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We recently stumbled on a last-minute cruise deal around Europe that was too good to pass up. It was such a great price that we actually canceled a family trip and turned it into a spontaneous couples getaway. After sharing the trip on Instagram, I got flooded with questions.
“Wait… how do you book cruises on points?”
“Where do you even find cruise deals like that?”
If you’ve ever wondered how to use points for a cruise, you’re not alone. Cruises don’t usually pop up in the same way flights and hotels do when you’re looking for award travel. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use points, or cashback, to make one much more affordable.
If you’re just getting started with points, my Beginner’s Guide to Travel Rewards is a great place to start.
How to Find Those Deals
Why I Always Tell Families to Earn Points
You hear a lot about using points to book trips far in advance, and that’s smart, especially for bigger families.
But what no one talks about?
Points give you options you didn’t even realize you had.
- Say yes to an unexpected deal: Going on a cheap cruise is an automatic yes when you already have points for the flight.
- Avoid peak cash fares: It’s so nice to pay NOTHING for a hotel when everyone else is paying peak prices.
- Pivot without penalty: Have something come up? Most of the time, you can refund your points straight back to your account.
- Upgrade your plans without paying more: Instead of settling for the cheapest hotel or flying basic economy, points let you book the nicer option: business class seats, a room with a view, or a resort with a kids’ club.
Want more examples like this? Check out How We Flew Our Family to Hawaii on Points.
Where I Find Cruise Deals
I don’t rely on just one source. Here are a few of my go-to places to look.
Direct from the Cruise Line or Credit Card Travel Portal
Yep, sometimes the best prices are listed on the cruise line’s own website. So definitely check there, but your second place to check should be your credit card travel portal. Why does this matter? If you book through the credit card portal you might earn 4-10x the amount of points on the booking, depending on the card.
After you look at those two prices, check with a travel agent booking service as well to make sure you aren’t missing out on extra value. Booking with a travel agent or OTA will often get you stateroom credits that you won’t get booking direct with the cruise line. So from there you can decide if the extra points through the portal or the stateroom credit is more worth it.
If you do your comparisons and a little research, you get a win-win.
VacationsToGo.com
This is a great resource for last-minute cruises. Prices often drop significantly at the 90-day mark, so it’s perfect for browsing deals. Finding a last-minute deal can get you big savings, as long as you aren’t too picky about the type of room you have.
If you already have points to cover your flights (I’ve shared how we do that here), finding a cruise deal can be the perfect pairing.
How the Cruise Dropped to $1,500
Cruise lines don’t want to sail with empty rooms. If inventory is still available a few weeks out, they’ll often release steep discounts.
It’s not guaranteed, and you won’t get your pick of rooms, but if you’re flexible and have your passport ready, it can absolutely be worth it.
Here’s what we got for $1,500 per person:
- Lodging for 10 nights
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts)
- Live entertainment
- Transportation between cities
- Gorgeous Mediterranean views
That breaks down to $150/day, TOTAL.
Try doing that on land in Europe. (Spoiler: you can’t.)
For more cruise content, don’t miss How We Made Our Disney Cruise More Affordable with Points and Miles.
The Catch? Flights Were Expensive, Unless You Had Points
This is where most families would hit a wall. Great cruise deal but expensive flights.
Here’s what we booked:
Outbound: Premium economy to Europe for 40,000 points each (booked through Alaska Airlines)
Return: Premium economy for 50,000 points each (booked with United)
We had earned these points previously, so we were able to jump on that last minute cruise deal without wondering how we were going to make it work. We skipped the inflated fares and flew in comfort, without blowing our travel budget.
How to Use Points for a Cruise
Use Flexible Points with a Purchase Eraser
This is one of the simplest ways to use points for cruises with no need for portals or transfer partners.
Here’s how it works:
- Book your cruise through a cruise line, Costco Travel, or an online agency.
- When the charge posts, use your points to erase it as a travel expense.
You’ll typically get 1 cent per point, which is straightforward and still a solid value.
One of my favorite cards for this strategy is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. If your cruise is $1,500, that’s 150,000 points.
