How We Made Our Disney Cruises More Affordable with Points & Miles
A Disney Cruise is one of those trips that sticks with you forever. We've taken some pretty incredible family vacations over the years, but this one was pure magic. I knew it was special when my daughter came home and built an entire LEGO version of the Disney Kids' Club—totally unprompted.
But let’s be real—Disney-level magic comes with Disney-level pricing. And while you can’t book a Disney Cruise directly with airline or hotel points, there are still ways to make it way more affordable. You just have to know where to look.
If you’re still new to the world of points, I’d recommend starting here with my beginner-friendly credit card guide—it breaks down how families can start earning flexible points for travel (and yes, even cruises like this!).
How We Used Points to Cut the Cost of Our Disney Cruise
There’s no official way to redeem airline or hotel points directly for a Disney Cruise, but that doesn’t mean points can’t help. We used a mix of strategies that made a big dent in the total cost—and they’re super doable for families.
1. Use a Card That Lets You Erase Travel Purchases
One of the easiest ways to offset the cost? Use a card like the Capital One Venture X or Capital One Venture One Rewards to pay for your cruise—and then erase the charge with points.
Every purchase that codes as travel (like cruises, hotels, flights, excursions, and even theme park tickets in some cases) can be wiped out at a rate of 1 cent per point.
We paid for our Disney Cruise in full, and then used miles to erase part of the charge—it felt so good watching that balance drop.
2. Save on Theme Park Tickets with Getaway Today (and Erase Those Too!)
If you’re pairing your cruise with a visit to Disneyland or Walt Disney World, don’t book tickets directly through Disney. We always use Getaway Today instead.
They often have discounted prices on Disney and Universal tickets—and the best part? The charge usually codes as travel. That means you can earn extra points and erase the cost later using your travel card.
Bonus tip: You can book your Disney Cruise through Getaway Today too, and they’ll notify you if a price drop happens after you book. I love knowing someone’s looking out for me in the background.
Want more travel tips like this? Join my email list for weekly updates on deals, points redemptions, and family-friendly travel ideas—or come hang out with us in the Rewards Mom Facebook group!
3. Book Through a Travel Portal Using Points
If you have a card that earns flexible points—like ones from banks that offer travel portals—you can also book your cruise through their site and use points to cover it.
Here’s how it breaks down:
| Travel Portal | Point Value Toward Travel |
|---|---|
| Capital One | 1 cent per point |
| Other major banks | Typically 1.25–1.5 cents per point (depending on the card) |
This lets you book any Disney Cruise date, ship, or itinerary—no blackout dates, no restrictions. It works just like paying with cash, which is great when you're trying to coordinate with school breaks or other family schedules.
4. Cover Flights, Hotels & Extras with Points Instead
If you can’t cover the cruise itself, focus on the other pieces of the trip that are points-friendly:
✈️ Flights to your port city—either by transferring points to airline partners or booking through a travel portal
🏨 Pre-cruise hotel nights—especially valuable if you have points with hotel programs
🧭 Excursions and onboard spending—often code as travel and can be erased later
This is the approach we’ve taken on other trips too. Here’s a post where I break down how we booked flights with fewer miles using airline partners.
Why Disney Cruises Are So Worth It
Still wondering if it’s worth all the planning? Here are a few things that made this cruise unforgettable for our family:
🎭 Broadway-style shows that truly rival anything we’ve seen in NYC
👑 Character meet & greets that made my kids feel like royalty
🍽 Rotational dining where the staff remembers your name and your kid’s favorite drink
🏝 Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island)—hands down one of the best beach days we’ve ever had
👧 Incredible kids’ clubs—my daughter still talks about it and recreated it in LEGO as soon as we got home 🥹
🚫 No casinos—which honestly makes it feel more relaxed and family-focused
When to Find the Best Deals
Disney Cruises aren’t known for being cheap, but the time of year can make a big difference. A few tips:
Avoid major school breaks and holidays
Look at early January, late April, or early September for lower fares
Consider a repositioning cruise—these are often one-way and cheaper
Themed sailings like 🎃 Halloween on the High Seas and 🎄 Very Merrytime Cruises are magical but book early (and cost more)
Final Thoughts: Making the Most of Your Points for a Disney Cruise
A Disney Cruise is absolutely worth the splurge if your family loves Disney, cruising, or both. And when you can use points to shave down the cost—whether through travel eraser cards, travel portals, or covering flights and hotels—it feels so much more doable.
Here’s what I’d do next:
✔ Check out the Capital One Venture One or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Cards if you want to start earning miles you can use toward a cruise
✔ Browse Getaway Today for theme park tickets, cruise bookings, and promo deals
✔ Join me on Instagram or subscribe to my email list for more family travel tips every week
Planning a Disney Cruise? I’d love to hear what you’re thinking—feel free to message me anytime with questions!
<small><i>Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.</i></small>
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