use your travel card when booking: If you’re not paying with points, use a travel rewards card when paying for flights, hotels, cruise excursions, and even parking. All of your travel-related purchases can add up to future rewards you can enjoy later.
- Pay off your credit card in full: Remember, it’s critical to avoid charging more than you can afford to pay off right away after your cruise ends. Otherwise, you’ll wind up in post-vacation debt, facing high interest charges that offset any rewards you earned on your purchases. Plus, high credit utilization rates on your credit cards could hurt your credit scores.
Final tips for using credit cards to plan your cruise
Booking a cruise with points isn’t the right fit for every traveler. But using your credit card rewards to reduce the cost of a cruise could be a great way to save money while you sail around the world with family or friends (or even on a solo trip).
Just be sure to avoid common mistakes like redeeming points at a poor value, choosing a credit card that doesn’t offer the right rewards for cruising, or—worst of all—racking up credit card debt before or during your cruise vacation. With a bit of planning, your next cruise could feel even more rewarding than ever before.
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