Want to see why I love this card even beyond cruises? Here’s my full review.
Use Cashback Cards
Cashback might seem obvious, but it’s still a smart move, especially when cruise redemptions are limited through portals.
You just:
- Book the cruise with a cashback card
- Earn cash back
- Use the cash to cover the charge, or offset related travel like tips or excursions
Capital One Spark Cash has a great offer at the time of this writing.
See my full list of top business or cash back cards here.
And yes, you can apply even if your business is just a side hustle.
Book Through a Travel Portal
Depending on the card, you might be able to book cruises through a travel portal like Capital One Travel.
Pros:
- You can apply points directly
- Easy booking experience
Cons:
- Cruise options are limited
- You may miss out on perks or onboard credits from booking directly
Personally, I check portals, but I usually book direct and apply points afterward.
Use Points for Cruise Extras
Even if you pay cash for the cruise itself, you can use points for:
- Excursions (booked through the cruise line)
- Gratuities
- Port fees
- Transfers or rideshare to the port
- Pre/post-cruise hotel stays
Cards with flexible points like Capital One are great for covering these extras with no hassle.
Should You Get a Cruise Line Credit Card?
Honestly? Probably not.
Cruise line cards typically offer:
- Low earning rates
- Tiny welcome bonuses
- Points locked to one brand
You’re better off with a flexible card or cashback card that works for all travel: cruise, flight, or hotel. Here’s a few of my favorites.
Using Your Cruise as a Point-Earning Opportunity
Not every family wants to redeem points for a cruise once they learn the value of transferable points. And honestly? You don’t have to. A cruise can also be one of the easiest ways to earn a big chunk of points that you can use toward flights, hotels, or another trip later in the year.
If your family saves for vacations (or you’ve already budgeted for a cruise), using the right card can turn that same purchase into future travel for free.
Here’s how to make it work.
1. Check the Travel Portal First (This Is Where the Big Earning Happens)
Some cards offer significantly higher rewards when you book through their travel portal, sometimes 5×, 8×, or even more on cruises, hotels, and flights. If you’re planning to pay cash anyway, this is one of the simplest ways to supercharge your earning.
I always look in the travel portal first when I’m saving my points for other redemptions. Even if I don’t end up booking there, the earning potential is worth checking every single time.
My go-to cards for portal bookings can be found here.
These include cards that commonly offer elevated earnings on portal-booked travel, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and sometimes cruises.
2. If the Cruise Isn’t Available in the Portal
Not every cruise line or itinerary shows up in a travel portal. When that happens, you still have great options.
Some cards offer elevated earning rates on general travel, including airfare, hotels, car rentals, and yes, cruises, even when you book directly with the cruise line or through another travel provider.
So you’re still earning more than the standard 1×.
My go-to cards for direct-booking travel here.
These cards give strong earning on travel purchases regardless of where you book.
3. To Really Stack the Points (My Favorite Trick)
I love stacking a shopping portal on top of a cruise or travel purchase whenever I can. Not every merchant qualifies, but you’d be surprised how many do.
You can often find travel merchants on shopping portals like:
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
- Priceline
- VRBO
- Groupon
- Select hotel brands like Marriott and IHG
Availability changes week to week, but it’s always worth checking because these can stack nicely with the points you earn on your card.
It’s an easy win:
Earn points or cashback in the shopping portal → earn points on your credit card → redeem those points later for flights, hotels, or another cruise.
This is one of my favorite ways to turn a single vacation purchase into enough points for a second trip later on. If your family travels even once or twice a year, stacking earnings like this can make an enormous difference.
Cruises May Not Be the Best Value, but They’re Among the Easiest
A cruise probably isn’t where you’ll get the absolute highest point value. But it can be one of the easiest ways to redeem them.
You don’t need to stress about award space, transfer partners, or blackout dates. You just book the trip and erase the charge.
If it gets your family out on the water and making memories, that’s a great redemption in my book.
This trip wouldn’t have been possible without points. And this is why I tell families: earn them, even before you have a destination in mind.
Because when the right opportunity shows up?
You can say yes, without the stress.
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