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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 can be a little more difficult to navigate when you are looking for award travel. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use points, or cashback, to make one much more affordable.
Want a list of some great cards to help you afford a cruise? Check out THIS LIST.
If you’re just getting started with points, my Beginner’s Guide to Travel Rewards is a great place to start.
What Earning Points Gives You
You need to start earning points now so you can have more flexibility than you ever thought possible. 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
Cruise guide
I don’t rely on just one source. Here’s the order I check them in.
The cruise line directly
The cruise line’s own website sometimes has the best price, so it’s always your first stop.
Your credit card travel portal
Even if the price is similar, booking through the portal can earn you 4 to 10 times the points on the purchase depending on your card. That’s a meaningful difference if you’re building up a balance for future travel.
A travel agent or OTA
Booking through a travel agent or online travel agency often comes with onboard credits you won’t get booking direct. Once you have all three prices in front of you, it’s easy to decide whether the extra points or the stateroom credit is worth more for your trip.
VacationsToGo.com for last-minute deals
Cruise prices often drop significantly at the 90-day mark, and this site is one of the best places to browse those discounts. You won’t get your pick of rooms, but if you’re flexible the savings can be substantial. If you already have points covering your flights, a last-minute cruise deal becomes an easy yes.
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.
Cruise guide
What That $1,500 Doesn’t Cover
A few extras catch first-time cruisers off guard. Here’s what to expect and how to handle each one.
| Extra | What to expect | How to handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $18 to $25 per person per day. On a 10-night cruise for two, that’s $360 to $500 on top of your fare. Not optional on most lines. | Put it on a cash back card or use a purchase eraser to cover it with points. |
| Drinks | Alcohol, specialty coffee, and sodas are rarely included. Drink packages sometimes go on sale before sailing. | Buy a package in advance if you’ll use it. If your family sticks to water, skip it. |
| Excursions | Port days are where costs creep up fast. Cruise line excursions are convenient but expensive. | Book through Viator or local operators for the same experience at a fraction of the price. |
| Port fees | Usually built into the advertised fare, but not always. | Double-check the full breakdown before booking so there are no surprises. |
How we handle it: Gratuities and onboard charges go on a cash back card or get covered with a purchase eraser. Excursions we book through Viator using a card that earns well on travel, especially if we stack it with Rakuten for extra points through Bilt!
The Catch? Flights Were Expensive, Unless You Had Points
This is where most families would hit a wall. You find a great cruise deal but the flights are too expensive.
HERE are all of my favorite cards to use for flights. And if you want to know how to book award flights and hotels, read THIS.
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.
If you want to read all of the details on how exactly we did it, read How We Flew to Italy on Points — The Business Class Flight That Felt Unreal.
How to Use Points for a Cruise
1. 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.
Two of my favorite cards for this strategy are the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. If your cruise is $1,500, that’s 150,000 points.
There’s another card that lets you pay yourself back for travel purchases if you can’t get approved for a Capital One card (sometimes you have to wait in between applications for approval). You can find that card on this list, and remember it’s co-branded (sorry I can’t say directly cause of affiliate rules!)
2. 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
See my full list of cash back cards here.
And yes, you can apply even if your business is just a side hustle.
3. Book Through a Travel Portal
Depending on the card, you might be able to book cruises through a travel portal. And here’s a little tip, if you hold a premium card, you usually get better access in those travel portals with better deals. My list of premium cards HERE.
Cruise guide
Portals make redeeming points simple, but they’re not always the best option for cruises. Here’s what to know before you book.
My approach: I always check the portal first because the earning potential is worth a look. But more often than not I end up booking direct and using a purchase eraser to apply my points to the charge afterward. It’s a small extra step and I get to keep the perks.
4. Use Points for Cruise Extras
Even if you pay cash for the cruise itself, points can still help with the total cost. The most flexible way to do this is a purchase eraser.
Cruise guide
Even if you pay cash for the cruise itself, points can still take a real bite out of the total cost. The most flexible way to do this is a purchase eraser. You pay with your card, the charge posts, and you apply points to erase it.
If you book shore excursions through the cruise line before sailing, they post as a charge to your card and a purchase eraser covers them cleanly.
Most cruise lines add daily gratuity charges to your onboard account, which gets settled with your card at the end of the sailing. That final card charge is erasable with points. Rules vary by cruise line, but a purchase eraser applies to the card charge itself, not the onboard account.
Uber, Lyft, and most car services to the port post as standard charges to your card and are easy to erase with points.
Pre and post-cruise hotel nights are one of the best uses of points on this list. Book directly through a hotel program like Hyatt, or use a purchase eraser on any hotel charge that posts to your card.
One thing to note: port fees and taxes are almost always bundled into your cruise fare at booking rather than billed as a separate charge, so you cannot specifically target them with a purchase eraser. The cruise fare itself is what you would erase if you are going that route.
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 all of my favorite beginner cards. And here’s how to use them with transferable points.
Using Your Cruise as a Point-Earning Opportunity
If you’re already paying cash for a cruise, you’re sitting on a huge points-earning opportunity.
A cruise is one of the bigger single purchases you’ll make all year. Put it on the right card, and that one transaction can earn enough points to cover flights or hotels on your next trip. If you have a card with a minimum spend requirement, a $3,000 or $4,000 cruise can knock out a welcome bonus in one shot. Those bonuses are often worth $500 to $1,000 or more in future travel.
Some cards earn 3x to 5x points on travel purchases. Others give a strong flat rate on everything. If you book through a travel portal, some cards earn even more. My favorite cards for big travel purchases like this are HERE.
Cruise guide
How to Earn the Most Points on a Cruise
If you’re paying cash for a cruise, the right strategy can turn that purchase into your next vacation. Here’s how I approach it.
Check the travel portal first
Some cards earn 5x, 8x, or more when you book through their portal. Even if you end up booking elsewhere, it’s always worth checking first.
If the cruise isn’t in the portal, book direct
Not every cruise line shows up in a portal. When that happens, use a card that earns elevated rates on general travel purchases so you’re still earning well above 1x.
Stack a shopping portal on top
This is my favorite trick. Many travel merchants like Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline, VRBO, and select hotel brands show up in shopping portals. Book through the portal, pay with your card, and you’re earning points twice on the same purchase.
Shopping portal points + credit card points = redeem for flights, hotels, or your next cruise.
How to Be Ready When a Deal Like This Shows Up
The reason we could say yes to this cruise in 48 hours wasn’t luck. It was setup. Here’s what you need in place before a deal like this lands in your inbox.
A current passport for everyone in your family. This is the one that kills last-minute international trips more than anything else. Check expiration dates now, not when you’re staring at a deal. Most countries require six months of validity beyond your travel dates.
Flexible points already banked. Transferable points are what make spontaneous travel possible. You don’t need a destination in mind to start earning them. You just need to have them ready.
The right cards already in your wallet. You don’t want to be applying for a new card when a deal drops. The signup bonus is great, but the goal is to already have a card that earns well on travel and gives you flexibility when you need it.
A general sense of your points balance. You don’t need to obsess over it, but knowing roughly what you have and where it lives means you can do a quick mental calculation when something comes up. Can we cover flights? Yes. Let’s go.
The families I see traveling the most aren’t necessarily earning the most points. They’re the ones who are ready to use them when the moment shows up.
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